Lab 03: Mount Tamalpais

September 10th, 2019

Location: Rock Spring, Mt. Tamalpais, CA.

Plant species observed: Mimulus guttatus

Rock species observed: Serpentine

Background info:

  • Mimulus guttatus is the 2nd most studied plant after arabidopsis
  • Mimulus are edible!
  • Mimulus have a unique “goo” to the leaves
  • Mimulus are diverse because they have great environmental variability and morphology
  • If you can’t distinguish a mimulus plant just remember that their leaves are opposite of each other
  • Like mentioned, mimulus have great temperature variability.
    • They can be found in shady, moist areas along the creek but also in dry, hot spots in open fields.
    • Mimulus have unique interactions with specific environments which makes them adapt to the different habitats
  • In the wet areas along the creek, it’s hypothesized that mimulus get pollinated via water supply and in the drier areas by animal or wind pollination
    • Since mimulus can range over large areas, breeding may be difficult due to different flowering timing
  • Annual plants: only live for one growing season and then die off (like our dry mimulus)
  • Perennial plants: grow year after year after remaining dormant in winter; habitat for maintaining health of plants is important (like our wet mimulus near water because they need moisture to “keep feet wet”).
  • Serpentine rocks: A rock composed of a group of minerals, usually green in color. Some metals found in the rocks are nickel, magnesium, or iron.
    • Tend to get lots of fissures, creating hot springs

Observations

Group of Mimulus guttatus individuals near creek side

An individual dried mimulus guttatus found in the dry, open fields

Serpentine rocks

Views of the city from an area surrounded with serpentine rocks

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