Photos / Sounds
What
Docks (Genus Rumex)Observer
stevenszuDescription
Name of Plant:
Ragweed
Scientific Name of Plant:
Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae ⁄ Compositae – Aster family
Biome (type of environment)
Grasslands
Climate (type of climate)
Terrestrial
Pattern of seasons and how the seasonal changes affect the plant?
Common Ragweed blooms from Ragweed blooms from July to October.
Blooms from July to October.
Precipitation: What are the levels of precipitation that this plant can survive in?
Full sun and average to slightly dry conditions. This plant is rather indifferent to soil type, and will thrive in soil containing high amounts of clay, gravel, or sand.
What are the air flow patterns that affect this plant, and what are the impacts of that air flow?
Prefers dry conditions, airflow dries out wet soils.
Additional Comments:
Common Ragweed is a major cause of hay fever during the late summer and fall.
Photos / Sounds
What
Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris)Observer
stevenszuDescription
Name of Plant:
Buttercup
Scientific Name of Plant:
Ranunculus sceleratus L.
Order:
Ranunculales
Family:
Ranunculaceae
Biome (type of environment)
Fresh tidal marshes or flats, marshes, swamps
Climate (type of climate)
Terrestrial
Pattern of seasons and how the seasonal changes affect the plant?
Plants start to grow and green up in spring, flowers in June.
Precipitation: What are the levels of precipitation that this plant can survive in?
Prefers wet areas including wetlands, needs moist soil.
What are the air flow patterns that affect this plant, and what are the impacts of that air flow?
This plant is found in meadows, wet areas, and too much air flow can dry out the soil and plant.
Additional Comments:
Buttercups can grow as annual plants (plants that complete their life cycle in one year) or biennial plants (plants that complete their life cycle in two years).
Photos / Sounds
What
Broadleaf Cattail (Typha latifolia)Observer
stevenszuDescription
Name of Plant:
Cattail
Scientific Name of Plant:
Typha latifolia L.
Order:
Typhales
Family:
Sparganiaceae
Biome (type of environment)
Marshlands, shallow water
Climate (type of climate)
Wetland
Pattern of seasons and how the seasonal changes affect the plant?
Bloom April-June, in early spring, flowers start to appear. When pollination is complete, the staminate portion of the stalk disintegrates, leaving behind the “cattail” that everyone is familiar with.
Precipitation: What are the levels of precipitation that this plant can survive in?
This plant thrives best in wet soils and even shallow water. If there is a drought, this plant would die.
What are the air flow patterns that affect this plant, and what are the impacts of that air flow?
Cattails need wet conditions to grow in and is considered aquatic.
Additional Comments:
This plant can grow from 4 feet to 8 feet tall and in this class, can grow to 12 feet.
Photos / Sounds
What
Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis)Observer
stevenszuDescription
Name of Plant:
Lady Fern
Scientific Name of Plant:
Athyrium filix-femina
Order:
Polypodiales
Family:
Dryopteridaceae
Biome (type of environment)
Forest, woodland, wet meadows, lake shores
Climate (type of climate)
Part shade to full shade and moist, wet soils
Pattern of seasons and how the seasonal changes affect the plant?
Considered a perennial, starts to grow in spring. By May, the plant is a rich green color and begins to open up to catch the sun’s rays.
Precipitation: What are the levels of precipitation that this plant can survive in?
Lady Fern grows in moist woods, moist meadows, and swamps and along streams, from lowlands to mid-elevations, and can survive in dry soils but grows best in wet to moist soils.
What are the air flow patterns that affect this plant, and what are the impacts of that air flow?
This plant needs moist soil and grows in wooded areas or by streams where there is ample water. If there is a lot of air flow, the soil would dry out, although the fern could still tolerate this.
Additional Comments:
Mature Height 2-5 feet
Photos / Sounds
What
Horse-Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)Observer
stevenszuDescription
Name of Plant:
Horse Chestnut Tree
Scientific Name of Plant:
Aesculus hippocastanum L.
Order:
Sapindales
Family:
Hippocastanaceae
Biome (type of environment)
Deciduous Forest
Climate (type pf climate)
Temperate--This species shows remarkable habitat adaptability, as it occurs in a wide range of altitudes from 228 m to 1,485 m.
Pattern of seasons and how the seasonal changes affect the plant
This tree lives in areas with or without 4 seasons. After a few weeks of warm weather, flowers and leaves appear with remarkable rapidity. Chestnut trees exist in nature as both a tree and a shrub, and are found in all temperate regions.
Precipitation: What are the levels of precipitation that this plant can survive in?
This tree can survive with moderate rain fall, needs a minimum of 700 liters of water annually.
What are the air flow patterns that affect this plant, and what are the impacts of that air flow?
This tree grows best in shady areas with good lighting, shelter from strong winds, and needs a good air flow to aerate the soil and keep the fruit dry. Too much moisture later in the growing season can cause fungus on the fruits or seeds.
Additional Comments:
Schonbeck, Joan. "Horse Chestnut." Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 23 Mar. 2015 http://www.encyclopedia.com.
Khela, S. 2013. Aesculus hippocastanum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. . Downloaded on 23 March 2015.
Photos / Sounds
What
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)Observer
stevenszuDescription
Name of Plant:
American beech tree
Scientific Name of Plant:
Fagus grandifolia
Order:
Fagales
Family:
Fagaceae
Biome (type of environment)
Deciduous Forest
Climate (type pf climate)
Temperate--Mean annual temperatures range from 4° to 21° C (40° to 70° F). Beech can exist under temperature extremes lower than -42° C (-44° F) and 38° C (100° F). Higher than average summer temperatures may be unfavorable for beech growth.
Pattern of seasons and how the seasonal changes affect the plant
Can grow in areas with 4 seasons. This tree starts to grow buds in late April, leaves sprout in May, and drops its seeds with the first hard frost.
Precipitation: What are the levels of precipitation that this plant can survive in?
Annual precipitation usually is from 760 mm to 1270 mm (30 to 50 ). Beech found in Michigan where precipitation is about 580 mm (23 in), and in Canada where about 640 mm (25 in) fall annually. Precipitation during the growing season varies from 250 mm to 460 min (10 to 18 in). Beech is a mesophytic species; it uses twice as much water for transpiration and growth processes annually, compared to some drought resistant oaks and even lesser amounts by some pines. (http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/fagus/grandifolia.htm)
What are the air flow patterns that affect this plant, and what are the impacts of that air flow?
This tree has a shallow root system and needs aerated soil. It grows best in deep, rich, moist, well-drained soils.
Additional Comments:
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/american_beech.htm
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/fagus/grandifolia.htm
Photos / Sounds
What
Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)Observer
stevenszuDescription
Name of Plant:
Lambs Ear
Scientific Name of Plant:
Stachys byzantina
Order:
Lamiales
Family:
Lamiaceae
Biome (type of environment)
Can grow and thrive in Temperate Deciduous, Temperate Grassland, or Hot Desert.
Climate (type of climate)
Best in hot dry summers and cool moist winters.
Pattern of seasons and how the seasonal changes affect the plant
Considered a perennial, starts to grow in spring, flower stalks appear June through September. The plant also changes color with the seasons and blooms in the summer.
Precipitation: What are the levels of precipitation that this plant can survive in?
Needs little water, can thrive in direct sunlight, and hot dry conditions. Too much water on the leaves can cause leaf rot. This plant is considered drought tolerant.
What are the air flow patterns that affect this plant, and what are the impacts of that air flow?
This plant needs well drained soil. Too much moisture can cause rot. Grows best in soil that has sand or pumice. It is best to have this plant in sunlight because this helps keep the soil dry.
Additional Comments:
Plants can grow 9 to 18 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide.
Photos / Sounds
What
Intermediate Wood Fern (Dryopteris intermedia)Observer
stevenszuDescription
Name of Plant:
Christmas Fern
Scientific Name of Plant:
Polystichum acrostichoides
Order:
Polypodiales
Family:
Dryopteridaceae
Biome (type of environment)
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Climate (type of climate)
Well shaded, forested hill sides near streams. Can thrive in areas with four seasons.
Pattern of seasons and how the seasonal changes affect the plant
Spore production occurs between June and October. The fern reacts to the amount of daylight and moisture.
Precipitation: What are the levels of precipitation that this plant can survive in?
This fern needs moderate moisture, and is considered drought tolerant.
What are the air flow patterns that affect this plant, and what are the impacts of that air flow?
Soils of moderate moisture and a more neutral pH are preferred. This plant would not do well in water saturated soils. It requires cool, moist, well-drained soil in shade.
Additional Comments:
This plant can grow from 1 ½ feet to 3 feet.
Photos / Sounds
What
Great Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)Observer
stevenszuDescription
Name of Plant:
Lambs Ear
Scientific Name of Plant:
Stachys byzantina
Order:
Lamiales
Family:
Lamiaceae
Biome (type of environment)
Can grow and thrive in Temperate Deciduous, Temperate Grassland, or Hot Desert.
Climate (type of climate)
Best in hot dry summers and cool moist winters.
Pattern of seasons and how the seasonal changes affect the plant
Considered a perennial, starts to grow in spring, flower stalks appear June through September. The plant also changes color with the seasons and blooms in the summer.
Precipitation: What are the levels of precipitation that this plant can survive in?
Needs little water, can thrive in direct sunlight, and hot dry conditions. Too much water on the leaves can cause leaf rot. This plant is considered drought tolerant.
What are the air flow patterns that affect this plant, and what are the impacts of that air flow?
This plant needs well drained soil. Too much moisture can cause rot. Grows best in soil that has sand or pumice. It is best to have this plant in sunlight because this helps keep the soil dry.
Additional Comments:
Plants can grow 9 to 18 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide.
Photos / Sounds
What
Intermediate Wood Fern (Dryopteris intermedia)Observer
stevenszuDescription
Name of Plant:
Christmas Fern
Scientific Name of Plant:
Polystichum acrostichoides
Order:
Polypodiales
Family:
Dryopteridaceae
Biome (type of environment)
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Climate (type of climate)
Well shaded, forested hill sides near streams. Can thrive in areas with four seasons.
Pattern of seasons and how the seasonal changes affect the plant
Spore production occurs between June and October. The fern reacts to the amount of daylight and moisture.
Precipitation: What are the levels of precipitation that this plant can survive in?
This fern needs moderate moisture, and is considered drought tolerant.
What are the air flow patterns that affect this plant, and what are the impacts of that air flow?
Soils of moderate moisture and a more neutral pH are preferred. This plant would not do well in water saturated soils. It requires cool, moist, well-drained soil in shade.
Additional Comments:
This plant can grow from 1 ½ feet to 3 feet.
