Flowers Honor - Advanced

Nature Study

Requirements

1. Have the Flowers Honor.

   Answer: To begin Flowers - Advanced (created in 1949 by the General Conference), you need to have previously earned the basic Flowers Honor as a mandatory prerequisite, proving mastery of the introductory content (floral anatomy, pollination, identification) — the foundation for the advanced topics. — Flowers Advanced goes deeper into the dichotomous identification key, classification into botanical families (Rosaceae, Asteraceae, Poaceae, Orchidaceae), and the differences between perfect/imperfect flowers — content that presupposes mastery of petals, sepals, androecium, and gynoecium from the basic Honor.

2. Make a collection with images or photographs of 70 species of flowers. Identify them by their common and scientific name.

   Answer: You must assemble a collection of 70 images or photographs of different flower species, identifying each one by its common name and scientific name (genus + species in Latin). Suggestions: rose (Rosa sp.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), orchid, hibiscus, ipê, lavender. Present it organized to the instructor. — 70 species force the Pathfinder to study 6 or more botanical families (Rosaceae, Asteraceae, Orchidaceae, Lamiaceae, etc.); the binomial scientific name (genus + species) has been the international standard since Carl Linnaeus (1753), allowing communication between botanists of any country.

3. Demonstrate skill in using an identification key for plants that have flowers.

   Answer: You must use a dichotomous identification key for flowering plants: compare the plant with pairs of opposite characteristics (simple vs compound leaf, regular vs irregular flower, number of petals, type of root), following the options until reaching the scientific name of the species. Demonstrate the use to the instructor with real plants. — Dichotomous keys follow Linnaeus's method — each node has 2 options (yes/no, simple/compound) that lead to identification; there are regional keys (Flora do Brasil 2030, online at floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br) and worldwide ones (Flora Europaea, Flora Americana). It is the key skill of the amateur botanist.

4. Give examples and know the difference between:
   • Perfect flowers and imperfect flowers
   • Pistillate and staminate

   Answer: 1) Perfect flowers and imperfect flowers: the perfect flower (hermaphrodite or monoclinous) has both reproductive organs in the same flower — androecium (male) and gynoecium (female) — as in the rose, the lily, and the hibiscus. The imperfect flower (diclinous) has only one of the reproductive organs, being either only male or only female, as in the flowers of corn and castor bean. 2) Pistillate and staminate: the pistillate flower is the female one, since it has only the gynoecium (pistil/carpels with ovary, style, and stigma); the staminate flower is the male one, since it has only the androecium (stamens with pollen-producing anthers). When the pistillate and staminate flowers are on the same individual, the plant is monoecious (e.g.: corn); when they are on separate individuals, it is dioecious (e.g.: papaya tree). — Corn is a classic example of a monoecious imperfect plant: staminate flowers at the top (tassel) and pistillate flowers in the middle (ears). The papaya tree is dioecious: separate male plant and female plant — only the females bear fruit, an agricultural problem that is solved by planting both types in the orchard.

5. Angiosperms are divided into monocotyledons (Liliopsida) and dicotyledons (Magnoliopsida). Within the 2 classes there are many families. Choose 6 families from the dicotyledon class and 4 families from the monocotyledon class. Conduct research highlighting their main characteristics and examples of species from these families.

   Answer: Research 6 dicotyledon families (e.g.: Rosaceae — rose, apple; Fabaceae — bean, soybean; Asteraceae — sunflower, daisy; Solanaceae — tomato, potato; Brassicaceae — cabbage; Lamiaceae — basil) and 4 monocotyledons (Poaceae — corn, wheat; Liliaceae — lily; Orchidaceae — orchid; Arecaceae — palms). — Dicotyledons have 2 cotyledons in the seed, leaves with reticulate venation, and a taproot (the carrot is a dicotyledon root); monocotyledons have 1 cotyledon, leaves with parallel venation, and a fibrous root (fascicular). There are about 250,000 dicotyledons and 70,000 monocotyledons in the world.

6. Using the Bible, present 2 spiritual lessons in which the biblical writers used flowers as illustrations.

   Answer: Lesson 1 — The Lilies of the Field (Matthew 6:28-30): Jesus uses lilies to teach trust in God, who clothes the flower with glory greater than Solomon; therefore, we should not be anxious about tomorrow. Lesson 2 — The Flower That Withers (Isaiah 40:6-8): all human glory is like a flower that falls, but the Word of God remains eternal. — The lilies of the field (Matthew 6) refer to the crown anemone of Palestine, common in spring; Isaiah 40 is quoted in 1 Peter 1:24-25, confirming the message of eternity. Other biblical flowers: rose of Sharon (Song of Songs 2:1, symbol of the Messiah), lily (Song of Songs 2:2), almond branch (Exodus 25:33).

7. Name and describe 8 plants that have flowers and are poisonous, commenting on the specific part of the plant that is poisonous.

   Answer: Plants with poisonous flowers and the toxic part: 1) Calla lily (Zantedeschia) — the whole plant, mainly leaves and spathe, due to calcium oxalate; 2) Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia) — the whole plant (sap), calcium oxalate; 3) Azalea (Rhododendron) — flowers and leaves (grayanotoxin); 4) Oleander (Nerium oleander) — the whole plant, affects the heart; 5) Crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii) — irritant latex/sap; 6) Brazilian peppertree (Schinus/Lithraea) — the whole plant, causes contact allergy; 7) Caladium (Caladium) — leaves, irritation of the mouth and throat (oxalate); 8) Angel's trumpet (Brugmansia) — flowers, leaves, and seeds (tropane alkaloids, very toxic). — Calla lily, dumb cane, and caladium are from the Araceae family, rich in calcium oxalate crystals (mouth irritation); oleander (Nerium oleander) is so toxic that even the honey from the bees that pollinate it can cause poisoning; the Brazilian peppertree can cause dermatitis just from contact with the tree's shade.

8. Do one of the following items:
   • Choose 2 flower seeds, plant them, and cultivate them. Note the changes that occur over the course of 1 month.
   • Choose 4 different species of flowers and care for them for 1 month. Conduct research to find out which are their most common pollinators and produce a report containing this information as well as the care required to look after these plants.
   • Care for a garden, large flower bed, or square, together with your Club or unit, for at least 1 month.

   Answer: Choose one of the 3 options: (a) plant 2 seeds in pots, water daily, and record changes for 1 month (germination, first leaves, height); (b) care for 4 flowering species for 1 month, researching their pollinators and care; (c) with the club, maintain a garden, planter, or square for a minimum of 1 month. — A period of 1 month is enough to observe the initial cycle of plants — germination occurs in 7-14 days for most seeds, and the first true leaves appear in 21-28 days. Daily notes train scientific observation and responsible care.

9. Cite 3 differences that exist between monocotyledons and dicotyledons, among them the floral structure.

   Answer: Three differences: (1) number of cotyledons (mono = 1 in the seed; dico = 2); (2) leaves (mono = parallel venation; dico = reticulate venation); (3) flowers (mono = parts in multiples of 3; dico = multiples of 4 or 5). Additional: the mono root is fibrous, the dico is a taproot. — The cotyledon is the first embryonic leaf, present in the seed; counting the cotyledons has been a taxonomic criterion since Antoine de Jussieu (1789). Vessels in the stem also vary: monocotyledons have scattered vascular bundles, dicotyledons in a ring — visible in stem cross-sections.