An introduction to floral structure and terminology, flower families, and the value of keys to identification
About this event
We start in the classroom with an introduction to flowering plants. We will examine specimens, particularly their flowers, and you will discover the key identification features that are also used to classify flowering plants into specific groups, notably families. To do this effectively, you will need to use a hand lens (magnification x 10) to observe (and, coincidentally, marvel at) some of the amazing detail.
We will focus on relatively simple flowers to help you gain confidence in understanding and interpreting their structure and to help you become familiar with floral terminology. Weather permitting, we will spend some time working outside in Tyland Barn Nature Park. Both inside and out, we will work together or in pairs (but always under supervision) on describing the essential (key) features of examples from different flowering plant families.
This experience will help you appreciate the range of variation that is demonstrated by some of our beautiful flora. You will become familiar with the pertinent botanical terms and with the particular combination of features that help determine the different families and ultimately which features need to be examined in order to determine the individual species.
Finally, the value of using scientific keys to identification will be discussed and put into practice. This should build up your confidence in using keys to tackle identifying flowering plants on your own. After which continued practice will help enormously.
This course is designed to give you familiarity and deeper understanding of botanical terms and flowering plant classification.
By the end of the course it is expected that you will have:
- A better grasp of and familiarity with the relevant botanical terms and of flowering plant classification
- The confidence to start identifying flowers using scientific keys
Led by Ros Bennett, Botanist and Ecologist. Ros has written books on plants and habitats and has been teaching courses on identification and ecology for many years.
Suitable for beginners and those improvers who might be familiar with several plant species but have no prior knowledge of floral structure or experience in using scientific keys to identification.
If you would like to Improve your skills at identifying and classifying flowers, you may be interested in our Wildflower Identification for improvers Study Day on 4 July 2025 which follows on from this day .
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Accessible toilet
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Parking
MORE INFORMATION
What to bring
Notebook and pen
suitable outdoor clothing
packed lunch and something to drink.
Nothing else is essential but if you have any of the following please bring them too. (We will be using the first 2 field guides):
- Hand lens (x 10 Magnification)
- Collins Flower Guide by Streeter (Collins ideally 2nd Edition 2016) Recommended
- The Wild Flower Key by Rose and O’Reilly (Warne)
- But any other picture field guides that you may already be accustomed to using would be good too
You will also be introduced to:
- New Flora of the British Isles by Stace (CUP ideally 4th edit)
NB Hand lenses may be borrowed or purchased (c.£8.50) during the course. and there will also be copies of Rose’s Wild Flower Key available to borrow and a few copies of the second edition of Stace.
There is now an independent café in the Barn which is usually open on Saturdays so you may be able purchase additional refreshments there.
Tyland Barn is a wheelchair accessible site, including areas of the wildlife garden, which is fairly
flat and has some hard surfaced paths.
Walking distances will be very short and the pace will be gentle.