Who said plants were Who said plants were boring??boring??

Think of a place without plants. The Think of a place without plants. The only such places on Earth are the only such places on Earth are the

arctic wastelands, really arid arctic wastelands, really arid deserts, and the deep ocean. deserts, and the deep ocean.

Everywhere else, from the tundra to Everywhere else, from the tundra to the rainforest to the desert, is the rainforest to the desert, is

populated by plants. populated by plants.

There are more than 250000 species There are more than 250000 species of plants in the worldof plants in the world

Because they cannot move, plants Because they cannot move, plants must be responsive to the must be responsive to the

environment and adapt to the environment and adapt to the seasonsseasons

Plants must survive inhospitable dry Plants must survive inhospitable dry seasons or winters as seeds or bulbs seasons or winters as seeds or bulbs In the case of some trees in a "bare-In the case of some trees in a "bare-

bones" leafless state. bones" leafless state.

Because they cannot move, plants Because they cannot move, plants are prone to being eaten. They have are prone to being eaten. They have a unique mode of development. This a unique mode of development. This

involves plants growing by involves plants growing by meristems at their tips. meristems at their tips.

All plant cells are totipotent. An All plant cells are totipotent. An entire new plant can form from a entire new plant can form from a

single plant cellsingle plant cell

Plants use the simplest materials Plants use the simplest materials around to generate size – water, light around to generate size – water, light

and COand CO22.  They literally make .  They literally make

themselves out of thin air!themselves out of thin air!

Plants don’t have bones for support. Plants don’t have bones for support. They rely on water!They rely on water!

Some amazing plant facts!Some amazing plant facts!

The tallest living thing on Earth is a plantThe tallest living thing on Earth is a plant The Sequoia Redwood (The Sequoia Redwood (Sequoia sempervirensSequoia sempervirens)) The tallest on record was 112m tall! The tallest on record was 112m tall!

The oldest living thing is a plantThe oldest living thing is a plant

King’s Holly King’s Holly Lomatia tasmanicaLomatia tasmanica (technically a plant clone but thought to have (technically a plant clone but thought to have

originated about 43000 years ago!)originated about 43000 years ago!)

The Largest Leaf in the WorldThe Largest Leaf in the World

Belongs to Belongs to Alocasia robustaAlocasia robusta

Leaves can be up 8 Leaves can be up 8 – 10 ft long!– 10 ft long!

The smallest flower belongs to…The smallest flower belongs to…

Water meal (Water meal (Wolffia globosiaWolffia globosia))

The record for the fastest growth The record for the fastest growth rate goes to…rate goes to…

The bamboo!The bamboo! One species One species

called called Bambusa Bambusa oldhamioldhami can can grow about grow about 1m in a 1m in a single day!single day!

After all that…. there is no After all that…. there is no way you can still think way you can still think

plants are boring!plants are boring!