Download Plants Can be Dangerous

Plants Can be Dangerous!
Most plants make their food during photosynthesis and normally get necessary
water and nutrients from the soil. However, some plants have evolved other methods
of surviving. These plants are called parasitic, epiphytic, or carnivorous plants.
Parasitic Plants: attach themselves onto other plants called hosts. They steal the host’s
nutrients and mineral supplies.
Epiphytic Plants: also live on hosts, but they do so only to be closer to the sunlight.
These plants generally live on the host’s branches or stems.
Carnivorous Plants: get their nutrients by capturing small animals and insects in their
leaves. They digest these insects by secreting special juices from their leaves, or use
bacteria or fungal processes.
Assignment:
You will be assigned a partner and then choose a plant from the list below and create a
“WANTED” poster that will include what the plant looks like, how it survives, where it
can be found, and a detailed picture of the plant. You and your partner will present
this poster to the class at a later date.
Parasitic :
Dodder Plant
Giant rafflesia
Ghost orchid
Carnivorous:
sundew plant
monkey cup pitcher
marsh pitcher
Venus fly trap
Butterwort
Epiphytic:
bromeliad
Spanish moss
epiphytic orchid
strangler fig
Other:
belladonna
rhubarb
dogbane
poison ivy
ragweed
Hemlock
Mushroom
Oleander
Mistletoe
Poinsettia
jack-in-the-pulpit