Cool Things that Plants Do
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Transcript of Cool Things that Plants Do
Cool Things that Plants DoAP Biology - LAHS
Cool Things that Plants Do1. Organ Modification
2. Movement
3. Clonal Colony
4. Grafting
5. Really really cool plants
1. Organ Modification Plants have organs: stems,
roots, leaves, etc.
All stems must have buds/leaves to be classified as stem tissue
Stolon: horizontal stem that is fleshy or semi-woody and lies along the top of the ground (strawberries)
Bulbs: shortened stems surrounded by fleshy scales (modified leaves) that envelop a central bud located at the tip of the stem (garlic, onion)
1. Organ Modification Tubers: swollen portions of
underground stems (stolons) stems have nodes, and
buds arise at nodes Potatoes
Pneumatophores: spongy outgrowths of underwater roots (plants in swamps) Facilitate oxygen supply
1. Organ Modification Buttress Roots: provide
stability
Parasitic Roots: stems that lack chlorophyll will produce roots that penetrate host plants
1. Organ Modification Floral Leaves (bracts):
surround the true flowers and perform the same function as showy petals Poinsettias and
dogwoods
Spines: reduction of leaf surface reduces water loss and deters predators Not to be confused with
thorns cacti
1. Organ Modification Floating Leaves: Water lilies
Evolved to have very large area to float on water Victoria amazonica
Leaves can grow to over 2.5 m across Network of protruding ribs on underside of leaf for buoyancy
and stability
The leaves are rumored to be able to hold a baby
1. Organ Modification Insectivorous Leaves:
leaves trap insects and digest their soft parts plants that need nitrogen Nutrients are absorbed
through the leaf surface Pitcher plants Sundews Venus Fly Trap Almost 200 species of
flowering plants that are insectivorous
2. Movement Plants move via tropisms –
slow movement
Plants move for other reasons and can be perceived with the naked eye – rapid plant movement
Venus fly trap
Mimosa
“Telegraph Plant”
2. Movement Youtube Videos:
Moving Mimosa Plant http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAN9ejXyhV8
Venus Fly Trap http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRUaJD0oT6A&NR=1&f
eature=fvwp Telegraph Plant “Dancing Plant” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgQ5CucGz2M
3. Clonal Colony
Genet: group of genetically identical individuals that grew vegetatively from a common ancestor
An individual of this population – ramet
Each colony shares single root structure
Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides): usually propagates through cloning
3. Clonal Colony Quaking Aspen
Sexual reproduction not common, since all individuals are all only 1 sex
Pando “The Trembling Giant” Utah Heaviest known organism
(est. 6,000 tons collectively) 107 acres 47,000 stems Is claimed to be 80,000 yrs
old
4. Really really cool plants Rafflesia arnoldii (Corpse
Flower) Produces largest individual
flower on earth Flower smells like rotting
flesh Lives as a parasite Has no visible roots/stems Does not have chlorophyll Only visible in flowering
state Attracts flies for pollination
4. Really really cool plants Polypodium polypodioides
“Resurrection Fern” Can survive long periods of drought by curling up and
appearing desiccated Will revive within 24 hours after soaking in water Can survive an estimated 100 years of drought and still
“resurrect” after a single soaking
4. Really really cool plants Romanesco Broccoli
Brassica oleracea Edible flower species Varient of Cauliflower Each bud has smaller
buds that occur in a spiral
All buds together occur in an even larger spiral