Ecology Seminar today -- 4:10 (ISB 110)

Amy Angert – Colorado St.

Ecology and evolution of geographical range limits

Becky Fletcher

Becky Fletcher

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Wings = 2 unfused

Keel = 2, fused

calyx

bilateral symmetry

5 sepals

5 petals

Fabaceae – papilionaceous flowers

Fabaceae - Pea/Bean family

Gynoecium

1 carpel = 1 ovary

superior ovary

Fabaceae - Pea/Bean family

Fruit type (unique to family)

Legume

= dry, dehiscent fruit (1 carpel) splitting on 2 sutures

Fabaceae - Pea/Bean family

Lupinus - Lupines

palmately compound leaves

often silvery (hairy) foliage

showy terminal racemes

Astragalus - Milkvetch

pinnately compound leaves

low-growing, foliage often silvery (hairy)

some poisonous/medicinal (locoweeds)

>50 native species!!

Other notable native legumes

Dalea Thermopsis

Vicia - Vetches

pinnately compound leaves

tendrils, vine-like habit

‘one-sided’ racemes

Many non-native legumes have been introduced for hay, pasture and “green manure”

Trifolium(clovers)

Medicago(alfalfa)

Melilotus

Lotus

Subclass Asteridae (aka Asterids)

Monocots BasalEudicots

Caryophyllids Rosids Asterids

Eudicots

Subclass Asteridae (aka Asterids)

>50 families world-wide

monophyletic (shared, exclusive common ancestor)

diverse, but not as many woody species as Rosidae

more “advanced” or derived flowers

corollas often tubular (petals connate)

flowers often have bilateral symmetry

whorls often fused (adnate), but hypanthiums rare

some local Asteridae

Important Asterid families worldwide

Ebenaceae (Ebony)

Lecythidaceae (Brazil Nuts)

Sarraceniaceae (Pitcher Plants)

Theaceae (Tea/Camelia)

Rubiaceae (Coffee)

Convolvulacae (Sweet Potatoes)

Apocynaceae (Milkweeds)

Oleaceae (Olives)

Gesneriaceae (African Violets)

Aquifoliaceae (Hollies)

Important Asterids in Montana

Families-to-know Genera-to-know

Ericaceae Campanula (Campanulaceae)

Polemoniaceae Cornus (Cornaceae)

Solanaceae Philadelphus (Hydrangaceae)

Boraginaceae Dodecatheon (Primulaceae)

Scrophulariaceae

Lamiaceae

Caprifoliaceae

Apiaceae

Asteraceae

Today -- Woody families/genera in Asteridae

Ericaceae

Philadelphus

Cornus

Caprifoliaceae

Ericaceae - Heath or Rhododendron family Wordwide distribution

130 genera, >2500 species

all regions, especially in montane habitats

Ecology/Life history

often woody perennials (shrubs), some herbs

strong associations with mycorrhizae

often grow in acid soils (bogs, conifer forests, etc.)

Associations w/ Ericoid mycorrhizae (fungi)provide access to nutrients, especially Phosphorus

Heath communitiesdominated by Ericaceae shrubs

Chaparral (California)

Fynbos (South Africa)

Montane Heath (Alberta)

Ericaceae - Heath family In Montana

~15 genera, ~30 species

common, especially at higher elevations

Habit

perennial herbs

shrubs

Woody Ericaceae (many evergreen)

Herbaceaous Ericaceae

PyrolaAllotropa (Candystick)

Monotropa (Indian Pipe)Saprophytes/Parasites -- no chlorophyll, steal sugars from other plants or fungi

Ericaceae - Heath family Leaves

simple

alternate (or opposite, whorled)

often dentate

sometimes evergreen

missing in saprophytes

Inflorescences

clusters, corymbs or racemes

Chimaphila (Prince’s Pine)

Ericaceae - Heath family Flowers

bisexual

symmetry radial (most) or bilateral (ex. Rhododendron)

flowers often urn-shaped (urceolate) and pendulous

Ericaceae - Heath family Sepals

usually 5 (may be fused)

Petals

5, connate (fused into tube)

Stamens

usually 10, distinct

may be adnate to corolla

Gynoecium

variable (2-10 fused carpels, inferior or superior)

always 1 style (hollow)

Ericaceae - Heath family Fruit types

berry

capsule Rhododendron

Vaccinium -- Huckleberry In Montana

~6 species

Habitat

open conifer woodlands

montane shrublands

Growth habit

shrubs (.2 - 2 m tall)

mostly deciduous (here)

Vaccinium -- Huckleberry Flowers

connate (fused) calyx

urceolate corolla

ovary inferior

Fruit = berry

color variable

Vaccinium -- Huckleberry Grizzly bear foods(by volume in scat)

Arctostaphylos -- Bearberry In Montana

1 species here -- A. uva-ursi (aka Kinnickinnick)

genus name and specific epithet both mean “bear-grape”

Many others further West (aka manzanitas)

Habitat

open conifer woodlands

rocky areas

Growth habit

creeping shrub

*evergreen*

Arctostaphylos -- Bearberry Flowers

connate calyx

urceolate corolla

ovary superior

Fruit = berry (drupe-like)

red fruit (mealy, not juicy)

seeds large relative to berry

Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle family In Montana

5 genera, 14 species

mostly woody shrubs & vines

1 common herb (Linnaea)

Lonicera(Honeysuckle)

Sambucus(Elderberry)

Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle family Leaves

opposite

simple or compound

Inflorescences

“umbel-like cyme” OR

a pair of flowers

=> twinflower, twinberry

Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle family Flowers

regular (most) OR irregular (Lonicera)

often w/ bracts below

Sepals

5, fused

Petals

5, fused into tube

Stamens

4 or 5, epipetalous

Gynoecium

2-5 locules, 1 style

position variable (usually inferior)

Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle family Fruit

berry (most), drupe (Viburnum) or capsule (Linnaea)

Symphoricarpos - Snowberry - low shrubs of open woods

- deciduous, entire leaves

- short, tubular flowers

- fruit a 2-seeded berry or drupe

- white or pink, not tasty