Plant Adaptions

Wolfsbane

Aconitum napellus, a native species primarily found in the mountains of Western and Central Europe, with a preference for cool and moist environments.

Agave

Agave americana, a native species found in hot and arid regions of Mexico, Southern United States, and the Caribbean, with leaves that have a waxy coat to prevent water loss.

Wolfsbane leaves

Leaves in a palm formation with 5-7 leaflets and incised margins, producing blueish purple flowers.

Agave leaves

Up to 8 feet long with a leathery texture, forming a rosette shape and having spines along the edges, with chloroplasts for sugar production and a central flower.

Agave roots

Rhizomes that spread underground, producing multiple bases for the plant, with an extremely short stem and leaves growing directly from the roots.

Wolfsbane roots

Tuberous fibrous roots with parenchyma cells for storage of high concentrations of poison, with stems ranging from two to four feet tall and leaves growing horizontally from the stem.

Structure and function comparison

Both plants have flowers and leaves, but Agave takes longer to produce a flower and dies afterward, while Wolfsbane produces flowers in a season and returns the next year. The appearance of their leaves is different, with Wolfsbane having compound leaves and Agave having simple leaves without incised margins. They also have different root structures, with Agave having rhizomes and Wolfsbane having tuberous fibrous roots. Overall, they have some similarities but are not grouped together.