Flower Anatomy
The female part of a flower is called the _______________.
Pistal
what time of year do most wind pollinated plants in PA try to pollinate?
spring, now
Name an insect pollinated invasive plant in Troy PA
honeysuckle, autumn olive
Name 5 invasive plants found in PA
so many...
honeysuckle
barberry
japanese knotweed
autumn olive
garlic mustard
tree of heaven
The most famous example of a wind dispersed seed comes from what species?
Dandelion
At the top of the female portion of the flower is a part called the stigma which is naturally_________ to help capture ___________.
sticky, pollen
Why is wind pollination NOT great at increasing genetic diversity in trees?
most pollen ends up on the ground beneath the parent tree
describe a latitude range in which you would find mostly insect pollinated species.
near the equator
What characteristic of invasives gives them the biggest advantage over native species?
no natural predators
What bird species is responsible for repopulating Troy PA with oak trees after the last glacial period?
blue jays
In order to reward pollinators, the inside of a flower contains ___________.
nectar
why are most PA trees wind pollinated?
No bugs during typical pollination times
describe 3 ways to attract pollinators to yourself
look good, smell good, smell bad
Describe 3 characteristics of invasives that allow them to outcompete native plants. You may NOT include "No natural predators"
high shoot:root ratio
longer growing season
many babies
colonize disturbances faster than natives
What are the two most common methods of seed dispersal in PA?
wind and bird
Why is the Pistal between two stamen?
to ensure bees get covered in pollen
draw a graph on the board with latitude on the X axis and % of wind pollinated plants on the Y axis.
why is insect pollination better at increasing genetic diversity?
bees and bugs travel farther and are a targeted vector for pollen
What would you expect to happen to the species richness and dominance index of the forest above TIS with no human intervention?
R down
DI up
Describe 2 reasons why seed dispersal is desired by plants:
1. so parent plants don't compete with babies
2. so parent plants don't breed with babies
what is a potential negative consequence of having both male and female parts in the same flower?
self pollination: lack of genetic diversity
Describe 2 techniques plants use to minimize the chances of self pollination:
separate male and female flowers, keep pistal unreceptive while releasing pollen
why does insect pollination require less energy?
it enjoys higher rates of success
Describe how to permanently remove a japanese barberry from your property.
cut and spray during the fall so the poison is taken to the roots
The geranium cutting you did in class is an example of what type of reproduction?
asexual reproduction