World's Weirdest Plants

Deserts aren't home to many plants. Those that live in such dry, hot environments need to have special adaptations to thrive. The many kinds of cacti do! Readers explore the ways cacti conserve water, their unique habitats, and the features that make them a weird plant, compared to the tulips in your garden! From spines to flowers, full-color photographs and a plant diagram show readers what many species of cacti look like. The main content covers many topics included in the science curriculum, including plant life cycles and structures. Booklist -- "Cacti Barely Need Water! showcases the hardy succulents and their clever adaptations for life in arid climates".

One of the oldest trees on our planet is named Methuselah. It's almost 5,000 years old-and it's a bristlecone pine tree. This book draws readers into the ancient world through the life cycle of the bristlecone pine tree. Its main features, habitat, and more are described in intriguing detail, including how it can live such a long time. Full-color photographs and fact boxes augment the main science content with fun facts and beautiful images of the majestic bristlecone pine. Booklist -- "Bristlecone Pines Are Ancient! teaches readers about these tiny, gnarled trees, the oldest of which is likely 5,000 years old".

Few people would think of watering their garden or houseplants with salt water because it would be deadly, but mangroves are extraordinary plants that are able to thrive in salt water. Readers of this absorbing volume will discover fascinating information about this strange tree, including how it's able to grow in salt water, its importance in its ecosystem, and the threats it faces in the world today. Age-appropriate text addresses important elementary science concepts, while vibrant images enliven and support the narrative. A graphic organizer enriches the learning experience and fast fact boxes share additional, interesting information.

The huge corpse flower rarely blooms. When it does, it gives off a strong smell-the smell of a rotting corpse! The gross smell has a purpose, however. Readers learn that the stink of the corpse flower has everything to do with a main subject of the science curriculum: pollination. Other science topics covered include plant life cycles and structures. Fact boxes add even more intriguing information about this weird plant while full-color photographs offer readers an up-close look at a unique flower. Booklist -- "The plant featured in Corpse Flowers Smell Nasty! will likely be one of the least well-known, but with diagrams, helpful context, and close-up photos of these strange-looking organisms, this volume is the best of the bunch".

Banyan trees are fig trees that are often known by another name: strangler figs. There's a good reason for that; the seeds land on other trees and sprout there, sending down roots that slowly strangle the host tree. Readers of this absorbing volume will discover fascinating facts about this odd plant, including how it grows and its ecological importance. Age-appropriate text addresses important elementary science concepts, while colorful images enliven the narrative. Fact boxes summarize interesting information and a graphic organizer enriches essential concepts.

Many animals munch on the leaves of a tree for sustenance. However, the African acacia absolutely objects to being eaten. They've developed several clever ways to protect themselves, including thorns, chemical defenses, and ant guards. Readers of this absorbing volume will discover fascinating facts about this unusual tree, including what kind of chemical defenses it has and how it uses its ant guards. Age-appropriate text highlights important elementary science concepts, while colorful images help readers closely examine a tree they may never see in real life. Fact boxes share fun tidbits and a graphic organizer enriches the main text.

Plants are the starting point in most food chains. Carnivorous plants, however, buck the natural order system. Bladderworts belong to this group of plants, and they have a unique method for capturing prey: a vacuum trap. Readers will discover intriguing facts about this unusual plant, including where it's found, how its trap works, and how fast the trap works. Age-appropriate text addresses important elementary science concepts, while colorful images enliven and support the narrative. Go-to fact boxes share fun tidbits and a graphic organizer helps readers visually digest the new information they're learning about this clever, interesting tree.

Trees are familiar and lovely signs of life for most people, including fruit trees, evergreens, and colorful maple trees in autumn. Sometimes they're so ubiquitous, we don't even notice them. Entice your readers with one of the world's most unusual, attention-grabbing trees: the dragon's blood tree. Explorers will learn about this strange tree, including the source of its name, where it's found, and its uses. Age-appropriate text covers important science concepts and vivid images take readers up-close to a tree they may never see in real life. Fact boxes and a graphic organizer enhance the narrative.

When we think of flowering plants, we generally imagine those with a pleasant fragrance that draw bees to pollinate them. Introduce your readers to the dragon arum, which is pollinated by flies that prefer the smell of rotting meat to that of sweet nectar. Readers of this absorbing volume will learn fascinating facts about this strange plant, including what it looks like and where it grows, in addition to the reason for its awful odor. Accessible text highlights important elementary science concepts, and vivid images help readers closely examine a plant they may never get to see in real life. Fact boxes provide perfect report-writing data and a graphic organizer enhances the learning experience.

Plants only make their own food-right? Not pitcher plants! Most pitcher plants draw in insects with their sweet-smelling nectar and slowly digest them. There is one kind of pitcher plant that likes to snack on tree shrews, too. The bizarre eating habits of the pitcher plant are sure to fascinate and delight readers as they learn how this plant's digestive system works, its habitat, and more. Full-color photographs and a simple diagram allow readers to see clearly the unique structures of this weird plant.