Dichotomous Botany Lab Report: Field Sample Having lived in Florida for a long period of time, I am quite familiar with many of the plants that are in many of the surrounding areas. As such, I would hypothesize that there would be mostly fern plants, or Pteridophytes, plant samples identified in a typical Florida backyard. These often grow near fences and water locations, like the ponds that are common in Florida. Flowering plants, or angiosperms would most likely follow, with a lesser number of gymnosperms because of the sheer size of such trees, and relatively no bryophytes.

Location of Sample

Physical Description

Phylum

Skeleton Fork Fern (Psilotum nudum)

The sample was found outside of the fenced boundary of the yard. There is a small pond that is in the center of several houses just outside the enclosed portion of the yard. Along one of the inlets of the pond, there were several smaller broad-beech ferns. Knowing that such ferns are often found near water and streams helped me identify it.

It does not have roots, which makes it very easy to rip up out of the soft marshy ground around the pond areas. Yet, it is a vascular plant, showing its evolution into being able to carry materials for photosynthesis within the plant. According to the research, "Psilotum sporophytes consist almost entirely...

The fact that it was climbing was one of the significant factors that helped me identify it.
Although this fern is relatively small compared to some of the others around it, the fronds are large compared to the size of the stalk. It has long, finger-like extensions that have a serrated edge. The leaves have a more triangle shape, although the tips of the fingers are rounded off.

Pterophyta

Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis)

There were several palms within walking distance of the yard. They were grouped in an arrangement of four palms along an empty plot on the adjacent side of the pond. They were located in a dryer area of the yard, not as close to the water line as the other ferns examined.

The palm tree is one of the most iconic plants found in Florida today. There are several different kinds, and this one is much shorter than other varieties, but has a much…