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Be a Plant Detective

    Icon with a light bulb, star, and shapes above a pencil.

    Materials

    1. “Plant Clues” sheet
    2. Plant photos (included below)

    PlantClues_Handout.pdf

    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.
    Plant with dark green vertical leaves.
    Plant with multiple overlapping bright green horizontal eaves
    Succulent plant with vertical stems and spine-like growths
    Succulent plant with large branching stems and small spine-like growths
    Rosette-shaped succulent. The leaves are pale green with red tips.
    Dendrobium nobile
    Anthurium caucavallense
    Caliphruria subedentata
    Euphorbia altrispina

    Cereus validus. Photo by Rebecca Kon.

    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?