Joe Santini, Jenny Wilson, Jabeen Obaray, Srabonti Ali
CLASS #1: Low Growing Ground Cover
We found four different types of organisms which can be sub-categorized: clovers, grass, leaves and flowers. We described the different characteristics of these four organisms below.
Clovers
With round leaves
With spikey leaves
Red
Green
Red & Green
Grass
Thick grass (thick at the base, gets progressively thinner towards the top)
Thin long grass
Thin short grass
Bright green
Dark green
Thin smooth texture
Wheat-like
Prickly
Leaves
Tear shaped
Star shaped
Heart shaped
Red
Yellow
White
Light green
Dark green
Flower
White petals
CLASS # 2: Medium-Sized Organisms
We found 9 different organisms within this class, which can be divided into 3 sub-classes/variations.
Common characteristics include size (5 to 7 feet tall); color (green); scent (none); taste (none); and appearance (leaves, branches, rooted in ground). There were variations in texture amongst the sub-classes.
[b1]one sample
~petal-like formation of leaves
~6 feet tall/ 8 feet wide
[b2]four samples
~deciduous, evergreen
~needle-like leaves
~toxic fruit (berries)red and soft
[b2a]7 feet/8-9 feet
[b2b]7 feet/8-9 feet
[b2c]7 feet/8-9 feet
[b2d]7 feet/8-9 feet
[b3]four samples
~rounded leaves
~texture depends on exposure to sunlight
[b3a]5 feet/6 feet
shiny leaves
[b3b]4 feet/6.5 feet
dull leaves, sparse
[b3c]5 feet/5feet
dull leaves, sparse
[b3d]5.5 feet/5feet
dull leaves, sparse
CLASS #3: Commensalist or Parasitic Plants found on the New Land Never Explored in Previous History
We found three distinct types of commensalist/parasitic plants growing on trees in the New Land:
Mosses: Dark, soft and spongy, with tiny leaf-like structures.
Lichens: Thin growths, which spread and cover the tree.
Spores: Mushroom-type plants.
We classified each of the species we found by [m], [f] or [s] to indicate which group and a number to specify the species.
Mosses
[m1] is a soft, medium green moss which grows in clumps and is very spongy. Seems to bulge out of the tree. Grows on [t1]
[m2] is a soft, dark green moss which looks and feels spongy, but does not bulge out of the tree like [m1]. Instead it grows closely to the tree. Grows on [t1]
[m3] is a leafy, light green moss which grows interspersed with [m2]. Its leaves are conic and narrow to point downwards. Grows on [t1]
[m4] is a very flat, dark green moss, so thin it seems painted onto the tree. Grows on [t2]
Lichens/Fungi
[f1] a very pale green moss which is flat and crumbly and seems to grow in a circular fashion on the bark of the tree. Grows on [t1]
[f2] similar to [f1] in color, this lichen grows in circular fashion but has leaves which resemble cabbage. Grows on [t1]
Spores
[s1] resembles a mushroom in form. It is a pale tan colour, with a curved stem usually growing horizontally from the tree, with the cap pointing straight upwards. Found growing on [t1]
CLASS #4: Tall organisms
Trees2 Species
[t1] (tree #1)
Root System
-appears to mirror branches
-roots are av.7 in. in diameter
-random structure, yet balanced
-pop above surface of ground
-light brown stuff covering entire surface (bark)
Trunk
-leans to South
-has other forms of life growing on it
-"central" growth pattern (smooth on surface)
-70 in. in circumference
Branches
-similar to root system
-come out horizontally from trunk
-continues a branching formation (i.e. a branch grows off a branch grows
off a branch)
Leaf
-bilaterally structural
-different on front and back (lighter and matte on back, shiny and dark on top)
-veins permeate cell structure of leaf
-five points on leaf
-stem which connects it to branch
-translucent
-leaf has spiky edges
[t2] Tree #2
Roots
-protrude more than [t1[
-larger and rounder
-same colour as trunk
Trunk
-branches lower
-not horizontal slant upwards
-smooth bark which peels or flakes off
-reddish natural colour under lichen
Leaves
-Green w/ yellow spots
-oval shape which comes to a point
-edges are rounded in little bumps between veins
Trudell Smith, Meghan McCabe, Nemia Barrera, Clare Lindner
SUMMARY
Classification:
Ground level, Bush level and Tree level.
Texture, color, size, shape and general appearances.
Criteria for each group:
Organism #1: Ground Level (1mm-6inches)
Moss-like substance
-1mm tall
-Color light green
-Soft fuzzy and furry
-Patches on ground and sides of trees
-Very small stems with around 20 leaves on each
Three leaf cover
-Three oval shaped green leaves
-Leaves located at the top of stem
-Stem is long, thin and light green
-Size is 2.5 inches from ground
-Random light green patterns on the leaves
-Soft (but not as soft as mosses)
-Powdery
Wheat-like grass
-Size 5-6 inches
-Ivory/beige color plant (no green)
-Very delicate and flimsy
-Branches sprout from different places on the branch, not just top
Grass
-Size 5-6 inches from ground
-Green
-Long, skinny blade
-No stem or branches
-Slippery texture
Organism #2: Bush Level (5-8 feet)
Bush A
-Size 8 feet from ground
-Brown thick branches extending from ground
-Many green blades
-Leaves smooth with ridges
-Leaves located up and down the brown stem
-Red, fruit-like, sappy balls
Bush B
-Size 6 feet
-Green, rough fuzz on oval shape leaves
-Branches are located at top of brown rough stem
Bush C
-Size 5 feet
-Light green stem
-Dark green leaves
-Leaves sprout throughout the stem
-Branches come from ground (no trunk)
-Leaves are shinny and smooth on top
Organism #3: Tree Level (25-30 feet)
Tree like
-Size 25-30 feet
-Thick, rough trunk with many thick branches
-Visible strong roots
-Star shape green leaves
-Thick brown branches
-Branches start half way up the tree
-Bark is rough with ridges
Jeanne Braha, Allison Hayes-Conroy, Jessica Hayes-Conroy, Mary Rochelle
We set off on our voyage to the little rectangle of plants outside the PSB. There we observed all sorts of new and exciting plants. We tried to classify them under the following system:
I. Leaves
circular
elongated
smooth point
rough point
a plant resembling the ferns in Bryn Mawr
Berries
No berries
One weed that had four leaves growing from a common point
Serrated
Smooth edged
Smooth edged
Serrated
Smooth edged
Serrated
Fringed
Not-fringed
Flat Blades
Tubular Blades
One type of organism was found in each of the categories that is not labeled with a letter or number. In general, we found more diversity in the leaved category. There were 20 types of organisms that we recorded. Given more time, we surely would have found more types of organisms. The best way to more accurately describe the organisms is to draw or photograph them or to save specimens.
One problem we encountered was the small number of examples of the larger plants, as well as the fern-like specimen and the ground-cover (moss-like). It is hard to draw conclusions from such a small sample. All other specimens were numerous we definitely saw over 20 of each of the small plants so we feel safe using them to draw initial classifications. However, even our larger classes had only a few sub-categories, so this should be considered inaccurate.
We took note of vein type, thinking it might prove useful in our classification system, but wound up not using it as a way to distinguish between organisms. Initial observations also led us to believe it might be helpful to categorize by height, but this system was also discarded, because of the recognition that a small plant could mature into a big one.
We would like further time to explore the island at greater length to see smaller details about the specific plants. A magnifying glass and/or microscope would be helpful in our observations.
Leila Ghaznavi, Promise Partner, Debbie Plotnick, Jakki Rowlett
Lab 1
The first thing we did was to brainstorm about possible categories, which took the majority of our time. The initial categories were Size, leaf shape, color, complexity, community, texture reproduction, number, visible root system, leaf or flowering, edibility, symbiotic/parasitic/neither. And rock. During the experiment we reevaluated the categories of rock, symbiotic/parasitical/neither, complexity, roots, reproduction, and edibility. We decided to eliminate or rework them into the following categories: size, shape, color, texture, leaf or flowering.
For the category of size we used relativity to surrounding organisms and to the human body. A height versus width comparison for some organisms which led some people to make a comparison with the numerous number of branches and how they might result in shape/size variations among plants.
With leaf shapes we compared the characteristics of serrated, rounded, pointy, general shapeoval rectangular etc. Which led us easily into the other category of color, which was defined by one team member as being relative to each other. Light green thus was the lightest green among all seen examples and dark the darkest among all seen examples. Some plants were examined for texture in comparison to the human skin. They were defined as rough, abrasive, soft, bumpy, and silky. This led many people to the observations of the presence of fruits or flowers etc., which some compared to probably reproductive techniques of the plant.
Number or recurrence was viewed as the number of the specimen in the given space. Some people took the square as a whole, while others blocked out small squares within the larger square to measure reoccurrence with in a small area. The group as a whole made observations about 13 different kinds of plants. Because our experimental methods differed there are different recording methods used throughout the group.
Using our fore knowledge of pre-existing classifications we divided the square into 4 initial categories and used the previous distinctions mentioned above to classify them into each of these major groups. In order to avoid naming it directly after things we knew, we divided into 4 groups M for moss related things, B for bush like things, G for grass like things, and T for tree like things. Using that system we found 1 M, 7 G, 2 T, and 3 B , each with nuances but forming a unique and undiscovered environment (and bonds between scientists).
Melissa Donimirski, Julie Kwon, Naomi Lim, Sarah Naimzadeh
Plant Life
Objective:
Classify plants in plot of land outside the PSB.
a) How many classifications
b) How many organisms fall into each class
c) Criteria/characteristic of each class
d) Changes in classification methods
e) Summary of findings
Name |
Branch/ Ground |
# of leaf divisions |
Round/ pointy |
Flat/ Dimensional |
Soft/hard |
Fruit-bearing |
Maple Tree Leaf |
Branch |
2+ |
pointy |
flat |
soft |
No |
Tree b |
Branch |
2+ |
pointy |
flat |
soft |
No |
Clover |
Ground |
2+ |
round |
flat |
soft |
No |
Grass |
Ground |
1 |
pointy |
flat |
soft |
No |
Moss |
Ground |
2+ |
pointy |
Dimensional |
soft |
No |
Unknown |
Ground |
1 |
round |
flat |
soft |
No |
Bush A |
Branch |
2+ |
round |
Dimensional |
soft |
No |
Bush B |
Branch |
2+ |
round |
Dimensional |
hard |
No |
Pine needle |
Branch |
2+ |
pointy |
Dimensional |
hard |
Yes |