Plant Life RequirementsNPK Light Meter Measures in units of footcandle (fc) and lux (lx), indirect bright light means around 189 footcandles Blooming Poinsetta Light Requirement for POINSETTIAS
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Plant AdaptationsAnnuals vs Perennials  Monocots vs Dicots  Types of Plant Life Xeriphates: Plants such as cacti, that are adapted to an arid environment. Mesophytes: Plants adapted and survive in an environment with a moderate amount of water. Hydrophytes: Plants constantly exposed to water (aquatic plants). Stomata
The leaf of a plant serves several important functions. Leaves are the chief organs of photosynthesis, a process in which plants are capable of converting light energy into organic food. Most leaves are arranged on the stem in such a way as to receive maximum sunlight and cast minimum shadows on other leaves. Leaves are the major organs responsible for gas exchange between the plant and its surrounding atmosphere. The gases typically move through small openings in the leaf known as stomata or stomates. Water, in a vapor form, also passes through these openings, a process known as stomatal transpiration. The stomata are openings in the epidermis surrounded by two specialized epidermal cells, the guard cells, which by changes in shape bring about the opening and closure of the pore. The guard cells are normally kidney-bean shaped cells that contain chloroplasts. The stomata may be located on the upper leaf surface only, lower leaf surface only, or both the upper and lower leaf surfaces. Number and distribution of stomata vary considerably if grown under different environmental conditions, such as in a dry field or a moist greenhouse. On the other hand, the sizes of stomata are fairly constant for species. Monocots typically have approximately a 1:1 ratio of stomata on the upper and lower epidermis. Stomata Dicots typically have the greatest number of stomata on the lower epidermis, with stomata often absent on the upper epidermis. Plant Self- DefensePlant Evolution
Plants were first aquatic, then there were mosses   Bryophytes : the non-vascular plants Ferns Gymnosperms and conifers And then Angiosperms How cacti adapt Plant CommunicationBRASSICAS, SOLANACEAE, FABACEAE, CUCURBITACEAE, APIACEAEBrassica formerly Cruciferae, the mustard family of flowering plants, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi, napa cabbage, turnip, and rutabaga, horseradish, radish, and white mustard.   Artificial Selection A process in which humans consciously select for or against particular features in organisms. For example, the human may allow only organisms with the desired feature to reproduce or may provide more resources to the organisms with the desired feature. Solanaceae potato (Solanum tuberosum); eggplant (S. melongena); tomato (S. lycopersicum); peppers (various Capsicum species); tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum and N. rustica); belladonna (Atropa belladonna); the poisonous jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) and nightshades: britannica.com   Fabaceae also called Leguminosae, pea family of flowering plants (angiosperms), about 20,000 species of trees, shrubs, vines, and herbs and is worldwide in distribution, soybeans, garden peas, peanuts, and alfalfa    Apiaceae also called Umbelliferae, parsley, carrot, celery, parsnip, and fennel, anise, dill, coriander, caraway, and cumin  ASTERACEAE, ROSACEAE, IRIDACEAE, LAMIACEAE, AMARANTHACEAEPlant taxonomy is how each plant is categorized into a phylogenetic tree, each species has a domain, kingdom, phylum, class, a family, a genus, and a unique species.  Some plants make flowers and seeds and some do not  We will start with familiar plants          WHy are plants connected to insects?When we think about plants it is vital to also think about insects and their relationships with plants. Some insects eat plants while some eat the insects that eat plants. As we learn how the different species coexist we can learn what environment to foster within our garden. Some plants attract pollinators and can strengthen our gardening efforts. The word etymology derives from the Greek word ἐτυμολογία (etumología), itself from ἔτυμον (étumon), meaning "true sense or sense of a truth", and the suffix -logia, denoting "the study of". Etymology of the word entomology Ento- ology- The study of Why we need plants Plants are important for the planet and for all living things. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen from their leaves, which humans and other animals need to breathe. Living things need plants to live - they eat them and live in them. Plants help to clean water too. Beneficial InsectsWhen plants eat insectsFLower to Fruit to SeedPlants that have flowers are called angiosperms 
Flower PartsPetals: attract pollinating insects such as bees, butterflies, birds and bats to the flowers. Such creatures aid in fertilization Sepals: look like small leaves, they protect the flower before it blooms and help maintain the structure by keeping the flower in place Peduncle: The stem that holds the flower up, the stalk, the flower is at the top of the peduncle Receptacle: the thicker area at the bottom of the flower that holds its organs  Carpel or Pistil: female part of the plant, located at the center of the bloom, contains the stigma, style and ovary. Ovary: located at the base of the flower and has seeds inside known as ovules that turn into fruit.  Style: the long stalk that supports the stigma. Stigma: located at the tip of the pistil, the part of the flower that's sticky and collects pollen, pollen initiates fertilization so that seeds can be created.  There are many types of stigma:  Stamen: the male part of a flower, produces male reproductive cells, located on both sides of the pistil. Stamen has two parts: Anther: the head of the stamen, produces pollen. Filament: the stalk attached to the flower that holds the anther. When pollinating insects, such as bees and butterflies, go to the flower for pollen, they also visit the stigma and fertilize the flower.  Plant reproductionsummaryThe plan for the year in botanyAugust 3 to August 7
What is Botany? How has it developed and how do we use the knowledge? August 10 to August 14 Plant Parts August 17 to August 21 Flower part and word etymology August 24 to August 28 The importance of plants and insects August 31 to September 4 Plant Families: Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Iridaceae, Lamiaceae, Amaranthaceae September 8 to September 11 Plant Families: Brassicas, Solanaceae, Fabaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Apiaceae September 14 to September 18 Plant adaptation and change September 21 to September 25 Vascular plants, plant structure and function September 28 to October 2 Plant nutrition and light needs October 5 to October 9 Types of seeds October 12 to October 15 Vermiculture School Break: October 16 October 19 to October 23 More plant parts: tubers, runners, corms, seed pods October 26 to October 30 Plant propagation, pollen formation November 2 to November 6 Starting seeds November 9 to November 13 Growing environments November 16 to November 20 Garden design, vermiculture November 23 to November 27: Break December 1 to December 4 Beneficial insects and pests December 7 to December 11 Exam and review December 14 to December 18 Discussion Circles, ways to build community December 21 to January 5: Winter Break January 7 to January 8 Ways to use plants: medicinal, protein, preserves, milk replacement January 11 to January 15: Ways to use plants: plant proteins, flour, sugars, starches January 18: Off January 19 to January 22 Plant Scientists and Explorers January 25 to January 29 Medicinal Research in Plants February 1 to February 5 Careers in plant science February 8 to February 12 Community garden discussion February 15: Off February 16 to February 19 Ways plants bring health: shade and oxygen February 22 to February 25 Xeriscape plants March 1 to March 5 Where food currently comes from March 8 to March 12 Outsourcing and export economies March 15 to March 19 The value of a local food shed March 22 to April 2: Spring Break April 5 to April 9 Herbicides and pesticides April 12 to April 16 Current event discussion April 19 to 23 Forest and Brush Fires April 26 to April 30 Funding school and community gardens, grant writing May 3 to May 7 Exam May 10 to May 14 College preparedness, plant biology college curriculum May 17 to May 21 Being involved in our communities, how to look for opportunities May 24 to May 27 Discussion and review, presentations Botany Parts Nodes and internodesBud is the place for new growth, node is where leaves come out, internode is the stem between the leaves:  Some plants have aerial roots that come out of their nodes:  Parts of a flowerNext week we will go over this in more depth  Root systemsTypes of root structures  Bulbs look like onions, they have an area for growth at the top and roots growing from the bottom. Examples of bulb plants: daffodils and tulips.  Corms look like bulbs but they have growth from the bottom, it is called a basal plate. Examples include: Gladiolus, crocus, and crocosmia  Rhizomes are horizontal underground stems which puts out lateral shoots, new plants grow from the root system. Examples: asparagus, ginger, irises, lily of the valley, cannas, turmeric, and sympodial orchids.  Tubers have eyes, they are a thickened underground part of a stem or rhizome that can grow at many points, we call those points eyes, the potato is a classic example, there are many flowers that have tubers including the cyclamen, caladium, dahlia, daylily, and peony.  Stolons Some plants reproduce by spreading stolons, strawberry is an example  We will be online for the first 9 weeksEssential questions: What do we learn in botany? How do we use it? How do botanists classify plants? How do plants work? How can knowledge of plants help us build community? WHat do we learn in botany?In this class we learn about the classification of plants, every field of study has a vocabulary that helps people talk about what they are doing and what they see. Botany is the study of plants and how they contribute to the ecosystem, the environment, and the biodiversity of their community. TaxonomyTaxonomy is how we classify organisms, if we want to buy a packet of seeds it is important to know what to buy or how to look for the seed. Each plant has a species name and the way their name is organized is called taxonomy. Plants are classified according to whether or not they have seed, the types of root structures, the way they grow and what they produce. Mosses and ferns grow from spores instead of from seed Rhizomes and tubers are a form of asexual reproduction Angiosperms have flowers Gymnosperms do not have flowers, they have exposed seed instead of fruit Monocotyledons have parallel veins and petals in groups of three Dicotyledons have veined leaves and petals in groups of four or five Vascular plants have xylem and phloem to carry water and sugars Non-vascular plants are much smaller, no vessels to carry resources. Invasive PlantsSome plants are very good at growing and outcompeting everything else, we call these plants invasive. Kudzu vine is an example of an invasive species.  |
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