seed unit 2 2/11

Reference to a future class session in one week, specifically mentioning no class on the upcoming Monday.
Class planned for Wednesday to discuss job search locations and internship opportunities.
Encouragement for students to explore additional job portals outside MSU listings.
Mention of summer opportunities both locally and beyond Montana.

Current focus: woody magnoliopsids, encompassing one-third of the course content.
Overall breakdown of the course: 1/3 winter magnoliopsids, 1/3 woody magnoliopsids, and 1/3 other content leading towards examinations.

Explanation of botanical terms related to trees:
- Bole: Main trunk of the tree; the term has historical roots associated with tree harvesting.
- Limb: The first main branch that extends from the bole; considered essentially dead tissue excluding conductive parts.
Discussion of living tissue in relation to twigs and primary growth.
- Twig: Contains nodes, capable of active primary growth.
- Terminal bud: The part responsible for primary growth elongation.

Differentiation between types of growth:
- Primary Growth: Elongation occurring at the terminal bud.
- Secondary Growth: Expansion of woody plants outward, allowing trees to increase in girth annually.

Bark: The outer protective layer of a woody plant.
Vascular Cambium: The layer inside the bark contributing to secondary growth; furthermore, understanding it is not applied practically for tree identification as it may damage the tree.
Seasonal Growth Rings: Examination of annual rings allowing for tree age determination and climate reconstruction based on ring width.
- Example: A tree core can be used to age a tree based on counted rings, with historical trees dating back centuries.

Bristlecone Pine: Notable for being one of the oldest known tree species with individuals exceeding 5,000 years old, significant during historical human events.
Importance of tree rings not only for dating but also for climatic studies, linking tree growth conditions to historical climate data.

Methuselah: The famous Great Basin bristlecone pine species; discussed as a remarkable specimen in terms of age and growth history.
Prometheus: The previously known oldest non-clonal organism before being cut down for research, underscoring the ethical considerations in scientific research.

Introduction to increment borers used for extracting tree cores with minimal damage, detailed explanation of how researchers then analyze the core for ring patterns and growth conditions.
Discussion on the characteristics and importance of tracheids, the water-conducting cells in tree structure, with significant biological and ecological functions.

Understanding annual growth patterns with early summer producing larger tracheids compared to denser late summer growth.
Discussed implications for ecological studies and wood density measurements to inform climate science.

Defined as a structure that remains post its functional lifecycle, exemplified by persistent sepals on fruit after blooming, providing insight into botanical identification.
Discussion of male and female catkins with emphasis on time of persistence and significance in environmental interactions.

Defined as stems that are foreshortened to concentrate leaf attachments; advantages in terms of space and energy conservation.
Comparison with thorns and prickles as modifications for defense and survival strategies in plants, with examples from Rosa and Ribes species.

Explanation of underground (rhizomes) versus above ground (stolons) stem structures, emphasizing their role in vegetative propagation and adaptability.
Reinforcement of differences with nodal characteristics aiding in plant reproduction and survival in varying environments.