Overall objectives:

1 - Teaching knowledge of botany applied to agriculture, with emphasis on notions and fundamental concepts of anatomy, morphology,physiology, phenology, diversity and taxonomy of agricultural species.
2 - Recognize the cellular, histological, anatomic and morphologic structures of the plant organs, to understand their functioning and agricultural importance.
3 - To know the origin, diversity and taxonomy of species used in agriculture and food, and address their importance for agriculture and mankind.
4 - To know the main agrodiversidade groups and know how to distinguish endemic, native, introduced and domesticated species.
5 - To acquire notions and knowledge about their potential in sustainable agriculture.
6 - To qualify and reflect on the role of the botanical knowledge in add value to agricultural practice.
7 - To qualify, interpret, evaluate, decide and intervene with responsibly in situations related to future professional activity.
8 - Demonstrate initiative, autonomy and work habits.

Syllabus:

1 - Introduction to economic botany.
2 - Notions of histology, anatomy and plant morphology.
3 - Notions of plant physiology, and their agricultural relevance.
4 - Notions of plant phenology and its agricultural implications.
5 - Diversidade e classificação taxonómica das plantas de interesse agrícola.
6 - Notions of agricultural phytogeography.
7 - Use and function of plants in agriculture.
8 - Observe the plants, their composition, structure and functioning.
9 - Explore plant diversity in agrosystems, green spaces, gardens, etc., and understand its function.
10 - Know the botanical collections, herbariums and the Botanical Garden, and understand their importance.

Literature/Sources:

Antunes, T., Pinto, I.S. , 2006 , Botânica. A passagem à vida terrestre , Lidel ? Ed. Técnicas. Lisboa
Lousã, M., Monteiro, A., Espírito Santo, D., Sousa, E., Costa, J.C. , 2007 , Manual de Botânica , Lisboa, Instituto Superior de Agronomia
Bowes, B.G. , 1996 , A colour atlas of plant structures , Manson Publishing
Esau, K. , 1976 , Anatomia das plantas com sementes , Edgard Blucher Lda. São Paulo
Raven, P.H., Evert, R.F., Eichorn, S.E. , 1999 , Biology of plants , Worth Publ., New York
Vavilov, N. I. , 1987 , A origem e geografia das plantas agrícolas , Moscovo, Nauka
Borges PAV, Abreu C, Aguiar AMF, Carvalho P, Jardim R, Melo I, Oliveira P, Sérgio C, Serrano ARM, Vieira P. , 2008 , A list of the terrestrial fungi, flora and fauna of Madeira and Selvagens archipelagos , irecção Regional do Ambiente da Madeira, Universidade dos Açores, Funchal, Angra do Heroísmo
Menezes de Sequeira M, S. Fontinha, F. Freitas, L. Ramos, M. G. Mateus , 2006 , Plantas e Usos Tradicionais nas Memórias de Hoje, Freguesia da Ilha , Casa do Povo da Ilha / Parque Natural da Madeira, Região Autónoma da Madeira
Press, J. R., Short, M. J. , 1994 , Flora of Madeira , HMSO/London
Vieira, R. M. S. , 2002 , Flora da Madeira, plantas vasculares naturalizadas no arquipélago da Madeira , Museu Municipal do Funchal (História Natural)

Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
The evaluation at the C U of Botanical Economics has a mixed character, presenting elements of continuous and periodic evaluation (summative). The performance of students in the different teaching components (TP/theoretical-practical; PL/laboratory practices and TC/fieldwork) in the C U is evaluated according to the evaluation model A (see FMA/model evaluation form of the discipline), according to the following evaluation moments: 1. Continuous assessment: qualitative assessment of the individual and collective performance of students - 5%. 2. Summative assessment: Written test - 30%; Practice book 30%; Report/theoretical-practical work - 35%.