Interesting Facts about Flowers

Flowers did not always exist; they first appeared 140 million years ago. Before that, ferns and cone bearing trees dominated the earth.

Several centuries ago in Holland, tulips were more valuable than gold.

Broccoli is actually a flower.

Some plants such as orchids do not need soil to grow-they get all of their nutrients from the air.

Some plants produce toxic substances that kill other plants around them-the sunflower is an example.

Carnivorous plants are flowering plants that eat bugs and small animals! For example, the Venus fly trap has leaves covered by little hairs. When a bug lands on the hairs, the trap snaps shut and digestive juices digest the bug. Other carnivorous plants such as pitcher plants have leaves that form pitchers that are full of digestive fluids. Insects, frogs, and other small creatures are attracted to the nectar and bright colors on the pitchers and flowers. Some unfortunate critters fall in, drown, and are digested.