The Private Life of Plants
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: ''For the unrelated book with a similar title by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird, see [[The Secret Life of Plants]].''
{{Infobox nature documentary
| bgcolour =
| show_name = The Private Life of Plants
| image = [[Image:Attplop.jpg]]
| caption = ''The Private Life of Plants'' DVD cover
| picture_format = 4:3
| audio_format = Stereo
| runtime = 50 minutes
| creator =
| developer =
| producer =
| executive_producer = Mike Salisbury
| presented = [[David Attenborough]]
| narrated =
| music = Richard Grassby-Lewis
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
| language =
| network =
| first_run = [[BBC One]]
| first_aired = 5 January
| last_aired = 9 February 1995
| num_episodes = 6
| website =
| imdb_id = 0123360
| tv_com_id =
}}
'''''The Private Life of Plants''''' is a [[BBC]] [[nature documentary]] series written and presented by [[David Attenborough]], first transmitted in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] from [[5 January]] [[1995]].
A study of the growth, movement, reproduction and survival of [[plant]]s, it was the second of Attenborough's specialised surveys following his major trilogy that began with ''[[Life on Earth (TV series)|Life on Earth]]''. Each of the six 50-minute episodes discusses the aspects of a plant's life-cycle, using examples from around the world.
The series was produced in conjunction with [[Turner Broadcasting]]. The executive producer was Mike Salisbury and the music was composed by Richard Grassby-Lewis. In 1995, it won a [[George Foster Peabody Award]] in the category "Television".
Part of David Attenborough's 'Life' series of programmes, it was preceded by ''[[Life in the Freezer]]'' ([[1993]]), and followed by ''[[The Life of Birds]]'' ([[1998]]).
== Background ==
The series utilises [[time-lapse]] sequences extensively in order to grant insights that would otherwise be almost impossible. Plants live on a different time scale, and even though their life is highly complex and often surprising, most of it is invisible to humans unless events that happen over months or even years are shown within seconds. Like many traditional wildlife documentaries, it makes use of almost no [[computer animation]]. The series also discusses [[fungi]], although as it is pointed out, these do not belong to the kingdom of plants.
The mechanisms of [[evolution]] are taught transparently by showing the advantages of various types of plant behaviour in action. The adaptations are often complex, as it becomes clear that the environment to which plants must adapt comprises not just soil, water and weather, but also other plants, fungi, insects and other animals, and even humans. The series shows that co-operative strategies are often much more effective than predatory ones, as these often lead to the prey developing methods of self-defence — from plants growing spikes to insects learning to recognise mimicry. Yet humans can work around all these rules of nature, so Attenborough concludes with a plea to preserve plants, in the interest of self-preservation.
In the 2002 documentary ''Life on Air'', Keith Scholey, the head of the [[BBC Natural History Unit]], relates that he and his team had been wondering about an ecology series that included plants, and found that Attenborough had been thinking along the same lines:
<blockquote>"So we went to his house and David, as always, listened to our idea and, you know, nodded and was very complimentary about it and said that 'Actually, I was thinking about something a little bit bolder.' And sure enough, by the end of lunch, we'd all signed up to do six hours on plants."<ref>''Life on Air'' documentary</ref></blockquote>
In the same programme, Attenborough also confessed that he conceived the series partly to realise a long-cherished ambition: to visit [[Monte Roraima|Mount Roraima]], which is featured in the last episode.
Attenborough knew that the subject matter had not been covered in depth on television before, and in his autobiography, ''Life on Air'', told of how he hit on the idea of time-lapse photography to illustrate it:
<blockquote>"There were, of course, gardening programmes on the BBC's schedules, but they did not deal with the basic facts of botany, or explain how plants feed, how they reproduce and distribute themselves, how they form alliances with particular animals. The reason was only too obvious. How could you construct the dramatic narratives needed for a successful television documentary series if your main characters are rooted to the ground and barely move? Thinking about this, it suddenly struck me that plants do move and very dramatically."<ref>{{cite book
| last = Attenborough
| first = David
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = Life on Air
| publisher = BBC Books
| date = 2002
| location =
| pages = p344
| url =
| doi =
| id = ISBN 0-563-53461-3 }}</ref>
</blockquote>
Outdoors time-lapse photography presents a unique set of challenges: the varying light and temperatures in particular can cause many problems. To film [[Common Bluebell|bluebell]]s under a canopy of [[beech]] trees, for example, cameraman Richard Kirby covered them with a thick canvas tent that was lit from within to simulate daylight. He then used a [[motion control photography|motion-controlled camera]] to obtain a tracking shot, moving it slightly after each exposure.
== Episodes ==
{{quotation|"Midwinter, and the countryside is so still, it seems almost lifeless. But these trees and bushes and grasses around me are living organisms just like animals. And they have to face very much the same sort of problems as animals face throughout their lives if they're to survive. They have to fight one another, they have to compete for mates, they have to invade new territories. But the reason that we're seldom aware of these dramas is that plants of course live on a different time-scale."| David Attenborough’s opening words}}
=== 1. "Travelling" ===
[[Image:Photos-photos 1088103921 Floating.jpg|right|thumb|Dandelion seeds are [[biological dispersal|dispersed]] by the wind.]]
Broadcast 5 January 1995, the first episode looks at how plants are able to move. The [[bramble]] is an aggressive example: it advances forcefully from side to side and, once settled on its course, there is little that can stand in its way. An altogether faster species is the birdcage plant, which inhabits [[California]]n sand dunes. When its location becomes exposed, it shifts at great speed to another one with the assistance of [[wind]] — and it is this that allows many forms of vegetation to distribute their [[seed]]s. While not strictly a plant, the [[spore]]s of fungi are also spread in a similar fashion. One of the most successful (and intricate) [[flower]]s to use the wind is the [[dandelion]], whose seeds travel with the aid of 'parachutes'. They are needed to travel miles away from their parents, who are too densely packed to allow any new arrivals. [[Tree]]s have the advantage of height to send their seeds further, and the [[cottonwood]] is shown as a specialist in this regard. The humidity of the [[Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests|tropical rainforest]] creates transportation problems, and the [[liana]] is one plant whose seeds are [[aerodynamics|aerodynamic]] 'gliders'. Some, such as those of the [[Sycamore Maple|sycamore]], take the form of 'helicopters', while others, such as the [[ecballium elaterium|squirting cucumber]] release their seeds by 'exploding'. [[Water]] is also a widely used method of propulsion. However, most plants use living couriers, whether they be [[dog]]s, [[human]]s and other [[primate]]s, [[ant]]s or [[bird]]s, etc., and to that end, they use colour and smell to signify when they are ripe for picking.
=== 2. "Growing" ===
Broadcast [[12 January]] 1995, this programme is about how plants gain their sustenance. [[Sunlight]] is one of the essential requirements if a seed is to [[germination|germinate]], and Attenborough highlights the [[Monstera deliciosa|cheese plant]] as an example whose young shoots head for the nearest tree trunk and then climb to the top of the [[Canopy (forest)|forest canopy]], developing its [[leaf|leaves]] en route. Using sunshine, [[air]], water and a few [[mineral]]s, the leaves are, in effect, the "factories" that produce food. However, some, such as the [[begonia]], can thrive without much light. To gain moisture, plants typically use their [[root]]s to probe underground. Trees pump water up pipes that run inside their trunks, and Attenborough observes that a sycamore can do this at the rate of 450 litres an hour — in total silence. Too much rainfall can clog up a leaf's [[stomata|pore]]s, and many have specially designed 'gutters' to cope with it. However, their biggest threat is from animals, and some require extreme methods of defence, such as [[spine (botany)|spine]]s, [[camouflage]], or [[poison]]. Some can move quickly to deter predators: the [[mimosa]] can fold its leaves instantly when touched, and the [[Venus Flytrap|Venus flytrap]] eats insects by closing its leaves around its prey when triggered. Another carnivorous plant is the [[Sarracenia|trumpet pitcher]] that snares insects when they fall into its tubular leaves. Attenborough visits [[Borneo]] to see the largest pitcher of them all, ''[[Nepenthes rajah]]'', whose traps contain up to two litres of water and have been known to kill small [[rodent]]s.
=== 3. "Flowering" ===
Broadcast [[19 January]] 1995, the next instalment is devoted to the ways in which plants reproduce. [[Pollen]] and a [[Carpel|stigma]] are the two components needed for fertilisation. Most plants carry both these within their flowers and rely on animals to transport the pollen from one to the stigma of another. To do this, they attract their couriers with colour, scent and [[nectar]]. It isn't just [[bird]]s that help [[pollination]]: some [[mammal]]s and [[reptiles]] also do so. However, it is mostly [[insect]]s that are recruited to carry out the task. To ensure that pollen is not wasted by being delivered to the wrong flower, some species of plant have developed exclusive relationships with their visitors, and the [[gentian]] and its attendant [[carpenter bee]]s is one example. Since pollen can be expensive to produce in terms of [[calorie]]s, some plants, such as [[orchidaceae|orchid]]s, ration it by means of [[pollinium|pollinia]] and a strategically placed landing platform. Other orchids offer no reward for pollination, but instead mislead their guests by mimicking their markings and aroma, thus enticing males to 'mate' with them. The most extreme fertilisation method is one of imprisonment, and one plant that uses it is the dead horse arum. It is often found near gull colonies, and mimics the appearance and smell of rotting flesh. [[Blow-fly|Blow-flies]] are attracted to it, and are forced to stay the night before being allowed to depart in the morning, laden with pollen. Finally, Attenborough introduces the world's largest [[inflorescence]]: that of the [[titan arum]].
=== 4. "The Social Struggle" ===
[[Image:Strangler fig kerala.jpg|right|thumb|The strangler fig climbs up the trunks of others trees.]]
Broadcast [[26 January]] 1995, this episode examines how plants either share environments harmoniously or compete for dominance within them. Attenborough highlights the [[Great Storm of 1987|1987 hurricane]] and the devastation it caused. However, for some species, it was that opportunity for which they had lain dormant for many years. The space left by uprooted trees is soon filled by others who move relatively swiftly towards the light. The [[oak]] is one of the strongest and longest-lived, and other, lesser plants nearby must wait until the [[spring (season)|spring]] to flourish before the light above is extinguished by leaves. Tropical forests are green throughout the year, so brute force is needed for a successful climb to the top of the canopy: the [[rattan]] is an example that has the longest stem of any plant. As its name suggests, the [[Strangler Fig|strangler fig]] 'throttles' its host by growing around it and cutting off essential water and light. Some can take advantage of a fallen tree by setting down roots on the now horizontal trunk and getting nutriment from the surrounding [[moss]] and the fungi on the dead [[bark]]. The [[eucalyptus regnans|mountain ash]] grows so tall, that regeneration becomes a considerable problem. It is easily flammable, so its solution is to shed its seeds during a [[wildfire|forest fire]] and sacrifice itself. It therefore relies on the periodic near-destruction of its surroundings in order to survive. Attenborough observes that catastrophes such as fire and [[drought]], while initially detrimental to wildlife, eventually allow for deserted habitats to be reborn.
=== 5. "Living Together" ===
Broadcast [[2 February]] 1995, the fifth programme explores the [[mutualism|alliances]] formed between the animal and plant worlds. Attenborough dives into [[Australia's]] [[Great Barrier Reef]] and contrasts the nocturnal feeding of [[coral]], on microscopic creatures, with its daytime diet of [[algae]]. Some [[acacia]]s are protected by [[ant]]s, which will defend their refuge from any predator. Besides accommodation, the guards are rewarded with nectar and, from certain species, [[protein]] for their [[larva]]e as well. Fungi feed on plants but also provide essential nutriment to saplings. The connection is never broken throughout a tree's life and a quarter of the sugars and starches produced in its leaves is channelled back to its fungal partners. Meanwhile, fungi that feed on dead wood leave a hollow trunk, which also benefits the tree. Orchids enjoy a similar affiliation. [[Lichen]]s are the product of a relationship between fungi and a photosynthetic associate, usually algae. They are extremely slow-growing, and a [[cemetery|graveyard]] is the perfect location to discover their exact longevity. [[Mistletoe]] is a [[parasitic plant|parasite]] that obtains its moisture from a host tree, while its seeds are deposited on another by the [[Mistletoe Tyrannulet|mistletoe tyrannulet]], following digestion of the fruit. The [[cuscuta|dodder]] is also parasitic, generally favouring [[nettle]]s, and siphons its nourishment through periodic 'plugs' along its stem. The [[rafflesia]] has no stem or leaves and only emerges from its host in order to bloom — and it produces the largest single flower: one metre across.
=== 6. "Surviving" ===
[[Image:A-Very-Old-Saguaro-right-outside-the-Saguaro-National-Park-Arizona.jpg|right|thumb|A saguaro [[cactus]] in Arizona.]]
Broadcast [[9 February]] 1995, the final episode deals with plants that live in hostile environments. Attenborough visits [[Ellesmere Island]], north of the [[Arctic Circle]], to demonstrate that even in a place that is unconducive to life, it can be found. Algae and lichens grow in or on [[Rock (geology)|rock]], and during summer, when the ice melts, flowers are much more apparent. However, they must remain close to the ground to stay out of the chilling [[wind]]. In the [[Tasmania]]n mountains, plants conserve heat by growing into 'cushions' that act as [[Photovoltaic module|solar panel]]s, with as many as a million individual shoots grouped together as one. Others, such as the [[lobelia]] in [[Mount Kenya]], have a 'fur coat' of dense hairs on their leaves. The [[saguaro]] cactus in the [[Sonoran Desert]] flourishes because of its ability to retain vast amounts of water, which can't be lost through leaves because it has none. Many desert dwellers benefit from an accelerated life cycle, blooming rapidly within weeks after rainfall. Conversely, Mount Roraima is one of the wettest places on Earth. It is a huge [[sandstone]] plateau with high [[waterfalls]] and nutrients are continuously washed away, so plants have to adapt their diet if they are to survive. A [[bladderwort]] is shown invading a [[Bromeliaceae|bromeliad]]. Inhabitants of [[lake]]s have other problems to contend with: those that dominate the surface will proliferate, and the [[nymphaeaceae|Amazon water lily]] provides an apt illustration. Attenborough ends the series with an entreaty for the conservation of plant species.
{{quotation|"Ever since we arrived on this planet as a species, we've cut them down, dug them up, burnt them and poisoned them. Today we're doing so on a greater scale than ever [...] We destroy plants at our peril. Neither we nor any other animal can survive without them. The time has now come for us to cherish our green inheritance, not to pillage it — for without it, we will surely perish."| David Attenborough, in closing}}
== DVD and book ==
The series is available in the UK for Regions 2 and 4 as a 2-disc DVD (BBCDVD1235, released [[1 September]] [[2003]]) and as part of ''[[The Life Collection]]''. The extra features include a promotional interview for the series given by David Attenborough on the BBC children's series ''[[Blue Peter]]'', and a 'behind the scenes' vignette.
The accompanying book, ''The Private Life of Plants'' by David Attenborough (ISBN 0-563-37023-8), was published by BBC Books on [[8 December]] [[1994]].
== References ==
<references/>
{{David Attenborough Television Series}}
[[Category:BBC television documentaries|Private Life of Plants, The]]
[[Category:Peabody Award winners|Private Life of Plants, The]]
[[Category:Nature documentaries|Private Life of Plants, The]]