PLANTS-HOBBY to Professsions

Name: Saanvi j Class & Section: VIII B

FLOWER/SPICE
Select a plant, stick the picture and answer the following:
Name of the plant: Knapweed
Flowering/Non flowering: Flowering
Kingdom: Plantae
Family: Asteraceae
Find out interesting facts about the plant

 Spotted knapweed is a very aggressive species that can quickly infest

large areas. Knapweed infestations increase production costs for
ranchers, degrade wildlife habitat, decrease plant diversity, increase
soil erosion rate and pose wildfire hazards.
 All parts of this plant (the roots, stems, flowers, seeds, leaves)
are poisonous. Poison hemlock has thick stems with purple spotting,
white flowers and fernlike leaves. remain toxic for up to three years.

Do you have any questions?

Is knapweed edible?
Possible answer if any:

Knapweed can be made into a tea and drunk. In some

countries, knapweed is considered an edible plant although it has never
been considered so in western cultures.
You tube link: [Link]
LIFE STYLE
Types: Herb/Shrub/Tree/Climber/Creeper .

Habitat: It is native to Austria, Greece, Hungary and Romania and has been
introduced to Idaho, Montana, Washington and Oregon.
Zones: Temperate zones
Soil Type: Dry and sandy soils
Chapter name: Conservation of plants and animals, Crop production and managementWords of the
subject: Biodiversity, Biosphere reserve,deforestation, endangered, endemic, extinction, flora, fauna,
migrate, agriculture, weeding, ploughing, manure, fertilizer, irrigation, harvesting
Season: Autumn
Climate: Hot and dry climate
Temperature: Maximum/minimum: 7-34 degree celcius
Adaptation: How does the plant adapt to different seasons?

Knapweed grows in dry climate and prefers full sun and some moisture.
Diffuse knapweed survives in a wide range of soil and environmental
conditions, and produces large numbers of viable seeds that are widely
dispersed by wind, water, animals and human activity.
Endangerment: How can plant be endangered?

Not endangered, the effects of climate change, deforestation and land

development play a role in the demise of this plant.
Evolution: How did the plant evolve?

Spotted knapweed is a native of Europe and Asia. It was introduced to North

America in the 1890s as a contaminant in agricultural seed and through soil
discarded from ship ballast. It has become a serious problem of pastures and
rangeland in the western United States. Diffuse knapweed was introduced
into the USA in Washington in 1907. Canadian introduction was in British
Columbia in 1936 .
Extinction: What factors could make the plant extinct in the bio-diversity?

The numerous factors are responsible for the loss of Biodiversity such as
pollution, habitat loss, hunting, introduction of invasive species,
overexploitation of preferred species, climate change, and natural disasters.
Bio-diversity: What is the effect of climate change on the plant bio-diversity?

Environmental conditions play a key role in defining the function and

distribution of plants, in combination with other factors. Changes in long term
environmental conditions that can be collectively coined climate change
are known to have had enormous impacts on current plant diversity patterns;
further impacts are expected in the future.

Symbiosis: How is the plant interdependent on other living being or how other
living being are dependent on the plant?

The different ways that animals and plants are interdependent in an

ecosystem because they depend on each other for basic survival needs like
food, protection, shelter and propagation. Plants provide food
for animals and humans, who cannot make their own foods like plants do.
Genome : How many chromosomes are present in the cell of your plant?

Chapter name: Conservation of plants and animals, Crop production and managementWords of the
subject: Biodiversity, Biosphere reserve,deforestation, endangered, endemic, extinction, flora, fauna,
migrate, agriculture, weeding, ploughing, manure, fertilizer, irrigation, harvesting
knapweed is diploid wlth 2n : 18
What is the biological attribute of the plant?

Nutrient analysis of plants collected prior to flowering showed neutral

detergent fibre at 24.2 to 53.0% (dry wt.), ether extract 3.1 to 9.05%, crude
protein 6.2 to l8.2%, total non-structural carbohydrates 11.0 to 27.5% ash 4.9 to
9.31, in vitro dry matter digestibility 53.2 to 61.8%, and gross energy 4,088 to
4,539 Cal/g. Crude protein and non-structural carbohydrates were most
concentrated during the spring growth period when stems were developing.
As the stems matured during summer they became more fibrous resulting in
lower protein and carbohydrate levels. Just prior to flowering, tall plants with
stems approaching 1 m had significantly higher fibre, but lower ether extract,
carbohydrates, and in vitro dry matter digestibility than plants with stems less
than 0.5 m. Crude protein, ash, and gross energy were the same for both
groups. It was concluded that spotted knapweed does have some nutritional
value as a livestock forage
Why is plant bio-diversity important?

Plants biodiversity play a key role in ecosystems. Plant biodiversity is

invaluable because it balances ecosystems, protects watersheds, mitigates
erosion, moderates climate, and provides shelter for animals.

USES
Which part of the plant is used for food: Flowers

Other uses (clothes, lamps etc): It can be used as remedies used for an adder
or viper bite.

Useful for other plants and animal: Insects, including bees and butterflies, are
very fond of these long-flowering plants.
LIFE CYCLE
What are the different needs of plant at four stages of life?

Water, carbon-dioxide, sunlight are required for the plant during all stages of
life.
Life span: 5-9 years

Germination (Baby): Spotted knapweed seeds have the potential for

germination shortly after maturity, and approximately 90% are viable upon
dispersal. Spotted knapweed seeds germinate whenever moisture and
temperature are suitable, and both fall and spring seedling emergence is
common. Optimal temperatures for germination range from 45 to 93 �F (7-34
Chapter name: Conservation of plants and animals, Crop production and managementWords of the
subject: Biodiversity, Biosphere reserve,deforestation, endangered, endemic, extinction, flora, fauna,
migrate, agriculture, weeding, ploughing, manure, fertilizer, irrigation, harvesting
°C), and germination is best at 66° F (19 °C) . Spotted knapweed seeds
required at least 55% soil moisture to initiate emergence.

Growth (Youth): Spotted knapweed seedling survival depends primarily on

environmental conditions at the time of emergence and establishment. Seed
weight was positively correlated with initial growth, but its influence
decreased over time and disappeared after 8 weeks.

Reproduction (Adult): Flowering buds are formed in early June and flowering
occurs from July through September. Mature seeds are formed by mid-
August. Spotted knapweed flower heads that are not infested with larvae
open after they dry, about 2 to 3 weeks after seeds mature, usually in late
summer, from mid-August through mid-September.
When do they become productive?
They become productive after the seeds mature.
Pollination: It is pollinated by wind.
Old stage: It becomes old after 5-9 years and then die.
What is the critical period for:

1. Watering the plant: Generally, plants demand for water is high during
1) the first few weeks of growth following germination, 2) right after
transplanting, and 3) during flowering and fruit development.

2. Adding fertilizer and manure: The critical period for adding manure or
fertilizer is before planting, this gives the strongest effect.

OLYMPIAD/ASSET QUESTIONS:
1. Which of the following protects the unopened flower?
a) Petal
b) Stamen
c) Anther
d) Sepal
2. Which part of the flower becomes the seed?
a) Ovule
b) Ovary
c) Anther
d) Stigma
3. What is the name given to flowering plants?
a) Gymnosperms
b) Bryophytes
Chapter name: Conservation of plants and animals, Crop production and managementWords of the
subject: Biodiversity, Biosphere reserve,deforestation, endangered, endemic, extinction, flora, fauna,
migrate, agriculture, weeding, ploughing, manure, fertilizer, irrigation, harvesting
 c) Pteridophytes
d) Angiosperms
4. Japanese art of flower arrangement is called:
a) Origami
b) Ikebana
c) Kimono
d) Bonsai
5. Which of the following is obtained from a flower?
a) Cardamom
b) Cotton
c) Coffee
d) Saffron
6. Edible part of which of the following is a flower?
a) Cabbage
b) Broccoli
c) Lettuce
d) Cilantro
7. The plant which is used a as source of spice as well as a dye is:
a) Cardamom
b) Cinnamon
c) Turmeric
d) Cumin
8. The king of spices:
a) Cardamom
b) Pepper
c) Turmeric
d) Cumin
9. The queen of spices:
a) Cardamom
b) Pepper
c) Turmeric
d) Cumin
10. The golden spice:
a) Cardamom
b) Pepper
c) Turmeric
d) Cumin

Chapter name: Conservation of plants and animals, Crop production and managementWords of the
subject: Biodiversity, Biosphere reserve,deforestation, endangered, endemic, extinction, flora, fauna,
migrate, agriculture, weeding, ploughing, manure, fertilizer, irrigation, harvesting
Chapter name: Conservation of plants and animals, Crop production and managementWords of the
subject: Biodiversity, Biosphere reserve,deforestation, endangered, endemic, extinction, flora, fauna,
migrate, agriculture, weeding, ploughing, manure, fertilizer, irrigation, harvesting