Laboratory Manual for Stern's Introductory Plant Biology, 16th Edition

This laboratory manual assumes no previous knowledge of the biological sciences on the part of the student. It is designed for use in a one-semester or one-quarter introductory course in plant biology and shorter introductory botany courses open to both non-majors and majors.


Both the principles of biology and the scientific method are introduced, using plants as illustrations. The first few laboratory exercises include introductions to such topics as the microscope, cells, mitosis, roots, stems, and leaves. An exercise on plant propagation, in which students make their own cuttings and grafts, is provided. A functional approach to the topics of cell components and products, diffusion, growth regulation, photosynthesis, and respiration is employed. Exploration of algae, fungi, lichens, bryophytes, ferns, conifers, flowering plants, ecology, and genetics provides students with an understanding of the diversity and complexity of organisms presented in this laboratory manual. Displays of spices, survival plants, and fruit types are suggested. Keys to conifers and woody flowering plants in both their active and dormant conditions are furnished. Each exercise is a unit in itself, allowing for considerable flexibility in sequence of presentation.