Obtain either a set of sham plants or a film can containing a sample of seeds. In the container you may find one or more of the following species: Adzuki bean (brown, white, black mottled); Black turtle bean; Black-eyed pea (Cow pea; white with black "eye"); Broad bean (large, brown); Castor bean (mottled); Garbanzo (Chick pea; yellow, round); Green bean; Lentil (brown); Mung bean (round, green); Navy bean (white); and Sunflower seed (actually a fruit).

Sort the plants or seeds into individual species.

1. How many species do you recognize? ___________
2. What criteria did you use to separate the seeds into species?
3. Do others in the class agree with your decision? Why might they disagree?
4. Could the seeds all be subspecies of a single species? Explain.
5. Are members of your group "lumpers" or "splitters"?
6. How did you define "species"? Discuss the pro's and cons of your definition. Are there other possible definitions? What are some pro's and cons of each?  Have you considered variability?

Now, group the species into genera.

1. How many genera do you recognize? ______
2. What criteria did you use to separate the seeds into genera?
3. Do others in the class agree with your decisions? Why might they disagree?
4. How did you define "genus"?

Finally, group the genera into one or more families

1. How many families do you recognize? ______
2. What criteria did you use to separate the seeds into a family?
3. Do others in the class agree with your decisions? Why might they disagree?
4. How did you define "family"?

Now, check your "answers" (I will provide a sheet with the scientific names of the seeds in the containers)

1. Were you correct? Why or why not?

Now, make a simple classification for the families

1. Which families share the most recent common ancestor?
2. Which families are sister groups?
3. Which taxa form a monophyletic group in your classification?