Defensive Plants - Plant Protections

Plants have evolved various defence mechanisms to protect against herbivores. Mechanical defences include structures like the Acacia tree's spines, which deter grazers. Some plants, like the mimosa, use figmonastic defences, responding to touch by closing leaves or flopping to the ground. Chemical defences involve producing toxins, as seen in bracken plants. Nettles use painful stings, while dead nettles employ mimicry, resembling stinging nettles without the actual stingers. These strategies help plants survive by deterring predators and conserving energy.

What adaptation allows giraffes to feed on Acacia trees despite their spines?

• Their long necks

• Their strong teeth

• Their sharp hooves

• Their mobile tongues

How do mimosa plants react when touched by a grasshopper?

• They grow thorns

• They release toxins

• They close their leaves

• They change color

What is the primary defense mechanism of bracken plants?

• Releasing a foul odor

• Developing thick bark

• Growing tall to avoid grazers

• Producing a lethal cocktail of toxins

What makes nettle stings painful?

• Their bright color

• Their bitter taste

• Their hollow hairs made from silica

• Their sharp leaves

How do dead nettles avoid predators without producing toxins?

• By releasing a strong scent

• By having a tough exterior

• By mimicking the appearance of stinging nettles

• By growing in hidden areas