Plant Politics Film

Storms are often critical for plant survival. 16 October, 1987 a hurricane hit the British Isles uprooting trees making way for other trees to grow. Seeds that had lain dormant for centuries had the chance to germinate.
First plants to grow in such an area in England are Fox Glove and Willow Herb. Willow Herb seeds are carried by the wind.
Young Birches are next followed by Oaks. Oaks finally overtake the Birches and shade them out becoming the dominant trees in the forest.
In spite of toxins developed in their leaves Oaks feed many species of insects such as: Weevils, Bush Crickets, Saw Flies, Yellow Tail Moths, Tortrix Moths, and Bagworm caterpillars.
Insects in turn provide food for birds roosting in the trees.
Oaks are deciduous losing their leaves in the winter. Before they can grow their leaves back in the spring Blue Bells grown on the forest floor.
In the spring the North American woods are rich with many species of flowers before the forest canopy grows back its leaves.
Examples are: Trillium Lilies, Dutchman’s Breeches, Wild Geranium, Bell Worts, and Blue Phlox.
When the canopy reforms the spring flowers are gone due to the shade returning to the woods.
In the tropical forests it is summer year round.
In the tropics plants climb toward the sun using such structures as tendrils.
Rattans produce the longest stems of any plants. In southeast Asia their stems may be 560 feet long!
Tendrils have recurved spines
Seeds float on air currents . They can also be carried on monkey fur or the feathers of birds.
Bromalids collect water. Orchids collect water and nutrients by their aerial roots.
Strangler Figs have hanging roots that gradually encase the plant supporting them which they then crush to death. The host tree then rots away and the Strangler Fig then stands by its self.
Fungi feed off of dead plants some species forming webs to catch falling leaves. In temperate zones fungal threads (hyphae) invade the bodies of their victims.
Some soil fungi trap roundworms (Nematodes) in nooses and strangle them.
Fungi become visible only when they are ready to reproduce. Fir, Spruce, and Hemlock in the Pacific Northwest grow close together. Fallen trees provide an elevated open surface upon which seeds can sprout.
In the mountains in southern Australia near Melbourne Tree ferns grow. In these mountains Mountain Ash a species of Eucalyptus are dominant. The worlds tallest known tree was of this species, it was 300 plus feet tall. Seeds are dropped in the shade. Forest fires clear the way for the next generation. Ash from the fires serve as fertilizer. At the turn of the century a Mountain Ash was harvested that was 435 feet tall.
In western Australia fires cause Banksias flower seed pods to open and ethylene gas from the smoke triggers seed germination.
Grassland of eastern Africa are undamaged by fire or grazing animals. Roots remain in tact. Drought destroys plants and scavengers eat corpses and plants. Acacia start to grow and become the dominant trees. Elephants eat the Acacia trees and push them over clearing the land for the regrowth of grasses starting the cycle again.
Wheat and other cereal grains developed and cultivated by man. A symbiosis has developed. Who is exploiting whom?