Difference between revisions of "AY Honors/Palm Trees/Answer Key"

From Pathfinder Wiki
< AY Honors‎ | Palm TreesAY Honors/Palm Trees/Answer Key
Line 15: Line 15:
  
 
==2. a. What happens when the crown of a palm is cut out? <br>b. What happens when the trunk of a palm is damaged? ==
 
==2. a. What happens when the crown of a palm is cut out? <br>b. What happens when the trunk of a palm is damaged? ==
New growth comes from the crown, so if the crown is out out, the tree will die.  The outside of layers of the trunk are composed of dead material, so an injury there will have little effect on the trees health.
+
New growth comes from the crown, so if the crown is out out, the tree will die.  The outer layers of a palm's trunk consists of dead tissue, and as such, it will not heal (just as your fingernails and hair do not "heal").
  
 
==3. In the Pacific islands there are several species of palm trees which are helpful to man. Name two of these and list as many ways as you can how each helps man. ==
 
==3. In the Pacific islands there are several species of palm trees which are helpful to man. Name two of these and list as many ways as you can how each helps man. ==

Revision as of 15:13, 24 August 2008

Template:Honor header

1. Give the general characteristics of the palm tree referring to the following parts:

a. Stem or trunk

A palm trunk are usually a straight, unbranched stem, though rarely the trunk will divide into two branches. Unlike other trees, palms add new growth to the inside of the stem. Other trees add new growth to the outside of the trunk. Thus, on a palm, the living wood is at the heart of the trunk and the old, dead wood is on the outside. In non-palms, the opposite is true.

b. Roots

Palms are monocots, belonging to the same family as grass and bamboo. As such, their roots do not gain much diameter once the plant reaches maturity. Roots of dicots, on the other hand (that is, broadleaf plants such as oaks and maples) continue to grow and get fatter as long as the plant lives. Thus, the roots of a dicot will destroy a sidewalk as it heaves up the concrete, while a palm will do no damage.

c. Leaves

Palms have large evergreen leaves that are either palmately ('fan-leaved') or pinnately ('feather-leaved') compound and spirally arranged at the top of the stem. The leaves have a tubular sheath at the base that usually splits open on one side at maturity.

d. Inflorescence or flowers

The inflorescence is a panicle or spike surrounded by one or more bracts or spathes that become woody at maturity. The flowers are generally small and white, and radially symmetric. The sepals and petals usually number three each and may be distinct or joined at the base. The stamens generally number six, with filaments that may be separate, attached to each other, or attached to the pistil at the base.

e. Fruits

The fruit is usually a single-seeded drupe, but some genera (e.g. Salacca) may contain two or more seeds in each fruit.

2. a. What happens when the crown of a palm is cut out?
b. What happens when the trunk of a palm is damaged?

New growth comes from the crown, so if the crown is out out, the tree will die. The outer layers of a palm's trunk consists of dead tissue, and as such, it will not heal (just as your fingernails and hair do not "heal").

3. In the Pacific islands there are several species of palm trees which are helpful to man. Name two of these and list as many ways as you can how each helps man.

4. Identify by sight six different types of palms which grow in your area. Do this in any language.

5. Draw and name the six palm trees you have identified showing clearly the leaf formation, flowers and seed shape as well as the fruit.

6. Parts of palms are used for food or to help with the preparation of food. From your culture tell how a palm tree or part of it is used as food or in food preparation e.g. sago palm, coconut palm. Tell how to prepare it.

References