Plants of Tasmania unit (KPZ313)

Hobart

Introduction

This unit provides a comprehensive introduction to the diversity of plants found in Tasmania. In online delivery, we examine the major natural vegetation communities in Tasmania, and critically appraise current understanding of past and present processes that have shaped these communities, as well as their conservation and scientific significance. The larger component of the unit is a practically-based introduction to the major groups of land plants (bryophytes, ferns and gymnosperms), key flowering plant families, and the features that enable you to identify each. This level of understanding of the diversity of plants, their communities, and the forces shaping them will give you a new appreciation of the Tasmanian environment and its global context. This unit is a core unit in the Plant Science major of the BSc. The combination of this unit with KPZ314 Fauna of Tasmania and the field-based summer school KPZ301 Tasmanian Field Ecology provides some of the best undergraduate training in practical field ecology in Australia.

Summary

Unit name	Plants of Tasmania
Unit code	KPZ313
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Sciences and Engineering School of Natural Sciences
Discipline	Biological Sciences
Coordinator	Professor Greg Jordan
Available as an elective?	Yes
Delivered By
Level	Advanced

Availability

Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August

Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Semester 2	4/7/2027	26/7/2027	29/8/2027	23/10/2027

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2027 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2027 will be available from the 1st October 2026. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

• Identify Tasmanian flowering and non-flowering plants using a variety of diagnostic tools
• Compare and contrast hypotheses proposed to explain the distribution of the main natural vegetation types of Tasmania.
• Appraise different views on the origins and conservation significance of the Tasmanian flora
• Effectively communicate the systematic relationships and defining characteristics of taxa including elements of the Tasmanian flora

Fee Information

2027 fee information will be available in August.

Requisites

Prerequisites

50 credit points of Bachelor of Science units

Mutual Exclusions

You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:

KPA210

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	two four hour excursions replacing the prac class and tutorial for those weeks. 10 four hour face-to-face combined tutorial/prac classes (one per week, except weeks with excursions). Online content delivering theory. This is partitioned into weekly modules.
Assessment	Final identification test (20%)|Quiz (20%)|Infographic (30%)|Weekly prac tests (30%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	Required readings will be listed in the unit outline prior to the start of classes.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.