Diario de lyndon_walsh

While walking through the wooded parts of Mont Royal park, I found a grouping of fungi that peaked out of the crevices of the bark of a tree. After further observation of these white stacking fungi, I determined them to be Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus), a mushroom that has been known to have many medicinal properties. Research published by Yashvant Patel has shown that extracting some nutraceuticals help with the ailment of certain maladies such as antiviral immune-stimulating properties and some host-mediated anti-tumor activities against Sarcoma S-180 tumors. In the realm of hypotensive states, Pleurotus have been found to have "the same effect associated partly with D-mannitol which inhibits antiotensin-I converting enzyme." Our knowledge of Pleurotus ostreatus is no where near complete, but there is substantial evidence to believe this fungi beholds many benefits to humans that we will eventually discover.

This past week I observed a plant presenting with long green leaves pointed in a directly outward manner from the stems and yellow flowers lining the middle part of the stem between the leaves. After further investigation I identified this plant to be Golden Rods or Acacia longifolia ssp. longifolia. This species is phylogenically located in domain Eukaryota, kingdom Plantae, phylum Spermatophyta, subphylum Angiospermae, and class Dicotyledonae. Speaking in regard to adaptive features, I would like to focus on the color of the flowers. The yellow and bright nature of its flowers signals to pollinators that the plant needs their assistance. Bees and other pollinators will be favorably attracted to this plant because of these colors thus improving their survivability and chance of reproducing. Switching topics to a general adaptation, every plant observed during this field study presented with green leaves that have a "waxy coating" to them. This adaptive trait limits the amount of water loss a leaf/plant experiences. The waxy coating ensures that water stays within the leaves and plant's systems. Transpiration is thus reduced due to this adaptive trait.