Overall objectives:

1 - It is intended that the students: A. Acquire an understanding of the main groups of macrofungi, lichens, bryophytes and pteridophytes, including the skills necessary to their taxonomically recognition and correct morphological description.
2 - It is intended that the students: B. Understand the evolution of different groups of plants, relating their morphology and life cycles with the evolution over geological time.
3 - It is intended that the students: C. Acquire the skills needed to identify and correctly collect, prepare and preserve herbarium specimens.
4 - At the end of the course students should be able to: At the end of this Unit students should be able to: 1. correctly describe the structure of the groups of plants studied; 2. Identify and distinguish the different groups of plants studied; 3 interpret the structure of the plant according to their phylogeny and ecology; 4. interpret correctly the evolution of life cycles. 5. Herborize and use dichotomous keys to identify plant specimens.

Syllabus:

1 - History of Botany: historical perspective of the study of plants. The perception of the world of plants.
2 - Evolution of classification systems. 2.1. From Aristotle to middle age; 2.2. The Herbalists; 2.3. The "New World", and the increase in diversity; 2.4. Artificial, natural and phylogenetic classifications; 2.5. Classification systems based on plant habit; 2.6. The evolution of genus concept; 2.7. Numerical artificial classification systems; 2.8. Linnaeus: the sexual system. Historical background. The Linnean binomial system and its use. Precedents. Linnaeus and modern plant taxonomy. Main Linnaeus students and influence; 2.9 Classification systems based on morphological proximity; 2.10 Modern classification systems, from Takhtajan to APG.
3 - Introduction to the study of macrofungi (Myceteae): fungi biology and life cycles; non-fungi traditionally studies by mycologists: Protozoa. Phylum Myxomycota. Class Myxomycetes.
4 - Subkingdom Dikaria: 4.1. Phylum Ascomycota. Characteristics, morphology and diversity; 4.2. Phylum Basidiomycota. Characteristics, morphology and diversity.
5 - The Lichens. 5.1.The constitution of a lichen; 5.2. Fungi versus algae relation, symbiosis?; 5.3. Growth forms;5.4. Sexual and non sexual reproduction structures; 5.5. Lichen physiology; 5.6. Diversity, morphology, classification and nomenclature; 5.7. Physiology, reproduction and diversity; 5.8. Ecological role, lichens and bio-monitoring, examples. Air pollution, sensibility and air particles. Remote sensing, prospecting and dating; 5.9. Actual and historical economical uses and bio-remediation; 5.10. How to collect lichens.
6 - Bryophytes ­(Bryophyta). 6.1. Plant structure of the bryophytes and vascular plants; life-cycles; 6.2. The gametangia; 6.3. Introduction to bryophyte phylogeny and systematics-
6.1 - Anthoceropsida (hornworts): 6.1.1. Systematics of the Anthoceropsida. 6.1.2. Diagnostic characteristics; 6.1.3. Ontogeny of the sporophyte, sporogonia and the ripening of the capsule; 6.1.4. Bryophytes and fossils, how to distinguish an hornwort from the other bryophytes.
6.2 - Marchantiopsida (Liverworts): 6.2.1. Structure of the gametophyte and sporophyte; 6.2.2. Systematics of the Marchantiopsida: 6.2.3. Morphology and examples of the Sub-Classe Jungermaniidae; 6.2.3.1. Morphology and examples of the Metzgeriales; 6.2.3.2. Morphology and examples of the Calobryales; 6.2.3.3.Morphology and examples of the Jungermaniales; 6.2.4. Morphology and examples of the Sub-Classe Marchantiidae; 6.2.4.1. Morphology and examples of the Sphaerocarpales (= Sub-Classe Sphaerocarpidae); 6.2.4.2. Morphology and examples of the Marchantiales.
6.3 - Bryopsida (Mosses): 6.3.1. Life-cycle and structure of the gametophyte and sporophyte, gametangia, ontogeny and structure of the sporophyte; 6.3.2. Systematics of the Bryopsida; 6.3.2.1. Sub-Classe Sphagnidae: diversity and classification of the Sphagnidae, ecology and the importance of the peatbogs; morphology of the gametophyte and sporophyte; 6.2.3.2. Sub-Classe Andreaeidae: morphology and examples, diversity and ecology; 6.2.3.3. Sub-Class Bryidae: morphology and examples, diagnostic characters, morphology of the gametophyte, acrocarpic versus plerocarpic mosses, anatomy, leafs and sporogonia morphology, polyploidy, and evolution. 6.4. The , diversidade, ecologia e conservação.
6.4 - Madeiran bryophytes, diversity, ecology and conservation.
7 - Vascular plants. Origin of the vascular plants, from algae to the first vascular plant fossil. Life-cycle of a vascular plant. The structure of a Cormophyte. Evolution and morphology of a cormophyte, the telomes and the Telome theory: overtopping, planation, syngenesis and recurvation. Embryo development.
8 - Pteridophytes. Morphological structure of ferns and other vascular plants. Life-cycles. The gametangia. Phylogeny and systematic's of the Pteridophytes, reference to conflicting views and classification systems. Characterisation, systematic's and phylogeny.
8.1 - Psilophytopsida. Morphology of an ancestral, fossil group of ferns. 8.1.1 Rhyniales. Fossil registry and morphology, telome structure. 8.1.2. Zosterophyllales. Fossil registry and morphology, telome structure, sporangia. 8.1.3. Asteroxylales. Fossil registry and morphology, telome structure, sporangia and possible relation with the Lycopodiopsida.
8.2 - Psilotopsida. Morphology of an extant group of ferns. Ancestry of their morphology. Examples and life cycles. Actinostelic vascular system, synangia.
8.3 - Lycopodiopsida. Morphology of an extant group of land plants with special reference to their fossil groups. 8.3.1. Protolepidodendrales. Fossil morphology and reconstructions. 8.3.2. Lycopodiales. Morphology and life cycles. 8.3.3. Selaginales. Morphology and life cycles. 8.3.4. Lepidodendrales, Fossil morphology and reconstructions. 8.3.5. Isoetales. Morphology and life cycles.
8.4 - Equisetopsida. Evolution and relations with other groups of ferns. Morphology and anatomy. Taxonomy. 8.4.1. Equisetales. Morphology and life-cycle of an extant group of plants. 8.4.2. Sphenophyllales. Fossil morphology and reconstructions.
8.5 - Pteridopsida ou Filicopsida. Morphology and life cycles. Diagnostic characters. Economic importance. Leafs (fronds) as macrophylls and their morphology. Sporangia, sori and indusia. Sporangia dehiscence. Gametophytes. apospory and apogamy. 8.5.1. Taxonomy. 8.5.1.1. Primofilices (Pseudosporochnales, Protopteridales, Coenopteridales, Cladoxylales, Archeopteridales). 8.5.1.2. Eusporangiatae. Ophioglossales (morphology, life cycles and examples). Marattiales (morphology, life cycles and examples). 8.5.1.3. Leptosporangiatae. morphology, life cycles and examples in the Osmundales, Gleicheniales, Schizeales, Hymenophyllales, Matoniales, Cyatheales, Polypodiales, Pteridales, Aspidiales, Blechnales. 8.5.1.4. Hydropterides. Morphology, life cycles and examples in the Salviniales e Marsileales.
9 - Recent proposals for the classification of land plants and "pteridophyta". Polypodiopsida, Marattiopsida, Equisetopsida and Psilotopsida.

Literature/Sources:

Jardim, R. & Menezes de Sequeira, M. , 2008 , Lista das plantas vasculares (Pteridophyta and Spermatophyta). Pp. 179-208 in Borges, P.A.V., Abreu, C., Aguiar, A.M.F., Carvalho, P., Jardim, R., Melo, I., Oliveira, P., Sérgio, C., Serrano, A.R.M. & Vieira, P. (eds.) (2008). A list of the terrestri , Direcção Regional do Ambiente da Madeira and Universidade dos Açores, Funchal and Angra do Heroísmo,
Jardim, R. & Menezes de Sequeira, M. , 2008 , As Plantas Vasculares (Pteridophyta e Spermatophyta) dos Arquipélagos da Madeira e das Selvagens. Pp. 157-178 in Borges, P.A.V., Abreu, C., Aguiar, A.M.F., Carvalho, P., Jardim, R., Melo, I., Oliveira, P., Sérgio, C., Serrano, A.R.M. & Vieira, P. (ed , Direcção Regional do Ambiente da Madeira and Universidade dos Açores, Funchal and Angra do Heroísmo,
FONT­QUER, P , Diccionario de Botanica , Ed. Labor. Barcelona
HEDENÄS L , 1992 , Flora of Madeiran Pleurocarpous Mosses , Bryophytorum Bibliotheca
JAHNS, H , 1982. , Guía de campo de los helechos,musgos y líquens de Europa , Barcelona.
Linnaeus, C , 1753. , Species Plantarum ed. Facs. 1st edition , BMNH, London
LORENTE, V., SÁNCHEZ, M. , 2000. , Guía de líquenes epífitos. , Ministerio de Medio Ambiente
MALCOLM, B., MALCOLM, N , Mosses and Other Bryophytes : An Illustrated Glossary : An Illustrated Glossary. ,
PRESS, J. R. & SHORT, M. J. , 1994. , Flora of Madeira ,
Stafleu, F. A. , 1971. , Linnaeus and the linnaeans. ,
STEARN, W. , 1957. , Linnaeus Sexual System of Classification. In Linnaeus Species Plantarum ed. Facs. , 1st edition. London.
STEWART, W.N. & ROTHWELL, G.W. , 1993 , Paleobotany and the Evolution of Plants. 2nd Edition. , Cambridge University Press.
STRASBURGER et al , 1997 , Tratado de Botânica. 33ª Ed , Barcelona.
SARA RUAS, P CARVALHO, S FONTINHA, C LOBO, F REIS, A BERGAMINI & M SIM-SIM , 2015 , The community structure of bryophytes and macrolichens in Madeira?s natural forest: the effects of environmental variables and relations to old-growth forests. , Nova Hedwigia, 100(3-4)
Carvalho, P., Figueira, R. & Jones, M.P. , 2008 , Os líquenes e fungos liquenícolas (Fungi) dos arquipélagos da Madeira e das Selvagens. , Direcção Regional do Ambiente da Madeira and Universidade dos Açores, Funchal and Angra do Heroísmo.
Carvalho, P., Figueira, R. & Jones, M.P. , 2008 , Lista dos líquenes e fungos liquenícolas (Fungi) , Direcção Regional do Ambiente da Madeira and Universidade dos Açores, Funchal and Angra do Heroísmo.
Sérgio, C., Sim-Sim, M., Fontinha, S. & Figueira, R. , 2008 , Os Briófitos (Bryophyta) dos arquipélagos da Madeira e das Selvagens. , Direcção Regional do Ambiente da Madeira and Universidade dos Açores, Funchal and Angra do Heroísmo.
Jardim, R. & M. Menezes de Sequeira , 2008 , Plantas vasculares , Direcção Regional do Ambiente da Madeira and Universidade dos Açores, Funchal and Angra do Heroísmo.
Jardim, R. & M. Menezes de Sequeira , 2008 , Lista , Direcção Regional do Ambiente da Madeira and Universidade dos Açores, Funchal and Angra do Heroísmo.
Smith, Alan R., Pryer, K.M., Schuettpelz, E., Korall, P., Schneider, H. & Wolf, P.G. , 2006 , A classification for extant ferns , Taxon
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Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
The adopted strategy articulates the theoretical classes with practical classes and field work. In practical classes, the theoretical knowledge is applied to study specimens of lichens, mosses and ferns. This material is handled (dissected), observed (using binocular microscopes and microscopes) and drawn. In the field classes collection techniques are trained and in situ diversity observed. In laboratory classes theoretical knowledge is applied, and preparation and observation techniques are trained (including the use of chemical tests to identify lichens).Students are assessed as follows: One written or oral exam covering theoretical topics and concepts (50% final grade, minimum classification 9.5); One practical exam including the preparation, observation, description (including drawings) and identification of specimens (35% final grade, minimum classification 9.5); one herbarium of 30 specimens including laboratory and field notebook (15% final grade, minimum classification 10).