Syllabus for Botany 107: Plants, People and Culture - Fall 2023

Lectures: BioMd B103 Lectures M & W 12:30-1:20 pm

Lab Sect 01 St. John 157 Fridays 8:30-9:20 am TA: Ana Flores
Lab Sect 02 St. John 157 Fridays 9:30-10:20 am TA: Ana Flores
Lab Sect 03 St. John 157 Fridays 10:30-11:20 am TA: Ana Flores
Lab Sect 04 St. John 157 Fridays 11:30 am-12:20 pm TA: Natalie Blum
Lab Sect 05 St. John 157 Fridays 12:30-1:20 pm TA: Natalie Blum
Lab Sect 06 St. John 157 Fridays 1:30-2:20 pm TA: Natalie Blum

Instructor:
Mark Merlin merlin@hawaii.edu

Graduate Teaching Assistants:

Ana Flores flores29@hawaii.edu Labs: Sections 01, 02, 03
Natalie Blum nblum@hawaii.edu Labs: Sections 04, 05, 06

Learning Outcomes for Introductory Ethnobotany:

The field of ethnobotany encompasses nearly every aspect of human livelihoods from the dawn
of civilization up to the present day. From the sacred Bodhi trees of south Asia to the
Sandalwood trees of remote tropical Pacific Islands, this class will explore how we manipulate
plants to suit our needs, and how plants manipulate our cultures to suit theirs. By the end of this
course, students will have obtained an understanding of how plants have, and continue to shape
human livelihoods and culture. While a significant portion of the class will examine people and
plants from around the globe, a principal learning objective is that students will learn to discuss
and appreciate the roles of plants in their own daily lives. Students will become familiar with
the basic tools of botanical and social sciences in order that they may conduct their own
independent ethnobotanical research.

Course Details:

Introductory Ethnobotany is a three-credit class, there are two lectures per week and a
50-minute laboratory on Fridays. Labs will generally consist of hands-on observational
exercises demonstrations. Your safety is important to us and we will not ask you to do anything
that we would not feel safe doing ourselves. However, the most important thing is that I hope
that we will have a great semester.

Much information is or will be posted on the course Laulima site (see the Resources Page).
Please refer to this website for up- to-date information about course schedules and assignments.
If you have questions about an assignment or course content, please feel free to email me (Mark
Merlin) or your lab instructor. If you want to talk to me, the best way to do that is to email me
and we can set up, if need be, an appointment for an in-person meeting.
Lectures:

Mark Merlin will present “live” lectures on Mondays and Wednesdays, 12:30 – 1:20 PM in the
BioMd B103 auditorium.

Labs:

Labs will be a combination of group and some independent activities along with additional
video demonstrations when needed. The first lab will meet on Friday, August 25, during the
time of your lab section.

Readings will be assigned from a wide variety of published sources, including a number
authored or co-authored by Dr. Merlin, in addition, some reading will come from the course
text: Balick, Michael J. and Paul A. Cox. 2021. Plants, People, and Culture: The science of
ethnobotany (second edition).

Many additional readings will be posted on Laulima (via the Resources page for Botany 107).

Sick Policy:

If you are sick or not feeling well, please take care of yourself and do not come to campus. We
trust you, and we will not require a doctor’s note. Please let your course instructor and lab
teaching assistant know if you will miss any assignments so that we can figure out a makeup
opportunity.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:

We will make every effort to accommodate students with disabilities. If you feel that you have a
disability that might make it difficult to participate in certain course activities, please contact
Dr. Merlin (via Kokua if necessary) as early as possible. The KOKUA program for students is
located on campus and is well suited to help overcome difficulties, more information on this
office is available on their website: www.hawaii.edu/kokua. Any information discussed with
instructors or KOKUA about student disability is confidential.

Exams:

There are three exams: Each exam will be worth 25 points and will be administered in class;
each will cover roughly one third of the course. There will be no final exam! Exams will be
closed book, in class activities. We require that you work alone. On the dates of the exams, you
will have 50 minutes to take each exam between 12:30 and 1:20 pm. 25 possible points will be
available via your attendance and lab assignments. Total possible points – 100.
Short Written Assignments:

There are some written assignments that will be administered through your lab and monitored
by your Graduate Teaching Assistant, Ana or Natalie (details will be provided in your lab
meetings). Guidelines for written assignments can be found on Laulima in Lab Resources.

Academic Honesty:

All students are presumed to be familiar with departmental policies regarding academic
integrity. Refer to the Student Conduct Code Policies:
http://studentaffairs.manoa.hawaii.edu/downloads/conduct_code/UHM_Student_Conduct_Code
.pdf for additional information. Students should not tolerate instances of dishonesty among their
peers, and you are strongly encouraged to discuss any instances you may know about with a
member of the course staff. Such information will be treated confidentially. To learn more
about what constitutes plagiarism, and how to avoid it. Please consult this page from the UH
English Language Institute: https://www.hawaii.edu/eli/useful-information-for-
students/academic-honesty/

Grading:

Points possible:
25 Exam 1 9/26 50 questions, each worth 1/2 pt.
25 Exam 2 10/31 50 questions, each worth 1/2 pt.
25 Exam 3 12/7 50 questions, each worth 1/2 pt.
25 Lab Assessment 5 one-page essays, 4 pts each; 5 pts for participation, attendance
100 Total Points Possible

Grades to be assigned based on a percentage of total points obtained approximately as follows:

A+= 97-100%; A = 93-96.9%; A-=90-92.9%; B+=87-89.9%; B=83-86.9%; B-=80-82.9%;

C+=77-79.9%; C=73-76.9%; C-=70-72.9%; D+= 67-69.9%; D=63-66.9%; D-=60-62.9 %; 59
or lower = F

Lectures/Labs Date Topics for Lectures and Labs

(Note: Readings for specific lectures & labs will be Posted on Bot 107 Laulima resources page)

Lecture 1 M: 8/21/23 Introduction to course and ethnobotany

(Read Balick & Cox text, Chapter 1)

Lecture 2 W: 8/23/23 Cannabis as a multipurpose plant with an ancient history

(Read Balick & Cox pp. 163-167 & 99-101; additional Readings
will be posted on Laulima Resources for Bot 107)

Lab 1 F: 8/25/23 Introduction to Lab, short tour of the St. John Garden
 (Students choose species to write about – one page essay
Plant Description, Biogeography, Ecology & Uses)

Lecture 3 M: 8/28/23 The Scientific Method, part 1

(Read Balick & Cox text, Chapter 1; also Read the
“Informal Glossary” focused on the Assumptions and
Characteristics of “Western Science,” posted on Laulima
Resources page for Bot 107)

Lecture 4 W: 8/30/23 The Scientific Method, part 2

(Continue reading the “Informal Glossary” focused on the
Assumptions and Characteristics of “Western Science”)

No Labs F: 9/01/23 One page essay on plant species of your choice in St John garden
near lab room is due by 11:59 pm this date via Laulima: Contents
of your essay: Plant Description, Biogeography, Ecology & Uses

No Lecture M: 9/04/23 Holiday: Labor Day

Lecture 5 W: 9/06/23 Origins of Planet Earth, Life, and the Rise of Homo sapiens
(Read Balick & Cox text, Chapters 2 & 3 (Additional readings to
be posted on Bot 107 Laulima Resources)

(Readings will be posted on Laulima Resources for Bot 107)

Lab 2 F: 9/08/23 Plant parts and Anatomy: Introduction to some basic Botany

Lecture 6 M: 9/11/23 Hunters & Gatherers with more on hemp

(Read Balick & Cox text, Chapter 4 & 5.
(Additional readings posted on Bot 107 Laulima Resources)

Lecture 7 W: 9/13/23 Plants of the Gods – Old and New World Entheogens
(Read Balick & Cox text, Chapter 6; Additional readings to be
posted on Bot 107 Laulima Resources)

Lab 3 F: 9/15/23 Visit/Observe Multipurpose Coconut Palms, UH Campus

Lecture 8 M: 9/18/23 Origin of Agriculture 1 (Read Balick & Cox text, Ch. 4 & 5,
Additional readings posted on Bot 107 Laulima Resources)

Lecture 9 W: 9/20/23 Origin of Agriculture 2 (Read Balick & Cox text, Ch. 4 & 5,
Additional readings posted on Bot 107 Laulima Resources)

Lab 4 F: 9/22/23 Visit to Papa Loʻi O Kānewai (active taro patch) on Campus
 One page essay on traditional agriculture, and specifically the
loʻi is due on 9/29 by 11:59 pm via Laulima: Contents of your
essay: Plant Description, Biogeography, Ecology & Uses

Exam 1 M: 9/25/23 First of three class examinations – 50 questions

Lecture 10 W: 9/27/23 Rise and Fall of Civilizations – role of plants part 1

(Readings will be posted on Laulima Resources for Bot 107)

Lab 5 F: 9/29/23 Visit multipurpose plant species on Campus, including the

Ti shrub (Cordyline fruticosa) and Hala tree (Pandanus
tectorius)

Lecture 11 M: 10/02/23 Rise and Fall of Civilizations – role of the plants part 2
(Readings will be posted on Laulima Resources for Bot 107)

Lecture 12 W: 10/04/23 Rise and Fall of Civilizations – role of the plants part 3
(Readings will be posted on Laulima Resources for Bot 107)

Lab 6 F: 10/06/23 Visit another multipurpose plant species on UH Campus:

Breadfruit tree. Student Assignment: one-page
Plant Description, Biogeography, Ecology & Uses

Lecture 13 M: 10/09/23 Columbian Exchange: Homogenization of Worlds Plants?

(Readings will be posted on Laulima Resources for Bot 107)

Lecture 14 W: 10/11/23 Ecological Imperialism – Exploitation and Environment

(Readings will be posted on Laulima Resources for Bot 107)

Lab 7 F: 10/13/22 Visit plant species on Campus: alien example, Kiawe tree
(Prosopis pallida) from Peru. Student Assignment: one-page
Essay due on 10/20 by 11:59 pm via Laulima –
Plant Description, Biogeography, Ecology & Uses

Lecture 15 M: 10/16/23 Psychoactive Plants: Stimulants and Narcotics

(Read Balick & Cox text, Chapter 6; Additional readings to be
posted on Bot 107 Laulima Resources)

Lecture 16 W: 10/18/23 Psychoactive Plants: Entheogens, Deliriants, & Inebriants

(Read Balick & Cox text, Chapter 6; Additional readings to be
posted on Bot 107 Laulima Resources)

Lab 8 F: 10/20/23 Visit plant species on Campus: native example: Sandalwood

Student Assignment: one-page essay on Santalum spp. due on
 10/27 by 11:59 pm via Laulima
Plant Descriptions, Biogeography, Ecology & Uses

Lecture 17 M: 10/23/23 The Peopling of the Pacific: Saga of Long-distance Voyaging

(Readings will be posted on Laulima Resources for Bot 107)

Lecture 18 W: 10/25/23 The Transported Landscape of Pacific Islanders

(Readings will be posted on Laulima Resources for Bot 107)

Lab 9 F: 10/27/23 Cordage: various plant sources, with coconut sennit example

Exam 2 M: 10/30/23 Second of three class examinations – 50 questions

Lecture 19 W: 11/01/23 Canoe Plants of the Pacific Islanders, part 1

(Readings will be posted on Laulima Resources for Bot 107)

Lab 10 F: 11/03/23 Visit plant species: Ficus religiosa:

Cross-cultural perspectives of the sacred Bodhi Tree; with
comments on other fig trees too.

Lecture 20 M: 11/06/23 Canoe Plants of the Pacific Islanders, part 2

(Readings will be posted on Laulima Resources for Bot 107)

Lecture 21 W: 11/08/23 Cultural Keystone Species

(Readings will be posted on Laulima Resources for Bot 107)

No Labs F: 11/10/23 Holiday: Veterans Day

Lecture 22 M: 11/13/23 Medicinal Plants: Turmeric, Noni, Kava, and others

(Readings will be posted on Laulima Resources for Bot 107)

Lecture 23 W: 11/15/23 Cross Cultural Perspectives - Diseases & Illnesses

(Readings will be posted on Laulima Resources for Bot 107)

Lab 11 F: 11/17/23 Botanical Basis for Clothing, including Tapa Bark Cloth

Lecture 24 M: 11/20/23 Dyes, Tannins, and Fibers

(Readings will be posted on Laulima Resources for Bot 107)

Lecture 25 M: 11/22/23 Historical Perspectives of Hemp for Fiber

(Readings will be posted on Laulima Resources for Bot 107)

No Labs F: 11/24/23 Day after Thanksgiving (Non-Instructional Day)

Lecture 26 M: 11/27/23 Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), a Long History

 (Readings will be posted on Laulima Resources for Bot 107)

Lecture 27 W: 11/29/23 Plants and People and Ethical Dilemmas

(Readings will be posted on Laulima Resources for Bot 107)

Lab 13 F: 12/01/23 Visit and Observations to more unique and useful plant
Species on UH Campus; Class review of Lab content.

Lecture 28 M: 12/04/23 Ethnoecology, Conservation and a Class Review

(Read Balick & Cox text, Chapter 7; Additional readings to be
posted on Bot 107 Laulima Resources)

Exam 3 W: 12/06/22 Third of three class examinations – 50 questions