Group 1: (Adele, Alec, Janaka and Eva)'s Journal

October 21, 2021

Genus Armillaria

One of my observations was a mushroom from the genus Armillaria. In environments with the correct amount of sunlight and water, Armillaria can live for hundreds of years. Armillaria species are found on the ground and the wood of trees and the hyphae of these species combine into rhizomorphs, which are the main organ responsible for secreting enzymes to digest and absorb food. One of the most well-known applications of armillaria is root rot caused by the species, Armillaria mellea. By using its filaments to attack tree roots, the parasitic fungus spreads up the tree and through the trunk until the tree dies. By autumn, yellow mushrooms begin to grow at the base of the trees and the fungus continues to invade and ravage surrounding trees.

  • Sorry, while I wrote my journal entry and submitted it, I forgot to post it on iNaturalist
Posted on October 21, 2021 06:02 AM by alecwang alecwang | 0 comments | Leave a comment

October 7, 2021

Lepiota cristata

Lepiota cristata, most known as Stinking dapperling from the Agaricaceae family, can be easily recognize by its small size, its fragrant odour and the brownish scales on the cape. Moreover, this name refers to the unpleasant smell of coal gas from this mushroom. If often grows in disturbed grounds (ditches for instance). Lepiota cristata can not be use for human's food because it is poisoning but it does not contain amatoxins or phalotoxins: The spores have very distinctive shapes, like an oval shape, and are single walled.

Posted on October 7, 2021 01:49 AM by evasavard5 evasavard5 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

October 6, 2021

Turkey Tail fungi

Turkey Tail fungus, with the scientific name Trametes versicolor, have many immune-boosting properties and actually have been used by many native communities around the world as medicine. This is because the fungi is full of antioxidants which inhibits oxidation and protects are body against harmful substances. Furthermore, the fungi contain prebiotics which can help with our digestive health. Prebiotics feed the bacteria in our digestive system and thus ensure that it is strong and stable. Turkey Tails are very common in North America.

Kubala, Jillian. “5 Immune-Boosting Benefits of Turkey Tail Mushroom.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 6 Nov. 2018, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/turkey-tail-mushroom.

Posted on October 6, 2021 09:29 PM by adele-lopes adele-lopes | 0 comments | Leave a comment

September 22, 2021

Burdock

Burdock, or genus Arctium is a vascular plant (phylum) that is invasive to North America. It is part of the family, asteraceae, which is under the order asterales. Since Burdock lie close to the ground beneath large trees that block the sunlight they receive, they have evolved larger leaves, which provide increased surface area to absorb more light energy for photosynthesis. An adaptation common to all the observations is that they are C3 plants. While the C3 pathway leads to photorespiration in hot and dry climates, this is not a significant issue given the sufficient rainfall and moderate temperature of Montreal. It has not been necessary for the plants to evolve an alternative pathway. C3 plants evolved a long time ago when CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere were high and O2 concentrations were too low for photorespiration to be a problem.

Posted on September 22, 2021 10:51 AM by alecwang alecwang | 0 comments | Leave a comment

September 18, 2021

Journal Entry BIO 111 Eva Savard

The sugar maple tree, “Acer saccharum”, is part of the soapberry family, among the Eudicots. It is a flowering and seed plant, in the group of the vascular plants which are part of the land plants. All our observed species are green plants, which means they are capable of photosynthesis; they convert light energy into chemical energy to fuel their organism’s activity. Moreover, the sugar maple has a unique adaptation; its seeds are shaped with paper-like wings, parallels to each other, that allow them to travel further away, with the help of the wind.

Posted on September 18, 2021 03:59 PM by evasavard5 evasavard5 | 0 comments | Leave a comment

September 16, 2021

Journal Entry- BIOL 111-Adele Lopes

A unique adaptation can be found in the American Mountain Ash. It's berries only grow on the underside of the tree leaves and they are red. This is because they want to be catched by predators so that the seeds can spread and it can reproduce.
One adaptation that all the observations have in common is that they stopped growing or putting new leaves on the side of the plant that faces the trail path. This way they don't waste resources growing where they will be crushed or damaged.
For the birchwood observation, the tree can be classified under the genus birch because of its white bark. It could be tentatively be classified as a grey alder because of the similair physical appearance. We can rule out the classification as a silver birch because that species only exists at high altitudes in Europe and parts of Asia.

Posted on September 16, 2021 01:20 PM by adele-lopes adele-lopes | 0 comments | Leave a comment

If you're reading this, then you've made it!

Posted on September 16, 2021 01:08 PM by alecwang alecwang | 0 comments | Leave a comment

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