Invitation to the opening
Knowledge in five boxes: botanists present new plant system
In a plant system like this, the relationships between different species can be visualised. // Photo Gertrud Lohaus
Five plant boxes and two rainwater basins form the new plant system at the University of Wuppertal. In such a system, the relationships between individual plant species are visualised through a specific arrangement. "In recent decades, many new insights into the relationships between plants have been gained through molecular research methods," explains initiator Prof Dr Getrud Lohaus. Sometimes, the scientist adds, such advances clearly contradict the older categorisations, meaning that the system has to be changed and can only ever represent a snapshot of the current state of knowledge.
Development of land plants
The first land plants probably appeared in the Ordovician period over 450 million years ago and were related to algae. Today, four large groups are distinguished: mosses, ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms (flowering plants). One box of the new plant system is dedicated to each group, whereby the angiosperms are subdivided once again, and presents various species belonging to the group.
Depending on the season, the water lily can also be found in the new plant system // Photo Getrrud Lohaus
Biology students deal with topics such as evolution and biodiversity as well as the identification of plant species during their studies. The plant system can therefore also be used as an introduction to these specialised topics.
A number of challenges had to be overcome before the plant system could be completed in its current form: "The climatic conditions in the inner courtyard require a special approach: not every plant species could survive here, so it took some time before example species were available for the plant groups presented," explains Prof Lohaus.
Invitation to the appointment
The plant system will be opened on 1 August at 5 p.m. with a short guided tour and presentation. The meeting point is the inner courtyard of Building V (Level 7, accessible via the main entrance to Building V/W) on the Grifflenberg campus, Gaußstraße 20. Guests are very welcome.
Poster presentation and brochure
A plant system in the courtyard of a building - what is that? This is explained in detail in the 36-page brochure "The evolution of land plants in 5 acts (plant boxes)", which is available to download from the department's website. The authors are Prof Dr Gertrud Lohaus and Dr Ralf Baufeld. The individual plant groups are also described on a poster exhibition in the corridor of building V, level 7.
To the website of the team Molecular Plant Research / Plant Biochemistry (Botany)
