Is That a Plant? Reading

Is That a Plant? Reading

Wednesday, november 11th 2020

 Is That a Plant?

The Hydnora africana has no leaves or stem. It has a flower that looks like a hungry mouth! Inside is white stuff that stinks. Insects are attracted to the smell. The insect is trapped inside the flower by stiff hairs. The insect eats the white stuff to survive. Pollen sticks to the insect. A few days later, the flower opens and the insect is free. Then it takes the pollen to another flower. The flower has done its job! 

The white baneberry is also called “doll’s eyes.” Its fruit looks like eyes on blood red stems! It is round and white and has a black dot. Birds eat the fruit and spread the seeds. That’s how the doll’s eyes makes other plants. The fruit does not hurt the birds, but it’s poisonous to people! If people touch any part of the plant, they will get blisters! Eating the fruit can stop a person’s heart. 

The Rafflesia arnoldii also has no leaves or stem. But it has the largest flower of all plants! It can grow to be 1 meter (3 feet) across and can weigh 11 kilos (24 pounds). The flower looks scary. Things that look like big thorns grow out of its center. And worse, it stinks like rotting meat—just like the stink lily! But this plant doesn’t eat insects. The odor attracts insects that carry its pollen to other plants. This big flower blooms for only five days. Because there are fewer and fewer of these plants, they may become extinct.

Multiple Select

Check True or False:

1. The white baneberry has a stinky smell that attracts insects.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Select

Check True or False:

2. The fruit of the Hydnora africana is very poisonous.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Select

Check True or False:

3. The Rafflesia arnoldii has no leaves or stems.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Select

Check True or False:

4. Birds avoid the white baneberry.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Select

Check True or False:

5. The Rafflesia arnoldii eats insects that walk on it.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Select

Check True or False:

6. When the Hydnora africana traps an insect, it lets it go in a few days.

• TRUE

• FALSE