Plants comprise most of the mass of living things on land, serve as the ultimate source of almost all human food and energy, and are a dominating force in the carbon and oxygen cycles. This lecture, reading and lab course will introduce topics in plant systematics, evolution, genetics, genomics, development, and ecology, with emphasis on plant interactions with soil and the bacteria, fungi, and animals that inhabit it. Students from all options are welcome. Not offered 2023-24.