Books in World's Weirdest Series series

"Deserts aren't home to many plants. Those that live in such dry, hot environments need to have special adaptations to thrive. The many kinds of cacti do! Readers explore the ways cacti conserve water, their unique habitats, and the features that make them a weird plant, compared to the tulips in your garden! From spines to flowers, full-color photographs and a plant diagram show readers what many species of cacti look like"--Provided by publisher.

"Many trees provide food for animals. However, some trees-such as the African acacia, or thorn, tree-object to being eaten. And they've developed several clever ways to protect themselves, including thorns, chemical defenses, and ant guards. Readers of this absorbing volume will discover fascinating facts about this unusual tree, including what kind of chemical defenses it has and how it uses its ant guards. Age-appropriate text highlights important elementary science concepts, while colorful images bring the text to life. Photo captions, fact boxes, and a graphic organizer enrich the main text"--

"Banyan trees are fig trees that are often known by another name: strangler figs. And there's a good reason for that. The seeds land on other trees and sprout there, sending down roots that slowly strangle the host tree. Readers of this absorbing volume will discover fascinating facts about this odd plant, including how it grows and its ecological importance. Age-appropriate text addresses important elementary science concepts, while colorful images enliven the text. Photo captions, fact boxes, and a graphic organizer enrich essential concepts"--

"Plants are the starting point in most food chains. But that's not true of one group of plants-carnivorous plants. Bladderworts belong to that group of plants. And they have a unique method for capturing prey: a vacuum trap. Readers of this fascinating volume will discover intriguing facts about this unusual plant, including where it's found, how its trap works, and how fast the trap works. Age-appropriate text addresses important elementary science concepts, while colorful images enliven the text. Photo captions, fact boxes, and a graphic organizer enrich the main text"--

Trees are familiar and lovely signs of life for most people, including fruit trees, evergreens, and colorful maple trees in autumn. Sometimes they're so ubiquitous, we don't even notice them. Entice your readers with one of the world's most unusual, attention-grabbing trees; the dragon's blood tree. Explorers will learn about this strange tree, including the source of its name, where it's found, and its uses. Age-appropriate text covers important science concepts and vivid images take readers up-close to a tree they may never see in real life. Fact boxes and a graphic organizer enhance the narrative.

The huge corpse flower rarely blooms. When it does, it gives off a strong smellthe smell of a rotting corpse! The gross smell has a purpose, however. Readers learn that the stink of the corpse flower has everything to do with a main subject of the science curriculum: pollination. Other science topics covered include plant life cycles and structures. Fact boxes add even more intriguing information about this weird plant while full-color photographs offer readers an up-close look at a unique flower.