New England Plant Communities

The diversity of plant communities in New England is truly astounding, including several forest types, freshwater wetlands, coastal dunes, grasslands, heathlands, tidal marshes, and montane communities.  Understanding the dominant canopy species, indicator species, and range helps us to interpret our own landscape’s ecological identity.  Lectures cover effects of soils, topography, moisture, geological conditions, and glaciation.  Field trips to study the composition and structure of some distinctive plant communities complement the lectures.  Extensive handouts included.

Thursdays, June 7, 14, 21, 2012, 6:30-8:30 p.m., and Saturdays, June 9, 16, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.