HONORS BIOLOGY FIRST QUARTER PROJECT - LEAF COLLECTION
OBJECTIVES – Science is based on observations, measurements and experiments made
to better understand the world. The purpose of this assignment is to both sharpen your
observational skills and to increase your appreciation of the variety of plant life in the
area. In the process you gain a better understanding of systematics - classifying living
things.
DIRECTIONS - You are to go on a pilgrimage through neighborhoods and woods to
collect and correctly identify 50 plant species. You may collect samples from trees,
shrubs, or wildflowers (weeds). DO NOT collect ferns, garden plants, house plants, or
ornamentals ( flowers, trees, or shrubs).
COLLECT ONLY THOSE ON THE LEAF COLLECTION LIST PROVIDED
1. At least two complete leaves must be shown attached to a twig in order to
demonstrate leaf arrangement. Wildflowers must include the flower and at least two
leaves.
2. Both sides of the leaf must be shown.
3. Leaves must first be pressed.
**** these conditions must be met in order to receive any credit. This is critical in
ensuring proper identification.
Press the leaves between newspapers with heavy weights on them to prevent
crinkling. Press them for five to seven days.
Mount the specimen on a sheet of paper and list the following:
common name
scientific name (underlined or italicized)
where you found the plant
date you found the plant
page # in the field guide
your name
ex. White Oak
Quercus alba
Farmington Ave.
9/16/08
p. 324
Stephen Gould
GRADING - This project is worth 150 points. Criteria are below:
1. Correctly identifying by common name/scientific name - 2 pts each......................100
2. Providing a table of contents......................................................................................10
3. Numbering each page.................................................................................................10
4. Neatness (on a scale of 0 - 10)....................................................................................10
5. Oral quiz on 10 randomly selected plants from your collection.................................20
total 150
Recommendations to help with the project:
1. Do not attempt to identify leaves simply by looking at the pictures – many plants look
like other plants. Use the processes we practiced in class.
2. It is wiser to positively identify the specimens before collecting and pressing them,
because many plants are identified according to the color and texture of the bark, or the
overall shape of the tree, or other features that require you to be in the field.
3. Follow the guidelines carefully – especially: a) showing both sides of the leaf
b) showing two complete leaves
4. Collect only those on the list. The list contains some of the more common and easily
identifiable plants in the area. The list actually simplifies your task. Many confusing or
misleading species are kept off the list.
5. Be thorough, and verify each identification.
6. Most of these plants can be found in typical back yards, along neighborhood streets, so
observe your surroundings carefully
7. Determine whether broadleaf deciduous plants are:
a) alternate or opposite
b) simple or compound
These critical criteria allow you to narrow the deciduous plants into one of four classes.
Details like shape of the leaf, vein patterns, undersides of the leaves, bark color and
texture ect. can be applied later.
8. Be sure to pace yourself wisely. This project cannot be done at the last minute.
9. I am available for extra help before and after school. Do not expect me to take
instructional time during class for extra help.
10. Do this project, like all work, honestly and with integrity.
11. Here is a useful link :
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/ucmprd1/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_002216.p
df
Due date: Thursday October16, 2014
LIST OF PLANTS FOR THE LEAF COLLECTION
I.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
II.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
PLANTS WITH NEEDLELIKE/SCALELIKE LEAVES - MOSTLY EVERGREEN:
White Pine
8. White Cedar
Red Pine
9. Juniper
Scotch Pine
1o. Douglas Fir
Norway Spruce
11. Balsam Fir
Black Spruce
12. Japanese Yew
Blue Spruce
13. Eastern Hemlock
Red Cedar
14. Eastern Larch
PLANTS WITH BROAD LEAVES
Sugar Maple
Red Maple
Striped Maple
Silver Maple
Norway Maple
Japanese Red Maple
Willow Oak
Chestnut Oak
White Oak
Pin Oak
Sycamore
Poison Ivy don’t collect
Virginia Creeper
Honeysuckle
Wild Rose
Black Raspberry
Red Raspberry
Blackberry
Sourwood
Tulip Poplar
Flowering Dogwood
Red Oiser Dogwood
Water Ash
Elderberry
Weeping Willow
III. WILDFLOWERS:
64. Crownvetch
65. Smartweed
66. Aster (wild daisy)
67. White Clover
68. Bull Thistle
69. Ragweed
70. Evening Primrose
71. Common Plantain
72. Ground Ivy
IV.
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
86.
- MOSTLY DECIDUOUS
40. Pussy Willow
41. Black Locust
42. Trumpet Vine
43. Smooth Sumac
44. Staghorn Sumac
45. Tree of Heaven
46. Black Walnut
47. Ohio Buckeye
48. Mimosa (Albizzia in text)
49. American Holly
50. Osage Orange
51. Magnolia
52. Ginkgo
53. American Basswood (linden)
54. Wild Black Cherry
55. Sassafras
56. American Beech
57. Rhododendron – choose one species
58. Azelea – choose one species
59. Catalpa
60. Witch Hazel
61. Common Lilac
62. Forsythia
63. Sweetgum
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
79.
80.
Goldenrod – choose one species
Chicory
Bindweed
Queen Anne’s Lace (wild carrot)
Touch Me Not
White Snakeroot
Pokeweed
Dandelion
MISCELLANEOUS TREES/SHRUBS NOT PART OF SLIDE
Rose of Sharon
87. Mulberry
Burning Bush
88. Misc. Oaks
Misc. Ash
89. Misc. Elm
Ashleaf Maple
90. Misc. Birch
Horsechestnut
91. Chestnut
Honey Locust
92. Mountain Laurel
PRESENTATION:
93. Hackberry
94. Red Bud
95. Misc. Hickory
96. Wild Grape
97. Hawthorne
LIST OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF
PLANTS NOT FOUND IN THE FIELD
GUIDES:
1. BLUE SPRUCE – Picea pungens
2. DOUGLAS FIR – Pseudotsuga
menziesii
3. JAPANESE YEW – Taxus japonicum
4. JAPANESE RED MAPLE – Acer
japonicum
5. WILD ROSE – Rosa multiflora
6. MIMOSA – Albizia julibrissin
7. GINKG0 –Ginkgo biloba
8. FORSYTHIA – Forsythia viridissima