hartleygoldfarb's Journal

Dryad's Saddle (Polyporus squamosus) are edible mushrooms and have many practical uses in day to day life. Their fruiting bodies are rich in carbohydrates and protein as well as having a high content of essential amino acids and fibres with low contents of fat. This fungus also has a large store of bioactive compounds such as unsaturated fatty acids, phenolic compounds, terpenoids, and carotenoids that can be developed into functional foods or even pharmaceutical products. The polyporus species are used as medicinal mushrooms as they are known to be anti-inflammatory, immuno-enhancing, and have diuretic and hair growing properties.

The identified plant is basil. It’s domain is eukaryotic, kingdom of plants, class magnoliopsida, order Lamiales, and family lamiaceae. It branches off into the subfamily nepetoideae and genus ocimum. This continues on to 68 species of basil.

One adaptation that is present in the observations of organisms that photosynthesize is the waxy cuticle that covers the surface of the plant. This prevents the organisms from drying out due to evaporation and protects against radiation from UV light.

One adaptation that dandelions have are root hairs on the root of the plant. This increases the surface area of the root to absorb water and nutrients.