Plants
Contents
- Growth
- Flower Structure
- Pollination
- Seed Dispersal
- Sexual Reproduction
- Unusual Plants
- Cat Pictures
Friday, August 32, 2635
Vol III, No. 821
$1.25
Growth Cycle
It produces a seed and disperses it to the wild.
Seed starts to grow
Plant Structure
Growth
It creates flowers for pollination
The roots grow downwards and the shoot upwards
The plant (tree) matures
The place the pollen lands
Makes and holds pollen grains
Important Factors for Growth
- Photosynthesis
- Minerals
- Water
Protects the flower when it is a bud
Contains the ovule
Where the female garmetes are located
Pollination
Cross Pollination
Self Pollination
Pro: Evolves
Pro: Self sustained
Cross VS Self Pollination
Con: Cannot evolve
Con: Requires another plant to be present.
Cross and self pollination has it's own pros and cons, understanding the two will help with the chart.
Cross Pollination happens when pollen is transference between two separate plants.
Self Pollination is when the plant pollinates its self.
As we know pollination is a process in which male gametes are transferred to female gametes. There are two types of pollination: abiotic and biotic. Abiotic pollination is without any help of other organisms. It uses wind. Only 10% of all plants use this type of pollination.
And finally biotic pollination. Well you already guessed that insects, birds and bats spread the pollen of plants that use this system. There are two sub-types of biotic pollination. They are: Entomophily and zoophily. In entomophily flowers attract insects in order to pollinate it-self, while in zoophily plants attract birds and bats. Here are some examples from both groups: bees, wasps, moths, butterflies, hummingbirds, sunbirds and fruit bats.
Sexual Reproduction
Seed Dispersal
After the plant gets pollinated and produces seeds it has to send them away (disperse). It has to do this because land is sparse and the seeds wouldn't be able to grow near the plant.There is two ways a plant can disperse it's seeds:
- Wind Dispersal
- Animal Dispersal
In order to have an offspring you need two things to happen. Meiosis and fertilization.
Meiosis is a process in which gametes are produced via cell division. Then male and female gametes merge into one zygote, which again with help of meiosis develops in sporophyte. It later produces spores. Also those gametes are carried in pollen spores.
Animal Dispersed
Wind Dispersal
Some plants uses animals (insects, animals, humans, bats, etc.) to disperse its seeds.
To achieve this the plant must attract the pollinators. Some ways are:
- Colors
- Scents
- Fruits
- Nectar
Some plants uses the means of wind to transport seeds across the land.
For example dandelions have a parachute-like seed which the wind can carry it away.
Wind dispersed plants doesn't need to grow colorful petals of produce a nice scent, the wind doesn't judge.
Cat Pictures
Felis Catus
Unusual Plants
Dendrocnide moroides
Also known as Gympie Gympie, this plant is usually known for it's toxic spikes on it's leaves.
The sting is toxic enough to kill humans, dogs and horses. Once you touch the leave, the spikes are going to inject neurotoxin inside your body. The sting is extremely painful and this sensation could last for days, weeks and months. However once cleaned it's fruits are ok to eat.
Tumbleweed
This weird looking plant has an unusual feature which ordinary plants don't.
Once this plant mature and dry it detaches from it's root or stem. When it happens it tumbles as the wind blows on it.
Also those rolling plant corpses spread seeds in them and spreads them as it rolls.
Barringtonia Asiatica
This tree is poisonous. It can produce enough poison that it is commonly used to stun fish by fishers.
It also produces a flower. The pink and white flower is specially evolved to attract night-fliers like bats and moths.
The Corpse Flower
Amorphophallus titanum
Is a giant, stinky flower that blooms rarely (about once every 10 years).
This plant makes the smell of a dead rotting corspe and the appearance of raw meat to attract beetles and flies.