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cycles
Life Cycle of Plants
There are over 375,000 different species of plants on the earth. They range from tiny, single-celled algae to huge sequoia trees. Life on earth would not be possible without plants because they are the only living things that are capable of converting sunlight into energy. That energy fuels the other processes of life on earth.
Because plants make their own food, they are able to live almost everywhere on earth in a wide range of habitats. Many plants have developed special adaptations to help them survive.
Sample some of the following activities to learn more about the life cycle of plants.
Places To Go 
People
To See Things To Do Teacher
Resources Bibliography
Places To GoThe following are places to go (some real and some virtual) to find the life cycle of plants.
Ancient Bristle
Cone Pine Forest
Travel to where the bristlecones pines are. They have a long life cycle. They can live for more than 5,000 years. The oldest living bristlecone pine tree is called Methuselah, and it is estimated to be about 4,700 years old. It was growing when the Egyptians built the pyramids! It is in the White Mountains of California.
Travel to where the bristlecones pines are. They have a long life cycle. They can live for more than 5,000 years. The oldest living bristlecone pine tree is called Methuselah, and it is estimated to be about 4,700 years old. It was growing when the Egyptians built the pyramids! It is in the White Mountains of California.
Desert Plant Survival
Plants are adept at adapting themselves to be successful in their environment. Travel to the deserts of southwestern United States to see how desert plants survive. Many of these plants store water in their thick, fleshy leaves. Some plants have a special coating on their leaves that reflects back incoming heat to reduce the amount of water lost through evaporation.
Plants are adept at adapting themselves to be successful in their environment. Travel to the deserts of southwestern United States to see how desert plants survive. Many of these plants store water in their thick, fleshy leaves. Some plants have a special coating on their leaves that reflects back incoming heat to reduce the amount of water lost through evaporation.
Designing a Perfect Butterfly Garden
Travel to a butterfly garden or create your own butterfly garden to learn about the types of plants that attract and nurture these beautiful insects. Butterfly gardens contain plants that draw butterflies so that they lay their eggs there. They also contain plants that the caterpillars will like to eat. Lastly, they contain flowers with nectar for newly-emerged butterflies to feed on.
Travel to a butterfly garden or create your own butterfly garden to learn about the types of plants that attract and nurture these beautiful insects. Butterfly gardens contain plants that draw butterflies so that they lay their eggs there. They also contain plants that the caterpillars will like to eat. Lastly, they contain flowers with nectar for newly-emerged butterflies to feed on.
Everglades
Take a virtual trip to the Florida Everglades. This national park is home to hundreds of species of plants-some of which are found nowhere else in the world. The plants in this vast wetland range from millions of acres of sawgrass to forests of pine and mangrove trees. The Everglades are one of the biggest wetland areas in the world.
Take a virtual trip to the Florida Everglades. This national park is home to hundreds of species of plants-some of which are found nowhere else in the world. The plants in this vast wetland range from millions of acres of sawgrass to forests of pine and mangrove trees. The Everglades are one of the biggest wetland areas in the world.
How Fast Does Bamboo Grow?
Travel to a bamboo forest or to a bed of giant kelp. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on land. Giant kelp is the fastest growing plant in the ocean; it can grow about 2 feet in length every day.
Travel to a bamboo forest or to a bed of giant kelp. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on land. Giant kelp is the fastest growing plant in the ocean; it can grow about 2 feet in length every day.
LichenLand
Visit LichenLand. Lichens are a successful alliance between a fungus and an alga. Only certain algae and certain fungi can get together to form a lichen. Find out all about the life cycle of lichen.
Visit LichenLand. Lichens are a successful alliance between a fungus and an alga. Only certain algae and certain fungi can get together to form a lichen. Find out all about the life cycle of lichen.
Mangrove Trees
Visit a grove of mangrove trees. They are the only trees on earth that can grow in salt water.
Visit a grove of mangrove trees. They are the only trees on earth that can grow in salt water.
Photosynthesis
Journey to the sun. It's the source of all life on the earth. Plants absorb energy from sunlight and go through the photosynthesis process.
Journey to the sun. It's the source of all life on the earth. Plants absorb energy from sunlight and go through the photosynthesis process.
Plants of the Arctic and Antarctic
Travel to the arctic and explore the unique plant life that grows on the tundra. The plants on the tundra grow close to the ground and close to each other to help survive the cold growing conditions. Arctic plants are uniquely adapted to grow successfully in permafrost, arctic winds, and extreme snow.
Travel to the arctic and explore the unique plant life that grows on the tundra. The plants on the tundra grow close to the ground and close to each other to help survive the cold growing conditions. Arctic plants are uniquely adapted to grow successfully in permafrost, arctic winds, and extreme snow.
Smithsonian Gardens
Everyone knows about the famous Smithsonian complex of museums and exhibits in Washington D.C. But did you also know that these exhibits include a series of beautiful gardens? Visit the Smithsonian Gardens and learn about the history of gardening in America.
Everyone knows about the famous Smithsonian complex of museums and exhibits in Washington D.C. But did you also know that these exhibits include a series of beautiful gardens? Visit the Smithsonian Gardens and learn about the history of gardening in America.
Tropical Rainforest
Visit rainforests around the world. Rainforests contain two-thirds of all the plant species in the world and are important laboratories to study the life cycle of plants.
Visit rainforests around the world. Rainforests contain two-thirds of all the plant species in the world and are important laboratories to study the life cycle of plants.
People To SeeDiscovering Lewis and Clark
Chat with Lewis and Clark. Their famous expedition was not only to map and explore the American West---but also to document botanical discoveries. The journals from their travels described hundreds of botanical discoveries, and they collected and preserved hundreds of plant specimens.
Chat with Lewis and Clark. Their famous expedition was not only to map and explore the American West---but also to document botanical discoveries. The journals from their travels described hundreds of botanical discoveries, and they collected and preserved hundreds of plant specimens.
General Sherman
Visit General Sherman. It’s not a person; it’s a tree. General Sherman is the name of the largest tree in Sequoia National Park in California. It is thought to be between 3,000 and 4,000 years old. It is 275 feet tall and has a circumference at the base of 83 feet. Seventeen adults can encircle the tree standing with their arms outstretched and fingertips touching.
Visit General Sherman. It’s not a person; it’s a tree. General Sherman is the name of the largest tree in Sequoia National Park in California. It is thought to be between 3,000 and 4,000 years old. It is 275 feet tall and has a circumference at the base of 83 feet. Seventeen adults can encircle the tree standing with their arms outstretched and fingertips touching.
Green
Algae
Green algae are primitive members of the plant kingdom. They don't have roots, stems, leaves, or flowers, but photosynthesis does take place. Algae are important to aquatic life because they supply oxygen through this photosynthesis.
Green algae are primitive members of the plant kingdom. They don't have roots, stems, leaves, or flowers, but photosynthesis does take place. Algae are important to aquatic life because they supply oxygen through this photosynthesis.
John Muir
Get to know John Muir. He was an early advocate for preserving the forests and wild areas of the United States. He was particularly instrumental in saving the California redwood forests from destruction in the late 1800s.
Get to know John Muir. He was an early advocate for preserving the forests and wild areas of the United States. He was particularly instrumental in saving the California redwood forests from destruction in the late 1800s.
Luther
Burbank
Meet Luther Burbank, the famous horticulturist. "One of Burbank's objectives was to manipulate the characteristics of plants and thereby increase the world's food supply.
Meet Luther Burbank, the famous horticulturist. "One of Burbank's objectives was to manipulate the characteristics of plants and thereby increase the world's food supply.
Mad
Scientist Network
The scientists at the Mad Science Network can fill you in on the life cycle of plants.
The scientists at the Mad Science Network can fill you in on the life cycle of plants.
The Old Farmer's Almanac for Kids
Want to know when the best time is to sow and reap your plants? Talk to the folks at the Old Farmer's Almanac. They have been giving plant advice for well over two hundred years. The first Farmer's Almanac was published in 1792.
Want to know when the best time is to sow and reap your plants? Talk to the folks at the Old Farmer's Almanac. They have been giving plant advice for well over two hundred years. The first Farmer's Almanac was published in 1792.
Thomas Jefferson House & Gardens
Reacquaint yourself with Thomas Jefferson. He was an accomplished farmer and gardener who thought that botany was "among the most useful of the sciences".
Reacquaint yourself with Thomas Jefferson. He was an accomplished farmer and gardener who thought that botany was "among the most useful of the sciences".
Things To DoA
Guide to Deciduous Tree Knowledge
Figure out deciduous trees and temperate deciduous forests. How is a deciduous tree different from a coniferous tree?
Figure out deciduous trees and temperate deciduous forests. How is a deciduous tree different from a coniferous tree?
Big
Tree Life Cycle
Experience the life cycle of a giant sequoia. Then learn about the life cycle of a pine tree.
Experience the life cycle of a giant sequoia. Then learn about the life cycle of a pine tree.
Ethnobotany
Ethnobotany is the study of human relationship to plants, often involving study of ancient plant remains, oral history, written records,and myths.
Ethnobotany is the study of human relationship to plants, often involving study of ancient plant remains, oral history, written records,and myths.
Fun Facts About Fungi
Fungi are not really plants. But they do have an interesting life cycle. Find out more.
Fungi are not really plants. But they do have an interesting life cycle. Find out more.
Garden Guides
Sometimes photosynthesis needs a helping hand. Find out how to make your plants grow vigorously.
Sometimes photosynthesis needs a helping hand. Find out how to make your plants grow vigorously.
The
Great Plant Escape
Hang out with Bud and Sprout and Detective LePlant to solve these plant mysteries. Mystery #1, In Search of Green Life contains many useful clues about the life cycles of plants.
Hang out with Bud and Sprout and Detective LePlant to solve these plant mysteries. Mystery #1, In Search of Green Life contains many useful clues about the life cycles of plants.
Inside a Seed
Look inside a seed and discover the beginnings of a plant.
Look inside a seed and discover the beginnings of a plant.
Introduction
to the Fungi
Discover some of the 50,000 species of fungi in the world. Mushrooms, toadstools, and molds are fungi. Fungi play an important role in nature.
Discover some of the 50,000 species of fungi in the world. Mushrooms, toadstools, and molds are fungi. Fungi play an important role in nature.
North American Lichen
Find out about the biology of lichens, see photos of lichens, and discover how they benefit humans, animals, and the environment.
Find out about the biology of lichens, see photos of lichens, and discover how they benefit humans, animals, and the environment.
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a wonder. The word photosynthesis means ''putting together with light.'' Find out how plants make food with light.
Photosynthesis is a wonder. The word photosynthesis means ''putting together with light.'' Find out how plants make food with light.
Ringworm
Look at pictures of ringworm. This human ailment is not a worm at all--it's a fungus. So is athlete's foot.
Look at pictures of ringworm. This human ailment is not a worm at all--it's a fungus. So is athlete's foot.
Science
Museum of Minnesota - Dandelion
Most people have dandelions in their yards. See how dandelion seeds are carried by the wind so that they can germinate as part of their life cycle.
Most people have dandelions in their yards. See how dandelion seeds are carried by the wind so that they can germinate as part of their life cycle.
Trees
In order for the life cycle of a tree to begin, trees need to disperse their seeds in such a way that at least some of them will germinate. Find out how they do this.
In order for the life cycle of a tree to begin, trees need to disperse their seeds in such a way that at least some of them will germinate. Find out how they do this.
Venus
Fly Trap
Carnivorous bog plants are pretty cool. Find out about how they get their energy. (There is even an international society for people interested in carnivorous plants).
Carnivorous bog plants are pretty cool. Find out about how they get their energy. (There is even an international society for people interested in carnivorous plants).
Why Leaves Change Color
Discover why leaves change to red, gold, and orange in the fall.
Discover why leaves change to red, gold, and orange in the fall.
Teacher Resources
Bibliography- Benanti, Carol. There's A Fungus Among Us: Your Complete Fungus-growing Kit. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, c1996.
- Bennett, Paul. Pollinating a Flower. New York: Thomson Learning, 1994.
- Madgwick, Wendy. Fungi and Lichen. Austin, Tex.: Steck-Vaughn Library, 1990.
- Pascoe, Elaine. Slime Molds and Fungi. Woodbridge, CT: Blackbirch Press, c1999.
- Royston, Angela. Strange Plants. Des Plaines, Ill.: Heinemann Library, 1999.
- Silverstein, Alvin. Photosynthesis. Brookfield, Conn.: Twenty-First Century Books, c1998.