D. Torok

The Common name for my 'good' plant is Coast Redwood. The Scientific name is Sequoia sempervirens, its phylum is Taxodiaceae. They are located in relatively narrow coastal strip from the big sur coast in central California about 450 miles north to extreme southwestern Oregon. What makes it good? It holds fern mats in tops of trees that hold small fresh water critters. It supports myriad lichens, byrophytes and mosses as well as other vascular plants like salmonberry, huckleberry and khamnus trees growing 240 feet above the earth. In the treetops, it also is home to endangered animals. It is simply the most productive ecosystems on earth producing a staggering 4,500 meters of wood per acre. About 82% of all coast redwoods are protected by parks and reserves. What are some facts about Coast Redwoods? Coast Redwoods are the tallest trees in the world, some topping over 375 feet which is taller than a 37 story building. It can grow from a seed to 100 feet in 5 years. The average diameter is about 20 feet. Even though the tree is so big, the seed is only 1 inch long. The oldest one still alive is dated to be around 2,200 years old. The name redwood comes from their reddish brown color which stems from high tannin levels in bark and heartwood. Because of its 12 inch thick bark, it is naturally fire and insect resistant.

Citations

1)"Coast Redwood Save the Redwoods League." Save the Redwoods League: Protecting Ancient Forests and Trees since 1918. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. http://savetheredwoods.org/education/coastredwood.shtml.

2)Jebens, Brandon. "Coast Redwood." Redirect. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/Fall99Projects/redwood.htm.

3)"Sequoia Sempervirens (coast Redwood) Description." The Gymnosperm Database: Home Page. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. .

The common name for my 'bad plant' is snake plant. The scientific name is Sanseviaria trifasciata, phylum name is Sansevieria. They are native to tropical Africa. What makes this plant bad? This plant is toxic when eaten, terrible around animals and children. One of the hardest plants to kill. If one plant leaf is broken, 2 replace it. It is Invasive in a lot of places such as Southern Florida and spreads very fast, because it is so hard to kill, it is a very big nuisance. What are some other characteristics? It is about 6in-4feet tall, 6in-3feet wide. Contains heavy, swordlike leaves that shoot up from the dirt. Another common name is Mother-in-Laws tongue. Prefers moderate to bright light, also to be watered every 7-10 days. It prefers also to be pot bound and has dark green with lighter bands, has broad yellow stripe on both leaf margins.

Citations

1) Snake Plant. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. http://www.snake-plant.com/.

2) "Snake Plant - Plant Encyclopedia - BHG.com." Better Homes and Gardens - Home Decorating, Remodeling and Design Ideas, Gardening, Recipes. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/houseplant/snake-plant/.

3)"Mother-in-Law's Tongue Aka Snake Plant - Sansevieria Trifasciata - Care Tips." Guide to House Plants, Tips for Growing Plants Indoors - Guide-to-Houseplants.com. Web. 14 Feb. 2012. .