Adaptations in Montreal Angiosperms

One common adaptation I’ve observed in all the angiosperms I have documented thus far during my iNaturalist project is that flowering plants with stamen all open up and display vibrant colours such as red, pink, white, orange, etc. I hypothesize this is an adaptation designed to attract pollinating species such as bumblebees, where the propagation of the flower species and the livelihood of the flower is dependant on pollination (reproduction), which bees and other pollinators are essential for.

A unique adaptation I found very interesting was the growth pattern of Salvia lavanduloides, a variety of flower that I observed in many flowerbeds and flowerpots across Little Burgundy. The upright and narrow growth pattern of Salvia allow it to survive better in drier weather due to the smaller plant size requiring less water and the upright orientation making it easier for the Salvia lavanduloides to absorb water in the soil due to the maximization of the area of soil not covered by flowers or leaves. This adaptation is crucial in making Salvia lavanduloides resistant to Montreal’s many heatwaves over the summer and the drier fall months to come.

The species Salvia lavanduloides belongs to the domain Eukarya, kingdom Plantae, phylum Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons), order Lamiales, family Lamiaceae and genus Salvia.

Posted on September 21, 2020 06:34 PM by spenceriddell