Flower Variety: Colors and Shapes

These photos show the diversity of shapes and colors of several Iowa flowers. Flowers can give a plant an advantage in reproducing. Color and how different organisms perceive color is important to this advantage.

Top right was taken in Red Oak, IA. The rest were taken in Council Bluffs, IA.

Image

Council Bluffs

Iowa Core Standard

MS-LS4-4

Construct an explanation based on evidence that describes how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individuals' probability of surviving and reproducing in a specific environment

Driving Question

What is the purpose for a plant to have a flower?

Probing Questions

What would happen if a flower was ineffective?
Why does the color of the flower make a difference?
How do plants with flowers gain an advantage working with insects?

Classroom Suggestions

Students could:

Record information about the colors of flowers they see, preferably in a local prairie, but along the roadside works as well.
Make observations if they see insects interacting with the plants? Is there a difference between plants with flowers versus without?
Dive deeper to explore why certain plants produce fruit.

Resources

PBS LearningMedia | NOVA : The Reproductive Role of Flowers:In this video from NOVA, learn about the critical role of flowers in seed plant reproductive biology.
Kremp Florists | Why Plants Have Flowers: This goes into advantages plants have when they produce flowers.
North Carolina State University News |What Do Bees See? And How Do We Know?: News article outlining what bees see in terms of color and light and how it impacts pollination.
National Center for Biotechnology | Selective Pressures Explain Differences in Flower Color among Gentiana lutea Populations: This journal article is above the 8th grade level, however it gives results of a controlled study on how pedal color correlates with pollinator visitation and may be a useful instructor resource.

Contributors

Submitted by Nathan Van Zante.