1 credit
Spring 2026 Laboratory Upper Division
Over millions of years, plants have evolved the ability to biosynthesize thousands of compounds. In only the last few thousand years, humans have cultivated plants for their ability to feed, heal, intoxicate and even poison - depending upon the plant and the compounds they produce. The objective of this course is to learn and apply plant taxonomy to identify and study the regional flora of Indiana with a focus on flora used in the production 'intoxicants'. Individuals must be 21 years of age no later than the first day of class. Permission of instructor required.
Learning Outcomes1Identify important plant orders and families used in the making of spirits, wine and beer.
2Recall the vegetative and floral characters (and the associated terminology) that are essential for the identification of flowering plants.
3Use plant identification keys to quickly determine the scientific name of any plant.
4Describe the properties of plants and fungi and relate them to their abilities and their contributions to human society, namely intoxication.
5Develop an appreciation (connoisseurship) that plants provide in the form of wine, beer, and spirits and learn about their role in human civilization, past and present.
Prerequisites
made by Purdue students.