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Samar Aryani

Ruth Goodlaxson

Kyree Harmon

We explored planet Farther. Having read the previous reports on the planet, we decided that core height was the most logical way to classify the different kinds of plant life. We agreed with and utilized their observation that there were 5 different types of plants, however, we found more diversity within the smaller types because we used a smaller spatial scale. Within group A, the group resemblant of Earth's grass, we found 6 different species. A1 was composed of a single green blade with a single waxy leaf life object. The average core was approximately 2 cm high. A2 plants had a single green core from which 2 green blades extended and its cores were generally 3.5 cm. A3s were multi leaved with a brown core that stood approximately 5 cm. A4 plants were a single green core that extended into a blade and averaged 6 cm in height. A5s had a strawlike green core of approximately 13cm with ends that resembled grains. Lastly A6 appeared to be an extended version of A1 that was scare and found growing within type B populations. Their cores were approximately 40 cm high. In type B, our "small plant" category, there were 2 variations. B1 was prickly with a green core and long leaves with cerated edges. The cores were approximately 10 cm. B2 has multiple levels of foliage and multiple "leaves" that were scalloped edged. These cores were about 20 cm. Type C plants were those most resembling Earth's bushes. C1 had firm foliage with thin, short, bladelike leaves that encompassed a brown complex core. The cores were very difficult to measure due to their complexity, but the approximation was 135 cm. C2 had more rounded, shorter bladelike leaves that appeared to be darker and flimsier than the C1s. The leaves also had budded ends and the core appeared to be around 100 cm. Our observations of type D closely correspond to that of the inital observations made about planet Farther. There were 2 different variations, 1 with a funnel shape, and low foliage that faced upward. The core appeared to be about 700 cm when compared to the height of the C plants. 2 appeared fan shaped with leaves that faced downward and the core was estimated to be about 400 cm (using the same method of comparison). Lastly type E was resemblant of Earth's moss or lichen. E1 was leaf like, light, and low to the ground at approximately 1 mm. E2 was fuzzy and carpet like, darker, and less than 1 mm off the ground. Overall, we found that by using a smaller scale, there appears to be more diversity and an increase in the number of plant categories. The smaller scale actually created more categories because our small grouos could be divided into smaller subgroups based on structure AND height.