Hi Lee (& others), I do the same sort of "fruit salad" lab when I teach
plant systematics, with similar fun (and educational) results. The
students usually come back from their next grocery trip asking "what about
pomegranate?" and other such items they have discovered in the produce
section. I don't mind them learning that nature defies our attempts to put
boxes around everything (though I like Monique's phylogenetic approach),
nor revealing that their instructor does not know everything (they still
respect the knowledge I do have). Cheers,
Donna I. Ford-Werntz West Virginia Univ.
Herbarium Curator (WVA) Box 6057
Asst. Prof. Biol. Morgantown, WV 26506
425 Brooks Hall (304)293-5201 X2549
email: diford at wvu.edu fax: (304)293-6363
Web site at http://www.as.wvu.edu/biology/
