please help me with my project :)

blackribbongirl

Hey guys! I was wondering if any of you green fingered beauties could help me out with a project I'm doing.

The title is "adaptations to herbivory". I have a rough idea of everything I want to include, but there is one problem - it has to be in on the 28th April!.... I need to be able to dry specimens or at the least take my own pictures of the plants which limits me ALOT.I'm finding it hard to think of plants that have are a good example of the title but also grow/flower in the UK between now and end of april!... I need 10-12 plants too


I've had a look everywhere on the internet but I was wondering if any of you know any plants I could use. Examples could be: anything with spines, poisonous plants/flowers, plants that mimic other poisonous plants etc.

BIG thank you!!! xx

mrbadexample

Are you after plants that have evolved defences against being munched by herbivores? Got any cacti?

blackribbongirl

yep,... thats what im looking for!
cacti are on my list

Bangerchick

What about Poison Ivy and Ragwort?

ERICS_MUM

Off the top of my head I can think of 2 shrubs that have very sharp thorns which obviously dissuade animals from nibbling on them. They are called pyracantha and berberis. Oh and there are rose bushes as well of course.

There are also plants whose leaves, flowers etc are poisonous if eaten, and animals have learned this over the years (evolution/survival of the fittest I imagine). Foxglove, yew trees, laburnum are some. Not sure if mushrooms and toadstools are included under the title of herbivory.

Some trees/shrubs have very tough leaves (e,g, holly, magnolia ) that make them difficult to munch ! Conifers have needles (e.g. a Christmas tree) and they also have that strong smell, which humans like but many animals such as deer don't. Other plants with strong smells are eucalyptus, rosemary and lavender. Tomato plants have a very strong odour which animals don't like but insects such as greenfly are attracted to (can't win them all!). Then there's onions, leeks and garlic :eek:

You will find pictures of all these from any good gardening website. Getting cuttings or dried examples is a bit difficult at this time of year !

Anyway hope this helps. (I hope this is the sort of stuff you are looking for; if I've misunderstood them I apologise for being a plonker ).

Linda xx

WestonDave

Stinging nettles will be out soon, brambles are around all the time so you should be able to get samples of those before too long. Worth looking at things like dead nettles as well if you can find them - their defence is looking like stinging nettles.

valentina

Daffodil bulbs are poisonous, I think tulip, snowdrop and lily bulbs also.

Rhubarb leaves are poisonous.

Not sure if that's the sort of thing you need, but hopefully it helps! (and they are available/will be available soon)