Cool Things that Plants Do

1. Cool Things that Plants Do AP Biology - LAHS

2. Cool Things that Plants Do 1. Organ Modification 2. Movement 3. Clonal Colony 4. Grafting 5. Really really cool plants

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 1. Organ Modification • Buttress Roots: provide stability • Parasitic Roots: stems that lack chlorophyll will produce roots that penetrate host plants

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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”

10. 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&feature=fvwp • Telegraph Plant “Dancing Plant” • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgQ5CucGz2M

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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