1 Do animals talk?............2 Do plants excrete?.........3 Do snakes have heart?...4 Do ants have any blood?5 What do animals see?....

6 How large is an elephants heart?............7 Why do the eyes of a cat shine in dark?.................8 Why do birds chirp?......9 Do plants move?..........10 Can plants communicate? .....................................11 How do birds fly?........12 How can owls see at night?...........................13 Can plants grow in light other than sunlight?.....14 Do fishes breathe?.......15 Can plants eat?.............16 How does a fruit differ from a vegetable?........16 Do insects also breathe? .....................................18 How do ants climb on a vertical wall without falling?.........................18 Why do plants die?......22 Are all snakes poisonous?...................23 What are amphibians?. 24 What killed the dinosaurs?....................24 What is a weed?...........26 Who are Chimpanzees? .....................................27 How high can birds fly? .....................................28 Why save tigers?..........29 Do plants and vegetables feel?.............................30 What are Penguins?.....31 What do snakes eat?....32 Can snakes hear?.........33 Why do fruits fall down when they are ripe?......33 Why are most plants green?..........................34 How plants grow?........35 Why are forests cooler? .....................................36 Why different fruits taste different?......................37 How can we tell the age of a tree?......................38 Why are flowers colored? .....................................39 Do all plants grow from seeds?...........................39 ....................................41 What are Herbs?..........41 Why do some plants smell good?..................41 Do plants feel pain?.....43 Which is the oldest tree in the world?................44 Why do fireflies (JUGNU) glow?...........45 What is Bonsai?...........46 Why are seeds dried before sowing?.............46 How does water rise up in plants?......................48

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2 their own species. Still, we have been unable to translate individual animal sounds in a framework that can be called true language.

Do animals talk?
If and when two animals talk they must use a language. To understand what they are talking about we must know their language. Language is the method by which information is exchanged between two animals. True language is the means by which communication can be possible. Most animals communicate, not through language, but by instinctual behaviors that convey messages to others. Animals make a wide variety of sounds, from the musical song of a bird to the howl of the wolf, to the contented purr of a cat. While they are unable to talk in the sense that humans do, they do communicate with sound in a way that is understood only by other members of 2/9/08

3 nutrients or salts that they excrete onto their leaves. Many plants produce secondary substances such as caffeine, latex, and nicotine that were once thought to be waste products. However, it is now believed that secondary compounds have functions in the plant. Many secondary compounds deter herbivores.

Do plants excrete?
Plants do not need food like animals. They use light energy to make all the organic compounds they require from carbon dioxide, water, and about 14 mineral nutrients they absorb from the soil. Probably the only metabolic waste product of most plants is oxygen, which readily diffuses out of the leaves. Nonphotosynthetic plant parts and photosynthetic plant parts at night produce excess carbon dioxide which might be considered a waste product. However, carbon dioxide is essential to plants for photosynthesis. Overall plants absorb much more carbon dioxide than they excrete. Certain salt-tolerant plants (called halophytes) sometimes accumulate mineral 2/9/08

4 which it is pumped again. There is no mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in the ventricle, as there is an incomplete partition in the ventricle. In normal four chambered hearts this partition is complete.

Do snakes have heart?

Yes, snakes do have heart. Except for crocodilians which have a four chambered heart all reptiles (under which snakes also come) have a three chambered heart. It comprises of two atria and one ventricle. The chamber called the right atrium receives deoxygenated or impure blood returning from the body tissue. It then passes this blood to the lungs for oxygenation and to other body organs. The oxygenated blood from the lungs returns to the left atrium and once again enters the same ventricle, from 2/9/08

Do ants have any blood?

Yes, ants do have blood. In fact all insects have blood. But, it's not like our blood. Our blood is red because it has hemoglobin. The blood of insects like ants is colorless or slightly green or yellow. Our blood is used to carry oxygen to where it is needed in the body; insects get oxygen from a complex system of air tubes that connect to the outside through openings called spiracles. So instead of carrying oxygen, their blood carries nutrients from one part of the body to another. Ants do bleed when they are hurt, and their blood can clot also so that they can recover from minor wounds.

2/9/08

What do animals see?

Many animals can see things that we cannot. For example, cats can see at night when it is too dark for us. However, we do not know what animals actually perceive. There is an important difference between light reaching the retina, apart of eye responsible for seeing, and actually what is seen. The ability to differentiate between different colors varies enormously in different types of animals. Although color plays a great role in human life, there is, with the exception of certain insects, still little evidence about the roles of color perception in other animals. So far we only know that color vision in most animals is very limited, and probably bears little resemblance to humans'.

Nevertheless, it is proven that animals see some form of color vision. For example, in the eyes of honeybee, more than half the visual cells respond best to yellow-green light; about one fourth respond maximally to blue light; and the rest one fourth respond best to ultraviolet light, allowing the honeybee to see most colors except the red.

How large is an elephants heart?

The heart of an elephant depends on its size, While the heart of the African bull elephant can weigh up to 28 kg, which is a size normal for such a large animal, for other elephants it is normally about 12 Kgs. Despite its large size, there is little difference between the heart of an elephant and other animals. Except the fact that elephant hemoglobin has a higher oxygen affinity than that of other mammals. The blood vessels of the elephant can achieve lengths of up to 350 cm, which require a high blood pressure in order to prevent their collapse if they had thin walls. Something else that is interesting about the heart of an elephant is the fact that while the human heart beats at

the rate of 70 per minute, the heart of a mouse beats 500 times a minute and the elephant beats only 28 times a minute.

Why do the eyes of a cat shine in dark?

Cat eyes don't actually glow in the dark. Most often, they do appear to be bright green, when they reflect light from another source. A way of thinking about this is to imagine a mirror. It doesn't glow in the dark, either -but if you shine a light on it, the light is reflected back to you and you see it as a light coming from the mirror. Reflectors like you see on bicycles are another example of something that doesn't actually glow in the dark but that shines brightly when it reflects light. If you go into a dark room without a light and look for your cat, you can't find it by looking for its eyes. This proves that they don't have glow all their own. It is pretty easy to find a cat in a

dark room with a flashlight, though. Even if you can't see the cat very well, you can see the reflection from its eyes.

Why do birds chirp?

Birds use their songs as a means of communication. Each species has a distinct song. They use their songs to warn of danger, as an instinctual response to some stimuli, say the sunlight after a dark night. Sometimes birds chirp to attract mates. Most birds chirp early in the morning because they're most active at that time. Daylight works to birds' advantage: They can see worms, seeds - and crickets, which make a tasty meal to a bird. But some birds chirp at night too. It is difficult to find out the exact reasons. A bird learns its species songs at a young age. It uses this knowledge to select mates when it is ready to breed. If all the birds had the same song, they would not be able to find suitable mates.

Do plants move?
We see a plant almost stationary all the time, we are therefore lead to the belief that plants cannot move at all. But that is strictly not true. In order to stay alive, plants have learned to move and do so in remarkable fashion, for extraordinary purposes and with high, extrasensory intelligence. One can perhaps say that plants can actually move but at a much slower pace than humans. A climbing plant that needs a prop will creep toward the nearest support. Should this support be shifted, the vine, within a few hours, will change its course into a new direction." Plants will even grow towards a support thats hidden from view. Some scientists say, "Plants are capable of intent: they can stretch toward, or seek out, what they want in ways as mysterious as the most fantastic creations of romance." Some

parasitical plants can recognize the slightest trace of the odor of their victim and will overcome all obstacles to crawl in its direction.

Can plants communicate?

Yes, many scientists believe that in their own language, plants communicate to insects, animals, other parts of their own bodies and neighboring plants. Plants communicate when they are in danger. They communicate through chemicals secreted by them into air. For example, when insects chew a tomato plant's leaves, signals are triggered that tell the plant to release chemicals such as methyl jasmonate. Leaves on the plant that haven't been devoured produce these chemicals, which interfere with the insects' digestive systems. The chemicals make the bugs unable to break down the proteins in the plant. When the insects can't properly digest, they become sick and die. Chemicals may also be released to attract other insects predators to the insects

feeding on the plants. Therefore, the plants issue a twofold defense system against hungry insects. Similarly a pine tree can release a chemical called terpene in emergency situations, such as when a deer might be chewing on its branches. The terpene doesn't taste good, and it makes the deer retreat.

How do birds fly?

The fact that birds fly is indeed amazing. Birds are the ultimate flying machines, though insects have been doing it for longer and in many cases are more versatile. Birds fly far better than any machinery mankind has yet made and like our machines they use their wings and tails in a variety of ways to achieve their expertise. The flight of a bird is dependent on the shape of its wings and the way the bird use them. Generally, flight of a bird can be divided into two modes: gliding or soaring flight, and flapping or powered flight. The wings of a bird are not flat they are concave. The air that moves over the wing has to go farther get across the wing, thus it speeds up. This causes the pressure to drop because the same amount of air is exerting its pressure over a

greater area. Therefore, any given point experiences less pressure. This effectively sucks the wing up. Meanwhile the air going below the wing experiences the opposite effect. It slows down, generates more pressure and effectively pushes the wing up. Hence a bird with air moving over its wings is pulled up from above and pushed up from below.

How can owls see at night?

As most owls are active at night, their eyes must be very efficient at collecting and processing light. This starts with a large cornea (the transparent outer coating of the eye) and pupil (the opening at the centre of the eye). When the pupil is larger, more light passes through the lens and onto the large retina (light sensitive tissue on which the image is formed). The retina of an owl's eye has an abundance of light-sensitive, cells. These cells are very sensitive to light and movement, they do not react well to colour. Owls therefore see in limited colour or in monochrome. Since Owls have extraordinary night vision, it is often thought that they are blind in strong light. This is not true, because their pupils have a wide range of adjustment, allowing the right amount of light to strike the retina. Some species of Owls can actually see better than humans in bright light.

Can plants grow in light other than sunlight?

Light is electromagnetic radiation in a certain frequency range. It is similar whether it is from the Sun or an electric lamp. Lights from different sources differ from each other in their intensity and the distribution of wavelengths in their spectrum (colour composition of its spectrum). Photosynthesis can indeed take place in the light emitted by an electric lamp if has enough intensity of red and blue light. This is so because it is only the light having wavelengths/frequency corresponding to blue and red colors, which participates actively in the photosynthesis. In fact plants are grown in some laboratories under synthetic conditions, that is, conditions that are not natural. Often plants are grown in greenhouses that have arrangement for artificial lighting. People also keep plants indoors

where very little if any sunlight is available.

Do fishes breathe?
The water surrounding a fish contains a small percentage of dissolved oxygen. In the surface waters there can be about 5 ml. of oxygen per liter of water. Because this is much less than the 210 ml. of oxygen present in one liter of air, the fish must use a special system for concentrating the oxygen in the water to live. Although, some fishes have lungs just like in our body to breathe air, but most fishes breathe through gills. Gills are made up of thin sheets of tissue richly supplied with blood vessels. As water passes over them dissolved oxygen is absorbed into the blood and waste products such as carbon dioxide pass out into the water. Few fishes (e.g. eel) can breathe for some time through skin in damp grass.

Can plants eat?

Yes! There are over 600 types of carnivorous plants! Carnivorous plants are like other plants use photosynthesis to make most of their own food. But, they are carnivorous for a reason. Most carnivorous plants live in swampy wetlands. This environment does not provide enough of the nutrients that plants need, especially nitrogen. So these plants have adapted to their environment by developing ways to catch insects for the extra nutrition that they need. It is a survival tool. They eat insects instead of the reverse. Each of these plants passively, but cleverly, lures its prey, captures its kill with ease, digests its meal by using its plant juices, and then prepares for its next unsuspecting victim. For example the Venus Flytrap, a plant that grows naturally in only North Carolina, USA,

catches bugs when they brush against little hairs on the edges of a leaf. When this happens, the Flytrap snaps shut, trapping the fly inside. If you hold a Venus Flytrap up to the light, you can see it digesting its dinner, but, it takes eight to ten days to fully digest a meal! There are other meat-eating plants say sundew, pitcher plant, and bladderwort.

How does a fruit differ from a vegetable?

The term fruit in common parlance has a different connotation than the strict botanical term. In a branch of science called botany in which scientists study plants, fruit means that part of a flower, which develops further and usually contains seeds for further propagation of its plant. Thus tomatoes, peas and

beans are really fruits. Strictly speaking, we should reserve the word vegetable for edible parts of a plant not derived from the pistil. Thus a potato or an artichoke is a vegetable because they are tubers the underground parts of the stem. Lettuce, cabbage and spinach are vegetable because they are leaves of plants.

Do insects also breathe?

Yes, insects do breathe in air, because they need oxygen to live just as we do even though they do not have lungs and blood to circulate oxygen in their body. Unlike muscle in our body the muscles onside an insects body never gets tired. If an insect could eat enough food, it could keep running or flying for days! We can't do this because we can't supply oxygen to our muscles fast enough. Without oxygen, the muscles get tired. But insects can breathe oxygen directly through many tiny holes called spiracles, located along the sides of their bodies. They can supply oxygen to their body constantly, and so their muscles don't get tired. Scientists have been able to see how these pipes through X-rays. The insect to maintain a constant and high flow of air in its body can squeeze these pipes.

How do ants climb on a vertical wall without falling?

Have you ever seen someone rock climbing. Most often the rocks people climb are steep. How does a rock climber climb a steep slope? By holding on the small supports available on the climb. Ants are able to climb up a wall just as like a mountain/wall climber scales a steep slope on a mountain. The limbs of an ant being much thinner can clench on to much smaller supports available. Thus although a surface may appear very smooth to us, for an ant the small variations are sufficient as support. Also, ants weigh much less then other animals, so they are not pulled down by the force of gravity as much as a human being climbing a rock.

Exploring Ants

Ants can be anywhere. Exploring about them can be very very interesting? You too can do it! Here are a few observations to make and a questions to answer : 1. Watch a single ant for as long as you can. Write down what it does. 2. Turn over some stones or boards in a garden, you may find an ant colony. The rice shaped white objects in the colony are pupae. What does the colony do with these when you disturb the colony by lifting the stone or board up? Can you find smaller white eggs? What does the colony do with these? Make sure you put back all rocks and boards the way they were.

3. How many different sizes and colors of ants can you find? Each one of these is a different species. Try to identify the various kinds of ants that you find, to get pictures of various kinds of ants visit this website.
http://www.earthlife.net/insects/image s/hymenop/thumbs/hy-thumbs0.html

4. Are there any animals that live in your area and eat ants? 5. Look at the flowers and flower buds. Do you find any ants on them? 6. If there is some sandy soil around, look for small pits in the sand shaped a little like the inside of a funnel. These are made by antlions. Look up antlions and find out what they eat and how they get their food. 7. How do ants manage to move in a que? 8. Bend a wire coat hanger into a ring. Toss it out onto a lawn. Can you find any ants inside the circle of the coat hanger? Try it again. How often do you "lasso an ant?"

9. Can you make up some jokes about ants like: Why do you find so many ants and so few uncles? Find or make up some ant jokes. 10. By now you would have answers for many questions about ants? To find answers to these questions, visit the following websites.
http://www.infowest.com/life/a ants.htm http://www.worldalmanacforki ds.com/explore/animals/ant.ht ml http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/ explore/ants.htm

Why do plants die?

Not all plants die! There are some trees like the redwoods in California, USA, that are extremely old and some plants in the desert are really old too. Some plants in areas where the climate has both hot and cold weather Appear to be dead in the winter, but they are just resting until the spring. Tulips, for instance, don't actually die, the bulb lives in the ground, and the green part of the plant comes up each spring. But, some plants actually do die, not because it is their time to die, such as after reproducing, but because of disease, lack of water or food, or due to pests. Plants can get weak by animals eating them or insects damaging them. Plants compete with one another for survival, therefore

they can also be killed by other plants making the place where they grow too shaded, or taking all the nutrients or water.

Are all snakes poisonous?

No, most snakes are not poisonous! In fact about three fourth kinds of snakes are non poisonous. But, that does not mean that one can be careless if bitten by a snake. One must be experienced enough to differentiate between a non-poisonous snake and a poisonous snake. Often one can tell it from its fangs or the shape of its head. A snakes fangs are a special kind of modified teeth. All snakes have teeth, but only poisonous snakes have fangs. Fangs are actually hollow teeth with a tiny hole at the bottom. When a fanged snake bites an animal, the venom is forced through the fangs into the victim. A poisonous snake bites small animals in order to kill them for food. A snake bites people and other large animals only if it is scared and wants to protect itself. Poisonous snakes should be respected and left alone. Most are not aggressive and do not attack people unless provoked. However, anyone trying to harm a poisonous snake, trying to catch it or accidentally stepping on it may be bitten. Many people are bitten trying to kill a snake because they are too close to it.

What are amphibians?

Amphibians are animals that can live both in water and in air. They are the last survivors of the true land vertebrates (animals with backbones). The very first amphibians lived about 350 million years ago. Frogs and toads are the most common amphibians and they account for almost 80% of all amphibian species. All frogs and toads have four limbs with the hind limbs typically being longer than the forelimbs. There are many different kinds of frogs, for example, one kind of frog called the clawed frog of Africa has claws on its back feet. Many frogs are not content to live on land; they climb trees and leap from branch to branch. Another kind of amphibians are called Caecilians. They are legless amphibians that appear to have segmented bodies much like worms. Most amphibians lay their eggs in water. The eggs hatch into tadpoles.

What killed the dinosaurs?

The name 'dinosaur' means 'most fearsome lizard'. Dinosaurs were not lizards, though related to them. They

were the most extraordinary creatures that dominated the Earth for over 150 million years. Some dinosaurs were as tall as a fivestorey building, and

there were others no bigger than a chicken. Many children have enjoyed a movie the Jurassic Park about them. But, the end of Dinosaurs has always been a riddle. Paleontologists, the scientists who study the history of animals, say that these great beasts disappeared about 65 million years ago. Several theories have been suggested to explain their disappearance. One such theory suggests that the dinosaurs were killed by a climatic change that occurred at that time.

Another theory suggests that some egg eating animals that had evolved by that time may be the cause. Still other

groups of scientists think that certain germs (harmful bacteria) might have been responsible for an epidemic that wiped off the dinosaurs from the face of the Earth.

What is a weed?
A weed is a plant that is growing where it is not wanted. Weeds can be a nuisance as well as a hazard. They can cause injury to man and animals, such as poison ivy or poison hemlock. They compete with cultivated plants for soil nutrients, light and water. They can also harbor insect and disease pests. They often produce large amounts of seeds or are capable of quick reproduction. Weeds are generally a problem where the desired crop is doing poorly or the soil has been disturbed. It is very important control the growth of weeds in a field or garden because they reduce the yield of crops in three ways: by competing with the crop for water, light and nutrients, by interfering with crop harvest, and by contaminating harvested products with weed seeds and toxins. Weeds can reduce yield up to 50% and are responsible for millions of Rupees in crop losses each year. However, what is considered a weed in one area may not be a weed in another.

Who are Chimpanzees?

Chimpanzees are one of four great apes. In addition to the common chimpanzee, gorillas, bonobos and the orangutan all belong to a class of animals called the great apes. Chimpanzees are our closest relatives. Only 1.6% of our genetic material, the so-called DNA, differs between our chimpanzee cousins and us. Five million years ago, the last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees lived and died somewhere in Africa, and so we share the same inheritance with the chimpanzees. Chimpanzees live in large communities in the tropical forests of Africa. The communities consist of several adult males and females with their offspring. The total number of members can vary between communities from 12 to 150. Chimpanzees are very social. They travel, feed and rest together, and when resting they may play with each other or groom partners. Grooming is a term used when chimpanzees clean parasites and dirt from a partners fur, it is a proof of friendship.

How high can birds fly?

Some birds fly low; some fly high and some can fly both high or low! Birds that fly low are the migratory ducks and other waterfowls, they fly less than 200 feet above the waves. When these birds fly into the wind, they keep within 5 to 7 feet from the water surface -- because there is virtually no wind in the troughs between the waves. Birds that fly high are: Bar-headed Geese and Demoiselle Cranes. They can fly at heights of up to almost 5 miles above sea level! Because, to get to their destinations, they have to cross the Himalayas!! Migrant birds can fly either high or low depending on the direction of prevailing winds. If they into the wind, the fly low -- maybe so they can land quickly if necessary since flying into the wind is hard work? But if the wind is behind them they fly high up where the wind helps them to go fast. Another reason that birds fly high is to keep cool. Birds burn a lot of fat while flying; this produces a lot of water that must be expired. The air in the upper atmosphere is more dry and cool than lower down. This makes it easier for the expired water to evaporate and keep the birds cool.

Why save tigers?

The Tiger is a beautiful animal. But that is not the only reason we should save it. Tiger is symbol of wilderness and well being of the ecosystem. By conserving and saving tigers the entire wilderness ecosystem is conserved. In nature, barring human beings and their domesticates, rest of the ecosystem is wild. Hence conserving wilderness is important and crucial to maintain the life support system. So saving tiger amounts to saving the ecosystem, which is crucial for man's own survival. The Tiger cannot live in places where trees have vanished. In such places, the rain becomes a flood, killing people and destroying homes. It takes away the precious soil, leaving behind a wasteland.

The soil jams up our lakes and dams, reducing their ability to store water. By destroying the Tigers' home, we not only harm Tigers, but also ourselves. By saving tiger forests, we protect our rivers and recharge groundwater sources.

Do plants and vegetables feel?

Plants do respond to injury. When wounded, their respiration rate increases just as it does initially when humans are injured. However, the increase is due to an increase in the use of stored food reserves in an attempt to repair the damage or to grow new cells. If the injury is too severe, the natural processes that help it use food are disrupted and death occurs. Often human respiration rates increase as a result of the minds influence on perceived consequences from an injury or a potential injury. Thus far, no one has been able to identify a single structure or organ in a plant that can be equated with the human brain, the organism responsible for human thought.

What are Penguins?

Penguins are flightless sea birds found in the south temperate and Antarctic regions. Penguins are over 45 million years old. William Clayton, a famous explorer, described these animals when he first discovered them in the Falkland Islands. He said, These creatures live primarily in the sea. They have short wings that serve as flippers, and they are covered with short thick feathers. Penguins can't fly. They are flightless sea birds, Flightless means without flight. No flying for penguins. They can only swim. Penguins are known for their swimming and diving abilities. Many scientists believe that, penguins are the best divers and swimmers in the animal kingdom. Emperor Penguins are probably the best at it. They can dive as deep as 250 meters and swim as fast as nine miles per hour. They can even hold their breath up to eighteen minutes. We often see on the television that penguins play or fight. But in facts penguins do not even understand the meaning of play.

What do snakes eat?

Snakes eat a wide variety of food. Snakes eat worms, insects, lizards, small mammals, birds, eggs, frogs, fish and other snakes. All snakes are carnivores. What they eat depends where they live, and how big they are. A water snake, for instance, can easily catch and swallow frogs and fish. Tree snakes often slyly capture a young bird from its nest. Most of the larger landdwelling snakes eat rats, this makes them very valuable animals. With their strong, muscular bodies and large size, pythons can tackle a wide variety of animal prey. At the Snake Park they are fed chickens and bandicoot rats, but in the wild they have a more interesting diet. A large python can overpower leopards and sambar. Snakes do not chew their food. They

swallow their prey whole. We can see a snake catch a frog or rat than seems far too big for it to handle. But the snake can open its mouth much wider than you imagine. Its neck stretches like a tight socks, and slowly but surely the food travels down the snake's throat, the inward-pointing teeth help to push it down.

Can snakes hear?

One can often see a snake swaying to the snake charmer's flute. This often leads to the belief that snakes can hear and even respond to the music. People think that the snake is dancing to the music. This is certainly not true. In actual fact, the cobra is terrified of the giant man with his strange instrument, and is keeping an eye on his movements. Although it has been found that snakes do sense some airborne sounds through their lungs, but they mostly respond to vibrations. Snakes rely very little on their slight sense of hearing.

Why do fruits fall down when they are ripe?

Fruits help a plant to disperse its seeds farther away. This is desirable for the propagation of a particular plant species, as it prevents heightened competition for space, light, water and soil nutrients that would result if the seeds sprouted in the immediate vicinity of the parent plant. Thus it is essential that a fruit must separate from its parent plant. The natural falling of a ripe fruit from a tree is just this part of the grand design. Often the seeds are embedded in a thick coat of flesh of the fruit. The seeds inside such fruits to sprout need external help. This help is provided by birds, humans and animals who consume these fruits and help in dispersing the seeds. Fruits become sweeter on ripening to make them more inviting for its potential friends, the birds.

Why are most plants green?

All plants are not green, only leaves of most plants are green. Leaves can be called the food factories or perhaps even the power plants for plants. Its in the leaves that most photosynthesis takes place. Photosynthesis is the process by which the tree is able to use light (photo) energy to make (synthesis) food in the form of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates can be considered as stored energy and are used to provide the energy for growth and the synthesis of other compounds and plant processes. Leaves are green because they contain chlorophyll, a pigment that plays an important role in photosynthesis. The green colour of the leaves is due to the fact that chlorophyll present in them absorbs all colours for photosynthesis, except green, which it reflects outward.

How plants grow?

Plants grow just as we do, by consuming food. The food of plants is different. Green plants are the only living things that create their own food. Animals, including humans, depend on green plants as the source of all food energy. In order to grow, a plant needs: sunlight; carbon dioxide and oxygen from the atmosphere; some chemical elements and water from the soil. A process essential for plant growth is called Photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide and water in the presence of a substance called chlorophyll that is present in the green leaves of a plant -- and light energy are converted into other substances necessary for the growth of a plant. Thus plants consume carbon dioxide, but unlike our body that needs oxygen for growth, oxygen is given off as a by-product from a plant. Generally, as sunlight increases in intensity, photosynthesis increases. This means greater food production within the plant.

Why are forests cooler?

Entering a forest is always a special experience. One feels cool as soon as one enters a deep forest from a highway. In general the air in the interior of the forest is cooler and more humid than aloft during daytime. This effect is more pronounced for a dense forest. Major towns and cities contain little of the natural environment. In the heart of the city it is rare to see any trees, and the commercial environment consists mainly of concrete. Concrete absorbs heat and re-radiates it slowly much like an electric storage heater. In rural areas the trees use heat in the process of transpiration. Transpiration is a daytime process where water evaporates from the leaves during photosynthesis and cools the air.

Why different fruits taste different?

The taste of any food item depends on its chemical composition. A food item is invariably made up of a number of chemical compounds. Different food items, e.g., different kinds of fruits, or water from different locations -have different chemical compositions and hence taste differently. Some of the constituents of a food item can stimulate the sweet taste buds, some sour taste buds or bitter taste buds. The taste we experience is a result of all these stimulations. For example, if you mix a pinch of salt to a handful of sugar and taste the mixture it will still taste sweetish. Similarly even though a plant leaf may have some glucose present in it, it will taste bitter if the proportion of substances, which elicit bitter taste, is much more.

How can we tell the age of a tree?

Yes, indeed one can tell the age of a tree but not by just looking at it. When the trunk of a tree is cut sideways, the number of annular rings in its trunk indicates its age. These rings are formed due to uneven growth of the trunk in different seasons from summer to winter. But, to count these rings it is not necessary to cut the trunk. A small cylindrical section can be obtained with the help of certain kind of drilling machines. The age of such very old trees is determined by radio carbon dating method.

Why are flowers colored?

Flowers have a special function for the propagation of plants. in the anthers are in fact the male sperm cells. These cells have to combine with the ovules present at the base of another flower organ known as pistil -for fertilization in a plant. When an insect moves from one flower to another, it can transport pollen on its limbs and thus help fertilization. This kind of fertilization is known as cross pollination that has several advantages for the evolution of the genetic pool of a plant over self pollination. Bright colours are advantageous for a plant to attract insects towards its flowers.

It is in the flowers that fertilization takes place through pollination. Plants cannot reproduce without fertilization. Many plant species depend on an interaction with insects for pollination. The reproductive cells of such plants are located in a particular part of a flower known as anther. The pollens

Do all plants grow from seeds?

No, not all plants come from seeds. While many plants do produce seeds, there are many that do not. Also, the seeds from some plants take a long time or need certain conditions to sprout making them difficult to grow. Also,

some plants that do produce seeds, are easier to grow without seeds. Here are some examples... There is a really easy way to grow a new plant. Just cut a stem off and put the end in a glass of water. Roots will grow in just a few days! Potato plants are another example. A potato plant flowers and produces seed, but one can also potatoes from a chunk of potato! Lillies, tulips, and other flowers also grow from bulbs. In fact, one can use tiny pieces of roots and leaves to grow whole new plants, in test tubes! This method is called micropropagation and allows us to get a whole bunch of plants really fast.

What are Herbs?

Herbs are shortstemmed plants that are valued for their flavour, fragrance or curative properties. The valuable part may be the leaf, flower, seed, stem, root or entire plant. They are used as are used such as the leaves, seeds, stems and roots. Herbs such as basil (Tulsi), and chamomile have medicinal properties. Herbs such as mint (Pudina), lemon balm or anise hyssop can be steeped and used as teas. The leaves of many herbs is the part that is used. These can be bought fresh or dried. With some herbs, such as dill, coriander (Dhania) and anise, the seeds are dried and used as flavouring. Herbs have been used for centuries to cure disease, particularly in South America, China and India, almost all over the world.

additives to tasty food, to improve our appearance, medicinal, decorative or fragrance-emitting purposes. Different parts of various herbs

Why do some plants smell good?

Flowers and certain insects have a symbiotic relationship. Flowers need insects for pollination, a process that is essential for the propagation of a particular species of plants. Without such a mechanism a

particular species of plant may vanish very quickly. Insects on the other hand get nutrition from the nectar of flowers. Through the process of evolution those plants which can attract insects through the colourful petals and aroma survive better as do the insects which can sense these characteristics. The association of good or bad with a particular smell is a characteristic of our evolution. What may appear a repelling smell to us may in fact be attractive to a particular species of insects.

Do plants feel pain?

It is difficult to answer this question before we can understand the term pain. Pain is defined in medicine as the physical sensation of discomfort or distress caused by injury or illness. The ability to experience pain or irritation has been observed in most multicellular organisms. Plants do not feel pain the same way as we do, but they do sense injury to their body and can communicate it to other plants by releasing certain chemicals, which the other plants can interpret as a message. Thus plants do feel injuries and can talk with other plants but their medium of communication is not sound waves it is through chemicals like our sense of smell.

Which is the oldest tree in the world?

Sri Bristlecone pine trees are known to be the longest living trees. It is a stunted and knurled plant which flourishes on the wind swept, It is the oldest tree in the world that has a recorded history - of more than 23 centuries. More than 2,000 people worship it every day because it is believed to be a sapling from the original tree, in India, under which Buddha took shelter over 2,500 years ago. Thousands of people worship this sacred tree every day. Lanka.

rock-strewn slopes of White Mountains, in western United States. The oldest such tree is the Methuselah Tree: more then 4600 years old, it was already a sapling when Egyptians started building the pyramids. Sri Maha Bodhi is a banyan tree growing in

Why do fireflies (JUGNU) glow?

One reason that fireflies glow is to attract a mate. Males and females of the same species will flash signals back and forth as a way of communicating. Each firefly species has its own particular pattern. For example, the fireflies of one species will fly around in the night sky and dive steeply just as the flash begins and turn upward to make a distinctive Jshaped pattern of light. Female fireflies hang out on a tree branch or in the grass while the males fly around showing off their best flashes. When a female recognizes the flash from a male of the same species, she will answer with her best flash. Another reason that fireflies glow is to avoid predators. Fireflies are filled with a nasty tasting chemical called lucibufagens, and after a predator gets a mouthful, it quickly learns to associate the firefly's glow with this bad taste! So not only does the flashing help attract a mate, but it also warns predators to stay away.

What is Bonsai?
Bonsai is the art of growing miniature trees or other plants in a tray or other container. Most bonsai trees range in height from 5 cm. to 95 cm. pruning the roots and branches and repotting the trees. The size of the container also partly determines the final size of a bonsai tree. Pinching off the new growth, wiring the branches, careful watering and fertilizing can also control the size and shape of a bonsai. Some trees are better suited for bonsai than others. Popular trees used for bonsai include cherry, plum, bamboo and maple.

The art of bonsai requires much skill, time and patience. The trees are kept small by

Why are seeds dried before sowing?

The journey from a seed to a plant is arduous, to say the least. Most often a

fertilized seed does not germinate for a long time after separation from its mother plant. Often seeds are stored before being sown. If during this period it has sufficient moisture it can easily fall prey

to many insects and bacteria. It is prevent such infestations that seeds are normally dried. The normal drying process does not remove all the water from the cells of a seed. Thus cells in a seed can remain alive even after drying. The seed coat also helps prevent insect infestations. But it may not be always true that a seed without a seed coat cannot germinate. In fact, many times external assistance is necessary to break the seed coat.

How does water rise up in plants?

Water does indeed rise up the body of a plant regardless of its height. The mechanism of this phenomenon has engaged the attention of scientists for very many years. However, there seems to be some consensus on this issue now. The water in a plant is pushed up by the root pressure and is also pulled up due to transpiration (evaporation of water from its leaves). A plant has an intricate network of veinlets through which water is transported from the soil through the roots to its body. Water is absorbed by the roots because of osmosis. Cells in the roots of a plant accumulate many organic compounds and inorganic ions as they grow; this leads to the movement of water into them from the soil

due to osmotic pressure. As some of the synthesized food moves up the body of a plant, a pressure gradient for water is generated within the plant body, which pushes the water up. Concurrently as a plant loses water to the atmosphere from its leaves due to transpiration, and as the chloroplasts synthesizes more glucose molecules, water is pulled up to the leaves, branches and fruits due to capillary action.