British Pathe

Produced by British Instructional Films Ltd.

"Many of the plant movements are shown at 20,000 times their normal speed". Poppy seeds are spread out. The Burdock seed case attaches itself to human beings - a large spiky seed pod gets stuck on a coat sleeve. Vigorous shaking ensues but the pod...

Produced by British Instructional Films Ltd.

"Many of the plant movements are shown at 20,000 times their normal speed". Poppy seeds are spread out. The Burdock seed case attaches itself to human beings - a large spiky seed pod gets stuck on a coat sleeve. Vigorous shaking ensues but the pod stays stuck. The Enchanters Nightshade has hooks to catch the fur of passing animals. C/U of rotating seed pod. The Beggar Tick has barbed spears which irritate the animal so that it scratches them out of its fur. C/U of the barbed spears. Blumenbachia has a balloon-like seed case - C/U of this. A piece of fur is passed underneath the seed case and it latches on. X-ray microscope shot of its spikes. A piece of paper is put close to the pod and it attaches itself to it. Much shaking ensues but again it stays put.

Stone Crop is a plant which lives amongst rocks. The leaves bounce down the mountainside. Stop frame animation of this. Time lapse photography is used to show the plant growing. Ecballium fruit can explode spontaneously to scatter its seeds. A graphic animation is used to show this and a pod is manipulated by hand to show the process. Thistle has a bomb-dropping device. C/U of the "parachute" and seed pod. The slightest shock in flight causes the seed to drop. Stop frame animation is used to illustrate this. We see a seed which has fallen upside down growing around and into the ground.

The Goat's Beard seed head is rather like a dandelion clock. Time lapse photography of the "parachute" opening. It closes again if there is rain in the air. Moisture from damp ground makes the parachute close and the seed drops down. Time lapse animation to illustrate this. Alternative actions of sun and dew make parachute open and close and the parachute moves along - time lapse photography.

Note: some shots shared with sound film "Starting in Life" .