Plant species identification from a Florida backyard using dichotomous keys

Dichotomous Botany Lab Report: Field Sample

Having lived in Florida for a long period of time, I am quite familiar with many of the plants that are in many of the surrounding areas. As such, I would hypothesize that there would be mostly fern plants, or Pteridophytes, plant samples identified in a typical Florida backyard. These often grow near fences and water locations, like the ponds that are common in Florida. Flowering plants, or angiosperms would most likely follow, with a lesser number of gymnosperms because of the sheer size of such trees, and relatively no bryophytes.

Location of Sample

Physical Description

Phylum

Skeleton Fork Fern (Psilotum nudum)

The sample was found outside of the fenced boundary of the yard. There is a small pond that is in the center of several houses just outside the enclosed portion of the yard. Along one of the inlets of the pond, there were several smaller broad-beech ferns. Knowing that such ferns are often found near water and streams helped me identify it.

It does not have roots, which makes it very easy to rip up out of the soft marshy ground around the pond areas. Yet, it is a vascular plant, showing its evolution into being able to carry materials for photosynthesis within the plant. According to the research, "Psilotum sporophytes consist almost entirely of dichotomously forking (evenly forking) aerial stems and are unique among living vascular plants in having neither leaves nor roots" (Stern, Jansky, & Bidlack 98).

Psilophyta

Small-leaf climbing Fern (Lygodium microphyllum)

The sample was striking because it was climbing up some of the posting of the fences surrounding the back yard, and up some of the wooden posts that held up the trellis. The fact that it was climbing was one of the significant factors that helped me identify it.

Although this fern is relatively small compared to some of the others around it, the fronds are large compared to the size of the stalk. It has long, finger-like extensions that have a serrated edge. The leaves have a more triangle shape, although the tips of the fingers are rounded off.

Pterophyta

Leavenworth's Tickseed (Coreopsis leavenworthii)

Various patches of these flowers were strewn about the yard, near open areas around the fencing. There were in both small patches closer to the house, and larger patches that ran towards the open property adjacent to the yard. They were not right next to the water, but were in more open areas.

This small yellow flower was found in bunches. They were typically around 1 to 3 feet in length, and tended to bend towards the ground. Thus, you could pull them up to see their full length. They had opposing leaves that were about 2 inches in length.

Angiosperm

Analysis

Overall, the hypothesis was correct. In the direct vicinity of the yard, there were two types of ferns present. Thus, there were more Pteridophytes. This may be because the yard I was exploring is adjacent to a small pond with a stream serving as its major inlet and outlet. The presence of the water in combination with the tropic Floridian environment allows for tropical fern plants to thrive in such areas. There were then a number of angiosperms, of flowering plants as well. I choose to go further into a neighbor's yard to use a palm tree as a sample, because it was an example of a much larger angiosperm. There were no Gymnosperms, as there are relatively little pine and similar types of wood in the neighborhood.

It is incredibly important to know the division or phylum of the various plant species growing in your backyard. Living in an area requires a thorough knowledge of the wildlife around you. Knowing what is growing in your backyard can help you avoid poisonous plants and remove potential dangers to others because of potential allergies. Moreover, it is important, especially in Florida, to eradicate invasive species that are overpowering local species and causing massive changes in the local ecosystem. Knowing what a plant is can help one avoid planting an invasive species and causing more damage, as well as helping try to eradicate such species out of the Florida landscape. It is also good to know just because it keeps you informed about the most intimate space you find yourself in -- your own home.