Organism
2                                                                
           

Field Notes: Specimen collected from Hunting Island state park
in southern South Carolina. Beetles seem
          attracted
to reproductive structures.

Laboratory Analysis:

           
Body: Consists of stout trunk that terminates in crown of
large palm-like leaves. Large seed bearing
                       
cone located between leaves at top of plant.

           
Size:     2.0 meters tall

           
Chromosomal Analysis: Plant body is diploid—chromosome
number of 24.

           
Lignin test: Positive

           
Cuticle: Present

           
Leaves: Present—large, compound; evergreen.

           
Roots: Present; also possess above-ground roots that
harbor cyanobacteria (symbiotic association).

           
Stem:    Present—vascular tissue present.

           
Notes: Cones of this specimen bear seeds—other specimens
produce flagellated sperm.

                       
.

Life History: Sporophyte dominant generation of life—each
bearing either megasporangia or microsporangia,
           
but not
           
both. Insects, especially beetles, appear important in
pollination.

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Tentative
Classification:                     
Domain:         
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Kingdom:        
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Phylum:          
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Communication: The local media features the work of your team on
their nightly news. During a live interview the reporter asks you
“There is something interesting about the roots of this plant…they
harbor bacteria…can you explain this?

Response: