Lab 3 - Tree Identification

Question 1

What is binomial nomenclature?

Answer 1

It is the naming of an organism using its Latin genus and species

Question 2

What is taxonomy?

Answer 2

The science of naming and classifying organisms

Question 3

What is the taxonomic order for classifying plants?

Answer 3

Kingdom - primary (ex. animals/plants)
Division - used instead of phylum for plants (ex. ferns)
Class - (ex. angiosperms/gymnosperms)
Order - (ex. rosales)
Family - (ex. rosaceae)
Genus - (ex. pyrus)
Species - (ex. communis)

Question 4

What is the naming convention (order & requirements)?

Answer 4

1. Genus (must be underlined/italicized, with first letter in caps)
2. Species (must be underlined/italicized, no caps)
3. Authors abbreviation (person who first described species scientifically
   ex. Pinus Strobus L.

Question 5

What is bark for?

Answer 5

It protects the tree from insects, disease and weather extremes

Question 6

What is cambium?

Answer 6

It is located inside the inner bark and divides into the xylem and phloem cells. This is where diameter growth occurs and where rings + inner bark are formed

Question 7

What is a growth ring?

Answer 7

It represents one year of growth and dendrochronology, growth ring dating, allows for the study of forest composition, dynamics, disturbances and climate variation in history.

Question 8

What is the phloem?

Answer 8

It carries nutrients from leaves/needles down to the branches, trunk, and roots.

Question 9

What is the pith?

Answer 9

It is a dark spot in the centre of a woody plant

Question 10

What is the xylem?

Answer 10

It transports water & nutrients back up from the roots to the leaves. Each year, xylem growth is added to previous years growth, which results in annual growth rings.

Question 11

What is a dichotomous key?

Answer 11

It is a program off instructions for identifying something and involves choosing between pairs of choices.