Photo Journal

We went out one day in groups and in the freezing cold to go look at plants. The following is what we found.

Mosses:

Found infront of school

 

 



We found this moss in a shady area in the front of the school. This makes perfect sense as moss need to live in moist, shady environments to survive. This is because they have swimming sperm! In other words, to reproduce, there constantly needs to be water and water molecules present. If the mosses cannot reproduce then the demise of their species will be short and sweet. Mosses can be found on trees and rocks alike. Yes, rocks! But only if the rock is moist at all times-thats why a lot of moss forms on rocks at beaches and near river and lakes. The reason mosses grow so low to the ground is because they are non-vascular plants. Meaning they do not posses any tubes (xylem and phloem) to carry water and nutrients to the rest of their parts. Because of this, mosses have to be able to directly absord water and nutrients to distribute to all its parts.

Ferns:

Front side of fern


Back side of fern

We found ferns near the creek in a shady and moist environment. Like mosses, ferns also need a moist environment in order to survive, not only to obtain nutrients, but in order to reproduce. When ferns drop their spores, a small heart shaped prothallus is produced and it needs water for its swimming spores to fertilize. Ferns and mosses look very different but share a commen environement. Unlike mosses ferns have evolved to have vasculat tissue. It is this vascular tissue which allows them to grow tall and transport water and nutrients to all needing parts. Also because of this, ferns need an anchor for their roots. Unlike mosses which do not grow tall and instead lay low to the ground, ferns need an anchor to flourish.

Gymnosperms:

left, female cone. right, male cone

Bush of gymnosperms found infront of school.

Unlike the mosses and ferns which are restricted to living within damp environment, gymnosperms have no restrictions. They live in varied environements due to the fact that instead of having spores or swimming sperm, they have seeds. The seeds are protected and can survive harsh conditions to later become active. But there is a difference between pollination and fertilization. Pollination is when the male anther releases pollen grans that land on the female ovulate cone. This leads to fertilization because the pollen grains will start to grow pollen tubes where sperm will be released into. The result is a zygote that will later develope into a gymnosperm.

Angiosperms:

Monocots:

leaves in 3's

parrallel veins

Dicots:

petals in 3's or 4's


branched veins in leaves.

Angiosperms have adapted the best to living on land. They have a waxy coating on their leaves and stomata to help conserve water and the ability to attract pollinators. Such as bees! Bees are pollinators attacted to the taking nectar from flowers. Other flowers use the wind to disperse their seeds in and hopefull the wind will carry them far off. Another tactic used is fruits. The completely edible, colourful and delicious fruits are actually just a means to attract animals to eat them and later poop them out in a new location.