UNIT 2: An Introduction to Plant Science

This unit explores plant classification and plant anatomy, and introduces the basic pharmacology of some important plant families used in Western herbal medicine.

• Explore plant identification and understand the terms used in plant anatomy
• Get to know four important plant families
• Review key plant constituents including mucilage, tannins and saponins, and understand their properties
• Explore the nature and importance of toxicology in the study of herbal medicine
• Discover more about the many interesting medicinal plants that grow all around us.

• Understand how a plant’s active compounds can benefit human health
• Observe and identify a plant of your choice using a plant flora
• Begin to construct a monograph for your chosen plant
• Use an experiential tasting method for deep exploration of medicinal plants.

• Know the meaning of the term ethnobotany, and what a monograph is
• Be aware that modern plant classification is based on DNA analysis and not just on the visual recognition of plant structures
• Have chosen one plant from the four plant families to gather information about during the course so that you can produce a monograph.

• Understand that there is a hierarchy of plant classification, and recognise the importance of the species and variety names that make up the scientific name of each plant
• Know the classification and key features of the rose family, carrot family, mint family and the daisy family
• Understand the differences between dicotyledons and monocotyledons
• Have made a simple onion syrup cough remedy
• Added basic identifying structures to your monograph.

• The fundamentals of the plant growth cycle including the structure of vascular transport systems, the definition of photosynthesis, the universal names of different leaf shapes, and botanic terminology
• The main features of leaves, flowers and stems
• The connection between the plant echinacea and the hedgehog
• Alternate (spiral) and opposite leaf formation
• What sepals are, and how to identify some of the key attributes of your chosen plant to use in your monograph.

• Looked in detail at 4 important medicinal plant families: the Apiaceae
• Understood the difference between annual, biennial and perennial plants.

• Be able to describe the different compounds that may be found in any one plant
• Understand the concept of secondary metabolites
• Be able to describe mucilages, tannins and saponins
• Know why essential oils are sometimes called volatile oils, and the amount of volatile oils that plants contain.

• Be aware of the potential dangers of ingesting certain plant constituents
• Understand the difference between poisons and toxins
• Be able to discuss the actual risk of poisoning from the use of medicinal plants
• Have considered six clinical trials on the benefits of milk thistle.

• Have explored using your senses to understand more about medicinal plants
• Have gained an understanding of the basic principles of plant identification
• Have used a plant identification book or flora, and considered the location, height, flowering time, flower morphology, colour, and leaf shape of your chosen monograph plant.

• Have understood key aspects of the phenomenological approach to plant study including Goethe’s methodology
• Have tasted Nettle tea, using Goethe’s methodology to record your findings
• Have drunk an infusion of your selected plant for your monograph, using the Goethean method to record your findings.

• A good wild flower book, or plant flora
• A small hand lens (10x magnification)
• Some drawing materials and/or a camera or mobile phone.