Weekly Blog: 4/25/16 - 4/29/16: Biomes

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Multiplier: This week I was a mutant, to be more specific a wanderer. I was a wanderer because throughout class I tried to find as many facts as possible. I tried to make my work detailed, descriptive, and something I am proud of. 

Summary: This week I was in charge of learning and writing about edible plants in the desert. Even though people seem to think that there aren't many plants in the desert, I found six that would be key to survival in the desert.

• Fishhook Barrel Cactus

Fishhook barrel cacti are one of the plants I learned about. The cactus has hook shaped spines and is around 2 feet in diameter. Red and yellow flowers bloom on top of cactus, along with fruit. The approximate height of the fishhook barrel cactus is 3 feet. Native Americans used the barrel cactus in many ways, like turning it into a stew. In the stew the cactus looked and tasted much like cabbage. Another way to use the cactus is to eat the fruit. The fruit is quite delicious and the pulp contains water. The seeds of the fishhook barrel cactus are edible and can be grounded into a paste like substance that is edible, too.

• Saguaro Cactus

This cactus is very large and has around two inch spines that cover it. As well as that, white flowers bloom on the saguaro cactus during the spring and later in the summer red fruit begin to grow. The fruit of the saguaro cactus is edible and can be eaten as it is, but it contains numerous black seeds. In the desert, it doesn’t rain much, but the saguaro cactus contains a lot of water. This is because when it rains the cactus stores the water.

• Foothills Palo Verde Tree

The palo verde tree has very few leaves, but has bright yellow flowers. This tree is small and is stands about fifteen feet tall, but on rare occasions it can reach thirty feet. The Seri Indians have eaten the palo verde tree seeds in many ways. They have taken them and eaten them fresh. In addition, the Seri Indians have toasted the seeds or ground it into flour. The palo verde tree bark can also provide as firewood.

• Ocotillo

The ocotillo plant is a broad shrub with long, thin stems. When the plant is moist enough, small leaves grow, eventually leading to the growth of flowers. The ocotillo, sometimes, can reach the height of twenty feet, which is very tall for a shrub. Many Native Americans have used the ocotillo to help them survive. The flowers of the ocotillo can be eaten raw or soaked in water to make a refreshing drink. Others hardened the nectar of the flower to make a candy like treat. The seeds of the ocotillo can be eaten fresh, but some Native Americans dried them and later pounded them to make flour.

• Chain Fruit Cholla

People know the chain fruit cholla by its green and yellow flowers, as well as its straw colored spines This plant can grow anywhere from six feet to fifteen feet. The diameter of the plant is around eight feet and the fruit grow in groups. The fruit are very juicy and pear shaped. Some animals, like the bighorn sheep depend on the fruit of the chain fruit cholla during droughts. It supplies the animals with not only food, but water.

I learned so much on the edible plants of the desert and how the can be the key to surviving there.

S&EP-Using Models: For our biomes project, my group and I started to plan out our 3-D model, or diorama, We really had to think how each element of our project coincides with one another. That really affected where we put certain aspects of our diorama. Another thing we had to do was draw out, or model, how each thing was going to look like. This was very important, especially for shelter because it is not very common. Since it isn't common we had to work out the kinks by revising the drawing over and over until we were all happy with the shelter. Lastly, we worked together on a diagram of our "base". The base is where we will be staying while trying to survive. By working together we accomplished more. One person drew shelter, while another drew water, and someone drew animals. Eventually we completed it and all we have to do is color it. I worked a lot with models this week and they helped me understand more about my biome.

XCC-Patterns: While working and thinking about the aspects my group and I have to complete for the biomes project I noticed a pattern. The pattern I noticed was that all the elements of our project connect. The elements of our project are animals, plants, water, fire, shelter, and hazardous organisms. You need the fire to cook the animals and sometimes plants. As well as that, you nee the fire to purify water. You can use some pieces of the plants to help build your shelter. The shelter can help protect you from hazardous organisms. Finally, you need some wood or bark from plants to help with the fire. The aspects we need to cover to survive our biomes all connect which was a pattern I discovered this week.