Making a dichotomous key to identify plants

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Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: rdu at 16/06/2015 9:56:59 AM

Why do we need to identify plants?

What plants do you recognise by their appearance?

List 10 plant characteristics that could be used to distinguish one plant from another.


Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: dsa at 18/12/2013 2:58:18 PM

Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: dsa at 18/12/2013 3:00:01 PM

Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: rdu at 16/06/2015 10:32:09 AM

The TEDEd clip below looks at how some plants flower at different times of the day, explains how plants react to differenct light and temperature conditions.


Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: rdu at 16/06/2015 11:40:44 AM

In pairs, collect 10-12 leaf-with-stem specimens.  These can be collected from the school, or the permaculture garden.  You may want to take a photo of the plant.

Using an A3 piece of paper, classify your specimens using a dichotomous key.

Choose one leaf specimen and do further research to identify what plant it comes from.  Write half a page about the plants characteristics, conditions, life cycle, uses, propogation, flowering, etc.


Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: rdu at 16/06/2015 9:51:19 AM

Explore the link below which helps to identify different types of wattle.


Edit   Delete - Last Modified By: rdu at 16/06/2015 9:59:18 AM

Watch the clip below to see how a dichotomous key for plants can be used.