#FunFact – Did you know that poison oak comes in many colors? And, that its leaves, branches, and stem all have the oil in them that make you itch when you touch it? Be aware when you hike “Leaflets of Three, Leave it Be.”
In honor of Cinco de Mayo, we are celebrating the plant adaptation of “tiny leaves.” Plants with small leaves have less surface area for the sun to reach and therefore the plant loses less water from evapotranspiration. Tiny leaves helps plants in our ecosystems preserve water. Yay for tiny leaves!
Here is another plant adaptation for our Mediterranean climate. Small hairs on the leaf (called trichomes) help keep the plant cool and protect it from the sun. The hairs reduce the rate of water loss (through transpiration) by deflecting the effects of wind, heat, and direct sunlight. Sycamore leaves are also hairy. Similarly, the hair on our own heads also serves the same purpose.
The plants found in our region have adapted to our climate, rainfall, slope, wildfire, and more. Laurel Sumac uses the shade of its own leaves (through a taco-shape) to reduce the surface area hit by the sun’s rays. The shade allows the plants to stay cooler and therefore retain more water instead of evaporating it through the stomata.
Fall 2021 Newsletter (821KB PDF) Highlights: Chino Hills State Park Expansion Protecting 30% by 2030 Plants Mountain Lions Being Studied Loss of Marc Hanson Native Nations Esperanza Hills Hoff Project Ralph’s Club Card