POTW

Euphorbia milli- Crown of thorns

Bendy, making it a possible source for jesus’ crown of thorns Has spines woody

Phoenix dactyliferea- Date Palm

More uses than year has days Sign of majesty and triumph

polygonum cuspidatum- Japanese Knotweed

Bad invasive, used to super poor soil (volcanic) Ruined that british guys house

Vaccinium spp.- Blueberry and cranberry

Mycorhizal Buzz pollination (Bees are messy eaters which is helpful) Agustifolium- low +sweet, used for trade, fire adapted Corymbosium- highbrush, spp of commerce, china is largest producer Macrocarpon- large fruits (in comparison to plant), urinary medicine, bog growth

Helianthus- Sunflower

Dimorphic flowers Annuus- classic sunflower Tuberosa- smaller, fewer seeds, has tuber

Anemone

150 spp globally, 6 in MI Fruit = achene No petals (just sepals) Tons of stamen carpel, and apo Canadensis- spreads by rhizomes Multifida- dune growth, cc=10 Coronaria- consider the lilies Verginiana- Thimbleweed

Ravenala madagascariensis (strelizaceae)

Native to madagascar Lemur pollinated Bright blue aril eliasomes Mammal dispersed Leaves orient in E-W

Asimina Triloba (Annonaceae)- paw paw

Carpels fuse into large fruit Fly+beetle pollinated 11 spp in NA Zebra swallowtail host Hybridizes

Adansonia digitata- Baobab

Bat pollinated 9 species Distribution = Australia (1), Africa (2 now – 4n and 2n), Madagascar (6) Question: continental drift or more recent dispersal? Answer: both! Considered mutation rates, genetic comparisons, dispersal mechanism Distribution of Baobabs correlates with human settlements – very useful species But they also found multiple more recent introductions across Africa and to other localities including India, South America) that were likely human dispersal, partly by the slave trade

Pteridium aquilinum

North temperate global distribution Thrives in disturbed habitats (CC = 0) Spreads by rhizomes, rarely makes spores Rhizomes and leaves used medicinally Roots dry black, used in basketry Rhizomes and young fronds used for food Extra floral nectaries attract ants Ants protect the plant Lots of chemicals 5th most common plant globally? Flavor resembles wild rice

Quercus

10 spp in MI, 90 in NA, 600 in world

Ovules all abort except 1

Natives at a lot of acorns

Hosts 500+ spp of insects

Epiphyte host