We are learning about the "superpowers" that plants and animals have to help them survive. Those superpowers are their adaptations, and every living thing has them.
*Adaptations can be part of a living thing's physical body or a characteristic or trait.
Plant adaptations are super rad and diverse!
Plants are RIDICULOUSLY good at surviving, thriving, and they are super resilient - despite the difficult environments that they often live in.
I mean, they will grow up through a crack in the sidewalk, persist in deserts, and can even grow under water!
*Plants will find a way to make it and I respect them.
Have you ever tasted an artichoke leaf (probably not because that's the part you're not supposed to eat!)?
The leaves are formidable, pointy, hairy, and don't look delicious. They look a little scary!
Nevertheless, I tasted one and...BLECH! Trust me, you'll do it once and you'll never do it again!
Artichokes, and all other thistles, are well protected from being munched by mammals.
This makes sense, because we eat the flower of the artichoke, which we have to cook!
The leaf remains protected, so the plant can make its food.
I walked through the garden yesterday and took some photos of amazing plant adaptations:
This rose is well protected, with thorns.
Eek...look at the hairy spines on that pumpkin stem!
These "bear's breeches" have shiny and pointy leaves. The leaves are also HUGE to act like a giant solar panel for catching the sun!
Over millions of years, the adaptations that work the best to help the plant survive, stick around, from generation to generation!
This jade plant, like many plants that live in hot, dry, climates, have thick leaves that hold water. It's like a built-in water bottle!
Sugar snap peas have curly tendrils that act like hands to help their vines hold on and support them.
Even the way plants display their flowers is a helpful adaptation and survival technique.
This gorgeous larkspur puts its flower on the end of a tall, vertical spike.
The flowers stick up and reach up to attract pollinators, like raising your hand in class!
...Speaking of pollinators and adaptations:
The bee-fly is an amazing mimic, or is it an amazing actor?
It totally fooled me into thinking it was a bee so I gave it plenty of personal-space in the garden!
We'll learn more about pollinators and pollination next week.
For now, look for amazing plant adaptations wherever you are and keep an eye out for pollinators!
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