amg. Your description is little confusing to me. There are differences in parts to each brand of sprinkler, for example nozzles. The whole sprinkler head should be interchangeable where you have 1/2" pipe thread fittings for connecting the different brand heads. There are different flow rates for different types of heads even within the brands. You have to look at the flow rates and throw distances for certain pressures for any type of head you need. That is how you estimate the duration of irrigation. JMHO Aloha

Ecotype can be defined as a physiologically induced variation initiated by long term occupation within a definable ecological community but one that is not genetically distinct from other members of the species that occur in other ecological communities. Such variations may not be significant enough to warrant taxonomic recognition. Among these variations may be the amount of pubescence on the stems, internode spacing, and even the amount of occurrence of stomates. Whatever the variation is it can be related to some significant environmental stress in the habitat.

Sometimes there is a visible difference. Switchgrass can vary in height from 2 - 3 feet up to 8 to 10 feet, depending on where it is from. However, the real reason to care about local genetic strains is that local strains have genes that adapt them to local climate, soils, etc. Little bluestem grass from Texas may not do well in North Dakota. People who care about saving the full diversity of species that God created and/or evolved also care to save the ecosystems that were created/evolved as well as the genetic strains that were created/evolved. Modern conservation biology seeks to conserve the diversity of life at all levels from ecosystems to species to genes. Are there unique aspects to local types in your area? Yes. Are they disappearing? Probably. Are they worth seeking out? I think so. Are the differences visible? Sometimes.

No difference really. Beech taxonomy can be a little confusing but both copper and purple beeches share a common botanical name: Fagus sylvatica Atropurpurea Group. Within this grouping are various forms and cultivars that will emphasize specific coloring or sizing, typically on the purple end of the scale but usually even very purple beeches will turn a coppery red in fall. I think for your purposes, you should look for Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea' (or Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea). This is what most of us know as a "copper" beech.