This week we are starting the topic “Reproduction” by looking at Asexual methods of reproduction. In plants, asexual reproduction is also called vegetative reproduction.  Complete the table titled “Types of Vegetative Reproduction” using your text and activity manual. Plants that are produced by vegetative reproduction are genetically identical to their parent plants, which is a very useful trait for horticulturalists. They may use the following methods:

• Runners (strawberries, water hyacinth)
• Cuttings (geraniums, roses)
• Rhizomes (underground stems, as in ferns, irises, ginger and galangal)
• Tubers (potatoes)
• Bulbs (daffodils, tulips, onions)
• Suckers (underground stems that arise a distance from the parent plant eg. elm trees and blackberries)

Some other organisms also reproduce asexually: (Asexual reproduction in Animals)

• Binary fission (Paramecium, bacteria)
• Budding (Hydra)
• Fragmentation (Planarians)
• Regeneration (Echinoderms such as seastars)
• Parthenogenisis (some lizards, aphids)

This is a useful Powerpoint presentation to learn about the methods of asexual reproduction: