Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the process of recognising plants that are commonly encountered in horticulture or land management situations and defines the standard required to: inspect and research enterprise plants; observe and record the habits; characteristics and significant features of plants; use available processes to recognise plants; update a plant reference collection.

Application of the unit 

This unit involves collecting and documenting plant information and updating a plant reference collection.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare for plant recognition

1.1. Range of plants requiring recognition is identified.

1.2. Resources and equipment for use in recognition activity are prepared.

1.3. Available processes for plant recognition are identified, selected and prepared for use.

2. Recognise specified plants

2.1. Visual inspection and research processes of enterprise plants are undertaken.

2.2. Specified plants are recognised according to their identifiable characteristics and named.

2.3. Brief descriptions of plant habits, characteristics and significant features are recorded.

2.4. Advice is sought when necessary and where appropriate in the recognition activity.

3. Update the reference collection

3.1. Information about plants is documented and added to the reference collection.

3.2. Reference collection is updated as new plants are recognised.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• recognise the range of plants specific to the enterprise
• describe the plant attributes and main purpose within the enterprise
• describe the specific handling requirements and growth requirements
• identify available processes of literature searches, internet browsing, personal consultation with experts, specimen collections, field guides, workplace notes, and use of simple keys to aid recognition
• update reference collection
• use literacy skills to follow sequenced written instructions and record information accurately and legibly
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures
• use interpersonal skills to relate to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• plant morphology and physiology
• range of plant identification techniques
• plant nomenclature
• enterprise procedures for obtaining and supplying advice and information about plants
• enterprise expectations about the range and number of plants to be recognised.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

• inspect and research enterprise plants
• observe and record the habits, characteristics and significant features of plants
• use available processes to recognise plants
• update a plant reference collection.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Plants may include:

• those native or introduced species (including weeds) commonly encountered in horticulture or land management situations.

Unit sector 

Plants

Co-requisite units 

Competency field