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SBI 3C. 4.12 Seeds and Fruit. Which plants supply us with food?. Even though there are over 300,000 species of plants, only a small number of species actually supply us with food These species belong to the group angiosperms, which are flowering plants
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SBI 3C 4.12 Seeds and Fruit
Which plants supply us with food? • Even though there are over 300,000 species of plants, only a small number of species actually supply us with food • These species belong to the group angiosperms, which are flowering plants • The most commonly consumed structures are the seed or fruit of the plant
Examples of food plants • Some important food plants are wheat, rice, corn, soybeans, kidney beans, peas, bananas, mangoes, cucumbers and peppers • Seeds contain high amount of protein, carbohydrates or fat which makes them an excellent source of nutrition • Fruits are also nutritious but are harder to store for long periods of time
What is the difference between a fruit and a vegetable? • All fruits develop within a flower and therefore, usually contain seeds • A vegetable is any nonreproductive structure of a plant, such as roots, stems or leaves • Commonly misclassified vegetables are tomatos, zucchinis and squash which are actually fruits
How do fruits benefit a plant? • Fruit helps plant to spread its seeds • Why is this important to a plant? • So that they can move away from parent plant, and not directly compete with it for things such as light, water and minerals • It also allows the plant to spread into new environments • Colourful fruits attract animals to fruit which can then also aid in dispersal of seeds
Pollination and Fruit Production • Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains to the stigma of a flower • Most angiosperms do not produce fruit until their flowers have been pollinated • Pollination can occur by wind, insects, birds and other animals • In Ontario, the most important pollinator of our food crops is the honeybee.
Greenhouses • Greenhouses are used in Canada to allow for year-round production of fruits • To allow for successful pollination, pollen transfer can be accomplished by using a fan, by hand, or by bumblebees.
Private life of plants: Travelling • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8W8uiOEhuQ • Answer questions on sheet as we watch.