Rachel - Adaptations in a Conifer and in Leaves

Of the 12 leaves I observed, the only conifer was the Eastern Hemlock Leaf - the only hemlock native to Eastern Canada. This leaf is not drought-tolerant, but as the species has been spreading to drier climates, white stripes have developed on the underside of the leaves along the ribs; the stripes are numerous white dots that are waxy substances covering stomata to retain more water in the leaf.

All the plants I observed are deciduous as they live in an environment with an increasing temperature range, in which they must become dormant during the winter. The need for leaves for energy production means that they can't be dormant for extended periods of time, which is why the foliage in the Montreal area has become increasing later - this is due to biochemical adaptations in which these plants detect the colder temperatures and produce more ethylene to inhibit the process of transpiration so leaves can retain water as well as heat until foliage.

The Greater Burdock is under the Burdock genus and is populous plant, often found in high nitrogen soils. It is the cynareae tribe found next to the cichorioideae tribe, both within the daisy family.

Posted on 19 de setembro de 2021, 02:20 PM by rturnbull