Day 1
9:00–10:30
- Welcome by Professor Michelle Waycott, Chief Botanist the State Herbarium of South Australia and induction by Peter Canty, Herbarium Manager
- Lecture session 1: Michelle Waycott—Introduction to taxonomy and plant identification, role of taxonomy in forensics, herbaria and the importance of the practice of vouchering.
10.30–11:00
Morning tea
11:00–12:30
- Lecture session 2: Jürgen Kellermann—Introduction to plant classification, ranks and naming conventions. Botanical nomenclature, how plants are named. Taxonomy of Cannabaceae (new family classification) and Cannabis (monotypic, species/varieties) and the features of their classification.
12:30–13:30
Lunch
13:30–15:00
- Lecture and practical session 3: Chris Brodie and Jürgen Kellermann
- General plant morphology (habit, leaves, flowers and fruits) and introduction to observing plant characters for identification purposes.
- Cannabis morphology & structure of the species, basic life cycle.
- Practical skills – herbarium specimens, observations of morphology using microscopes.
- Detailed features of leaves, leaf hairs/glands, observations of cannabis specimens.
- Seeds and seed features.
- Practical skills—record keeping and observations to make on specimens, drawings versus notes, photography. The practicality of preparing vouchers; good and bad vouchers; how to collect, press and process specimens for vouchers. Herbarium specimen lodgement. Confidentiality.
15:00–15:30
Afternoon tea
15:30–17:00
- Lecture and practical session 4: Chris Brodie and Jürgen Kellermann
Continuation of session 3.
Close for day.
Day 2
9:00–10:30
- Lecture and practical session 5: Jürgen Kellermann and Chris Brodie
- Plant identification keys—terminology, glossaries, using different types of keys, the difference between authoritative keys, field guides and spotting characters (different examples of keys).
- Practical skills—use Flora SA treatment of the family Cannabaceae and keys to genera and species. Observe characters used in keys.
- Other species that may be mis-identified as Cannabis.
- Practical skills—spotting characters, using specimens, images and live material where available. Including monocots with characters (e.g. a lily or grass, parallel veins, etc.).
10.30–11:00
Morning tea
11:00–12:30
- Lecture and practical session 6: Jürgen Kellermann and Chris Brodie
- Continuation of session 5 and also: how to identify when it is not Cannabis [checklist]. Include provide leaf samples and fragments to identify characteristics on the checklist for cannabis ID.
12:30–13:30
Lunch
13:30–15:00
- Discussion session 7: All staff—Open session to discuss broadly and answer questions on the cannabis plant and its life cycle e.g. cuttings versus seedlings, how to tell if fungus is obscuring your specimen, when to seek specialist or expert advice. Follow up with options for participants to ask questions to clarify understanding in preparation for test. Review of study questions.
15:00–15:30
Afternoon tea
15:30–16:00
- Study or preparation period for test
16:00–17:00
- Exam session 8: Jürgen Kellermann—Test including written and practical elements.
Note: Exam results notification will available within a few days after the course and followed by certificates of course completion for participants.