Monday, April 30, 2012

Weeping White Pine

Common Name: Weeping White Pine (Gymnosperm)
Scientific Name: Pinus Strobus


  • The Weeping White Pine is an evergreen
  • Its branches are long and irregularly twisted
  • Native to eastern North America
  • The needle-like leaves are in bundles of five
  • Its narrow cones have a rounded apex
  • Every 3 to 5 years, the Weeping White Pine experiences a peak in cone production
  • Can easily live 200 to 250 years
  • Prefer moist climates and well-drained soil
  • Conifer
  • Reaches heights of 80 to 110 feet


http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/trees-new/pinus_strobus-pend.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_strobus
http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/trees/pinusstrob.html


Emerald Spreader Japanese Yew

Common Name: Emerald Spreader Japanese Yew (Gymnosperm)
Scientific Name: Taxus Cuspidata




  • The Emerald Spreader Japanese Yew is a needled evergreen
  • It grows from 1 to 2.5 feet in height
  • It requires full to partial sun exposure
  • It is a conifer, but only male conifers produce cones
  • Female Emerald Spreaders produce red "berries"
  • It is native to Japan, Korea, northeast China, and southeast Russia
  • Each seed cone contains one seed that is 4 to 8 millimeters long
  • The leaves are 1 to 3 centimeters long
  • The leaves are arranged in a spiral fashion on the stem
  • Requires a soil pH of 6.1 to 7.5



http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/b691/taxus-cuspidata-monloo-emerald-spreader.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxus_cuspidata
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/132047/#b

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Philodendron

Common Name: Philodendron (Angiosperm)
Scientific Name: Philodendron Selloum



  • The Philodendron is a herb/vine
  • It is an angiosperm
  • It grows in the forest layer understory or canopy
  • Its flower is a greenish yellow flowering spike
  • Found in the tropical Americas and West Indies
  • Growth is epiphytic, hemiepiphytic, or terrestrial
  • Somewhat pennate
  • Have aerial and subterranean roots
  • Some have extrafloral nectaries
  • It reproduces sexually



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philodendron

Burkwood Viburnum

Common Name: Burkwood Viburnum (Angiosperm)
Scientific Name: Viburnum x burkwoodii



  • The Burkwood Viburnum grows from 8 to 10 feet in height
  • At maturity, its diameter is from 6 to 8 feet
  • It flowers in round clusters
  • Thrives in full sun to partial sun exposure 
  • Prefers acidic soil
  • It is of hybrid origin
  • Semi-evergreen
  • Flowers bloom in April
  • Deciduous
  • Highly fragrant flowers



http://urbanext.illinois.edu/ShrubSelector/detail_plant.cfm?PlantID=460
http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/burkwood-viburnum/index.html

Red Buckeye

Common Name: Red Buckeye (Angiosperm)
Scientific Name: Aesculus pavia



  • The Red Buckeye is originally from Southeastern United States
  • Its flowers are red and tubular
  • The flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds
  • Grows from 5 to 8 meters tall
  • The fruits, roughly 3 centimeters in diameter, reach full maturity between September and October
  • The fruits contain saponins, which are poisonous to humans
  • Dicot
  • It is perennial
  • Single stem growth
  • Minimum soil pH: 3.7
  • Maximum soil pH: 7.0



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesculus_pavia
http://plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbol=AEPA

Bamboo

Common Name: Bamboo (Angiosperm)
Scientific Name: Bambusicola thoracicus



  • Bamboo is a monocot
  • Angiosperm
  • It is a perennial plant
  • Major food source of: the giant panda, the red panda, and the bamboo lemur
  • Found anywhere from cold mountains to hot, tropical areas
  • Internodal regions of the stem are hollow
  • Scattered throughout the stem are the vascular bundles
  • Fastest growing plant on Earth
  • Bamboo flowers about once a century
  • FUN FACT: "A suspension bridge on the river in China is 250 yard long, 9 foot wide and rests entirely on bamboo cables fastened over the water. It doesn't have a single nail or piece of iron in it." (http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/bamboowall/bamboofacts.html)



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo#Ecology
http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/bamboowall/bamboofacts.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Bamboo

Bigleaf Magnolia

Common name: Bigleaf Magnolia (Angiosperm)
Scientific name: Magnolia macrophylla



  • Native to southeastern United States and eastern Mexico
  • Between 15 to 20 meters tall
  • Does not require full sunlight exposure
  • A rare shrub that resembles the typical macrophylla but its fruit are longer, its leaves are shorter, and its flowers are smaller
  • Its fruit are eaten by wildlife
  • Dicot
  • It is a perennial plant
  • Vascular
  • It is an angiosperm
  • Grows in eastern and southeastern United States, excluding Florida



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_macrophylla

Korean Feather Reed Grass

Common name: Korean Feather Reed Grass (Angiosperm)
Scientific name: Calamagrostis brachytricha



  • The Korean Feather Reed Grass grows to about 3 feet
  • Requires moist, fertile soil
  • Unless it's in a very hot climate, it requires full sunlight
  • Commonly called foxtail grass
  • Native to eastern Asia
  • Flowers can grow greater than 25 centimeters in length
  • It is an angiosperm
  • Acuminate apex
  • Blooms in late summer
  • Perennial


http://www.northcreeknurseries.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.plantDetail/plant_id/349/index.htm
http://zipcodezoo.com/Plants/C/Calamagrostis_brachytricha/

Fishtail Fern

Common name: Fishtail Fern (Gymnosperm)
Scientific name: Nephrolepis falcata



  • The Fishtail Fern is 12 to 18 inches in height
  • It does not thrive in full sunlight
  • Requires a soil pH of 4.6 to 6.0
  • It is a perennial plant
  • Native to Asia but is now grown in areas such as Southern Florida
  • Epiphytic
  • More than three vascular bundles
  • It has brown spores
  • It is a non-grass herb
  • Also known as the Fishtail Swordfern



http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/91455/#b
http://regionalconservation.org/ircs/database/plants/PlantPage.asp?TXCODE=Nephfalcfurc
http://zipcodezoo.com/Plants/N/Nephrolepis_biserrata/
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=+Nephrolepis+falcata

Wild Pineapple

Common name: Wild Pineapple (Angiosperm)
Scientific name: Ananas comosus


  • Thrives in the understory forest layer
  • Its flower is a cluster of red blooms
  • Its fruit is oval in shape, large, and yellow-brown in color
  • The peduncle, a stalk bearing fruit or flowers, are thinner in wild species
  • The ovary is not completely covered by the floral bract
  • They provide nectar for humming birds who, in return, pollinate their flowers
  • A monocot angiosperm
  • Native to Brazil and Paraguay
  • Its soil should have a pH of 4.5 to 6.5 and it should be sandy with plenty of organic matter
  • They grow best in tropical areas
  • Often, a fungi causes them to acquire wet root rot



http://www.sebring.k12.oh.us/McKinley_Jr__Sr__High_School/Naples/7th/chap09.pdf
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/pineapple.html#Climate
http://www.easybloom.com/plantlibrary/plant/pineapple
http://www.geochembio.com/biology/organisms/ananas/

Red Banana

Common name: Red Banana (Angiosperm)
Scientific name: Ensete ventricosum


  • Commonly grown in Africa
  • In Africa, it is mashed up and the pulp of its root is eaten
  • It is an herb
  • The plant is used to make rope, twine, and fibers for weaving.
  • Grows between 6 and 12 meters high
  • Plant flowers at about age 8
  • Flowers and bears fruit only once before death
  • Male flowers occur at the top of the plant
  • Female flowers occur lower on the plant
  • Monocot


http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantefg/enseteventrico.htm

Pawpaw

Common name: Pawpaw (Angiosperm)
Scientific name: Asimina triloba




  • The Asimina triloba is a dicot angiosperm
  • In May, purple flowers bloom with large, edible fruits
  • Its relatives are native to the tropics and subtropics
  • Its pear shaped leaves range from 10 to 30 centimeters long
  • It is a perennial tree/shrub
  • Grows during the spring and summer
  • They have a high tolerance to frost and can grow in areas of high humidity
  • They use fruit and seeds to reproduce
  • Their fruit are 5 to 16 ounces in weight and range from 3 to 6 inches in length
  • Seeds usually occur in rows of two with 10 to 14 seeds per row.







http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_astr.pdf

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:CUibLtDjB74J:tyson.wustl.edu/flora/floravasc.html+asimina+triloba+monocot&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=safari

http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/pawpaw.html

Cassia

Common name: Senna (Angiosperm)
Scientific name: Cassia hebecarpa


  • The Senna is a relative of the East African candle-bush
  • They are both members of the pea family
  • Present on the more eastern half of the United States and in tropical and subtropical regions
  • Grows up to 5 feet tall
  • Found in many over-the-counter laxative products around the world
  • Dicot
  • Perennial
  • They have compound leaves with 10 to 20 leaflets
  • Its root system consists of rhizomes and a central taproot
  • They develop slowly because majority of the plant's energy is used by the root system.





http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=sehe3
http://www.prairiemoon.com/seeds/wildflowers-forbs/cassia-hebecarpa-wild-senna/
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/senna.aspx
http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_sehe3.pdf

Apeldoorn Tulip

Common Name: Apeldoorn Tulip (Angiosperm)
Scientific Name: Tulipa Apeldoorn



  • Grows to about 15 inches at full maturity, but some grow up to 28 inches 
  • They live to approximately 10 years old
  • In the summer, it generally becomes dormant and is planted around May, the time of the "late season bloomers"
  • They are grown using bulbs which are placed underground
  • They require full exposure to sunlight
  • Apeldoorn Tulips are Darwin Hybrid tulips
  • Crossbreed of Emperor and Single Late Tulips
  • Monocot
  • Native to Turkey
  • Perennial



http://plants.thegrowingplace.com/12120014/Plant/10785/Apeldoorn_Tulip
http://chayes7.hubpages.com/hub/Darwin-Hybrid-Tulips
http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/22195/view
http://www.netherlandbulb.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.plantDetail&plant_id=84
http://www.mahalo.com/tulips/

Pine

Common Name: Pine Tree (Gymnosperm)
Scientific Name: Pinus insularis



  • The Pine Tree is native to most of the Northern Hemisphere
  • It is an evergreen
  • It is resinous
  • It grows from 3 to 80 meters in height
  • Contains four types of leaves (needles, seed leaves, juvenile leaves, and scale leaves)
  • Both male and female cones grow on the same tree
  • Grow well in acidic soil
  • Pine needles are eaten by some butterflies and moths
  • It is coniferous
  • Seeds are commonly eaten by squirrels and birds




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pine-tree-facts.html

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Angiosperm (Lilac Tree)




The scientific name of a Lilac Tree is Syringa vulgaris. (1)
(Angiosperm)

  • The Lilac Tree is an Angiosperm. (1)
  • It is also a Eudicot. (1)
  • The dominant generation of the Lilac Tree is the sporophyte generation. (1)
  • It reproduces by sexual reproduction. (1)
  • This plant has seeds which are spread by insects. (1)
  • It is native to the Balkan Peninsula. (1)
  • It grows to be 8 to 15 feet tall. (2)
  • It is a deciduous plant. (2)
  • The Lilac Tree is a vascular plant with a xylem and phloem. (1)
  • The fruit of these trees are dry, brown capsules. (1)


Citations:

1. "Syringa Vulgaris." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Apr. 2012. Web. 28 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syringa_vulgaris>.
2. "Shrubs: Syringa Vulgaris." North Carolina Cooperative Extension: Home. Web. 28 Apr. 2012. <http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/shrubs/syringa_vulgaris.html>.






Plant Parts (Leaf Scar)



The leaf scars of this plant are shown by the round spots on the stem. A leaf scar develops after a plant loses its leaves in the fall. The wound from the lost leaf is closed up by this scar to prevent infection. (1)


Citations:

1. "Leaf Scar (plant Anatomy)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 28 Apr. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/333821/leaf-scar>.

Plant Parts (Meristem)



This picture shows a lateral meristem of a Lilac Tree. The lateral meristem is a meristem that is involved in secondary or hoizontal growth. A meristem is an area of undifferentiated cells where growth takes place. (1) There are primary and secondary meristems. Primary meristems give rise to primary growth, or vertical growth. Secondary meristems promote secondary growth, or horizontal growth.



Citations:

1. "Meristem." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Apr. 2012. Web. 28 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meristem>.

Leaf Types (Compound Leaf)



Notice the compound leaf in the top right corner of the picture.

Angiosperm (Creeping Fig)



The scientific name of the Creeping Fig is Ficus pumila. (Angiosperm)



  • The Creeping Fig is an Angiosperm. (1)
  • It is also a Eudicot. (1)
  • It is pollinated by the Blastophaga pumilae which is a fig wasp. (1)
  • It has natural predators that include the larvae of the Marpesia petreus butterfly. (1)
  • The Creeping Fig "creeps" up the side of buildings and other structures and can cause damage to houses if it is not tamed. (1)
  • It is an evergreen plant. (2)
  • It has a dominant sporophyte generation. (1)
  • The plant originated in Asia. (2)
  • Although the Creeping Fig produces fruits, they are rarely seen. (2)
  • They reproduce by sexual reproduction. (1)


Citations:

1. "Ficus Pumila." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Mar. 2012. Web. 28 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_pumila>.

Angiosperm (Inzell Tulip)


The scientific name of the Inzell Tulip is Tulipa iliensis. (1)
 (Angiosperm)

  • The Inzell Tulip, like other tulips, is an Angiosperm. (1)
  • The tulip is not native to North America. (1)
  • Tulips are perennials which means they live for longer than two years. (1)
  • Tulips can reproduce sexually or asexually. (1)
  • The dominant generation of the Inzell Tulip is the sporophyte generation, as in other Angiosperms. (2)
  • Tulips are monocots. (1)
  • Tulips are bulbous plant which means they contain bulbs. These bulbs serve as food storage for the plant. (3)
  • Tulips have seeds and spread them through insect pollination. Tulips use their bright and beautiful petals to attract these pollinators. (1)
  • Tulips such as the Inzell Tulip are native to mountainous areas with a temperate climate. (1)
  • Tulips need to beware of  Botrytis tulipae which is a fungal disease that affects Tulips. It causes cell death and rotting of the plant. (1)




Citations:

1. "Tulip." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Apr. 2012. Web. 28 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip>.
2. "Flowering Plant." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Apr. 2012. Web. 28 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowering_plant>.
3. "Bulb." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Apr. 2012. Web. 28 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulb>.
3.
2. 

Friday, April 27, 2012

Gymnosperm (Macho Fern)




The scientific name of the Macho Fern is Nephrolepis biserrata. (1)
(Gymnosperm)
  • Ferns do not produce seeds, they produce spores. (1)
  • Ferns have a dominant gametophyte generations. (2)
  • The Macho Fern reproduces sexually.(2)
  • They have a sperm and an egg. The sperm travels to the egg and fertilizes it to produce a zygote. (2)
  • The fern grows to be 3 to 4 feet tall. (1)
  • Ferns lack seeds and flowers. (1)
  • Ferns prefer moist environments so they can remain turgid. (1)
  • Ferns also are able to remove chemical pollutants from the air so they are of human use. (2)
  • The Macho Fern is a vascular plant and they have a xylem and phloem. (2)
  • Ferns are eaten by some animals because they are rich in protein, lipids, and calories. (2)



Citations:

1. "Stokes Tropicals Is One of the Nations Leading Providers of Tropical Plants, Books about Tropical Plants, Fertilizers, and Gardening Tools. Some of the Plants That We Carry Are Bananas, Gingers, Heliconias, Plumerias and Many Smaller Groups. We Test Grow All Plants We Sell, so We Know How to Grow Them and Are Well Versed in Their Care and Development." Nephrolepis Biserrata 'Macho Fern' Web. 27 Apr. 2012. <http://stokestropicals.plants.com/Nephrolepis-biserrata-Macho-Fern-P63.aspx>.
2. "Fern." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Apr. 2012. Web. 27 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fern>.
2. 

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Moss (Clearweed)

Pilea pumila


The common name of the moss Pilea pumila is Clearweed. (1)


  • Mosses are Bryophytes. (2)
  • Bryophytes, like the Clearweed moss, have a dominant gametophyte generation. (2)
  • They are also known as Embryophytes because these plants nurture their embryos. (2)
  • Mosses range from 1-10 cm in height. (3)
  • They prefer to grow in dark, damp places. (3)
  • Mosses do not have seeds, but they still reproduce sexually. (3)
  • Also, since mosses do not have seeds or flowers, they are neither monocot or dicot. (3)
  • Mosses also can be either monoicous or dioecious. Monoicous plants have both the male and female reproductive organs on the same plant. The Clearweed moss that is shown here is monoicous.  (3)
  • Mosses are nonvascular plants which means they do not have veins to transport nutrients. (3)
  • Mosses can grow on trees, as shown in this picture, but they are non parasitic to the tree. (3)




Citations:

1. "Intro to Moss Identification 19 Common Ohio Mosses." The Ohio Moss and Lichen Association. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. <http://ohiomosslichen.org/MossID19.html>.
2. "Sporophyte." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Apr. 2012. Web. 27 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sporophyte>.
3. "Moss." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Apr. 2012. Web. 27 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moss>.
2. 

Leaf Types (Double Compound Leaf)


Leaf Types (Simple Leaf)

Simple Leaf



The leaves on the top plant are simple leaves. The leaves on the bottom plant are compound leaves.

Plant Parts (Lateral Branch Root and Axillary Bud)

Lateral Branch Root and Axillary Bud



The lateral branch roots are shown near the soil of the plant. They are the roots besides the taproot that are part of the root system. The lateral branch roots extend horizontally into the soil and function in anchoring the plant into the ground. The branching of the lateral roots increases surface area which aids in water and nutrient absorption from the soil. (1)

The axillary bud is shown in the crevice between the stem and the petal. It is an embryonic shoot that will develop into a shoot. Axillary buds require plant hormones to grow and they will not grow unless the apical dominance is inhibited. (2)


Citations:

1. "Lateral Root." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Mar. 2012. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lateral_root>.


2. "Axillary Bud." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 23 Mar. 2012. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axillary_bud>.

Plant Parts (Sepal)

Sepal



The sepal of the flower is the outermost whorl. It is green due to the chlorophyll in the plant. The sepal encloses the petals of the plant until the flower blooms. The petals need to be protected so they can attract insects and other animals to pollinate the plant. (1)


Citations: 

1. "Sepal." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Apr. 2012. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepal>.

Plant Parts (Carpel)

Carpel




This picture shows the carpel of this plant. The carpel includes the ovary, style, and stigma of the plant. The carpel is the female reproductive organ and it collects the pollen from male reproductive organs. The seed develops within the carpel. (1)


Citations:

1. "Carpel (redirected from Carpel (plant))." TheFreeDictionary.com. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. <http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Carpel (plant)>.

Plant Parts (Apical Bud and Stem)

Apical Bud and Stem



The apical bud is the bud at the tip of the apical shoot. It promotes apical growth or primary growth in the shoot system. It does this through the production of auxin which inhibits lateral growth and promotes primary growth. (1)

The stem is also shown in this picture. The stem is the part of the plant that connects the different parts of the plant. The stem functions in support, transport of nutrients, storage of nutrients, and production of new tissues. (2)

Citations:

1. "Apical Dominance." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Apr. 2012. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apical_dominance>.


2. "Plant Stem." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Apr. 2012. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_stem>.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Plant Parts (Shoot System and Vegetative Shoot)

Shoot System and Vegetative Shoot


The shoot system is shown in this picture. It consists of the parts of the plant that are above the ground. This includes the flower, stem, leaf, apical bud, nodes, internodes, and vegetative shoots. The shoot system functions in photosynthesis, reproduction, and food and mineral transport. (1)

A vegetative shoot is also shown in this picture. The vegetative shoot contains the leaves and the lateral shoot. It functions in photosynthesis and in movement of water and minerals just like the shoot system.


Citation:

1. "Plant Structure and Function." 302 Found. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. <http://www.uic.edu/classes/bios/bios100/labs/plantanatomy.htm>. 

Plant Parts (Leaf Blade and Petiole)

Blade and Petiole




This picture shows a leaf blade and petiole. The blade is the main part of the leaf. The structure of the leaf blade relates to its function. The blade functions in photosynthesis but it also releases water through its stomata. Therefore, plant has to alter its leaf shape depending on its metabolic need for water and its environment. (2)

The petiole attaches the blade to the stem of the plant. The petiole has the same internal structure as the stem so it has similar functions. The petiole functions in storage, connection, and the movement of water and minerals. (1)

Citations:

1. "Petiole (botany)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Apr. 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petiole_(botany)>.


2. "Leaf." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 04 Dec. 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf>.

Plant Parts (Bud Scar and Bud Scale)

Bud Scar and Bud Scale




This picture shows bud scales and a bud scar. A bud scar is shown in the center of the picture when the stem makes a bend. The bud scar shows how much the plant has grown in one year. After one year of growth, the plant will develop a bud scar. Then the next year the plant will continue to grow from the bud scar. (1)

This also shows a bud scale. The bud scales are formed after a plant loses its leaves in the fall. These bud scales are used to protect the area of growth during the harsh winter months and they are shed in the spring when the plant is ready to continue growing. (2)


Citations:

1. "Bud." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Mar. 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bud>.

2. Robitaille, Joanne. "What Are the Functions of Bud Scales?" EHow. Demand Media, 31 July 2010. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. <http://www.ehow.com/list_6802307_functions-bud-scales_.html>.

Plant Parts (Fruit)


Fruit




In this picture, Kayla is holding a banana which is a fruit from the banana plant. Fruits come from the ovary of the plant. Fruits are unique to angiosperm plants. Plants use these fruits to spread their seeds over a large area. When an animal eats a fruit, it eats the seed as well. The animal then defecates the seed after it has been digested. After the seed passes through the animal, it ends up in a new area most times and the plant can spread to new areas. (1)

Citations:

1. "What Is a Fruit: I. Functions and Parts." Crop Farming: Principles and Practical Methods. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. <http://www.cropsreview.com/what-is-a-fruit.html>.

Plant Parts (Root System and Taproot)


Root System and Taproot




This picture shows that root system which includes the part of the plant that lives below the ground. This includes the taproot, lateral branch roots, and root hairs. The functions of the root system are anchorage, storage of resources, absorption of water and minerals from the soil, and movement of water and minerals. (1)

The picture also shows the taproot which is part of the root system. The taproot is the main root of the root system and it has lateral branch roots branching of the side of it. The taproot has the same functions as the root system, since it is part of the root system. The taproot is also part of the taproot system, which contrasts  with the fibrous root system. A taproot system contains a taproot while a fibrous root system just has many lateral roots of about the same size. (2)


Citations:

1.  Answers.com. Answers. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. <http://www.answers.com/topic/what-are-the-functions-of-the-root-system>.


2. "Roots." Error. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. <http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/sciences/botanicalsciences/plantsstructure/roots/roots.htm>.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Plant Parts (Node and Internode)


Node and Internode


This picture highlights the node and internode of a plant. The node is where a leaf, branch, or aerial root grows off of the stem. This connects the leaf, branch, or root with the stem. This picture also shows internodes. Internodes are the areas in between two nodes. It is the piece of stem without a node. For example, there is an internode in between the two nodes that connect the tap root with the lateral branches. (1)


Citations:

1. "Plant Stem." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Apr. 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_stem>.

Plant Parts (Stamen and Petal)


Stamen and Petal

This picture shows a flower with its stamen in the center of the flower which includes the filament and the anther. The stamen is responsible for producing pollen and is the reproductive organ of the plant. The stalk of the stamen is called the filament and the anther contains the microsporangia that produce the pollen. (1)

This picture also shows the flower's white petals on the outside of the flower. The petals are responsible for attracting insects that pollinate the flower. The more attractive these petals are, the more likely the flower is to be pollinated. (2)


Citations:

1. "Stamen." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 19 Apr. 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamen>.


2. "Flower Parts." Canterbury Environmental Education Centre, Kent, UK. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. <http://www.naturegrid.org.uk/qca/flowerparts.html>.