Wild Plants Growing in Schoolyards and Making Illustrated Plant Books

Abstract

Wild plants growing in the yards of elementary schools in six different blocks were taxonomically and ecologically examined by two different procedures: documentary records (Asahikawa, Niigata, Tokyo, and Hyogo blocks) and fieldwork (Tottori and Matsuyama blocks). The results were as follows : 1) the plants in one schoolyard included fewer than 190 species, and they were identified as ruderal or weedy plants. 2) The number of species commonly seen in over 80% of the schools in one block was only 11-24% of the total species number, and there was not necessarily so high a frequency in the other blocks. 3) The wild plants in the schoolyards differed from each other, and they were rarely similar to those of neighboring areas. Making illustrated plant books can help identify the plants and prepare a more advanced environment in which students can learn about them.