Projektin Plants Downtown Montreal Päiväkirja

The Pale Jewelweed is native to North America. Locating the species on the phylogenetic tree was interesting because it seemed as if the species was all the way down at the bottom of the tree. The species is apart of the Impatiens Aurea which is home to a total of only 2 species, stemming from the Impatiens Minor, housing 16 species.

Out of the observations currently listed in the project the one thing they all have in common is that they all have green leaves. Green leaves are seen as an adaptation because of the production of chlorophyll, which helps with photosynthesis.

The Pale Jewelweed is very bright in colour and has an intriguing shape, but it is called the touch-me-not for its unique adaptation to avoid being picked. Although attractive to the eye, if the plant is touched then the seed pops have the ability to explode, which is the plants defence mechanism.

Common tree-skirt moss, is found in North and South America, the Carribean, and Europe. It is a part of the Thuidiaceae family, and its most recent common ancestor is Anonomodon which is an ancestor to 22 other species. Common tree-skirt moss forms sprawling mats of growth characterized by green/yellow/brown stems. This moss is so cute.

Mosses are non-vascular plants, meaning that they have a few adaptations that make them unique and fit in their environment. Moss cells have a cell wall that provides the cell with support and protection. Also, moss cells have special storage areas for water and other nutrients. Moss is different from the other plants observed here because it is non-vascular, but its adaptations are similar (i.e. the presence of a cell wall and a central vacuole for storage).

Moss's non-vascular nature means that they are resistant to dehydration, however, they prefer a more moist environment compared to other vascular plants.

Palm trees are of course known for coconuts, but, they are also known for their fan shaped leaves. Because of this adaptation, wind and rain can easily pass through. Since they are usually found in tropical areas, they were forced to adapt to strong winds caused by tropical storms. There is less air resistance between the strong winds and the leaves, and so it is harder for Palms to be blown over.

Usually, Palms have a thick trunk, however this Palm is a bush. Similar to the rest of these shrubberies, being closer to the ground, while also being relatively small plants, makes it easier for these bushes to supply all of their leaves with enough water. Being closer to the ground also allows these plants to experience less wind resistance. The leaves of all of these plants are of course green, due to the fact that they all evolved to use other wavelengths of light, not including green light, which makes photosynthesis possible.

This plant belongs to Arecoideae which is a bush subfamily of Palms. Arecoideae is the largest and most diverse subfamily out of the five other subfamilies of Arecaceae (Palm trees). More than 50% of Arecaceae belong to the Arecoideae subfamily.