Adaptation- Dinosaur Plant (Lupe Anaya)

Dinosaur Plant, Is it Dead or Alive?

Author: Lupe Anaya

Principle(s) Illustrated

1. Characteristics of Life

2. Photosynthesis

3. Plant Adaptations

4. Species Evolution

5. Survival of the Fittest

Standards

• MS Life Science: Evolution 3 e

  • Students know that extinction of a species occurs when the environment changes and the adaptive characteristics of a species are insufficient for its survival.

• HS Life Science: Cell Biology 1 f

  • Students know usable energy is captured from sunlight by chloroplasts and is stored through the synthesis of sugar from carbon dioxide.

• HS Life Science: Evolution 7 d

  • Students know variation within a species increases the likelihood that at least some members of a species will survive under changed environmental conditions.

• HS Life Science: Evolution 8 a

  • Students know how natural selection determines the differential survival of groups of organisms.

• HS Life Science: Evolution 8 b

  • Students know a great diversity of species increases the chance that at least some organisms survive major changes in the environment.

Questioning Script

Prior knowledge & experience:

• Students know the structures and processes by which flowering plants generate pollen, ovules, seeds, and fruit.

• Students know that that chloroplasts capture sunlight energy for photosynthesis

• Students know that water is essential for life processes

Root question:

• What are the adaptive traits that have allowed this plant to cope with long periods of dry weather?

• How does this plant reproduce if it doesn't have flowers, seeds, or fruits?

Target response:

This desert plant is able to survive long periods of desiccation because it curls up in times of dry weather, retains only about 3% of its moisture, slows down its metabolism, and goes into a state or dormancy. When the rains resume, it hydrates and its metabolism increases.

Selaginella lepidophylla is a seedless vascular plant that reproduces single-celled spores produced by the strobilli.

Common Misconceptions:

Plants need flowers, seeds, and/or fruits to reproduce.

Plants that look this dry are assumed to be dead.

Photographs and Movies

Scientific Name: Selaginella lepidophylla

Common Names: Dinosaur plant, resurrection plant, false rose of Jericho

References

The Science Wonder Shop (Scroll down)

Information from UCC

US Department of Agriculture