Maricopa Community Colleges  AGS190   20006-99999 
Official Course Description:   MCCCD Approval:  06/27/00  
AGS190      20006-99999 LEC 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s)
Arid Land Plants Identification and Use
Covers xerophytes common in southern Arizona and their applications to specific desert landscape situations. Identification, cultural requirements, and physical characteristics related to landscape design, including both mature plants and live containerized material. Prerequisites: None
 
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
AGS190   20006-99999 Arid Land Plants Identification and Use
1. Describe environmental limitations, and explain how municipalities adjust to limited water. (I)
2. Describe current landscape design concepts for low water usage. (I)
3. Explain how plant placement benefits associated plants and structures to modify environmental stress factors. (II)
4. Explain how arid region plants collect and conserve water and how these techniques can be optimized in landscape design. (III)
5. Identify the botanical differences between major plant families, and describe the important plant characteristics associated with landscape design. (IV)
6. Describe the reasons for plant placement, and explain how to categorize plants for this placement. (IV, V)
7. Identify surveyed plants and assign them to specific landscape situations by physical characteristics and cultural requirements. (VI)
8. Specify appropriate plant size and spacing for landscape plants. (VII)
9. Identify local growers, and describe their inventory. (VII)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
AGS190   20006-99999 Arid Land Plants Identification and Use
    I. Water Conservation in an Arid Environment
        A. Water harvesting of surface runoff and groundwater
        B. Water usage and surplus depletion
        C. Developing trends in water allocation
      II. The Arid Region Landscape and Resource Conservation
          A. Landscape type comparisons
            1. Mini-oasis concept
            2. Planting density concept
          B. Design plant symbiosis
          C. Climate modification
        III. Plant Adaptations to Arid Conditions
            A. Leaf persistence
            B. Water collection
            C. Desert habitats
          IV. Plant Characteristics
              A. Family taxonomic features
              B. Defining plant form, color, and texture
              C. Solar exposure
              D. Habit
            V. Landscape Usage
                A. Aesthetic physical properties
                B. Functional physical properties
              VI. Plant Survey
                  A. Annuals
                  B. Perennial groundcovers
                  C. Small shrubs
                  D. Large shrubs
                  E. Trees
                  F. Vines
                VII. Plant Availability and Landscape Design
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