Coevolution

As I observed, flowers come in all different shapes and sizes, and so many different colors. I used to think that these variations meant nothing, and that the only reason there was so much variety was so I could enjoy them all. Well, that is not the case. One of the main factors of the shape of flowers is what kind of insect pollinates them. As we live in Southern California, these are mainly bees, which I also saw a lot of.

The structure of a plant is simple, and complex at the same time. Below the ground is the root system. This is made up of roots that both go downward and to the side. Roots serve as an anchor to hold the plant in place and as a means of getting water and nutrients. The next part of the plant is the stem, which holds the plant upright. Stems also allow the plant to transport water from the roots to the leaves or flowers. Stems, although not thought to be, are very diverse. For instance, one may be able to hold the entire stem of a potted flower while they cannot reach both of their hands around the trunk of a massive redwood. The variation of the stem all depends on the niche it fills. Next up are leaves. Leaves primary purpose is to collect sunlight so plants can make food through photosynthesis. Another aspect of leaves is how they are arranged. This, again, depends on the niche they are filling.