Dinosaur Plant Classroom Kit
Care Instructions and
Dinosaur Plant Fun Facts
The Amazing Dinosaur Plant has existed since the time of
the dinosaurs—that’s more than 290 million years! This
plant is native to Mexico and Texas, mainly around Big Bend
National Park, in desert and semi-desert regions. In total,
this plant grows to be about four inches. When older, the
Dinosaur Plant’s fronds turn red-brown or gray-green and are
produced in dense tufts.
Although shallow, the Dinosaur Plant’s root system is very
extensive and the leaves and stems can uptake water directly.
The Dinosaur Plant has hygroscopic qualities, which means
the plant will curl up when dry and unfold when moist. When
dry, the Dinosaur Plant curls up into a tight ball so that wind
can easily roll it to a new location, hopefully closer to water.
The Amazing Dinosaur Plant can survive in a dry state for up
to 50 years, although it does prefer to be re-hydrated every
couple of years.
The Dinosaur Plant prefers to be in partly shady area that has
a minimum temperature of 40 degrees. It needs fresh water
daily for the first few days.
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Individual and Group Experiments
Either every student can do every experiment, or students
can break into groups of three and observe the other groups
lessons.
1. Is this seemingly-dead ball of foliage really alive?
Carefully soak the Dinosaur Plant in water. Fill the
growing cup with water. Place the plant in the
growing cup. Check on the plant every hour or so
to view its progress. What happens? How quickly
does the Dinosaur Plant react to the presence
of water? Does rinsing the Dinosaur Plant and
changing its water daily help it grow? Why? Where
do you think the debris in the Dinosaur Plant came
from?
The Dinosaur Plant arrives in a dormant stage,
awaiting the arrival of water, and it appears to be
a dry, dead ball of weeds. In less than a day it will
become a beautiful green plant. Rinsing the Dinosaur
Plant and changing its water daily will help it grow.
It’s important to rinse the plant for the first week so
that mold does not develop on the plant.
2. Can you make a colored Dinosaur Plant? Place
a food-coloring tablet in the growing cup, add
water, and stir. Next add the Dinosaur Plant. Does
the Dinosaur Plant absorb the color from the
colored water? Let the plant dry out as the water
evaporates. Is it colored when it’s dry? Try putting
the other two food-coloring tablets in other
growing cups and then adding the Dinosaur Plants.
Do they change color?
The Dinosaur Plant will change color when put in
water with food coloring. The Dinosaur Plant will
change color more dramatically when it goes to
sleep. You can enjoy its new color for as long as you
like until you choose to wake it up. When you wake
the Dinosaur Plant up, rinse it in fresh water and
place it in a bowl of clean water. Change water at
least once a day until all of the coloring has drained
out of the plant. Do not change the color more than
once a month, as it is tiring for the plants.
3. How does the Dinosaur Plant react to different
temperatures of water? You will need two Dinosaur
Plants and two growing cups for this experiment.
Carefully soak the first Dinosaur Plant in hot water
and place it in a growing cup that is full of hot
water. Next, soak the second Dinosaur Plant in
cold water and place it in a growing cup that is full
of cold water. Observe for the next 3 or 4 hours.
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Teacher Guide
What happens? Does the Dinosaur Plant prefer hot or
cold water?
The Dinosaur Plant prefers hot water. It will open
in cold water too, just not as quickly. The Dinosaur
Plant instantaneously reacts to the hot water and
immediately begins to open.
What happens if the Dinosaur Plant dries out? Let the
water evaporate from the Dinosaur Plant’s growing
cup. What happens to it? Is the Dinosaur Plant still
alive?
The Dinosaur Plant will curl into a tight ball awaiting the
arrival of water. The Dinosaur Plant can be in dormant
stage for up to 50 years, although it does prefer to be
re-hydrated every couple of years in nearly-full sunlight
at temperatures of 75 to 85 degrees. The Dinosaur
Plant retains 3% of its water when dehydrated. It has
hygroscopic qualities that cause it to curl up when dry
and unfold when moist. The Dinosaur Plant is still alive
when it dries up into a ball of foliage; it is just in a
dormant stage.
How does the Dinosaur Plant react to different levels
of light? You will need three Dinosaur Plants for this
experiment. Place one Dinosaur Plant in a windowsill
where it will get full sun. Place the second Dinosaur
Plant in a dark closet where it will receive no light.
Place the third Dinosaur Plant in a semi-shaded
area in the classroom. Observe over the course of a
week. (Make sure to keep adding water to all of the
growing cups.) What happens? Which Dinosaur Plant
is growing the fastest? How does the light affect the
Dinosaur Plant? How does the darkness affect it?
The Dinosaur Plant in semi-shade will open the quickest
and grow the fastest. It prefers temperatures of 75 to
85 degrees. In full sun, the Dinosaur Plant will open
quickly, but not as quickly as the one in semi-shade.
The leaves of this Dinosaur Plant will turn very green
as this represents how the Dinosaur Plant has adapted
and survived for over 290 million years, being native
to Mexico and Texas, found in desert and semi-desert
regions. The Dinosaur Plant in the darkness also will
open, but will be brownish in color as compared to
the other two. Dinosaur Plants do need light and won’t
grow nearly as well in complete darkness.
Does humidity have an affect on the Dinosaur Plant?
(Terrarium is not included.) Add water to two growing
cups. Add a Dinosaur Plant to each growing cup. Put
the first growing cup in a terrarium and place it on
a sunny windowsill. Put the second growing cup on
the windowsill beside the first, but do not put it in
a terrarium. Observe the Dinosaur Plants over the
course of a couple of days. Does one Dinosaur Plant
open faster than the other? Is there condensation
in the terrarium? How does humidity affect the
Dinosaur Plant?
The Dinosaur Plant prefers high humidity. It will open
faster and grow faster than the plant that is not in
a terrarium. Also, the Dinosaur Plant in the terrarium
may develop mold, caused by high humidity and
condensation. Simply rinse the Dinosaur Plant to get
rid of the mold. The Dinosaur Plant not in the terrarium
will grow and unfold as the other, just not as quickly.
If it is a windowsill in full sun, chances are that the
leaves on the Dinosaur Plant will turn very green.
Does fertilizer have an affect on the Dinosaur Plant?
(Fertilizer is not included.) Add a small amount of
fertilizer to the water in a growing cup. Next, add
the Dinosaur Plant and place it on a sunny windowsill.
Add water, but no fertilizer to a second growing cup,
add a Dinosaur Plant, and place it beside the first
plant. Observe the growth over a week’s time. Which
one grows faster, the one with fertilizer or the one
without? What is the purpose of fertilizer?
Just as the human body needs vitamins and minerals,
plants need nutrients in order to grow. Plants
need large amounts of three nutrients: nitrogen,
Dinosaur Plant Classroom Kit
phosphorus, and potassium. These are commonly
referred to as macronutrients. There are a number
of other nutrients plants need in small amounts.
These are referred to as the minor nutrients, or
micronutrients. Fertilizer manufacturers take these
nutrients from nature and put them into soluble
forms that plants can easily use. The Dinosaur
Plant with the fertilizer will grow faster because
of the necessary nutrients that is receives from the
fertilizer.
8. How does the Dinosaur Plant respond to
temperature changes? Put a mature Dinosaur
Plant in a warm area for about an hour. Touch
the dinosaur plant to see how it reacts. Move
the Dinosaur Plant to a very cold place (such as
refrigerator) for about 15 minutes. Touch the
Dinosaur Plant again and observe. Place the
Dinosaur Plant back in the warm area for about 15
minutes, touch again, and observe. How did the
cooler temperatures affect the plant’s response
to touch? How did it react after being returned
to a warmer temperature?
When the Dinosaur Plant is in a warm area, its
leaves are much softer and easier to move. Plants
do respond to temperature and touch, as well as
light. Plants respond to touch more when warm.
After the Dinosaur Plant is placed in a refrigerator
for a short period of time, the leaves become much
rougher to the touch, as if the plant is not sure if
it should be in a dormant or active state. Once the
Dinosaur Plant is placed in a warm area again, it
is more susceptible to touch and again the leaves
become softer.
9. How does the Dinosaur Plant react to being in
different growing mediums? Fill a growing cup
with dry planting soil. Bury the Dinosaur Plant’s
shallow roots so that the plant stands upright,
and then moisten the soil. Fill a second growing
cup with sand, repeat the planting process, and
moisten the sand. Fill a third growing cup with
rocks and pebbles. Arrange them in a circle with
a hole in the middle. Put the Dinosaur Plant’s
roots in the middle of the rocks so that it stands
upright, and add some water. Fill a fourth growing
cup with just water and add the Dinosaur Plant.
Observe over the next few hours. Which Dinosaur
Plant opens the fastest? Which medium does it
seem to prefer? Why would the Dinosaur Plant do
better in one medium as opposed to another?
The Dinosaur Plant opens the quickest when it’s in
soil. The second fastest Dinosaur Plant to open is
the plant in just plain water. Since the whole plant
is immersed in water it absorbs the water more
quickly than the Dinosaur Plant with the water and
rocks. The slowest Dinosaur Plant to open is the one
in sand. Soil is the best medium for the Dinosaur
Plant because it is the best way for the plant to
absorb water rapidly, and the soil has essential
nutrients that the plant needs in order to grow.
Discussion Questions
What special uses could the Amazing Dinosaur Plant
have? How could it be helpful to humans and our
environment?
Dinosaur Plants are used as Christmas decorations and
are the ideal symbol for the coming of life. They also
are sold in Mexican markets for use as a diuretic. One
of their best uses is being made into absorptive powder
in the pharmaceutical industry. The Dinosaur Plant’s
ancestors were dominant during the Carboniferous period
when they grew to the size of trees and contributed to
coal deposits, which humans use today for fuel. Dinosaur
Teacher Guide
Plants are currently being researched so that their genes can
be transferred into crop plants such as rice, wheat, and maize
to make them more resistant to drought. Dinosaur Plants are
also used in fireworks.
How much water does the Dinosaur Plant retains when it is
dehydrated?
Dinosaur Plants retain 3% of their water when dehydrated.
Dinosaur Plants are said to resemble mosses. Can you explain
how they might be more advanced than the common moss?
What is the difference between a vascular and nonvascular
plant?
Dinosaur Plants are considered to be more evolutionarily
advanced because they are vascular plants. Vascular plants
have specialized tissues used to transport water and nutrients
throughout the plant’s roots, stems, and leaves. This aids in
the fertilization process. Nonvascular plants require water for
fertilization so they must grow in moist habitats.
What is the difference between a dormant and an active
plant? Is the Dinosaur Plant dormant or active? How is the
Dinosaur Plant able to come back to life after it has been
out of water for so long?
The Dinosaur Plant arrives in a dormant state and appears to be
a dry, dead ball of weeds. However, it is actually alive. When
the Dinosaur Plant is put in water, it is in an active state. Many
animals hibernate during the winter. They do this because they
know that food will be harder to find and hibernation helps
them preserve energy. Likewise, the Dinosaur Plant remains
dormant until water is present, so it only uses energy when
water is available.
What adaptations have helped the Dinosaur Plant survive
for so long?
The Dinosaur Plant is an enduring species that is speciallyadapted to live in hostile environments. The Dinosaur Plant
is one example of how life is able to adjust to a changing
environment and ultimately survive. The Dinosaur Plant is
perfectly suited for life in a dry location. The plant can quickly
“wake up” from the dormant stage when water is available.
When dormant, it forms a ball that moves with the wind in
search of water. It has an extensive root system to absorb
water, and water can also be taken directly through the leaves
and stems.
Can you explain what natural selection and evolution are?
How do these terms apply to the Dinosaur Plant?
Evolution is the gradual change in frequency of certain genes
in a population. This means that over time, a group of species
changes. Variation in characteristics happens randomly in a
population, and every individual has a unique set of genes.
Sometimes, certain characteristics are more favorable for
survival. Those with favorable characteristics are more likely
to survive and have offspring, so these characteristics will
appear more frequently in the next generation. This is natural
selection.
During the 290 million years that the Dinosaur Plant has
existed, it has been subjected to natural selection, and has
changed depending on conditions. When dinosaurs walked the
earth, the Dinosaur Plant used to be more than 120 feet tall!
With the coming of the Ice Age, only the smaller plants could
survive because they used less energy and required less water.
The tall plants did not survive, and the entire population of
Dinosaur Plants became smaller.
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