Course: Conifer Identification

This weekend intermediate to advanced botanical tree course will equip you with the skills needed to confidently identify conifer trees; focusing on accuracy and diagnostic features.

This course will include:

• Recognition and naming of major parts of a conifer, with reference to how they aid botanical identification.
• Use of botanical keys and other identification resources.
• Practical experience identifying conifers.

What will be covered during this course?

• The course will be delivered through a combination of seminars, laboratory identification sessions and practical field work.
• Identifying a range of woody plant species in the field and in the lab.
• Systematic approaches to identification using dichotomous keys.
• The problems of challenging taxa such as Pinus, Picea, Abies and others.
• How to record and deal with these groups individually and also as part of recording schemes.
• Techniques for collecting voucher specimens for validation. Problems with bulky species. The importance of collecting vouchers for identification. Use of collector and determiners.
• The use of referees and the validating system for difficult higher plant groups. The Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland and their system of vice-county recorders and referees who can give a determination for species.
• Awareness of published resources for identification; i.e. handbooks, cribs, general guides, online.

Residential and non-residential booking options are available.

This course is eligible for a student discount. If you are a current student, please use the discount code BioStudent20 at checkout for 20% off.

Please refer to the Field Studies Council website for further information and to book.