Instructors: Walter Judd (Dept. Biology, 220 Bartram Hall, PO Box 118525, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-8525; e-mail: lyonia@ufl.edu; phone: 352-273-1983). Christopher Baraloto (International Center for Tropical Botany, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Florida International Univ., 11200 SW 8th St., OE 243, Miami, FL 33199; e-mail: cbaralot@fiu.edu); Lucas Majure (Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix, AZ 85008; e-mail: lmajure@dbg.org), In addition, Scott Zona (F.I.U.) will present the lecture and lab on Arecaceae.

The Course: Tropical Botany is an intensive course of study in the biology and systematics of tropical plants. Subject matter will be largely based on the extensive holdings of tropical vascular plants at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, The Kampong of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, and the Montgomery Botanical Center  These gardens have the largest living collections of tropical plants in the United States. Additionally, field trips will be made to the Florida Everglades, the Florida Keys, and adjacent natural areas. The natural vegetation of South Florida, which includes littoral and dry land habitats, mixed tropical hardwood hammocks, pinelands, and mangrove communities, will introduce students to the diversity of tropical vegetation. The object of the course is to provide advanced students and/or professionals with a detailed coverage of the systematics, phylogeny, diversity of structure, economic botany and conservation of tropical seed plants. Questions concerning the course should be addressed to Dr. Judd or Dr. Baraloto.

Credit-hours: Tropical Botany is taught as a workshop sponsored by The Kampong of the National Tropical Botanical Garden and the International Center for Tropical Botany, with the collaboration of Fairchild Tropical Garden and the Montgomery Botanical Center. If academic credit is desired, students may arrange for credit from their home institutions, or they may enroll in either BSC 6936 (graduate) or BSC 4934 (undergraduate) at Florida International Univ. (Dept. Biological Sciences) and receive 2-3 semester credit hours. These courses can be taken by both non-F.I.U. as well as F.I.U. students.

Enrollment & Application: Limited to 13 participants, with preference given to upper-level students or professional biologists/teachers; advanced undergraduates may also apply.

Individuals should apply by March 10th, 2017 (to Dr. Judd, see address above). Applications should include the following: a letter stating reasons for taking the course, a curriculum vita, and a letter of recommendation (sent separately). Applicants will be notified of acceptance by March 24th, 2017.

Accommodation: Students will be housed at The Kampong (Tyson dormitory in the Scarborough House), but, if desired, housing is also available at a hotel near the Kampong. Facilities at The Kampong include 2 dorm-style rooms with bunk beds, shared kitchenette for self-catering, laundry facility and Wi-Fi access. Tentatively, dorm fees are $25 per day payable directly to The Kampong.

Fees: A course fee of $1700 (paid to the Kampong) is required to cover course/workshop costs.

Scholarships: A limited number of scholarships are available to cover full or partial course fees, lodging and travel. Priority will be reserved for international students with demonstrated need. To apply, please include a one-page statement that explains how you hope to contribute to tropical plant biology and conservation in your region of study or residence, a total budget for your participation in the course, and a request for full or partial support. Decisions for scholarship will be made with notifications of acceptance by March 24th, 2017.

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