Interpretive Guide 2012 Revision - Cincinnati Zoo and...

Interpretive Guide 2012 Revision

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Discovery Forest Interpretive Guide, Revised 03/20/12 1

Discovery Forest Interpretive Guide

Table of Contents Page Theme & Sub-themes 2 Species List 2 Visitor Journey (Exhibit Components) 3 Signage Text 5 Resources 27 Interpretive Signage Development Team David Jenike VP of Education and Facilities Shasta Back Bray Planner, Writer & Editor Greg Hanson Graphics Manager Nikki Nastold Graphic Design & Layout Marcus Jackson Illustrations Jack Rouse & Associates Interpretive Consultants




Interpretive Theme Theme All living things depend on plants.

Sub-themes

1) Life support—The interactions of plants and animals with each other and the non-living environment support all life on Earth.

2) Products—Plants provide people with foods, medicines and other products that are essential to life and/or benefit our lives.

3) Aesthetic value—Plants enrich our lives by enhancing our emotive experiences. 4) Plant conservation—Plants, and the ecosystems to which they belong, deserve our

respect and protection. Species List

Plants Canopy: Jackfruit, Artocarpus heterophyllus Kapok, Ceiba pentandra Mahogany, Swietenia mahogani Sapodilla, Manilkara zapota Ylang ylang, Cananga odorata Cassava, Manihot sp. Guiana chestnut, Pachira aquatica Understory: Coffee, Coffee Arabica Papaya, Carica papaya Cacao, Cacao theobroma Wild pineapple, Ananas comosus Rubber plant, Ficus elastica Cinnamon, Cinnamomum sp. Banana, Musa sp. Aloe, Aloe sp. Sensitive plant, Mimosa pudica Manaca, Brunfelsia uniflora Rosy periwinkle, Vinca roseus Chile pepper, Capsicum sp. Red banana, Ensete ventricosum

Taro, Colocasia esculenta Bird of paradise, Strelitzia reginae Butterfly ginger, Hedychium coronarium. Vines: Philodendron, Monstera deliciosa Vanilla, Vanilla planifolia Passion flower, Passiflora sp.

Birds Blue and gold macaw, Ara ararauna Mammals Two-toed sloth, Choloepus didactylus Reptiles Boa constrictor, Boa constrictor Amphibians Cane toad, Bufo marinus




Visitor Journey (Exhibit Components) Targeted for children and their families, the P&G Discovery Forest exhibit is designed to engage visitors in a multi-sensory exploration of the world of plants and their importance. The setting is a tropical Latin American rainforest, incorporating interpretive elements from throughout Central and South America and even into Mexico. (Some plants from other tropical areas in the world are also featured for their significance to the theme of why plants are important.) Several neotropical animals—two-toed sloth, blue and gold macaw, boa constrictor, and cane toad—are also displayed in the exhibit to emphasize the relationship between plants and wildlife.

Visitors are guided throughout the exhibit by José, a character who appears on the signage. José is a young, modern-day boy who lives in Latin America. Perhaps he lives near the rainforest, and visits it frequently. He learns about the forest and the plants through his visits and from his tribal elders. Visitors join José as he explores the forest, and through his words and suggestions, they discover the importance of the forest, particularly the plants, and the need to protect it. The signage is presented from José’s perspective, in childlike prose with children’s book style illustrations. The animal and plant ID signs are written as if they are pages in José’s journal.

A portal off of the main Zoo path across from Vanishing Giants invites the visitor. A short curved path leads them to the entrance of the greenhouse. As visitors walk along the outdoor path, they meet José on several introductory signs welcoming them to the forest and inviting them to go exploring with him. Visitors enter the greenhouse on the second floor, looking out into the canopy and over the forest floor, and are greeted by lush tropical plantings and the gurgling sound of a small waterfall. Before descending the stairs (or walking along the around the edge to access the elevator), they encounter cane toads in a terrarium. On the left hand side at the bottom of the stairs, visitors encounter various plants that are important food sources, such as breadfruit and cacao trees. Visitors learn about several food plants that are important in Latin America, such as cassava and chile peppers, by flipping through José’s family cookbook. Continuing along the left side of the path, the next area features plants that provide us with beneficial products other than food and medicine. Examples of plants that provide us with products, such as kapok and rubber trees, are highlighted on a wheel that visitors turn to reveal the connections between plant and product. An interactive computer kiosk invites visitors to participate in a Shaman Quest. Using the touchscreen, visitors take a quiz to test their knowledge and opinions of plants. Their score indicates whether they are an Apprentice Shaman, Guardian Shaman, or a High Shaman. The screen displays a first clue that sends the visitors on a search and find throughout the forest for their shaman character.




At the far end of the path, visitors encounter the two-toed sloth hanging in a tree. Here an interactive panel with flip ups interprets how plants, particularly trees, support all life through filtering water, providing shelter, and so on. Returning towards the stairs on the opposite side of the path, visitors come to the shaman’s hut, where José’s grandfather lives, in which they can peer for a look at the life of a medicine man. Artifacts such as hunting and cooking tools adorn the small shelter. The boa constrictor display is incorporated into the hut’s design. Along a railing outside the hut, visitors can learn about several important medicinal plants through flip up panels. Next, visitors are greeted by the squawking of a blue and gold macaw perched on a tree. Here visitors are encouraged to notice the beauty and diversity around them by playing a game of I Spy with José. Ascending the stairs, visitors leave the greenhouse through the same door they entered. Walking along the exit path, they are bid farewell by José, who reminds them that plants really do matter and suggests several ways they can help protect them.




Interpretive Signage Text Along the outdoor path leading to greenhouse: Bienvenido! Welcome! My name is José. Follow me into the forest, To explore and play. Inside the tropical rainforest, There’s much to smell, hear and see. Surrounded by green, It’s my favorite place to be. Monkeys swing, birds sing The forest is really alive! Thanks to the plants-- Without them, we couldn’t survive. All life depends on plants! La vida depende de las plantas!




Just inside the greenhouse entrance: Look up, look down, Investigate all around. Come with me and discover All the forest treasures to be found! ANIMAL ID signs Two-toed sloth If I were a sloth, I’d live in the canopy, Feasting on a leafy salad, And snoozing happily. Fact file Scientific name: Choloepus didactylus Spanish: El perezoso Length: 1.9 to 2.3 ft Weight: 8.8 to 17.6 lbs Diet: Leaves and fruits Range: Northern South America Blue and Gold Macaw A squawking macaw, Often heard before it’s seen, Builds a comfy nest Inside a dead palm tree. Fact file Scientific name: Ara ararauna Spanish: El guacamayo Length: 2.8 to 3.2 ft Wingspan: 3.4 to 3.8 ft Weight: 1.3 to 2 lbs Diet: Seeds, fruits and nuts Range: South America




Boa Constrictor Slithering on the ground, Or dangling from a tree, A hungry boa catches dinner By a game of hide-and-seek. Fact File Scientific name: Boa constrictor Spanish: La boa Length: 3.3 to 13 ft Weight: Up to 140 lbs Diet: Mammals and birds Range: Central and South America Cane Toad Starting out as tadpoles Eating underwater plants, A grown-up cane toad Feeds on crickets, bees, and ants. Fact file Scientific name: Bufo marinus Spanish: Sapo gigante Length: 4 to 6 in Weight: 3 to 4 lb Adult prey: Insects and other small animals Range: Southern United States, Central and South America, Australia and nearby islands




PLANT ID signs Guiana Chestnut A Guiana chestnut tree Is up ahead. I snack on the nuts, and Grind them into flour for making bread. Fact File Scientific name: Pachira aquatica Plant type: Tree Forest layer: Canopy Flower: Large, white with red center Fruit: Large, football-shaped woody pod Guiana chestnuts taste like peanuts—yum! You can eat them either roasted or raw. Jackfruit. A banana-flavored jackfruit Is boiled and served as a veggie. Some jackfruits get so big, They weigh more than me! Fact File Scientific name: Artocarpus heterophyllus Plant type: Tree Forest layer: Canopy Flower: Tiny and green Fruit: Large, yellow-green, round or oblong Cord and cloth can also be made from the jackfruit tree. Mahogany No furniture is as beautiful As that made of mahogany wood. So very few trees are left to harvest, I wonder if we even should. Fact File Scientific name: Swietenia mahogani Plant type: Tree Forest layer: Canopy Flower: Small, yellow-green and fragrant Fruit: Woody pod People plant mahogany trees in their yards to make a nice, shady place to rest.




Kapok Covering a kapok seed Is a fluffy, silky coat, Used to stuff pillows And to make life jackets float. Fact File Scientific name: Ceiba pentandra Plant type: Tree Forest layer: Canopy Flower: Large, white or pink, bell-shaped, and stinky Fruit: Large, oval seed pod The Mayans believed that when you die, your soul climbs up the kapok tree to reach heaven. Sapodilla My great-uncle was a chiclero. Cutting the trunk of a sapodilla tree, He collected the sticky sap called chicle To make chewing gum for me. Fact File Scientific name: Manilkara zapota Plant type: Tree Forest layer: Canopy Flower: Small and white Fruit: Small, brown, and round or oval Delicious for dessert, the sapodilla fruit tastes like brown sugar and root beer. Ylang Ylang On very special occasions, Mama walks into the room Smelling of the ylang ylang flower-- It’s Chanel #5, her favorite perfume. Fact File Scientific name: Cananga odorata Plant type: Tree Forest layer: Canopy Flower: Green-yellow, with long, curly petals, and highly fragrant Fruit: Small, greenish-black, and round Ylang ylang scent is used in aromatherapy to make people feel relaxed.




Cassava Tapioca pudding Is a delightful dessert, Made from cassava roots That grow in the dirt. Fact File Scientific name: Manihot sp. Plant type: Tree/shrub Forest layer: Canopy Flower: Small and pale yellow Fruit: Greenish-brown, small, round, and winged We make lots of other foods, like bread and stews, with cassava root, too. Cacao Mayans first made cocoa From cacao seeds. Isn’t it amazing That chocolate grows on trees?! Fact File Scientific name: Theobroma cacao Plant type: Tree Forest layer: Understory Flower: Small and white Fruit: Large, yellow, orange or red, football-shaped pods The Aztecs liked chocolate so much that they used cacao seeds as a kind of money. Coffee In the rainforest, Grows a red-cherried tree. Inside the cherries are beans, The secret ingredient of coffee. Fact File Scientific name: Coffee arabica Plant type: Tree Forest layer: Understory Flower: Small, white, and highly fragrant Fruit: Small, red ‘cherries’ More than half of the adults in America perk their mornings up with a cup of coffee—or three.




Papaya Also called the paw paw, Papaya fruit is sweet. Tasting like apricot or melon, It’s a refreshing treat. Fact File Scientific name: Carica papaya Plant type: Shrub Forest layer: Understory Flower: White and waxy Fruit: Large, yellow, and pear-shaped Papayas produce a chemical called papain that helps with digestion. Wild pineapple When I eat pineapple, I do not eat the core. The chemicals in it, used to tenderize meat, Tingle my tongue and make it sore. Fact File Scientific name: Ananas comosus Plant type: Herb Forest layer: Understory Flower: Cluster of red blooms Fruit: Large, fleshy, oval, and yellow-brown Hummingbirds feed on wild pineapple nectar, and pollinate the flowers in return. Rosy Periwinkle More than just pretty in pink, Rosy periwinkle holds the answer, To helping children Fight off cancer. Fact File Scientific name: Vinca roseus Plant type: Herb Forest layer: Understory Flower: White, pink, or purple Fruit: Small, green pod The rosy periwinkle was nearly extinct before scientists discovered it could be used as medicine.




Rubber Plant Out seeps a white, milky sap When you break a stem or a leaf. It was once used as natural rubber— That’s almost beyond belief! Fact File Scientific name: Ficus elastica Plant type: Tree Forest layer: Understory Flower: Unremarkable Fruit: Small, yellow-green, and oval fig Many people grow rubber plants in their homes. Manacá Down here in the Amazon, For arthritis, fever, or snakebite, People use the manacá tree root, To make them feel alright. Fact File Scientific name: Brunfelsia uniflora Plant type: Shrub Forest layer: Understory Flower: Lavender and white Also called yesterday-today-and-tomorrow, this plant is grown in gardens for its showy, colorful flowers. Chile Pepper In Latin America, Our cooking is spicy hot, Thanks to the chile peppers, We put in the pot. Fact File Scientific name: Capsicum sp. Plant type: Herb Forest layer: Understory Flower: Star-shaped and usually white Fruit: Red, yellow and purple berries and pods Chile peppers can be used as a natural way to lower blood pressure.




Red Banana The red banana, an African plant, Grows a very small fruit. Instead the people there mash up And eat the pulp of its root. Fact File Scientific name: Ensete ventricosum Plant type: Herb Forest layer: Understory Flower: Long spike Fruit: Small, dry banana Africans also make rope, twine, and fibers for weaving from the red banana plant. Taro I dig up the roots of the taro plant And carry them home in my sack To slice and fry them into chips. What a tasty snack! Fact File Scientific name: Colocasia esculenta Plant type: Herb Forest layer: Understory Flower: Tiny Fruit: Clusters of small berries The taro plant’s large heart-shaped leaves, known as elephant ears, can also be cooked and eaten. Bird of Paradise Like a colorful bird in flight, Or the feathered crest of a crane, The bird of paradise flower Is anything but plain. Fact File Scientific name: Strelitzia reginae Plant type: Herb Forest layer: Understory Flower: Various bright colors of pointed petals Desired for its inspiring beauty, the bird of paradise flower is popular in gardens.




Butterfly Ginger When I get queasy On long car trips, Ginger ale (from a root) Keeps me from being sick. Fact File Scientific name: Hedychium coronarium Plant type: Herb Forest layer: Understory Flower: White and fragrant Eating ginger wrapped in bread to help digest food was an ancient custom—that’s how gingerbread began. Cinnamon From cinnamon tree bark, We get a spice to flavor Cookies, cakes, and candies, And many other treats to savor! Fact File Scientific name: Cinnamomum sp. Plant type: Tree Forest layer: Understory Flower: Small and white or yellow Fruit: Blue berry Some people use the oil in cinnamon leaves to help keep pesky bugs from biting. Banana Walking by a banana plant, I pick one from the bunch. Full of calcium, potassium, and Vitamin C, This healthy fruit packs quite a punch. Fact File Scientific name: Musa sp. Plant type: Herb Forest layer: Understory Flower: Pinkish-white flowers on a long purple-tipped stalk Fruit: Clusters of long berries (bananas) While yellow bananas are eaten raw, green bananas, or plantains, are boiled, baked, or fried like potatos.




Aloe When I’ve got sunburn, Or a small scrape on my shin, Mom cuts open an aloe vera leaf, And rubs the soothing sap on my skin. Fact File Scientific name: Aloe sp. Plant type: Herb Forest layer: Understory Flower: Small, tube-shaped, and yellow or red Fruit: Small and green A common ingredient in lotions, aloe vera is also good for moisturizing dry skin. Sensitive Plant Touch a leaf of the sensitive plant, And it closes up to protect Itself from being harmed, Or eaten by an insect. Fact File Scientific name: Mimosa pudica Plant type: Shrub Forest layer: Understory Flower: Small, ball-shaped, and pink or lavender Fruit: Bristly seed pod Grown in gardens for its unique behavior, the sensitive plant is also called touch-me-not for its prickly stems. Philodendron Collecting firewood is one of my chores. When I’m ready to carry it home, I tie up the bundle of wood with cord Made from the long roots of a philodendron. Fact File Scientific name: Monstera deliciosa Plant type: Herb/vine Forest layer: Understory/canopy Flower: Greenish-yellow flowering spike Fruit: Like a green mini-corn cob Tasting like a mango-pineapple-banana mix, the fruit is eaten fresh or used to flavor drinks and ice cream.




Passion Flower People eat the fruit, Caterpillars chomp the leaves, Butterflies sip the nectar-- It’s a passion flower feast! Fact File Scientific name: Passiflora sp. Plant type: Vine Forest layer: Understory/canopy Flower: Large and white with purple or pink center Fruit: Large, round or oval, and yellow or purple Passion fruit juice helps with coughs, and tea made from its leaves has a calming effect. Vanilla From an orchid on a vine Grows a vanilla bean. Inside we find the flavoring For my favorite ice cream. Fact File Scientific name: Vanilla planifolia Plant type: Vine Forest layer: Understory/canopy Flower: Greenish-yellow Fruit: Long bean pod Vanilla was first used by the Aztecs to flavor cocoa.




At bottom of stairs on left side: Hungry? Eat Plants! Think about your favorite foods. Ever wonder where they come from? Plants make up most of the menu-- Beans, corn, potatoes, and then some! Forest Cookbook Cacao The secret ingredient of chocolate was first discovered 1,500 years ago by the Mayans and has since become a favorite treat around the world. In the rainforest, football- shaped seed pods grow along the cacao tree’s trunk and branches, turning bright colors when ripe. The seeds are removed, fermented, dried, roasted, shelled, ground, kneaded, and sweetened with sugar and milk before the chocolate is ready to eat. Mayans first used this food of the gods as a hot drink. Today we also eat it in a solid form as candy. Tasty! Brazil nut Brazil nut trees grow coconut-sized fruits high up in the canopy. Each fruit contains about 20 seeds, or nuts. Since farming has been unsuccessful, Brazil nuts are perhaps the only tropical food that still comes entirely from the wild. Harvesters called castaňeros collect the fruits once they fall to the ground and slice them open with machetes. The nuts are dried and exported for sale. Tasty by themselves or cooked into desserts, the nuts also produce oil that is used in soaps, shampoos, and lotions.




Black beans A type of kidney bean, the black bean has been a staple in Latin American cultures for more than 7,000 years. The beans grow in long dark pods from which they are harvested and dried. Featured in soups, stews, and chilis, black beans are most popular as a beans-and-rice dish. Dried beans are soaked for a few hours and then boiled. They are then mixed with rice, and sometimes peppers, onions, spices, and other ingredients. Yummy! Cassava Ever wonder what the little beads in tapioca pudding are? They come from the starchy roots of the cassava shrub. Cassava is a major menu item in tropical South America where the plant originated. Cassava can be prepared like a potato—peeled, chopped, and either boiled or fried. It is also dried and ground into flour, which is added to soups, baked into bread, or flavored with sugar and milk to make tapioca pudding. Delicioso! Vanilla – An orchid blooms along a vine climbing up the trunk of a tropical forest tree. From the tiny black seeds of the fruit or bean that is produced by the pollination of this flower, vanilla flavoring is harvested. The beans are heated and dried to bring out the flavor. Vanilla is one of the most popular flavors in the world and it’s used in a variety of desserts from cakes to ice creams. In Latin America, vanilla is often a main ingredient in a custard dessert called flan. Mmmmm…. Chile pepper When one thinks of Latin American cuisine, hot and spicy comes to mind. Native to the Americas, the fruits of the Capsicum plant, chile peppers, have been used to flavor foods since 7500 B.C. Once discovered by Columbus, chile peppers became a hot property around the world. Chile peppers not only add spice and flavor, they are a nutritious source of vitamins A and C. Mix together some chopped chili peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic and cilantro and you’ve got a spicy salsa to garnish your burrito and eat on corn chips. Spicy!




Next to food section: Products of Nature Some of our everyday things Wooden houses, paper bags, and rubber bands-- Wouldn’t be possible to make Without materials that come from plants. Spin the wheel to see what products are made from plants. Kapok tree - Life jacket – Fibers inside the seed pods of the kapok tree may save your life! Mahogany – Table and chairs– A favorite wood for making furniture, mahogany is now endangered. Sapodilla tree - Bubble gum – Chewing gum was first made from the chicle or sap of the sapodilla tree. Rubber tree – Rubber bands and erasers – Rubber is made from the waterproof and elastic sap of the tree. Sisal – Twine or rope – Fibers inside the sisal leaf are dried to make rope and twine. Carnauba palm – Car wax and shoe polish – Wax your car and polish your shoes with wax from a carnauba palm leaf. Coconut palm – Shampoo – Coconut oil is a common ingredient in shampoos, lotions and soaps. Aloe – Lotion – Gel inside the cactus-like aloe leaves actually softens your skin. Corn – Crayons and chalk – Crayons and chalk would crumble without the help of corn starch.




Shaman Quest After taking the plant quiz at the interactive touchscreen, visitors are invited to seek and find a particular shaman. The screen displays the first of three clues they will find and follow to lead them to a 6-inch shaman figure carved out of wood. The clues and their locations follow.

A2

A3

AG

K

G2

GG

G3

S3

SG

S2




Apprentice Shaman Clue # A1 Location: Kiosk Apprentice Shaman Quest Clue #1 Take ten steps past the sloth and look left for a tree With large, snowflake-shaped leaves. Dotted with leaf scars, the trunk is narrow and green, And this is where the next clue can be seen. Clue # A2 Location: Near the Flame Tree trunk Nearby plant: flame tree Apprentice Shaman Quest Clue #2 Look left for a cacao tree with leaves shaped like a football, And find its partner on the way to the waterfall. In the shade of this chocolate tree, close to the ground, Is where the next clue can be found. Clue # A3 Location: Near the Cacao tree at the base of the trunk Nearby plant: cacao Apprentice Shaman Quest Clue #3 Above the blue and gold macaw, there is a rock—go to the top. When you see heart-shaped leaves big as elephant ears, stop. Here you can search for the Apprentice Shaman, Resting inside a cool, safe, and shady den. Apprentice Shaman Location: Inside hollow log beneath jackfruit tree Nearby plant: jackfruit, elephant ears




Guardian Shaman Clue # G1 Location: Kiosk Guardian Shaman Quest Clue #1 Head towards the water, and start to climb, Counting the steps up to nine. Look for the clue hidden behind Tiny green hearts that grow on a vine. Clue # G2 Location: behind wall along stairway covered by creeping fig Nearby plant: creeping fig Guardian Shaman Quest Clue #2 Climb eight more stairs, and then look down. Spy a large, lacy tree fern growing on the ground. Search for the clue beneath, next to a plant with a leaf That has white stripes on the front and purple fuzz underneath. Clue # G3 Location: On back of I Spy sign at the base of the calathea plant Nearby plant: calathea (striped front, purple fuzz back) Guardian Shaman Quest Clue #3 Face the forest hut, and towards ten o’clock should you head, Until you spy a vine with seed pods of dark red. Follow this philodendron as it crawls across the wall, To seek out the Guardian Shaman that watches over all. Guardian Shaman Location: Rock wall above sink/counter hidden behind philodendron vines about half way up Nearby plant: philodendron




High Shaman Clue # S1 Location: Kiosk High Shaman Quest Clue #1 Trace the waterfall to its source Where you’ll find the clue, of course, Hidden among fishtails of green That cascade over the running stream. Clue # S2 Location: Behind back wall of small waterfall/pool next to terrarium Nearby plant: fishtail fern High Shaman Quest Clue #2 Go back downstairs so you can see Which is the forest’s tallest tree. In its shade, you’ll find the next clue. Look for a rock is what you must do. Clue # S3 Location: Beside rock beneath kapok tree Nearby plant: kapok tree High Shaman Quest Clue #3 To spy the Shaman that you seek, From above the sloth you must peek. He’s hidden among the vine that grows Across the roof of the hut below. High Shaman Location: On the stick emerging on the top of the shaman hut roof Nearby plant: Passion flower




Next to sloth tree: El Árbol de la Vida: The Tree of Life The water we drink, the air we breathe, Trees provide us with many things for free. They support all life on Earth. So go out and plant a tree! How does a tree give life to all other living things? Top: Passing Gas Underneath: A tree takes in carbon dioxide Through its leaves, And gives off oxygen That animals and people breathe. Top: Clean Water Underneath: In the roots, up the trunk Through the branches, out the leaves— Water cycles through a tree Then evaporates, and comes out clean! Top: Food Factory Underneath: Energy from the sun Makes food for the plants, Which are eaten by people, Parrots, monkeys and ants. Top: Soil Saver Underneath: Spread out like a web, Tree roots hold the soil in place, Keeping hillsides and riverbanks From washing away in the rain. Top: Animal House Underneath: Beetle burrows under the bark, Kinkajou climbs in the canopy, Toucan holes up in the trunk— Lots of animals make their home in a tree.




Top: Weather Protector Underneath: An umbrella of leaves, Shades the critters below, And provides them shelter When the winds blow. At shaman’s hut: Magic Plants My grandfather is a shaman, A traditional medicine man. He makes people feel better With cures made from plants. Top: When I can’t sleep… Bottom: I drink passion flower tea. Top: To battle a fever and the flu… Bottom: I use a manacá tree root. Top: Malaria calls for… Bottom: Medicine made from cinchona (sin-CHO-nah) bark.




Top: To soothe a stomachache… Bottom: Brazil nut tea is what I make. Top: For indigestion I choose… Bottom: A cup of papaya juice. Top: To clear up a rash on my skin… Bottom: I make a sarsaparilla paste and rub it in.




Next to macaw display: Belleza! I Spy Beauty Playing games in a real jungle gym, I climb a flowering fig tree. Peeking out through its leafy cover, I spy beauty all around me. I Spy… From where I stand, a leaf that’s bigger than my hand. Can YOU spy it, too? I Spy… A tree-hugging vine that climbs and twines. Can YOU spy it, too? I Spy… A lively bird in a tree, taking a peek at me. Can YOU spy it, too? I Spy… A colorful flower in bloom. Does it smell like perfume? Can YOU spy it, too?




Along canopy walkway: Did you know? There are about 270,000 different species of plants. That’s way more than all the mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish put together. Did you know? Plants can be endangered, too. One in every eight species of plant in the world is threatened with extinction. Did you know? One in every four drugs used in the United States was first discovered in plants. Did you know? The average American eats more than 10 pounds of chocolate a year. Did you know? For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver. ~Martin Luther




Did you know? Ohio’s state tree is the buckeye. Some people carry a buckeye nut in their pocket as a good luck charm. Did you know? Shade-grown coffee is better for the environment and more flavorful than coffee grown in full sun. Did you know? More than half the world’s species live in tropical forests, which cover less than 7% of the Earth’s surface.




Along the outdoor path leaving the greenhouse: Like animals, plants can be endangered, too. And they need help from people like you. If you think about it, There are lots of things you can do. Save the forest! Salva la selva! Plant trees in your yard, Recycle newspapers, and let flowers grow. Keep the environment clean, and protect the forests. What other ways to help do you know? Remember—all life depends on plants, Including your own. So be thankful for them. Adios, amigos! All life depends on plants! La vida depende de las plantas!




Resources Books Burleigh, Robert. Chocolate: Riches from the Rainforest. 2002. Forsyth, Adrian. How Monkeys Make Chocolate: Foods and Medicines from the Rainforests. 1995. Forsyth, Adrian and ken Miyata. Tropical Nature. 1984. Plotkin, Mark J. Medicine Quest. 2000. Plotkin, Mark J. Tales of a Shaman’s Apprentice. 1993. Cherry, Lynne. The Great Kapok Tree. 1990. Cherry, Lynne and Mark J. Plotkin. The Shaman’s Apprentice. 1998. Schultes, Richard E. and Robert F. Raffauf. The Healing Forest. 1990. Spilsbury, Richard and Louise. Plant Products. 2003. Swerdlow, Joel L. Nature’s Medicine: Plants That Heal. 2000. Van Wyk, Ben-Erik. Food Plants of the World. 2005. Van Wyk, Ben-Erik. Medicinal Plants of the World. 2004. Activity Guides National Wildlife Foundation, Ranger Rick’s NatureScope: Trees are Terrific! 1985. National Wildlife Foundation, Ranger Rick’s NatureScope: Rainforests. 1989. Wildlife Conservation Society. Rain Forests. 1995. Web sites Botanic Gardens Conservation International, www.bgci.org The Center for Plant Conservation, www.centerforplantconservation.org Forest Stewardship Council, www.fscus.org


http://www.bgci.org

http://www.centerforplantconservation.org

http://www.fscus.org



Planet Plant, www.planetplant.org Plants for a Future, www.pfaf.org Plant Talk, www.plant-talk.org Raintree, www.rain-tree.com


http://www.planetplant.org

http://www.pfaf.org

http://www.plant-talk.org

http://www.rain-tree.com


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