- Introduction to the course. Introduction to botany. Botany is the science that studies plant organisms. The study of plant diversity.
-Species concept, systematics and taxonomy. Classification methods. Artificial and natural classification systems. Analogy and homology. Taxonomic ranks. The species: morphological concept and biological concept. Phylogenetic classification. Nomenclature. International Code of Botanical Nomenclature. Main and secondary ranks. Subspecies, varieties and cultivars. Main rules of the code. Taxon of hybrid origin. Speciation in plants. Polyploid speciation. Apomixis or Agamospermia. Introgression.
- Prokaryotes: Cyanobacteria: notes on cytology, motility, heterocysts. Biological nitrogen fixation. Systematic. Ecological and evolutionary importance. Cyanobacteria in mountain environments.
- Autotrophic eukaryotic organisms (1st part). The first autotrophic thalophytes. Playback. Algae: microalgae and macroalgae (notes on general characteristics and ecology). Reproduction in algae. Freshwater algae. Algae and eutrophication.
- Mushrooms: Distinctive characteristics, elements on morphology and reproduction. Main phyla (Zygomycota, Myxomycota, Chytridiomycota, Oomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota). Ecological importance. Yeasts. Lichens. Mycorrhizae.
- Autotrophic eukaryotic organisms (1st part). The first autotrophic thalophytes. Emerging from the water. Phylogenetic relationships between the main groups of land plants. The great stages of the evolution of plant organisms. Paleobotany.
- Bryophytes: Musci, Hepaticae, Anthocerotae; bryophytes as bioindicators.
- Autotrophic eukaryotic organisms (2nd part). Seedless vascular plants or pteridophytes: general characters, diagnostic characters, reproduction, notes on systematics (and ecology): Lycophytes, Monylophytes (Psilotopsida, Equisetopsida, Polypodiopsida with examples and observation of fresh material).
- Vascular plants with seed: Gymnosperms: notes on general diagnostic characters, systematics (and ecology). Angiosperms: general characteristics; diversity and notes on evolution; evolution of floral morphology; Inflorescences; the fruit; notes on systematics; Comparison between the division into "classical" (Cronquist system) and molecular (APG- Angiosperm Phylogeny Group) families.
Main families of herbaceous plants of the Italian flora (according to APG), diagnostic characters and examples of genera and species (ecology and distribution).
- basal angiosperms (Nymphaeaceae)
- archaic angiosperms (Magnoliids: Aristolochiaceae, Magnoliaceae).
- Monocotyledons: Alliaceae, Cyperaceae, Juncaceae, Liliaceae ss, Iridaceae, Orchidaceae, Poaceae.
- Eu-dicotyledons: Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Boraginaceae, Brassicaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Ericaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Geraniaceae, Lamiaceae, Plantaginaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, Rubiaceae, Scrophulariaceae. Orobancaceae.
- identification of vascular plants. The identification keys and their use: the Flora of Italy (Pignatti), the Portal of the flora of Italy (Portal to the flora of Italy 2020.1).
- Notes on the Italian vascular flora: native flora and alien flora, notes on ranges and biological forms. - The Herbariums, the Herbarium of Tuscia. How to make a personal herbarium.

Main books:
- Pasqua G., Abbate G., Forni C., last edition - General botany and plant diversity. Small.
- Y. Fragniere et al. – “Connaissances botaniques de base en un coup d’oeil” – Ulmer
- Pignatti - La Flora d'Italia