Academic Catalog

HORT 25: PLANT MATERIALS: BAMBOOS & PALMS

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2022
Units: 2
Hours: 2 lecture per week (24 total per quarter)
Advisory: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in HORT 15 strongly recommended; not open to students with credit in HORT 51F.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade Only
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Identify bamboos and palms presented by botanical and common names.
  • Compare and contrast bamboos and palms features and cultural need.

Description

Identification, taxonomy, habits of growth, cultural and environmental requirements of bamboos and palms grown in California. Emphasis on the use and maintenance of these two categories of monocots, each with markedly different forms. Plants are observed via media and physical observation.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Recall the botanical and common names of at least 75 bamboos and palms and the terms used for plant identification.
  2. Recall the appearance and adaptation and use of at least 75 bamboos and palms.
  3. Compare and contrast bamboo and palm features and cultural needs in different landscape situations.
  4. Identify how the plants can be used in the landscape.
  5. Recognize the variety of ways bamboos and palms are utilized by cultures around the world.

Course Content

  1. Review of botanical and horticultural names of covered plants and the terms necessary for plant identification
  2. Detailed appearance of 75 or more bamboos and palms from around the U.S. and world, including identification of the following characteristics:
    1. Leaf type
    2. Fruit
    3. Bark
    4. Form
    5. Growth habit
  3. Identify the cultural practices related to successful plant growth
    1. Planting
    2. Disease and insect pest control
    3. Propagation
    4. Pruning
    5. Adaptation
    6. Sun/shade
    7. Soil type
    8. Moisture requirements
    9. Soil pH
    10. Wildlife habitat
    11. Pest harboring
  4. Relationship of plants covered in the course to landscape design practices, including:
    1. Color
    2. Form
    3. Texture
    4. Line
    5. Edible
    6. Functional concerns
    7. Aesthetic uses
    8. Wildlife value
    9. Poisonous
  5. Discussion of how plants can be used for different purposes by other cultures

Lab Content

Not applicable.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Horticultural classroom with multi-media projection system; plant arboretum.
2. When taught online, on-going access to computer with email and internet access.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Design project
Written midterm exam on use of plants in design situations
Written final exam on use of plants in design situations
Preparation of a plant walk that locates and identifies 15 course plants

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Field observation of plants
Lectures on plant characteristics
Discussions regarding use and care of plants
Assigned reading activities
Self-guided research

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Sunset. Sunset Western Garden Book, 9th ed.. 2012.

Lucas, Susanne. Bamboo (Botanical) Reakton Books. 2013.

The Sunset text is a standard in the field, despite being older than five years. Although the Lucas text is older than five years, it is considered a seminal text on bamboos.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

Typical reading assignments will include researching up to 15 plant species per week (approximately 20 pages of reading) in representative texts. Reading assignments will also include review of Foothill Hort Plant Database.

Discipline(s)

Ornamental Horticulture