J.Planck

An example of a good plant is the Sugar Maple tree. The Sugar Maple is in the phyla Magnoliophyta and its scientific name is Acer saccharum. The Sugar Maple tree is found in the New England area and in most parts of Canada and across the great plains . The Sugar Maple tree is very interesting and has one main use, maple syrup. The sap of the Sugar Maple has 2-3% sugar concentration. That sap is then boiled down to remove excess water, and produce the syrup. The Sugar Maple is the state tree of New York and the maple leaf is on the national flag of Canada. The Sugar Maple tree is a simple leaf (pictured above). The Sugar Maple can grow up to 100 feet tall and grow as wide in diameter as 2-3 feet. The parts of the tree that are edible is the inner bark, sap, seeds, and the leaves. The bark is a dark gray on younger trees but changes to a darker brown as it grows deep groves and flakes.

An example of a bad organism is Poison Ivy. Poison Ivy is in the phyla Magnoliophyta and its scientific name is Toxicodendron radicans. Poison Ivy is found in most woods along the edge and it can grow as a vine up tree trunks. The leaves of Poison Ivy are compound with three leaflets. This is where the saying "Leaves of three, let it be!" comes from. The leaves can have a smooth edge or a coarse jagged edge. The surface of the leaf can be glossy or dull. The oil that is produced by Poison Ivy is Urushiol oil. This oil can cause a rash on human skin. This rash is known as Rhus Dermatitis. Poison Ivy will grow anywhere and can grow as ground cover, as a bush or shrub, or a vine. To get Rhus Dermatitis, you only have to touch the leave or touch something that has touched the leave recently. To kill the Poison Ivy plant, you can use chemicals or tear out the plant by hand.

Works Cited

"Acer Saccharum - Marshall." Acer Saccharum - Marshall. 1996. Web. 12 Feb. 2012 <www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Acer+saccharum>

"The Life of a Sugar Maple Tree." Cornell University Maple Program Homepage. The Resource Center Cornell University. Web. 09 Feb. 2012. <www.maple.dnr.cornell.edu/pubs/trees.htm>.

"Poison Ivy." FCPS Home Page Redirect Page. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. <www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/poison_ivy.htm>.

"Poison Ivy." Great Plains Nature Center Home Page. Web. 12 Feb. 2012.

"POISON IVY (Toxicodendron Radicans)." American Museum of Natural History. Web. 12 Feb. 2012. <www.amnh.org/learn/biodiversity_counts/ident_help/poison_ivy.htm>