This module is designed to provide training in the basic techniques for identification of common Irish wild flowering plants. Course participants are required to build a portfolio of at least 100 plant species by collecting and preserving specimens in a herbarium as well as keeping photographic records of the plants in their natural habitat (at the time of collection). Each specimen catalogued is to be labelled with its common and scientific name and the family to which it belongs with the aid of text books and botanical keys.

Workshops will be provided to identify plant morphological features, to demonstrate the use of identification keys and to assist in the identification of specimens. Guidance will also be provided on field work and plant collecting to ensure compliance with plant protection legislation and health and safety considerations.

The course is open to all persons interested in learning how to identify common Irish wild flowering plants and to learn their common and scientific names.

Course participants will be taught how to collect plants, preserve them as dried specimens in a herbarium and given guidance on making photographic records of specimens in the field. They will be taught how to catalogue their material into files, and upload species and common names according to plant family in alphabetical order in Excel speadsheets. By undertaking these tasks the course participants will learn the names of the plants, the families to which they belong, their natural habitats, and the life cycle and morphological changes (foliage and flowers) occurring over the growing season.

Workshops will be used to demonstrate preservation techniques and cataloguing as herbarium specimens, assist participants in identifying the names of plants, demonstrate the morphological features of plants, the use of plant identification keys and accessing databases.