TED: An illustrated kingdom of real, fantastical plants | Nirupa Rao

Neeru Barao, a botanical artist, highlights the growing disconnect from nature and the importance of fostering an emotional connection with it. She shares her journey into botanical art, collaborating with naturalists to document jungle flora through painting. The video explores unique plant species and their survival strategies, emphasizing the concept of 'plant blindness'—the tendency to overlook plants as living beings. Neeru's work aims to raise awareness and appreciation for plants, encouraging conservation efforts.

What does Neeru Barao primarily focus on in her profession?

• Painting animals

• Photographing landscapes

• Painting plants

• Writing about nature

Why did Neeru and the naturalists choose painting over photography to document rainforest trees?

• Photography was too expensive

• The trees were too tall and dense for a single camera frame

• They wanted to create abstract art

• Photography was not allowed in the rainforest

What inspired Neeru's interest in painting unique plants?

• Her interest in photography

• Her desire to travel the world

• Her love for roses and sunflowers

• Her family's history with botany

What is the pollination strategy of the Neelakurinji plant?

• It blooms every year

• It blooms only in winter

• It blooms once every 12 years

• It blooms every month

What is 'plant blindness'?

• A method of plant conservation

• The inability to see plants as living beings

• A condition where plants cannot grow

• A type of plant disease

Who coined the term 'plant blindness'?

• Father Cecil Saldana

• Elizabeth Sloan and James Wandersee

• Neeru Barao

• Critique Arendt

What is the goal of the Wild Charlie program?

• To create botanical art for museums

• To plant trees in urban areas

• To teach children about animal conservation

• To educate children about plants through games