Question

Organism 4                                                                                                                                                                                        

Field Notes:     Specimens collected from small freshwater pool in Big Thicket National Preserve (TX). Plants                         formed ‘film’ covering surface of water in areas.

Laboratory Analysis:

            Body: Very small; approximately 5mm in length; consists of root, stem, leaf, and flower.

           

            Chromosomal Analysis: Diploid (chromosome # 40).

                                   

            Lignin test: Positive

            Cuticle: Present

            Leaves: Present—contain gas bladders that make plant buoyant.

                        Contains chlorophyll a, b; B-carotenes; xanthophylls.

            Roots: Present (single).

            Stem: Present, xylem and phloem present.

           

            Notes: Flower parts in threes.

Life History: Sporophyte (dominant generation); While there is much vegetative reproduction, plants do at           times flower. Fruits (utricle) contain 1-7 seeds that initially sink, then float to the top as they                      germinate.

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Tentative Classification:                      Domain:          _____________________________

                                                            Kingdom:         _____________________________

                                                            Phylum:           _____________________________

Communication: The local media features the work of your team on their nightly news. During a live interview the reporter asks you: “While this plant lives in water, it doesn’t produce sperm that can swim—how do the sperm make it to the egg for fertilization to occur?”

Response:

Answer 1

The tentative classification: Domain: Eukaryotes

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum:Monophyletic to Aracaceae family

The above characteristics match the plant, Lemna Minor. It belongs to the duckweed family and is monophyletic to the aracaceae family. The plant is very small with one, two or three leaves with a single root.

Ferrtilization mainly occurs through vegetative division or propogation. But birds also play an important role in fertilization of the egg as the plant has very sticky roots and gets adhered to bird feet.