IMPERIAL ZOO PLANTS

BY: BOTANIST KATIE GODIGKEIT

LAND PLANTS

BIG BLUESTEM GRASS• Scientific name: Andropogon gerardii• Alternate name: Turkey feet, Beard grass• Description: Big Bluestem grows in little hill shapes, this grass forms three inch

bronze, purple, or green seed heads. They are blue-green in the summer. They have hairy blades that can grow to twelve inches long and ½ inch wide.

• Characteristics: Grows upright, is a grass, and grows in a grassland environment. Big Bluestem grass has deep roots.

• Adaption/Habitat: Big Bluestem grows in dense stands that keep other grasses out of the sun and stop them from growing.

• Uses: Erosion Control. • Citation: www.blueplanetbiomes.org• Facts: The deep roots kept the dirt from blowing away. When settlers plowed

the grasses away, there was nothing to keep the dirt in place, so that’s how the dust bowl disaster in the 1930s began. This grass was used as food for the American bison.

BIG BLUESTEM

Big Bluestem in mid-July, which will mean that it is blue-green.

BUFFALO GRASS• Scientific: Bouteloua dactyloides• Description: Buffalo grass is a very hardy grass that grows in North

America prairies. • Characteristics: Buffalo grass is a warm season, native, perennial

short grass. It grows between 2-5 inches tall and spreads out between 6-12 feet. It has a round hollow stem with gray, green curly leaves. The leaves are 1/10 inches wide and 2 inches long.

• Adaption/Habitat: Buffalo grass grows in prairies in the dry climate during the summer and can survive a very cold and windy climate during the winter.

• Uses: Forage, and erosion control. • Citation: www.blueplanetbiomes.org

BUFFALO GRASS

FORSYTHIA • Scientific and Common name: Forsythia• Description: Fast growing, flowering. Forsythia is a shrub that

grows 8-10 inches high. Early blooming yellow flowers. Medium to dark green leaves in summer.

• Characteristics: Shrub, flowering. They can reach a height of 8-10 feet.

• Adaption/Habitat: Grows in growing zones 5-8. Forsythia is a deciduous plant that is native to Asian countries. In Iowa they typically bloom in early to mid April.

• Citation: Arborday.org, www.extension.iastate.edu

FORSYTHIA

CARNATION• Scientific Name: Dianthus

caryophyllus • Common Name:• Carnation• Description: Carnations

come in many different colors and sizes. They are flowers, mostly seen in pink and red. They can live many weeks.

• Characteristics: Carnations grow on bushes, and are a flower.

• They grow in the sun, and can survive in water.

• Adaption/Habitat: Native to the Mediterranean, these flowers can grow in and out of water.

• Uses: Landscaping• Citation: www.ehow.com

CARNATION

RED MAPLE • Scientific Name: Acer Rubrum• Common Name: Red Maple• Alternate Names: Swamp, Water or Soft Maple.• Characteristics: Green stems turn red in winter, new leaves are red-

tinged, turning to green. Fall color is deep red or yellow. Flowers are also red. Fast growing and tolerant of many soils. Grows to 40' to 60', 40' spread. (zones 3-9)

• Description: The Red Maple is a tree that grows up to 40-60 inches high.• Adaptation/Habitat: Red Maple can grow anywhere, though better in

warm climates. • Uses: Landscaping• Citation: Arborday.org

RED MAPLE

MAPLE TREE• Scientific Name: Acer• Common Name: Maple Tree• Description: Maple trees are

deciduous trees, and in the fall, seeds fall spinning like helicopters. Maple trees have clusters of green flowers, which stand upright, while most other flowers on trees do not. The trees are self-pollinating. Maple trees vary in sizes, sometimes only growing to the size of 15-20 ft, while others grow up to 70ft or more in height.

• Characteristics: Maple trees grow upright, and produce seeds and flowers, which are green.

• Adaption/Habitat: Maple trees can grow in the sun, and are usually found in the North Temperate Zone.

• Uses: Conservation• Citation: www. Aboutmapletrees.com

MAPLE TREE

ELDER TREE• Scientific Name: Sambucus

nigra• Common Name: Elder Tree• Alternate Names: Black

Elder, Black-Berried European Elder, Boor Tree, Bore Tree, Bountry, Common Elder, Ellanwood, Ellhorn, European Elder, German Elder, Holunder, Pipe Tree

• Description: The Elder tree is a tree. It’s lifespan is not very long for plants of this type. Most Box Elder trees die before the age of 100. One form of the Elder tree grows 33-82ft tall.

• Characteristics: The Elder tree grows upward, for some species of the tree, it can produce berries in the spring.

ELDER TREE CONTINUED…• Site Selection/ Adaption/Habitat: The Elder

tree is found in Asia, Europe, North Africa, and has been grown in the United States.

• Uses: Conservation• Citation: www.globalherbalsuplies.

com

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ELDER TREE

CAGE PLANTS

CARROTS • Scientific Name: Daucus carota• Common Name: Carrot • Description: The carrot is a biennial plant that grows a rosette of leaves in

the spring and summer. The flowering stem grows to 60-200cm tall with an umbel of white flowers that can produce a fruit called mericap by botanists.

• Characteristics: Biennial plant, flowering, produces fruit called mericap.• Adaption/Habitat: A carrots habitat is limited by weather. While carrots

can be found almost anywhere, it grows best inside temperate zones. When grown outside of temperate zones, cultivation techniques are needed in order to make the cooler temperatures.

• Uses: Food • Citation: www.wikipedia.com, www.day-starfarm.com, bioweb.uwlax.edu

CARROT PICTURES

Wild carrot in it’s natural habitat.

KALE • Scientific Name: Brassicaeae, or Brassica oleracea• Common Name: Kale • Alternate Names: Cabbage, borecole• Description: Kale is a green or purple vegetable that is more

wild then domesticated. It is a healthy food, and animals eat it too. In which the central leaves do not form a head.

• Characteristics: Kale is a form of cabbage with green or purple leaves. Kale is considered to be a wild vegetable, not domesticated. Curly leaved (Scots Kale)

• Here are the types of kale: Plain leaved, Rape Kale, Leaf and spear (a cross between curly leaved and plain leaved Kale), Cavolo nero.

KALE CONTINUED…• Adaption/Habitat: Until the

middle ages, Kale was one of the most common greens in Europe. Curly leafed varieties of cabbage already existed along with flat leafed varieties on Greece. These forms were called Sabellian kale by the Romans.

• Uses: Food • Citation: www.wikipedia.com

AQUATIC PLANTS

MANGROVE SHOOT• Scientific name: Rhizophora

mangle• Common Name: Mangrove Shoot• Alternate Names: Red Mangrove,

Tongo. • Description: Mangrove shoots

have distinguishable prop root systems. The roots suspend it over the water. A mangrove can reach 80ft in ideal conditions, though it’s usually found at about 20ft. It’s bark is thick and a dark-grey color.

• Characteristics: Mangrove shoots reproduce with a propagule it makes, which is actually a living tree.

• Adaption/Habitat: Mangrove shoots are found in tropical and subtropical areas, in both hemispheres. They thrive in brackish water.

• Uses: Landscaping• Citation: www.wikipedia.com

MANGROVE SHOOT(RED MANGROVE)

TURTLE GRASS• Scientific Name: Thalassia testudinum• Common Name: Turtle grass• Description: Turtle grass is a perennial grass that grows from a long

jointed rhizome. Some are leafless but others bear tufts of linear leaf blades. The flowers grow on short stalks in the axils of the leaves and are greenish-white, sometimes a little pink.

• Characteristics: Turtle grass is a perennial grass that grows upward, and in shallow, calm water.

• Adaption/Habitat: Turtle grass grows in meadows in calm shallow waters throughout the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Sometimes, they can be found in small clusters on muddy sand.

• Uses: Food for Manatees• Citation: www.wikipedia.com

TURTLE GRASSThis is turtle grass with sea urchins. Manatees love to eat seagrass and turtle grass. (Cousins)

YELLOW SUN CORAL• Scientific Name: Tubastrea aurea• Common Name: Yellow Sun coral• Alternate Name: Sun polyps• Description: Sun corals belong to

a group called large-polyp stony corals, which means they produce a hard skeleton instead of reefs.

• Characteristics: All sun corals are not photosynthetic. Instead, they are heterotrophic, and extend long tentacles to catch zooplankton.

• Adaption/Habitat: Black coral is usually found in the deep ocean because they don’t require sunlight for nourishment. They live at sights such as sea-wrecks instead.

• Uses: Landscaping • Citation: www.wikipedia.comwww.reefs2go.com

YELLOW SUN CORAL

ORANGE SUN CORAL• Scientific Name: Tubastrea aurea • Common Name: Orange Sun Coral • Alternate Name: Sun Polyps • Description: Sun corals belong to a group called

large-polyp stony corals, which means they produce a hard skeleton instead of reefs.

• Characteristics: All sun corals are not photosynthetic. Instead, they are heterotrophic, and extend long tentacles to catch zooplankton.

ORANGE SUN CORAL CONTINUED…

• Adaption/Habitat: : Black coral is usually found in the deep ocean because they don’t require sunlight for nourishment. They live at sights such as sea-wrecks instead.

• Uses: Landscaping • Citation: www.wikipedia.com www.Reefs2go.com

ORANGE SUN CORAL

BLACK SUN CORAL • Scientific Name: Tubastrea

micrantha • Common Name: Black Sun Coral • Alternate Name: Sun Polyps• Description: Black sun coral, and

it’s cousins all produce a hard skeleton, and do not build reefs.

• Characteristics: All sun corals are not photosynthetic. Instead, they are heterotrophic, and extend long tentacles to catch zooplankton.

• Adaption/Habitat: Black coral is usually found in the deep ocean because they don’t require sunlight for nourishment. They live at sights such as sea-wrecks instead.

• Uses: Landscaping • Citation: www.wikipedia.com www.reefs2go.com

BLACK SUN CORAL

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