Leptotes (plant)

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/leptotes--plant-

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Leptotes
2. What is the geographic distribution?South and Southeast Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina
3. What are Leptotes orchids and where do they grow?Leptotes orchids are tiny, vanilla‑smelling plants that live on tree branches in the dry jungles of South and Southeast Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.
4. Why do Leptotes orchids grow on trees instead of on the ground?They are epiphytic, meaning they grow on trees to get sunlight and air, and to avoid competing for ground space and soil nutrients.

Phylogenetic Studies: Scientific research that examines the evolutionary relationships between different organisms.
Ethnobotany: The study of how people in different cultures use plants for medicine, food, and other purposes.
Biodiversity: The variety of life on Earth, including all plants, animals, and microorganisms.