Be a Plant Detective

Be a Plant Detective - Body

Materials

  1. "Plant Clues" sheet
  2. Plant photos (included below)
Plant Clues sheet

Steps

  1. Select one of the plants from the carousel below.
Plant growing on another plant's trunk. The plant has many stems and leaves growing in different directions.

Dendrobium nobile

Plant with dark green vertical leaves.

Anthurium caucavallense

Plant with multiple overlapping bright green horizontal eaves

Caliphruria subedentata

Succulent plant with vertical stems and spine-like growths

Euphorbia altrispina

Succulent plant with large branching stems and small spine-like growths

Cereus validus. Photo by Rebecca Kon.

Rosette-shaped succulent. The leaves are pale green with red tips.

Aloe framesii

  1. Use the “Plant Clues” sheets (page 1) to record your observations as you identify and describe the plant’s organs.
  2. Conduct research! Explore the information in Plant Parts & Patterns, Looking at Leaves, Water Is Life, Getting Food, and the Plant Spotlights. Use the "Plant Clues" sheets (page 2) to record your notes.
  3. Decide where you think The Huntington should keep this plant, and share your reasoning using the "Plant Clues" sheets (page 3.)

Extensions

  1. Complete a drawing, essay, or paragraph, speech, slideshow, etc. answering the question: What kind of environment do you think this plant grows in? Why?
  2. Design a garden that features this plant. What other plants will you include?
  3. Use your new plant detective skills to read the plants in your garden or neighborhood. Are they getting everything they need to survive? If not, can you help them?