Download Travelling Plants

Travelling Plants
Narrated by David Attenborough, “The Private Life of Plants” is a
video series that will help us visualize the structures and functions
of different plants.
1.
What three problems do plants face?
Fight one another, compete for mates, invade new territories
2.
Why do ground living woodland plants ‘race to unfurl their flowers’?
Before trees develop leaves
3.
What type of leaves does the video show pulsing to expand to their
full size?
Hazel
4.
Which of the woodland plants can be said to be the most
aggressive? What adaptation allows this plant to climb over plants in its
way? How far is it capable of advancing in a day?
Bramble; Backward pointing thorns/spines; 3 inches
5.
In what form do most plants do most of their travelling?
Seeds/fruits/spores
6.
7.
What does the video show earthstars taking advantage of in order to
spread? Raindrops
What is the adaptation of the dandelion seed?
It has individual parachute like seed
8.
Why must the dandelion seeds getaway from their parent plants?
Too crowded to grow/too much competition with the parents
9.
What advantage do trees have when it comes to dispersing their
seeds?
Height
10.
What type of seed is similar to a helicopter in its method of
dispersal?
Sycamore
11.
What mode of dispersal does the squirting cucumber employ to
spread its seeds? Explosive “jet propulsion”
How far can a Himalayan Balsam cast its seeds?
12.
15 feet
13.
What are the biggest seeds of all? How are they dispersed?
Sea bean; by water (the sea!)
14.
Why can’t sea beans grow in Europe?
Too cold/temperatures not ideal for germination
15.
Name the seed that is shown attached to the dog. What adaptations
does this seed have to allow this to occur?
Burdock; tiny hooks, like Velcro
16.
What painful little seed can be dispersed by sticking in an animals
paw?
Devil thorn
17.
Most seeds need to get below the ground quickly to survive...why?
Could be eaten by a mouse or other rodent
18.
What animal is shown helping to get a seed below ground?
Ant
19.
What adaptation do blackberry plants have to prevent their seeds
being picked before they are mature? How do they then show that they
are ready?
Fruits are green and taste sour; ready to be eaten when they change
colour from green to black
20.
What colours do seeds tend to be...and why?
Red and black – conspicuous to birds
21.
22.
If a seed can’t be seen in a forest, what does it use to attract animals
instead? Scent
What is the name of the foul smelling fruit in Borneo?
Durian
23.
The Truia fruits in Nepal have a problem with germination. What is it?
How do they overcome this problem?
Can’t germinate in deep shade; they are eaten by rhinos who disperse
them into the open grassland
24.
What might happen if the Rhinoceros becomes extinct?
The Truia itself might become extinct in that area
25.
Elephants have become partners for what plants?
Acacia
26.
What percentage of acacia plants in elephant dung eventually
germinate?
90%
27.
How does the agouti help to disperse brazil nuts?
Has the ability to open the shell with its sharp teeth; cannot eat all of
the nuts inside, so it buries the extras for later (then forgets – thus
helping the brazil nut germinate)
28.
What is the name of the bird that does a similar job for Arola pine
seeds? What further help does it give the seeds?
Alpine nut‐cracker; Hides them in open ground, away from competition
29.
What was the protea waiting for before dispersing its seeds? Why?
Fire; no established competitors left
30.
What type of ancient seed was found amongst the rice? How were its
flowers different from those of equivalent modern day plants?
Magnolia; had seven and/or eight petals as opposed to the usual six
petals