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Sturgeon studies and students
Great Lakes Echo (4/2)
Researchers at Michigan’s Black Lake are studying threats to sturgeon and using their findings to teach biology to students from kindergarten through high school.
What's going on in your neighborhood this month? Meet other people and learn together at recreational and educational events! Our new dynamic calendar is updated daily with current educational events.
6 | Native flora fun facts!
State & Provincial Trees
Illinois: white oak (Quercus alba)
Indiana: yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Michigan: eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)
Minnesota: red pine (Pinus resinosa)
New York: sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
Ohio: Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra)
Ontario: eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)
Pennsylvania: eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
Québec: yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis)
Wisconsin: sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
State & Provincial Flowers
Illinois: native violet (Viola sororia)
Indiana: peony (Paeonia spp.)
Michigan: apple blossom (Pyrus coronaria)
Minnesota: lady slipper (Cypripedium reginae)
New York: rose (Rosa spp.)
Ohio: scarlet carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus)
Ontario: white trillium (Trillium L.)
Pennsylvania: mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia)
Québec: white lily (Lilium candidum)*
Wisconsin: wood violet (Viola sororia)
*not a native plant
Reference: Geobop's Symbols
Why do leaves change color in the autumn?
- Morton Arboretum: What Makes Fall Color?
- Wisconsin DNR: Why Do Leaves Change Color?
- Science Made Simple: Why do leaves change color in the fall?
- GLIN: Fall colors in the Great Lakes region
Why do plants have a common name and a Latin name?
Carl von Linne created scientific names for plants, or botanical nomenclature, in order for scientists and plants lover all over the world to be able to identify the same plant with the same name. Von Linne's Latin names for plants often include a noun, the generic name, and an adjective, the specific name. The first name is the generic name, and states the genus to which the plant belongs; the second name, called the specific name, describes the species of the plant. The generic name is always capitalized and italized, and often honors the person who found the plant, or relates to mythology or description. The specific name is italized and usually lowercase, and provides a good clue to the plant's look or character.
Reference: Iowa State University Horticulture & Home Pest News
Some examples:
Quercus alba (white oak): Quercus means strong, and alba means white.
Pinus resinosa (red pine): Pinus means pine, and resinosa means resinous (translucent and sticky plant secretion)
Go to the Glossary of Roots of Botanical Names to read more!
Graphics: yellow poplar (credit: USDA PLANTS database); lady's slipper (credit: Raphael Carter); Sassafras fall color
