Comprehensive Botanical Curriculum at Your Own Pace

From understanding plant anatomy to mastering plant families, this course covers everything you need to excel in botany and plant identification. You'll have 3 months access to the course, plus unlimited downloads of the course content that you can save for future reference.

Live Learning Experiences

Join three 1 hour Q and A sessions with Kat and get all your questions answered on everything from plant anatomy to working with edible and medicinal plants.  All Q and A sessions will be recorded.  -Monday, April 7th, 6:30 - 7:30 pm, MST -Monday, May 12th, 6:30 - 7:30 pm, MST -Monday, June 16th, 6:30 - 7:30 pm, MST

Expert-Led Instruction

Benefit from Kat Mackinnon's expertise as a botanist, forager, and herbalist as you delve into the fascinating world of botany and gain valuable insights into plant identification.

Unlock the Next-level  in Your Botany Skills

Whether you're a novice just starting out, or an enthusiast who has been studying for years, this course is designed to elevate your botanical knowledge, sharpen your skills, and empower you to confidently identify a wide range of plants. 

The (Rather Fabulous) Syllabus

6 Chapters · 68 Lessons

  1. 1

    Introduction to Botany

    1. Course Introduction Free preview
    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Botany vs Plant ID

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Four Directions - A Model for Learning

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Botany Course Resourses and Downloadable PDFs

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Live Q and A Session Dates and Video Links

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      April 7 Q and A Recording - Spring 2025

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      May 12 Q and A Recording - Spring 2025

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Optional Assignment - Profile your Plants - Due by June 25th, 2025

  2. 2

    Botanical Classifications

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Introduction to Botanical Language

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Plant Classification Part 1: Taxonomy, Flowering vs Non-flowering Plants

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Plant Classification Part 2: Monocots and Dicots

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Plant Classification Part 3: Plant Families

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Plant Classification Part 4: Plant Subfamilies

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Plant Classification Part 5: Latin Binomials and Common Names

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Botanical Classifications Quiz

  3. 3

    Botanical Terminology

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Organoleptics, the Human Senses and Plant ID

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Plant Habits I

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Plant Habit II

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Plant Communities and Ecology - Life Zones and Biomes

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Plant Habitats

    6. Leaves I - Basic Anatomy Free preview
    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Leaves II - Venation and Surfaces

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Leaves III - Margins, Bases, and Apices

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Leaves IV - Leaf Arrangement

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Leaves V - Leaf Shapes, Simple vs. Compound Leaves

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Botanical Terminology - Leafy Things Quiz

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Flower Anatomy I: Intro to 4 Whorls, Sepals and Petals

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Flower Anatomy II: Perianth

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Flower Anatomy III: Reproductive Structures - Stamen and Ovaries (Pistils)

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      Flower Anatomy IV: Ovary Positions

    16. (Included in full purchase)

      Flower Anatomy V: Fruits

    17. (Included in full purchase)

      Flower Anatomy VI: Carpels and Pistils

    18. (Included in full purchase)

      Flower Anatomy VII: Locules, Placenta, and Septum

    19. (Included in full purchase)

      Flower Anatomy VIII: Placentation Types

    20. (Included in full purchase)

      Flower Anatomy IX: Perfect, Imperfect, Monoecious and Dioecious

    21. (Included in full purchase)

      Flower Anatomy X: Flower Symmetry

    22. (Included in full purchase)

      Inflorescences (Flower Arrangement) I: Intro to Inflorescences

    23. (Included in full purchase)

      Inflorescences II : Inflorescence Terminology - Peduncle, Pedicil, Floret, and Receptacle

    24. (Included in full purchase)

      Inflorescences III: Spikes, Racemes, and Panicles

    25. Inflorences IV: Simple and Compound Umbels Free preview
    26. (Included in full purchase)

      Inflorescences V: Flowers in Heads

    27. (Included in full purchase)

      Botanical Terminology - Flowers & Fruits Quiz

  4. 4

    Plant Families: Edible, Medicinal, and Poisonous

    1. Introduction to Plant Families Free preview
    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Asteraceae - Sunflower Family Characteristics

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Anacardiaceae - Cashew, Mango, or Poison Ivy Family Characteristics

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Apiaceae - Carrot Family Characteristics

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Apocynaceae - Dogbane Family Characteristics

    6. Brassicaceae - Mustard Family Characteristics Free preview
    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Fabaceae - Pea Family Characteristics

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Lamiaceae - Mint Family Characteristics

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Melanthiaceae - Bunchflower Family Characteristics

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Amaryllidaceae - Onion or Amaryllis Family Characteristics

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Poaceae - Grass or Grain Family Characteristics

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Pinaceae - Pine Family Characteristics

    13. Ranunculaceae - Buttercup Family Characteristics Free preview
    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Rosaceae - Rose Family Characteristics

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      Salicaceae - Willow or Cottonwood Family Characteristics

    16. (Included in full purchase)

      Solanaceae - Nightshade Family Characteristics

  5. 5

    Botanical Keying

    1. Introduction to Botanical Keying Free preview
    2. (Included in full purchase)

      How to Read a Dichotemous Key

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      How to Profile a Plant Before Keying

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Botanical Keying Example - Part I

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Botanical Keying Example - Part II

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Keying Tips and Troubleshooting

  6. 6

    Wildcrafting Ethics; How to Cultivate Relationship

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Introduction to Wildcrafting Ethics, Locations, and Permission

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Fragile Ecosystems, Plants, and Curbing your Herb Lust

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Wildcrafting and Accurate Identification Practices

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Creating a Wildcrafting Checklist - What Questions to Ask Before Harvesting

About Kat

Most of my work in the herb world is as a teacher and a clinician, and I approach both of those things from a Vitalist perspective. This means I'm always looking for the root cause of disease.  One of the things I strongly believe humans need is a connection with land and place - without it, something in us begins to weaken. For me, one of the most powerful ways to connect with my landscape is by understanding the life around me, especially the food and medicine plants.  My experience with plant identification started with learning from my mother and grandmother, a horticulturist and a farmer, respectively. As a forestry major at Northern Arizona University, I was introduced to the more technical botanical language and ecological studies and got hooked. I've had the privilege of teaching botany through several programs, including directing the Rocky Mountain Field Botany program through the Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism. After teaching botany for almost 2 decades, I'm so excited to share these skills with you!

Ready to Dive Into Botany?

Take the next step towards mastering botany and plant identification. Enroll now to access exclusive content, practical lessons, and expert guidance that will take your botanical skills to new heights. Early Bird Class Cost Before March 21st, 2025: $100 Regular Class Cost March 22-April 6: $125

$125.00

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