Strange Plants


	Strange leaves

	Sacred Lotus Nelumbo nucifera Water runs right off the leaves off this plant.

	*Why do you think the leaves repel water?* Have you considered? One possible reason the Lotus leaf repels water is to keep the leaf clean by collecting dirt as it runs off the lotus leaf.

	Butcher's Broom Ruscus hypoglossum

	Golden Wattle Acacia pycnanthiflora The parts that look like leaves on these plants aren't leaves at all, they are really special plant stems.

	*Why might these plants have stems like this?* An interesting fact... Flattened stems that that look and function like leaves have fewer openings to lose water than normal leaves.

See how water runs off the leaves.

Butcher's Broom. The tiny spikes are the true leaves.

Golden Wattle