How Plants Tell Time

Who designed the flower clock in the 18th century?

• Charles Darwin

• Marie Curie

• Isaac Newton

• Carolus Linnaeus

What do circadian rhythms allow organisms to do?

• Keep track of time and adapt to environmental cues

• Control the planet's rotations

• Predict the weather

• Communicate with other organisms

What triggers reactions in plants at a molecular scale?

• Nutrients and minerals

• Wind and humidity

• Water and soil

• Light and temperature

What do phytochromes in plants detect?

• Amount of light and distribution of wavelengths

• Sound waves and vibrations

• Magnetic fields and radiation

• Chemical compounds and toxins

What do plants do a few hours before sunrise?

• Prepare for pollination

• Store energy in the form of glucose polymers

• Create mRNA templates for photosynthesis

• Go into a dormant state

What do plants do throughout the morning as sunlight increases?

• Photosynthesize and grow

• Rest and conserve energy

• Seek shade and cool down

• Produce flowers for pollinators

What do plants do after the sun sets?

• Store energy in the form of glucose polymers

• Prepare for pollination

• Go into a dormant state

• Metabolize and grow, breaking down starch from the previous day's energy harvest

What do phytochromes sense as spring melts the winter frost?

• Magnetic fields and radiation

• Strong winds and heavy rainfall

• Shorter days, decreasing light, and humidity change

• Longer days, increasing light, and temperature change