FLORA MEDICINALE REGIONALE
Academic Year 2026/2027 - Teacher: GIUSEPPE MALFAExpected Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Ability to Understand: The course provides the tools for the recognition of the main families of plants of herbal and health interest in the regional medicinal flora
Ability to Apply Knowledge and Understanding: the student acquires the skills necessary to understand the use and utilization of medicinal plants of the regional medicinal flora in the health sector
Ability to Learn: the student becomes capable of recognizing and identifying the morphological traits peculiar to plants of the regional medicinal flora
Autonomy of judgment: the student develops critical thinking skills in being able to observe and recognize medicinal plants both in situ and ex situ
Problem-solving skills: the student is challenged to recognize the botanical and health characteristics of medicinal plants as well as techniques for collecting and preserving plant specimens.
Course Structure
The course will be structured around frontal teaching with PowerPoint projection and/or short films. The course will include exercises and problem-based learning. If the course is delivered in blended or remote mode, we may make appropriate adjustments to the above to ensure consistency with the syllabus.
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Required Prerequisites
No minimum prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
• Methods for collecting, preserving, and cataloging plants (herbarium).
• Morphological characters primarily used in plant classification.
• Use of analytical keys for family identification.
• Description of the medicinal taxa primarily distributed in the region.
• Gymnospermae: Cupressaceae, Pinaceae
Angiospermae:
LILIOPSIDA (MONOCOTILEDONES)
Alliaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae, Asphodelaceae, Colchicaceae, Smilacaceae,
MAGNOLIOPSIDA (DICOTYLEDONES)
Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Betulaceae, Brassicaceae, Boraginaceae, Cactaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Clusiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Equisetaceae, Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Linaceae, Malvaceae, Myrtaceae,
Oleaceae, Papaveraceae, Plantaginaceae, Portucalaceae, Rosaceae, Rutaceae, Salicaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Urticaceae, Valerianaceae.
The program is divided into three parts based on a chronological order of the topics covered.
PART ONE 2 CFU LT – 14 hours
Methods for collecting, preserving, and cataloging plants (herbarium).
Morphological characters mainly used in plant classification.
Use of analytical keys for family identification.
Description of the taxa of medicinal interest mainly distributed in the region.
Gymnospermae: Cupressaceae, Pinaceae
PART TWO 2 CFU LT – 14h
LILIOPSIDA (MONOCOTILEDONES)
Alliaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae, Asphodelaceae, Colchicaceae, Smilacaceae
MAGNOLIOPSIDA (DICOTYLEDONES)
Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Betulaceae, Brassicaceae, Boraginaceae, Cactaceae
PART THREE 2 CFU LT – 14h
MAGNOLIOPSIDA (DICOTYLEDONES)
Cactaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Clusiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Equisetaceae, Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Linaceae, Malvaceae, Myrtaceae
Oleaceae, Papaveraceae, Plantaginaceae, Portucalaceae, Rosaceae, Rutaceae, Salicaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Urticaceae, Valerianaceae.
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Use of analytical keys to identify families. Description of the medicinal taxa mainly distributed in the region. | Texts: 1 Teacher's handouts |
| 2 | Methods for collecting, preserving, and cataloguing plants (herbarium). The morphological characteristics mainly used in plant classification. | Texts: 1 Teacher's handouts |
| 3 | Gymnospermae: Cupressaceae, Pinaceae | Texts: 1 and 2; Teacher's handouts |
| 4 | MAGNOLIOPSIDA (DICOTILEDONES)Apiaceae, Asteraceae Betulaceae, Brassicaceae, Boraginaceae, Cactaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Clusiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Equisetaceae, Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Linaceae, Malvaceae, Myrtaceae, Oleaceae, Papaveraceae, Plantaginaceae, Portucalaceae, Rosaceae, Rutaceae, Salicaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Urticaceae, Valerianaceae. | Texts: 1 and 2; Teacher's handouts |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The final exam will be assessed based on the following indicators, weighted equally and consistently with those described in the expected learning outcomes (Dublin Descriptors):
- personal development skills and operational initiative;
- ability to consult and use bibliographical material;
- presentation skills;
- scientific understanding of the topic.
Therefore, the final grade takes into account the following factors:
Quality of knowledge, skills, and competencies possessed and/or demonstrated:
a) appropriateness, correctness, and consistency of knowledge
b) appropriateness, correctness, and consistency of skills
c) appropriateness, correctness, and consistency of skills
Method of presentation:
a) Expressive ability;
b) Appropriate use of subject-specific language;
c) Logical ability and consistency in connecting content;
d) Ability to connect different topics by identifying common ground and establishing a coherent overall design, i.e., by focusing on the structure, organisation, and logical connections of the expository discourse;
e) Ability to synthesise, including through the use of subject-specific symbolism and the graphical expression of notions and concepts, such as formulas, diagrams, and equations.
Relational Skills:
Ability to exchange and interact with the instructor during the interview.
Personal Qualities:
a) Critical thinking;
b) Self-assessment skills;
c) Problem-solving skills;
d) Decision-making skills.