Taxonomy and Plants Pre-Visit Activity

Among the trees you will be seeing during your trip to Great Hill Horticultural Foundation are:

Ginkgo biloba
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis
Picea abies
Cryptomeria japonica
Pinus aristata
Abies concolor
Sciadopitys verticillata
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Acer palmatum
Cornus kousa
Franklinia alatamaha
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Gymnocladus dioicus
Stewartia psuedocamilia

Some of these trees have very interesting stories behind them and/or characteristics you will be observing.

Choose one to research and answer as many of the following questions about your plant as possible.

1. Name the phylum or division your plant is in.


2. List as many characteristics about your plant as you can from knowing its division.


3. What is the common everyday name of your plant?

4. Are there any interesting facts about your plant you are able to find? Such as stories about its discovery or how long it has been on earth. Maybe it has unusual or beautiful characteristic or perhaps an interesting adaptive reproductive feature. (Be prepared to inform your classmates of what you have learned when we actually see your plant during your visit.)