Plants
80 questions tagged Plants — spanning every one of the seven Ws.
Which is the largest flower?
The Rafflesia arnoldii of Southeast Asia produces the largest single flower, up to a metre wide, and smells of rotting flesh.
Which is the oldest living tree?
A Great Basin bristlecone pine in California is among the oldest known living trees, at over 4,800 years old.
Which gas do plants release during photosynthesis?
Plants release oxygen during photosynthesis, using sunlight to turn carbon dioxide and water into food and oxygen.
How do plants make their own food?
Plants make food through photosynthesis, using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce sugar and release oxygen.
Why are bananas curved?
Bananas curve because they grow upward toward the sunlight, a process called negative geotropism.
Why is a tomato a fruit?
Botanically, a fruit is the seed-bearing part that develops from a flower, and tomatoes fit that definition.
Why do flowers have a scent?
Flowers release scents to attract pollinators such as bees, moths and even flies.
Where does vanilla come from?
Vanilla comes from the pods of a climbing orchid native to Mexico, and today most of the world's vanilla is grown in Madagascar.
Where do avocados come from?
Avocados originated in south-central Mexico, and Mexico remains by far the world's largest avocado producer.
Where did pineapples originate?
Pineapples originated in South America, probably in the region of southern Brazil and Paraguay.
Where do tulips originate?
Wild tulips originate in Central Asia, especially the mountains of the Tian Shan and Pamir ranges, and were later cultivated in the Ottoman Empire.
Where does cork come from?
Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak tree, which grows in the western Mediterranean, and Portugal produces about half of the world's cork.
Where does natural rubber come from?
Natural rubber comes from latex tapped from the Hevea brasiliensis tree, native to the Amazon rainforest, though it is now grown mostly in Southeast Asia.
Where do baobab trees grow?
Baobab trees grow in mainland Africa, Madagascar and northern Australia, with six of the eight species found only in Madagascar.
Where does the rafflesia flower grow?
Rafflesia grows in the rainforests of Southeast Asia, including Sumatra, Borneo, Java, the Malay Peninsula, Thailand and the Philippines.
Where do Venus flytraps grow in the wild?
Venus flytraps grow wild only in a small area of wetlands within about 120 kilometres of Wilmington, North Carolina, in the United States.
Which Is the Smallest Flowering Plant in the World?
Wolffia, commonly called watermeal, is the smallest flowering plant, with individual plants less than about a millimetre across.
Which Plant Has the Largest Leaves?
The raffia palm Raffia regalis has the longest leaves of any plant, reaching up to about 25 metres long.
Which Is the Hottest Chili Pepper in the World?
Pepper X is officially the world's hottest chili pepper, averaging about 2.69 million Scoville Heat Units.
Which Is the Largest Fruit That Grows on Trees?
The jackfruit is the largest tree-borne fruit, sometimes weighing more than 40 kilograms and measuring up to about 90 centimetres long.
How Is Natural Rubber Made?
Natural rubber comes from latex, a milky sap tapped from rubber trees, which is coagulated, dried and often vulcanised with sulphur.
How Is Sugar Made?
Sugar is extracted as juice from sugar cane or sugar beet, then purified, boiled down and crystallised into the sugar we buy.
How Is Tea Made Into Green and Black Tea?
Green and black tea come from the same plant; black tea leaves are allowed to oxidise, while green tea leaves are heated quickly to stop oxidation.
How Do Venus Flytraps Catch Insects?
A Venus flytrap snaps its leaves shut when an insect touches its trigger hairs twice in quick succession, then digests the prey with enzymes.
Why do cacti have spines?
Cactus spines are modified leaves that defend the plant from animals, reduce water loss, provide shade and can even help collect moisture.
Why do mature sunflowers face east?
Young sunflowers track the Sun across the sky, but once they bloom they stop and face east, which warms the flower heads in the morning and attracts more bees.
Which fruit has its seeds on the outside?
The strawberry is famous for wearing its 'seeds' on the outside — and each of those tiny specks is actually a separate fruit.
Why do cacti have spines instead of normal leaves?
Cacti have spines to reduce water loss, protect the plant, and sometimes provide shade. Their thick stems store water and carry out most photosynthesis.
What is a sequoia?
A sequoia is a giant conifer tree species native to California, famous for being among the largest living trees on Earth.
What is a mangrove?
A mangrove is a salt-tolerant tree or shrub that grows in tropical and subtropical coastal waters. Mangroves protect shorelines and provide habitat for many species.
What is seagrass?
Seagrass is a flowering plant that lives fully submerged in shallow seawater. It forms underwater meadows that shelter marine life and store carbon.
Which tree can grow the tallest?
Coast redwood is the tallest tree species, with the tallest known living tree reaching over 116 m (380 ft).
Which fruit has the largest seeds on a tree-bearing fruit?
The coco de mer produces the largest and heaviest seeds in the plant kingdom. Its seeds can weigh around 15 to 30 kg.
How do cacti survive in the desert?
Cacti survive in deserts by storing water in their thick stems, using spines instead of leaves to reduce water loss, and opening their pores only at night.
What is an eelgrass bed?
An eelgrass bed is a seagrass habitat made of flowering marine plants that grow in shallow coastal waters.
Why do some trees form heartwood in their trunks?
Heartwood is the older, inner wood that trees convert into a strong central support. It is usually darker because the living cells die and fill with resins, tannins, and other deposits.
Why do some trees make resin after being injured?
Resin is a tree’s chemical defense. It seals wounds and can trap or repel insects and pathogens.
Why do some trees grow buttress roots?
Buttress roots spread out above or near the soil surface to stabilize tall trees in shallow, wet, or weak soils. They act like built-in braces.
Why do some trees produce annual rings?
Annual rings form because growth changes with the seasons. In many climates, trees grow faster in spring and early summer and slower later in the year, leaving visible bands.
Why do some seeds need fire to sprout?
Some seeds wait for fire because heat, smoke, or post-fire conditions remove competitors and trigger germination. Fire can also crack hard seed coats or release chemical signals.
When was the earliest known tree fossil dated?
The earliest known tree-like fossils date to about 390 million years ago, in the Middle Devonian period.
When did the first seed plants appear?
The first seed plants appeared about 360 million years ago, in the late Devonian period.
When did flowering plants first appear?
Flowering plants first appeared around 140 million years ago, during the Early Cretaceous.
When did grasses first evolve?
Grasses first evolved about 66 million years ago, near the end of the Cretaceous period.
When did the first forests appear on land?
The first forests appeared about 385 to 390 million years ago, in the Devonian period.
When did conifers first appear?
Conifers first appeared about 300 million years ago, in the late Carboniferous period.
When did mycorrhizal fungi first form partnerships with plants?
Plant-fungus partnerships likely began more than 400 million years ago, around the time plants were first colonizing land.
When was the first genetically modified tree field trial carried out?
The first field trials of genetically modified trees began in the 1980s.
When was the first tree ring climate record established?
Tree rings were first systematically used for climate dating in the early 20th century, especially from the 1900s onward.
When did the first tree nursery begin in Europe?
Organized tree nurseries emerged in Europe in the 16th century, especially for forestry and ornamental planting.
When was the first seedless grape derived from a natural plant mutation and cultivated widely?
Seedless grapes were cultivated in antiquity, with major development in the ancient Mediterranean world by at least Roman times.
When was the first scientific description of a modern tree genus published?
Many modern tree genera were formally described in the 18th century, especially in Linnaean taxonomy from the 1700s.
When was the first tree genome sequenced?
The first tree genome sequences appeared in the 2000s, with poplar among the earliest fully sequenced tree genomes in 2006.
Where are the oldest known seeds on record discovered?
The oldest known viable seeds were found in the Judean Desert near the Dead Sea in Israel. They were recovered from ancient archaeological sites in dry caves.
Where do mangrove forests grow along the coast?
Mangrove forests grow in tropical and subtropical coastlines, estuaries, and river deltas around the world. They thrive where saltwater and freshwater mix.
Where are the world's largest kelp forests found?
Extensive kelp forests are found in the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the North Pacific and North Atlantic, especially along the coasts of California and southern South America. They grow underwater, anchored to rocky seafloors.
Where do giant bamboo forests naturally occur?
Giant bamboo species are native mainly to Asia, especially China, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Indian subcontinent. Many of the largest bamboo forests grow in tropical and subtropical mountain regions.
Where are the world's most famous carnivorous pitcher plants found?
Many of the best-known pitcher plants grow in Southeast Asia, especially in Borneo, Sumatra, and the Philippines. These tropical islands are biodiversity hotspots for Nepenthes species.
Where does the corpse flower naturally grow?
It is native to the rainforests of western Sumatra in Indonesia. The species is famously rare and blooms only occasionally.
Where are most wild orchids naturally found?
Wild orchids are found on every continent except Antarctica, with especially high diversity in the tropics. Southeast Asia and the Andes are among the richest orchid regions.
Where are the oldest known fossil forests found?
Some of the earliest known fossil forests are found in places such as New York State in the United States and parts of the United Kingdom. They preserve ancient plant ecosystems from hundreds of millions of years ago.
Which tree is the oldest known individual tree in the world?
The oldest known individual tree is a Great Basin bristlecone pine in California, often called Methuselah, with an age of about 4,855 years. The exact location is kept secret to protect it.
Which tree species has the widest trunk?
The giant sequoia has the widest trunk of any tree species. The largest known sequoias can exceed 11 meters in trunk diameter.
Which tree is the largest by volume?
The General Sherman Tree is the largest tree in the world by volume. It contains about 1,487 cubic meters of wood.
Which tree has the widest canopy spread?
The banyan tree is famous for having one of the widest canopy spreads of any tree. Some specimens form living canopies that cover more than 19,000 square meters.
Which tree produces the largest fruit in the world?
The jackfruit produces the largest tree-borne fruit in the world. Individual fruits commonly weigh 10 to 25 kilograms, and some can be even heavier.
Which tree has the largest seeds?
The coconut palm produces the largest seeds of any plant. A coconut can weigh more than 1.5 kilograms.
Which tree species has the hardest wood?
Lignum vitae is famous for having some of the hardest and densest wood of any tree. It has long been used for heavy-duty applications because of its toughness.
Which tree species is the most widely planted ornamental tree in the world?
The flowering cherry is among the most widely planted ornamental trees globally, especially in temperate cities and parks. Japanese flowering cherry cultivars are famous in city plantings and festivals.
Which tree is the most common street tree in many cities?
The London plane tree is one of the most commonly planted street trees in large cities. It is valued because it tolerates pollution, pruning, and harsh urban conditions.
Which tree has the most famous edible bark?
The cinnamon tree is the best-known tree for edible bark. True cinnamon comes from the inner bark of Cinnamomum species, especially Cinnamomum verum.
Which tree produces the longest-lasting timber used in shipbuilding?
Teak is one of the most durable timber trees used in boat and ship construction. Its wood resists rot, moisture, and insect damage very well.
Which tree species is the most iconic for producing paper?
Fast-growing eucalyptus species are among the most important trees for paper production. They are widely planted in managed forests for pulp.
Which tree species has the most famous naturally occurring resin?
The pistachio family includes the mastic tree, famous for its resin called mastic. It has been harvested on the Greek island of Chios for centuries.
Which tree is the most widespread conifer in the Northern Hemisphere?
The Scots pine is one of the most widespread conifers in the Northern Hemisphere. It grows across a huge range from western Europe to Siberia.
Whose idea was the botanical name system used to classify plants?
Carl Linnaeus developed the binomial naming system used for plants and animals. He set it out in the 18th century, most famously in Species Plantarum (1753).
Whose discovery linked mycorrhizae to plant roots and nutrient exchange?
Albert Bernhard Frank introduced the term mycorrhiza in 1885. He showed that many plants live in symbiosis with fungi around their roots.
Whose research revealed that trees can communicate through underground fungal networks?
Suzanne Simard’s work showed that trees can exchange resources through mycorrhizal networks. Her research began in the 1990s and reshaped how forests are understood.
How do trees move water from roots to leaves without a pump?
Trees pull water upward mainly through evaporation from leaves, which creates tension in the xylem. Cohesion between water molecules helps keep the water column unbroken over long distances.
How do trees tell one another they are under attack?
Trees can signal stress through airborne chemicals, root interactions, and fungal networks in the soil. These signals can warn nearby plants to boost defenses.