Diario del proyecto Bioblitz-W12-Angela

My common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is at the very tip of a phylogenetic branch next to Taraxacum bellicum.

All my observations have green leaves, which are adapted to optimize photosynthesis. For example, these leaves have a large surface area to maximize diffusion, and are green to help absorb sunlight energy. One unique adaptation is the purple colour found in the American Asters. This attracts pollinators, like bees, who help move the pollen to fertilize other flowers.

I spotted a bunch of goldenrods on the side of the path, where it grows with other weeds near the ground. Goldenrod is in the branch of solidago, and in the family of Asteraceae.
All species in my group have stalk, probably because plants need stalks to transfer nutrients and water, also this adaptation makes it possible for plants to have more than one leave to obtain more sunlight to conduct photosynthesis . One special adaptation for goldenrod is that it has a lot of flowers on the main stalk which is quite high.

My favorite plant from my search was the Pale Jewel Weed, also known as the Pale Snapweed. This cute yellow flower is a type of Touch-Me-Not and is a part of the Balsam Family.
I observed that Burdocks, or burrs, have a notable and unique adaptation. They grow prickly and clingy heads that can cling to clothing or fur. This clinging head is an excellent mechanism for seed dispersal as it clings to another organism and then relocates somewhere new. An interesting fact is that the burr plant inspired the invention of the hook and loop fastener or velcro.
A common adaptation amongst my observed species is the possession of green-colored leaves. The color green is a representation of chlorophyll. This chemical allows energy from sunlight to be absorbed and turned into vital carbohydrates, like sugars and starches, through the process of photosynthesis.
Although this commonality exists, there are few plants with the exact same adaptation. Mont-Royal is a great representation of a biodiverse environment.

The Giant Knotweed I observed belongs to the Genus Reynoutria (native to east asia, and
invasive here) and the Family Polygonaceae (which includes buckwheat)
One particular adaptation of the Pale Jewelweed is the specific shape of the "nectar spur" i.e.
the hollow part of the flower. The curvature of the spur typically influences what pollinator
the flower will attract. In this case, since the nectar spur is perpendicular, Pale Jewelweed is
mostly pollinated by bees.
One common adaptation was of course the presence of green leaves, due to the chlorophyll
which allows plants to photosynthesize. The Burdocks I found did not have any, but this is
simply because the plant I chose was dead - which makes sense given their seasonality.

One organism I observed was the common nettle of the family dioica and the branch Urtica. Most of my observed species have adapted green leaves from the chlorophyll inside of their cells in order to perform photosynthesis as a metabolic function. However, there is no one common adaptation between all of the organisms I observed as one of them was a beetle while the rest were plants. One unique adaptation is that of the common nettle that I observed, which is the tiny hair-like structures on the underside of its leaves, which deploy venom upon contact, causing pain and a rash. These are adapted to deter predators from consuming the leaves.

The plant that caught my attention when conducting this lab was the NightShade, more specifically the solanum forex! This plant is located off the large branch of solanales, a ‘phylogenic family’ which are know as flowering plants. I was surprised to have found NightShades in this particular region of the phylogenic tree as they did not have any flowers when I took the picture, so I am now exited to revisit Mont Royal when the plant blossoms! If you continue down this branch, NightShades are situated in a small line of similar species, branching off of graniticola solanums. I believe that Granicola is the common flower that every diverging plant has in common, however their other characteristics differ from one another. One unique adaptation of theses specific NightShades is their bright red fruit. I assume these fruits are a mechanism of seed dispersal, since the flower itself (NightShade) wants to reproduce and the fruit will bear and protect the developing seeds. When the plant embryo is fertilized the development of the seed begins, and the fruit often grows around it as a ‘shield’! Lastly, all my plants had the common adaptation of green leaves, which contain the important component of chlorophyl molecules, essential to photosyntheses!

My plant of choice is the white snakeroot, also known as Ageratina altissima. This flowering plant is a poisonous perennial herb that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It's native to eastern and central North America.
White snakeroot contains the toxin tremetol responsible for the poisoning often referred to as "milk sickness". This is because the plant is often consumed by cows, poisoning their milk and meat, making their consumers ill. Toxicity is an adaptation that protects a plant from predators, increasing its chance of survival and resultantly its chances of reproduction.
An adaptation that all my observations have in common is the use of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the chemical that makes it possible for energy from sunlight to be useful for plants. It allows them to store the energy and use it to photosynthesize.

The plant that I chose is the Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor), the fungus is one of the most common mushrooms in North America. They are found in most forests and grow on dead logs.

A particular adaptation of the Turkey Tail is its colouring that resembles a turkey tail (hence the name). As well, most fungus are specialized at living on a single type of tree, yet the turkey tail has adapted itself to be able to grow on more than 70 kinds of trees. This allows it to grow and reproduce more abundantly.

A common adaptation is the structure of the turkey tail. All fungus in the Trametes family have a smooth top with many colours and a white underbelly with many pores. This structure allows for the plant to be breathe with more ease.

Fun Fact : Most trametes have medicinal properties.

The species that caught my attention was the Freeman’s Maple, formally known as Acer Freemanii. It is a combination of the Silver Maple (Acer Saccharinum) and the Red Maple (Acer Rubrum) (phylum: Magnoliophyta); Oliver Freeman crossed the two tree species in the 1930s in a controlled environment, though they’ve been recorded growing naturally in areas where both maple species are present. Freeman’s Maples are characterized by their sturdy branch connections and fast growing rates, making them a cultivar species (a plant that people have bred for desired traits that can be maintained). Being found in urban areas, they’ve adapted to harsh conditions, including high pH soil. The Freeman’s Maple’s phylum is tracheophyta; also known as a vascular plant. This means that the tree reproduces asexually and contains a large system of lignified tissues that conduct water and minerals through its leaves and roots.