Category Science

Trees have different life cycles. Some trees live for a short time, while some others live for centuries. Plants are named annuals, biennials and perennials depending on the length of their life cycles.

Annuals live for a year. They grow, produce flowers and die within the span of a year. Plants such as petunias and zinnias are annuals. When these plants die, they leave seeds that will grow into new plants. Not all such plants live for an entire year. A seed-to-seed cycle can occur in the span of even a month. Many desert plants live for only a week and thus they are called ephemeral.

Biennials live for two years. In the first year, the tree spends time storing its food for the winter months. The tree produces flowers and seeds in the second year and the tree dies later. Turnips, carrots and beets are biennials.

Perennials live for more than two years. Such plants do not flower in the initial years. However, in course of time, they flower and fructify and repeat it every year. These plants grow into huge trees and occupy more space than other smaller plants. Most perennials can be grown from cuttings or seeds. Chrysanthemums, peonies, irises and lupins are some popular perennials found in gardens.

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The developmental cycles of animals and plants have contrasting styles. Animals typically have their organs when they are born, and they merely increase in size as time passes. However, trees grow branches, leaves and flowers, and they wither away and new ones grow in course of time.

The life of a plant begins in a seed. The germination process begins when various elements such as sunlight, temprature changes and the presence of nutrients come in proper proportion. The young plant uses the nutrients stored in the seed itself for its early growth and development. The seedling develops chlorophyll and turns green. Most plants start producing chlorophyll when exposed to sunlight as the substance is light induced.

While the growth of animals is reflected all over their bodies, the development of plants happens only in certain areas of their bodies. Such specific regions in the bodies of plants are known as meristems. Meristems are chiefly found at the tips of roots, shoots and in the cambium.

Environment too plays a role in the growth of a plant. A tree located in the open, that receives abundant sunlight tends to grow broad and wide with lots of leaves, whereas, trees that grow in a congested environment will have limited growth. Some chemical regulators play significant roles in growth of plants, too.

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Peaches and almonds growing on same tree! Or, mangoes and guavas hanging from the same plant! Wouldn’t it be convenient if many fruits were to grow on the same tree? It might sound strange; however, this is not impossible.

There is a technique called grafting, which can perform wonders such as the ones mentioned above. In grafting, parts from two or more plants are joined together. The upper part of one plant grows on the root system of another plant. Therefore, if the bud or twig of a pear plant is carefully inserted into a slit in the bark of an apple tree, pears will grow on the apple tree, and the tree will start producing both apples and pears.

Grafting is performed in related species of trees. However, if it is not performed delicately and with care, the process may not be successful.

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At flower shows, have you seen miniature trees, which have proportionately small branches, leaves and fruits? They look very attractive and decorate in interiors of many a home! These miniature trees are known as bonsai trees.

Bonsai is considered a form of art. A bonsai artist grows trees, which would otherwise grow into huge trees, in small trays. The small size of the trees maintained by regular pruning of leaves and roots. Thus a wild tree that would grow to an enormous size is dwarfed by the constant intervention of man. The trunk of the tree is also designed in an attractive way.

Bonsai is a Japanese art form. In Japanese, the word means ‘scenery in a container’. In Japan and many other parts of the world, bonsai shows are popular. It is a glorious sight to see miniature trees arranged in an exquisite fashion.

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From ancient times, fruits have been Man’s favourite food Prehistoric Man may have resorted to consuming fruits, which were readily available when other sources of food were scarce. There are very interesting stories behind the names of most fruits.

Tomato is a West Indian word. Do you know that the meaning of the word is ‘love apple’? Grapes, on the other hand, were so called because they grow in bunches. The fruit gets its name from the French word ‘grappe’, and the Italian word ‘grappo’. Both these words mean the same: ‘bunch’!

The raspberry gets its name from the German word, ‘raspen’. It means to ‘rub something with a file’. The fruit has an exterior that looks as if it has been scraped with a file! Strawberries were initially called Stray-berries because their stalks strayed in all directions. The names of most other fruits have such funny origins!

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Have you seen a tomato before it is ripe? It is green, sour and not very soft. However, as time passes, it changes its colour:  first into yellow and then red. Most fruits are green in colour before they ripen. They may not be sweet and delicious as they would be when they are ripe.

Nature is playing a trick here. The unripe fruits do not contain mature seeds. Therefore, they need protection from animals and birds until they are ripe. These fruits are hidden among green leaves so that they escape the notice of others. When they ripen, they start attracting animals and birds, in turn, will be carries and disperses of seeds.

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