Flora Links

Plants, fungi, and protists make the headlines in surprising ways. Some species of protists produce toxins that kill marine life and contaminate shellfish. Eating the wrong kind of mushrooms can make people sick, or even kill them. New species of plants, fungi, and protists are constantly being discovered.

Try these Planet Diary Flora Activities:

• The World's Shrinking Rainforests
  Explore the rich biodiversity and natural resources of tropical rainforests. You'll look at the reasons for their destruction and will find out what can be done to save them.
• Phytoplankton
  Find out about phytoplankton and the role it plays in the transfer of energy in marine ecosystems.
• Toxins Found in Microscopic Flora
  Learn about the five types of poisoning caused by protist toxins. Diagnose fictitious patients based on their symptoms.

USDA for Kids
This site has lots of fun plant and agriculture related activities. It's also a good source for background information.

Plants Database
Look up information about virtually any plant in this comprehensive USDA database.

Botany Encyclopedia of Plants and Botanical Dictionary
Find out about leaf shapes, plant pests and diseases, and lots more at this site.

The Harmful Algae Page
This site tells you everything you need to know about red tides and other harmful algal blooms: which species cause them, where they are found, their effects on your health and on sea life.

NCSU Aquatic Botany Laboratory
North Carolina State University scientist Dr. JoAnn M. Burkholder was the first to publicize the effects of a tiny dinoflagellate called Pfiesteria piscicida. Learn more about this fish-killing organism from Dr. Burkholder's own Web site.

Northern Prairie Biological Resources
Though these resources focus on animals, there are also plant resources here, including Western Wetland Flora: Field Office Guide to Plant Species and Wyoming Rare Plant Field Guide.

Endangered Plants
This report was issued in 1992 by the Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Weather Channel: Pollen Count Indexes and Allergy Symptoms
Daily maps of pollen- and spore-prone areas, as well as information about allergies, can be found on this page.