Nonformal NYBG Assignment

Shristi, Sammi, Rashidul

After visiting the Enid Haupt Conservatory at the NY Botanical Gardens, we wanted to
come up with a chemistry lesson based on our visit. We decided to focus on the chemicals in
plants and how they interact with their environment, particularly how they use chemicals for
self-defense and how these chemicals in the plants are used in our foods and in the world of
medicine and medicinal treatments.
Plants have an ability to give off chemicals in order to defend themselves. These
chemicals can either help dependent insects or destroy predators. If we brought students to the
NYBG for a trip, their task would be to look for plants that function through self-defense and
those that are important for the survival of other insects.

Fig. 1. The Chemical self- defense board that influenced our

choice of focus for this project

Plants also have chemicals which humans use in foods or drinks. Some of the plants we
found are chrysanthemums, cocoa, and cinnamon. The students task would be to find plants
which we use their chemicals for our benefit. A description like the one below on
Chrysanthemums followed by a picture would be a final research/ trip task.
Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemum tea originated in China, traveled to
India some 500 years ago and ended up being the second
most popular tea in South Asia. Many Chinese believe that
it is useful for fever in the early stages of illness. It is also a
good source of Vitamin C and Chinese people believe that
there is a relationship between drinking Chrysanthemum tea
and reducing the signs of aging.
Fig. 2. Chrysanthemums

Other plants in food and medicine

Fig.
Description of Cacao

Fig. 4. The Cacao plant

3.

Fig 5. Cinnamon

Lastly, many plants are used in medicines and ointments. One example of that is Aloe. This can
lead to another discussion in class about how humans depend on plants
for reasons other than food.

Fig 6. Aloe

The NYBG website also features several plant challenges relating to the conservatory, such as
Plants in Our Lives ( http://www.nybg.org/planthunters/pano.html#/challenge/4/ ), which
could be used in conjunction with this trip/task.