Botany I Homework
1. Angiosperm or Gymnosperm?
Go out into nature, either in your own yard or somewhere else like a park or hiking trail, and look at different kinds of trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers. See if you can identify whether the plant is an angiosperm or gymnosperm. Sometimes, it helps to go out into nature, take pictures of what you see, and bring your photos home to identify them.
2. Common Specific Epithets Activity
Take a look at the list of Common Specific Epithets. Then, look at the photographs below. See if you can identify which scientific name on the list goes with which photograph depending on the qualities of the plant they describe. When you're done, check your answers against the key at the bottom of this page. Here are your match choices for the photos below:
Go out into nature, either in your own yard or somewhere else like a park or hiking trail, and look at different kinds of trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers. See if you can identify whether the plant is an angiosperm or gymnosperm. Sometimes, it helps to go out into nature, take pictures of what you see, and bring your photos home to identify them.
2. Common Specific Epithets Activity
Take a look at the list of Common Specific Epithets. Then, look at the photographs below. See if you can identify which scientific name on the list goes with which photograph depending on the qualities of the plant they describe. When you're done, check your answers against the key at the bottom of this page. Here are your match choices for the photos below:
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Acer palmatum dissectum viridis
Columnea linearis Armeria maritima Plumeria alba Kalanchoe tomentosa |
Ipomopsis rubra
Mimulus luteus Ruscus aculeatus Philadelphus coronarius 'Aureus' Mimulus aurantiacus |
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3. A Field Trip to the Nursery
To begin the plant identification process, head to your nearest nursery and see what plants they carry. Write down the names you see, try to see if you can find around 20. Then, identify if you can the common name and the scientific name for each plant you find, and identify plants that are of the same species, but are different varietals. This will begin to exercise your gardening muscle!
4. Leaf Rubbings Activity
On your trips around your neighborhood or your own garden, pay attention to the leaves you pass. Find a few that interest you because of their pattern, color or shape, and carefully pick them off the plant (if possible). If you'd like to leave the leaves on the plant, you can do that as well.
Take a piece of paper and a crayon or pencil, and make a rubbing of the leaf by placing the leaf in between the paper and a hard surface (like a flat table or a book) and rubbing your crayon or side of your pencil gently over the top. Once you are done with your rubbing, place it to the side and reference the leaf parts diagram below:
To begin the plant identification process, head to your nearest nursery and see what plants they carry. Write down the names you see, try to see if you can find around 20. Then, identify if you can the common name and the scientific name for each plant you find, and identify plants that are of the same species, but are different varietals. This will begin to exercise your gardening muscle!
4. Leaf Rubbings Activity
On your trips around your neighborhood or your own garden, pay attention to the leaves you pass. Find a few that interest you because of their pattern, color or shape, and carefully pick them off the plant (if possible). If you'd like to leave the leaves on the plant, you can do that as well.
Take a piece of paper and a crayon or pencil, and make a rubbing of the leaf by placing the leaf in between the paper and a hard surface (like a flat table or a book) and rubbing your crayon or side of your pencil gently over the top. Once you are done with your rubbing, place it to the side and reference the leaf parts diagram below:
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Using this diagram, try to label on your etching the parts of the leaf you've found. You may not be able to find all parts, especially the stipule (as this may not have been included in your rubbing). Then, answer the following questions about the leaf you've etched:
- What type of leaf have you found? (Frond, scale, angiosperm, sheath, cotyledon, spine, tendril, storage, or bract)
- What type of venation does your leaf have? Is it parallel-veined or reticulated? If reticulated, is the veining pinnate or palmate?
- Identify the midvein and secondary veins on your etching.
- What shape is your leaf? (Truncate, lanceolate, elliptical, oval, or linear)
- What type of margins does your leaf have? (Entire, scalloped, serrated, double serrated, toothed, spined, pinnately lobed, or palmately lobed)
Once you've completed these questions about your rubbing, repeat this exercise with as many other leaves as you'd like. The more rubbings you complete, the better you'll be at identifying leaf types and margins.
5. Name That Leaf!
In this exercise, you'll be looking at the photos below and matching them with their leaf type. Once you've got your answers down on paper, consult the Answer Key and check your responses. Your choices are listed below:
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Scale Leaf
Cotyledon (Seed Leaf) Angiosperm Leaf Storage Leaf Bract |
Tendril
Sheath Leaf Spine Frond Leaf |
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