Choose an angiosperm with at least 1 unusual organ, characteristic, modification
ID: 282763 • Letter: C
Question
Choose an angiosperm with at least 1 unusual organ, characteristic, modification, or adaptation.
Describe the anatomy (structure) and physiology (function) of the angiosperm you chose.
Explain the unusual characteristic(s) or modification(s) and how it differs from the standard root, stem, leaf, or flower.
What benefit does the modification provide to the plant you chose?
Research at least 1 other plant, or review posts made by your peers to devise a potentially advantageous new adaptation that would benefit your plant.
Consider the environment, potential threats, and changing climate, and then come up with an adaptation that would further benefit your angiosperm. Explain the potential concern your plant will face and how your new adaptation would benefit the plant. For example, gypsy moth is an introduced species spreading west and south from New England. The caterpillars can strip all of the leaves from a maple tree but do not eat the waxy leaves of holly that produce a toxin, theobromine. If maple trees had waxy, toxic leaves like the holly, then they would be protected from these pests.
Explanation / Answer
Example of one of the most unusal angiosperm is Amorphophallus titanum also known as titan arum (corpse flower). It belongs to Araceae family. The striking feature of this plant is, it possesses world's largest unbranched inflorescence.
Habitation: These flowers are confined to Sumutra islands, Indonesia.
Evolution: The prevalance of parallel evolution in the habitat, function is the predictable consequence of limited angiosperms for effective reproduction and adaptation to environmental niches.
Anatomy: Titan arum has a massive inflorescence consisting of a spathe wrapped around a spadix. This plant gives rotting meat fragrance. Bisexual flowers are embedded within the inflorescence. It gives rise to corm and can be easily cultivated using normal pollination techniques. In Titan arum, the stem is the corm that stores energy.
Pollination: Self pollination usually doesn't occur in this as female flowers open first.
Reproduction: The corpse flower begin its life with the reproductive stage first before stepping into the vegetative stage, repeating these stages throughout its entire life span. Thus, the Amorphophallus titanum follows the alternation of generation. Vegetative Stage is the dominant generation, having columnar branching pattern.
Physiology: The petiole is a cylindrical shell composed of compact unlignified tissue with a honeycomb aerenchymatous core. There is a presence of unusual metaxylem tracheids in petioles of Amorphophallus giant leaves.
Adaptations: Oils in the titan arum plant are volatilized to release its unique scent by raising the internal temperature. To produce its perfume, the plant raises its internal temperature several degrees above that of its surroundings and vaporises oils secreted in its heart.
The spathe of the titan arum may attract insects by creating an optical illusion of radiating bright light to attract the insects.
The spadix of the titan arum plant is protected from water by a specialized bract called a spathe, that clasps the spadix tightly enough to form a waterproof bag to protect the ovaries inside it.
Similar type of an othe unusal angiosperm is Corypha umbraculifera, the talipot palm. It is confined to Srilanka, China, Thailand. It possesses world's largest branched inflorescence. The leaves are also used for thatching, and the sap is tapped to make palm wine. In South India, the palm leaves are used to make umbrellas for agricultural workers.