Workshop Plant Identification and Introduction to the Flora of Virginia
Harrisonburg, VA

Hosted by the Shenandoah Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society

Date: April 15-16. (Friday- Saturday)
Time: 9:30am-1:30 pm. Two day class, same time both days
Instructor: Marion Lobstein, Botanist and Professor Emeritus, Northern Virginia Community College
(Contact information: mblobstein [at] earthlink.net, 703 622-0676)
Assistant: Sally Anderson, Botanist and former Virginia Native Plant Society president
Location: Music Room, Lucy F. Simms Center, 620 Simms Ave., Harrisonburg, VA 22802

Major areas of focus:
• Overview of Flora of Virginia and its use in plant identification
• Characteristics of major plant families that will be encountered during plant surveys such as field “weeds,” wildflowers, and grasses
• Proper plant collecting and record keeping in your survey fieldwork
• Use of the Flora of Virginia in identifying specimens collected

Tentative schedule:
• Lecture with PowerPoints and handouts
• Introduction to the Flora of Virginia
• Use of dichotomous keys in plant identification
• Field characteristics of major plant families you may collect during your plant surveys this summer
• Field collecting of and recording information on plants to identify
• Work on identification of specimens using the Flora of Virginia

Additional information for workshop participants:
Our focus will be on introduction to and use of the Flora of Virginia.
Please bring any copies you may have of the Flora of Virginia, Flora of West Virginia, and/or Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary by James G. Harris Paperback**. We will share copies if you do not have these books.

If you do have a copy of the Flora of Virginia, please overview the following pages in the Flora:
• Introduction (pp. 1-5)
• Approaching the Keys (pp. 87-92 up to the actual Key to the families)

The following will also be helpful for you to bring:
• 10X ocular (hand lens–there will be some available for purchase at the class)
There are NOT enough microscopes for each participant
• Notebook, pens and pencils for taking notes
• Lunch

Water and coffee/tea and snacks will be provided but please bring your lunch and any other drinks you may want.

Registration: Contact Chris Bowlen. bowlenchris [at] comcast.net. 540-289-6801.

Class limit is 15. Cost for both days is $25.

**Identification Terminology: An Illustrated Glossary by James G. Harris is an excellent companion text to Flora of Virginia as it helps you understand botanical nomenclature. Available from Amazon Books