Year 12 Biology Excursion

The Year 12 Biology classes attended the Australian Native section of the Botanic Gardens. We were able to see the adaptations that were observable on a variety of plants to see how they have evolved to cope in dry environments. We observed the vertically hanging and thick waxy leaves of eucalypti.
We saw curled leaves, leaf hairs and sunken stomates that help create a humid microclimate.
And reduced leaves, phyllodes and phyloclades that are typical of acacia/wattle. These reduce the surface area of the leaf decreasing sites for evaporation/transpiration.
It was amazing to realise that Native Australian Plants which are often thought of as quite bland to look at, are in fact some of the most extraordinary in terms of resilience to the harsh, dry climates that have been our landscapes for millions of years.
Jennifer Stephens | Assistant Science Coordinator