Plants
Posted by Claire Young on February 12, 2008
Q: What would happen if you tipped a plant on its side?
State: Louisiana
A: I assume you're interested in what would happen to the growth of a plant if tipped on its side. Right?
The portion of a plant that is growing above the soil would begin to turn upward as it grows toward the light (sun). The roots, on the other hand beneath the soil, would also turn but they'd grow downward, being attracted by the force of gravity. If you leave a plant on its side for a few weeks, it can really make a big difference in its shape. If you want to get a feel for what a plant might look like in nature if it gets "tipped", take a look at a tree near where you live that has almost been pushed over. Often when a tree gets tipped a bit, as it might in a storm, the tree's branches will grow at a different angle from its original position making the different rather easy to see. Check out one of our units on just this subject at: www.enaturalist.org
Thanks for asking Claire.
John Wiessinger ( February 12, 2008)