AJ He Journal Entry
I identified a plant that seems to belong to Galinsoga, a genus of flowering plants primarily native to South and North America. After further investigation , the presence of hispid hairs on its leaves, and the serrated leaf edges, suggests that this plant is the species Shaggy Soldier (Galinsoga quadriradiata), which corroborates with other iNaturalist users who also identified Shaggy Soldiers in similar areas in Montreal.
The hispid hairs present on the Shaggy Soldier is a remarkable adaptation. Whilst others may exist, one likely advantage to this adaptation is that the presence of these hairs may be a means of interfering and discouraging insects and other herbivores from feeding on Shaggy Soldiers.
An adaptation common to all plants in this project includes the apical meristem tissue present at the tips of the roots and shoots . The meristem contains totipotent stem cells that can differentiate into root or shoot tissue, thereby giving rise to specialised plant tissues (eg leaves, flowers) and allowing shoots to elongate and therefore allowing plants to grow taller, permitting them to capture more sunlight.
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Clear and concise work. Well done, Alex.
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