Polytrichum juniperinum
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Bryophyta
Class: Bryopsida
Subclass: Polytrichidae
Order: Polytrichales
Family: Polytrichaceae
Genus: Polytrichum
Species: juniperinum
Polytrichum juniperinum is part of the kingdom Plantae, and fits into this kingdom for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it is multicellular and eukaryotic as almost all plants are. Furthermore, P. juniperinum is a photoautotroph, getting its food from photosynthesis, the process by which it uses chlorophyll to turn light energy into chemical energy. Additionally, this plant, like all plants, is nonmotile. Finally, it can reproduce both sexually and asexually, as is seen in most plants.
Polytrichum juniperinum, commonly known as Juniper haircap moss, has two distinct morphological phases called the gametophyte and the sporophyte. The gametophyte phase is the dominant phase that it is normally found in [39]. During this phase, juniper haircap moss typically grows in thin mats, although it can also grow as closely associated individual plants. The stems of the P. juniperinum are straight and do not branch, and they can grow to be between 1 and 10 cm tall [40]. These stems are usually reddish and shiny, and are densely packed [39], [40]. The stems function is to transport the energy that the leaves accumulated through photosynthesis to the rest of the plant. The juniper haircap gametophytes also have rhizoids that extend out from the bottom of the stems and hold it into the surface that it is on. The leaves of this moss are leathery, blue-green, and usually between 4 and 8 mm long, though they can be up to 1 cm long [39], [40], [41] . When the leaves are moist, they will spread widely, but will become more narrow and upright as the plant dries up. This is done in order to reduce water loss [39], [40]. The Juniper haircap moss is heterothallic, having separate male and female plants. These male and female plants can be on completely different clumps or within the same clump. The male plants can develop antheridia (sex organs), and the females archegonia at their tips [39]. During the spring, the males are bright red-orange, and “flowers” at the end of their shoots [41].
The other form of this moss, the sporophyte, grows out of archegonia. They are usually around as tall as the gametophyte stalk that they are attached to [39]. They are straight and upright, with wiry stems 2-6 cm in length. The sporophyte also has a capsule that is red-brown and 2.5 to 5 mm long [40].
Juniper haircap moss can be found on every continent on Earth, (including Antarctica). It is distributed throughout North America, from Alaska to Greenland and South, covering most of the United States and some of Mexico. This moss is usually found in alpine meadows and tundra, dry scrub oak forests, low elevation savannas and coniferous forests [39]. It prefers areas that are acidic, often growing in burnt, acidic soil that no other plant has grown in yet [41].
Juniper haircap moss best produces energy through photosynthesis when it is moist, though it can still continue this process when dry at much slower rates. Also, photosynthesis occurs most efficiently at temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius [39]. The water that is used by this moss for photosynthesis is taken into the plant mainly by osmosis. However, they can also use small tubes that carry water from the rhizoids where much of the water is absorbed, to the leaves, where photosynthesis takes place. It is because of this system that Juniper haircap moss is able to grow taller than most mosses [39].
The Juniper haircap moss can reproduce sexually through spores, and asexually or vegetatively by sprouting from stems and rhizoids [39]. The moss produces spores within a capsule which mature, then break off during dry weather. During dry weather, the teeth of the capsule bend outward, causing the spores to fall out. Wind can then carry the spores, and they will colonize on a new, moist site [39]. Vegetative asexual regeneration occurs in specialized gametophyte tissue. It will sprout from rhizoids and stem fragments.
Sequoia sempervirens
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Coniferophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Taxodiaceae
Genus: Sequoia
Species: sempervirens
The organism Sequoia sempervirens, commonly known as a California Redwood or Coast Redwood, is classified under the kingdom Plantae. Like almost all plants, S. sempervirens is eukaryotic and multicellular. Also, as with all plants, the Coast Redwood gets its energy from photosynthesis. Interestingly, while the redwood is able to produce the most energy in full sunlight, it is able to endure pretty heavy shade [42]. Coast Redwoods also do not have a nervous system and they are not motile, characteristics that they share with all plants. Finally, the coast redwood can reproduce both a sexually and asexually, just as almost all plants can. The coast redwood is monoecious, but individual cones are either male or female. It is pollinated through wind [43].
The Sequoia sempervirens is the tallest tree in the world. It is typically between 60 and 100 meters tall; also, its trunk is about 300-460 cm dbh, though it can grow to be 900 [44]. The trunk is much wider at its base and will often have round swellings. The bark is tough and fibrous, a reddish brown color, and about 35 cm thick. This bark has rounded but scaly ridges and is deeply furrowed [44], [45]. The branches of the S. sempervirens sweep downward before rising slightly back up. Its twigs are green earlier on, but will turn brown. They are thin and may droop, ending in a bud. The leaves are evergreen and are linear with stomates on both surfaces, growing to be between 1 and 30 mm. They are green, sometimes yellowish, and are ranked by two [44], [45]. The California Redwood’s fruit is a red-brown, woody cone between three-quarters of an inch to an inch long and shaped roughly like an egg [45].
As its name suggests, the California Redwood is native to California, specifically its central to northern coast (as well as Oregon). The heavy rain and fog during the winter and summer seasons respectively vitally contribute to the habitat of this plant, as well as the low elevation (below 300 m) [42], [44]. The redwood provides a habitat for many animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. The big forests that these trees make up can even be home to some endangered species such as spotted owl and the marbled murrelet [46].
As mentioned earlier, the California Redwood is monoecious, with male and female flowers on the same tree, but not within the same flower. The female cones are broad, ovular cones, and can be fertilized by pollen between November and March [42]. S. sempervirens will start to produce viable seeds between the ages of 5 and 15 years old, and the seeds will become more viable as the tree ages. The tree will continue to produce seeds every single year throughout its life. However, its germination rate is comparatively low due to a high rate of defective seeds. The seeds of the Coast redwood are very small and light, (they are about 265,000/kg), but they do not have a mechanism to slow themselves from falling quickly, limiting the seed dispersal [42].
Lilium lancifolium
Domain: Eukarya
Kingdom: Plantae
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta
Superdivision: Spermatophyta
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Liliopsida
Subclass: Liliidae
Order: Liliales
Family: Liliaceae
Genus: Lilium
Species: lancifolium
As a member of the Kingdom Plantae, Lilium lancifolium, commonly known as a Tiger Lily, is eukaryotic and multicellular, as is with almost all plants. Additionally, it fits into the kingdom Plantae because it is an autotroph and produces energy by using chlorophyll to convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy [47]. Additionally, like all plants, Tiger Lilies are nonmotile and do not have a nervous system. While it is in the minority, L. lancifolium only reproduce asexually, and not sexually. Instead of seeds, the plant produces tiny bulbs called bulblets that are genetically identical to the parent plant. These are created in the axils of the Lily, and they grow there before ripening and detaching to fall into the soil [47].
The stem of the Tiger Lily is straight, unbranched and tall, growing to be between 80 and 200 centimeters high [47]. It usually ranges from light green to purple in color [48]. The leaves, which sprout from the stem, are smooth, long and pointed, and have parallel veins and webbed edges. They are around 3-7 inches by half and inch in size and alternate on the stem [47], [49]. The higher leaves on the stem are shorter-- usually only about 2-3 inches long-- as well as more blunt [48]. Under the upper leaves, there are dark purple oval bulbs around half an inch long. The flowers of L. lancifolium are made up of six long and pointed orange flowers with brownish-black spots. The petals are bent backwards, creating a flower that is about 4 inches across total. The Tiger Lily also has six stamens and a pistol tha
t are very long [47], [49].
Lilium lancifolium is most commonly found in East Asia, specifically China, Japan, Guam and Korea. The conditions it strives most under is full direct sunlight and moist soil-- regular rain [50]. Aside from its need for sunlight and rain, the Tiger Lily can survive in most habitats including different soil types, pH and climates [50].
As mentioned earlier, the Tiger Lily cannot reproduce sexually by itself--only asexually. However, it has both male and female reproductive organs and can be pollinated by bees [50]. The Tiger Lily also attracts other insects such as butterflies.
The Tiger Lily has uses medicinally and is used in treating congestion, irritation, nausea, coughs, boils, heart disease and more. Additionally, it is edible for humans and the flowers and roots are often eaten in Asian cuisine where these flowers are abundant [47]. Interestingly though, the pollen can be poisonous to certain people and animals, and can cause symptoms such as vomiting and drowsiness [50].
