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This informative article explores the importance of plants in sustaining life on Earth, their unique energy production process through photosynthesis, fascinating carnivorous plants, extreme survival skills of desert plants, plants that reproduce without sex, powerful plants with medicinal properties, deadly plants to be aware of, plants used for beauty and healing, and interesting facts like the world's fastest growing plant.
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WHAT’S SO COOL ABOUT PLANTS? Insects Vs. Plants
WHAT’S SO COOL ABOUT PLANTS? …AND OTHER STUFF YOU PROBABLY NEVER KNEW ABOUT PLANTS!!!!!
The Importance of Plants • Without plants, life on earth could not exist! • Plants are the primary source of food for humans and animals
The Importance of Plants continued… • Plants also: • Provide oxygen • Provide shade • Supply us with medicines • Renew the air • Slow down the wind • Hold soil in place • Are a home for wildlife • Furnish building materials and fuel
ENERGY: • One of the most unique groups of living organisms • Obtain energy through: PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Carnivorous Plants: • Meat eating plants include: • Venus Fly trap • Pitcher Plant
Venus Fly Trap in Action! • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PJiEP_z-F4 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhcOYgCJK4o&feature=related • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYGwgzehf6c
Extreme Survival Skills: • Plants can survive in the desert much longer than humans…. • “XEROPHYTES”
Reproduction without SEX: • Vegetative reproduction…
Very Powerful Plants: • a. Opium Poppy: dried sap used as drug source (morphine/codeine)
Very Powerful Plants: b. ginseng: illness recovery
Very Powerful Plants: • c. coca: Indians chewed leaves to dull pain and prevent tiredness (cocaine)
Deadly Plants: • a. Deadly Nightshade • Native to Europe • All parts are poison • ESP. ROOTS! • Atropine • 3 berries have killed children
Deadly Plants: • b. Dumb Cane: Dieffenbachia • Popular house plant • Poison sap • Mouth/throat swelling
Plants used for BEAUTY: • a. JOJOBA: soothing oils, pleasant smells
Plants used for BEAUTY: • b. Aloe Vera: soothing gels
Life-Saving Plants: • Willow Trees: aspirin-salicylic acid • Foxglove: heart medication- digitalis • Rosy Periwinkle: anti-cancer drugs
What is the world’s fastest growing plant?????? • BAMBOO • 47.6” in 24 hrs.!!! • Mrs. Hadley=61”
Can you think of other unique/interesting/useful examples relative to plants??