Old Man's Beard | Assessment Resource Banks

This task is about identifying how the special features help a plant to survive.

Fact file

Old Man's Beard is a noxious plant. It threatens garden shrubs and native forests. It is a fast growing vine, which forms a smothering mass over trees and shrubs.

A single plant is capable of covering an area measuring 180 m² (e.g., 13 metres by 13 metres). It produces many seeds, which can stay alive in the ground for several years. A stem can grow up to 10 metres in one year.

Question 1Change answer

a) Using the information from both the written text and the pictures complete the table below. Identify the special features of Old Man's Beard and explain how each helps it survive. For example the feature 'smothering mass' helps the plant survive because it covers and smothers other plants, using them for support and giving it the best position to get any sunlight.

	Special Feature	How this special feature helps the plant to survive
i)
ii)
iii)