Non-Vascular Plants
The most simple of all plants, non vascular plants lack structures for internal water transportation. In addition, they do not produce seeds or flowers. Non-vascular plants are always found in damp shady places. Since the National Park of American Samoa is a tropical/marine environment, it is not home to any non vascular plants.
Seedless Vascular Plants
What is a Vascular Plant?
Plants with developed vascular structure to carry water and nutrients but do not reproduce by seeds are known as seedless vascular plants. These autotrophs reproduce similarly to certain species of mushrooms by creating spores.
Vascular Plant in the Park
Musk Fern(Phymatosorus grossus) is a green fern that lives in the forests of the Samoan islands. There are typically 1 to 2 rows of round brown or yellow dots on each leaf. The musk fern is mostly terrestrial. They grow abundantly on the forest ground. They can also grow on rocks and trees.
Role in Ecosystem
Like all plants, the musk fern's role in the ecosystem is to create oxygen for all other organisms in the ecosystem. It can also be used as food for some animals. The leaves can also be used by humans.When the leaves are crushed they produce a appealing vanilla-like smell and are used to make leis and to scent tapa, a bark cloth used primarily for clothing in the Pacific Islands.
Plants with developed vascular structure to carry water and nutrients but do not reproduce by seeds are known as seedless vascular plants. These autotrophs reproduce similarly to certain species of mushrooms by creating spores.
Vascular Plant in the Park
Musk Fern(Phymatosorus grossus) is a green fern that lives in the forests of the Samoan islands. There are typically 1 to 2 rows of round brown or yellow dots on each leaf. The musk fern is mostly terrestrial. They grow abundantly on the forest ground. They can also grow on rocks and trees.
Role in Ecosystem
Like all plants, the musk fern's role in the ecosystem is to create oxygen for all other organisms in the ecosystem. It can also be used as food for some animals. The leaves can also be used by humans.When the leaves are crushed they produce a appealing vanilla-like smell and are used to make leis and to scent tapa, a bark cloth used primarily for clothing in the Pacific Islands.
Gymnosperms
What is a Gymnosperm?Gymnosperms are vascular plants that produce seeds. Gymnosperms means naked seed because the seeds are not enclosed in a fruit. They lack the folded, marginally-sealed carpels that characterize the flowering plants (angiosperms).
Gymnosperm in the Park
Coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) are often located around the coastal areas of American Samoa since they are naturally grown in tropical environments. They are also salt tolerant and buoyant another reason why they thrive by the ocean. The flowers of this tree are either a yellow green or creamy yellow. The old leaves are shed and don't form a skirt at the base of the leaves. The single trunks have a thickened base and are gray-brown, ringed with scars from fallen leaf bases, unbranched, and often gracefully curved. These long-lived palms can live for up to a century.
Role in Ecosystem
The role they play in their ecosystem is creating oxygen for all the other organisms in the ecosystem. This is one of the world's most useful plants since almost every part of the Coconut Palm can serve some useful purpose. Coconuts can be used as food and an emergency source of drinking water for humans. The shells of the coconut can be used as cups and other containers. Oil from the meat of the coconut were used as skin moisturizer and makes hair shiny and smooth.
Gymnosperm in the Park
Coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) are often located around the coastal areas of American Samoa since they are naturally grown in tropical environments. They are also salt tolerant and buoyant another reason why they thrive by the ocean. The flowers of this tree are either a yellow green or creamy yellow. The old leaves are shed and don't form a skirt at the base of the leaves. The single trunks have a thickened base and are gray-brown, ringed with scars from fallen leaf bases, unbranched, and often gracefully curved. These long-lived palms can live for up to a century.
Role in Ecosystem
The role they play in their ecosystem is creating oxygen for all the other organisms in the ecosystem. This is one of the world's most useful plants since almost every part of the Coconut Palm can serve some useful purpose. Coconuts can be used as food and an emergency source of drinking water for humans. The shells of the coconut can be used as cups and other containers. Oil from the meat of the coconut were used as skin moisturizer and makes hair shiny and smooth.
Angiosperms: Dicotyledons
What is a Dicotyledon?
Dicotyledons are flowering plants whose seeds typically have two parts: a seed coat and an embryo.Some distinguishing characteristics of Dicots include: Flower parts in multiples of four or five, major leaf veins reticulated, stem vascular bundles in a ring, and roots develop from radicle.
Dicotyledon in the Park
Frangipani (plumeria rubra) thrives in tropical environments, specifically on the coastal shorelines of the American Samoan islands. The frangipani can either be a tree or a shrub who can grow to be up 8 meters tall. The frangipani's flowers come in a variety of colors including pink, red, orange, yellow, and white. It only flowers in the springtime.
Role in Ecosystem
The role it plays in the ecosystem is, like all plants, is producing oxygen for all other organisms. The flowers are fragrant and often made into leis and worn in the hair. The milky white sap, however, is toxic and can irritate the skin.
Dicotyledons are flowering plants whose seeds typically have two parts: a seed coat and an embryo.Some distinguishing characteristics of Dicots include: Flower parts in multiples of four or five, major leaf veins reticulated, stem vascular bundles in a ring, and roots develop from radicle.
Dicotyledon in the Park
Frangipani (plumeria rubra) thrives in tropical environments, specifically on the coastal shorelines of the American Samoan islands. The frangipani can either be a tree or a shrub who can grow to be up 8 meters tall. The frangipani's flowers come in a variety of colors including pink, red, orange, yellow, and white. It only flowers in the springtime.
Role in Ecosystem
The role it plays in the ecosystem is, like all plants, is producing oxygen for all other organisms. The flowers are fragrant and often made into leis and worn in the hair. The milky white sap, however, is toxic and can irritate the skin.
Angiosperms: Monocotyledons
What is a Monocotyledon? Monocotyledons are flowering plants that also produce fruit. Distinguishing traits of monocots include: pollen with single furrow or pore, flower parts in multiples of three, major leaf veins parallel, and stem vascular bundles scattered.
Monocotyledon in the Park
Pineapples (Ananas comosus) habitat are tropical environments therefore they can be found on the coastal shorelines of American Samoa. This herb can grow up to 5 feet but mostly around 3 feet. The flowers can either be violet, pink or brown. The compound fruits can be 6 to 12 inches long and are egg-shaped and pine cone-like with a leafy top. They can be yellow, orange, reddish, or purplish. Each hexagonal shape is actually one fruit itself.
Role in Ecosystem
In their ecosystem they produce oxygen and can also be used for food for some animals such as humans. The green, unripe fruits are poisonous and can cause throat irritation and gastrointestinal upset if eaten. The ripe fruit is edible either raw or cooked and is the familiar pineapple found in grocery stores. The leathery rind, leafy top, and tough core are removed and the sweet, juicy, tangy, acidic, yellow or white flesh is eaten. Besides being edible themselves, the fruits also contain bromelain, which is used in meat tenderizers and for various medicinal purposes. Sap from the leaves contains ethyl acrylate and calcium oxalate crystals and can cause minor skin irritation and severe mouth pain if ingested.
Monocotyledon in the Park
Pineapples (Ananas comosus) habitat are tropical environments therefore they can be found on the coastal shorelines of American Samoa. This herb can grow up to 5 feet but mostly around 3 feet. The flowers can either be violet, pink or brown. The compound fruits can be 6 to 12 inches long and are egg-shaped and pine cone-like with a leafy top. They can be yellow, orange, reddish, or purplish. Each hexagonal shape is actually one fruit itself.
Role in Ecosystem
In their ecosystem they produce oxygen and can also be used for food for some animals such as humans. The green, unripe fruits are poisonous and can cause throat irritation and gastrointestinal upset if eaten. The ripe fruit is edible either raw or cooked and is the familiar pineapple found in grocery stores. The leathery rind, leafy top, and tough core are removed and the sweet, juicy, tangy, acidic, yellow or white flesh is eaten. Besides being edible themselves, the fruits also contain bromelain, which is used in meat tenderizers and for various medicinal purposes. Sap from the leaves contains ethyl acrylate and calcium oxalate crystals and can cause minor skin irritation and severe mouth pain if ingested.