I am looking for insanely - unbelievably fast growing plants. I wonder if with all the wonderful genetic engineering and all that if we have invented this yet? I am talking hours... Like I could literally sit and watch it grow! Is it real or just some crazy part of my overactive imagination and wishful thinking??? Thanks :)
2007-06-01 07:49:04 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Botany
There are a number of ways to define "super fast", such as increase in height, horizontal spreading, rate of reproduction, etc. Bamboo is considered one of the fastest growing plants in terms of an increase in height. Some bamboo species been reported to grow up to 3 to 4 feet in one day. During the peak in the growing season, maize can increase by about 2 oz of dry weight per sq meter per day.
Other 'super fasts include: Wisconsin fast plants that complete their seed-to-seed life cycle in five weeks and the world's smallest flowering plant, the aquatic Wolffia microscopica that can form a new plant by budding in less than 30 hrs. Trees grow at different rates depending on their location - this web site is useful for finding the fastest tree in a particular state: http://www.fast-growing-trees.com/
Also, we should not ignore the oceans and Pacific kelp is likely ahead of bamboo for the fast growth championship. Giant Kelp Macrocystus pyrifera is also one of the fastest growing plants on earth and can, under the best conditions, grow in excess of 300mm per day.
For fruit mass, the hybrid giant pumpkins may be tops as they can put on pounds every single day.
2007-06-01 17:35:28 · answer #1 · answered by Jerry C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are some species of bamboo that will grow that fast.
Also, you might consider breeding ingle-celled algae in a tank; with lots of aeration, nutrients, stirring and the correct temperature I expect there would be visible growth too, i.e., the water turns from clear to green and slimy.
2007-06-01 08:24:27 · answer #2 · answered by travelhun 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bamboo grows very fast. I've heard you can sit in a bamboo patch and literally hear it growing.
Also an invasive plant called Japanese Knotweed can grow up to 10cm per day.
2007-06-02 04:29:06 · answer #3 · answered by crzpandagirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of those listed are really fast growing plants, but I read somewhere that the fastest is sea kelp, growing a foot per day.
2007-06-01 14:45:52 · answer #4 · answered by April 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Certain types of bamboo can grow almost fast enough to see the growth. You can read about it by doing a Yahoo search
2007-06-01 13:30:30 · answer #5 · answered by military supporter 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Plants grow fast - its just that you can't see it happening. Vine plants, like peas, grow inches in a day. Why don't you get a video camera and film a plant. You'll see the growth over time.
good luck!
2007-06-01 09:49:32 · answer #6 · answered by Sciencemom 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1 word: Kudzu.
The plant that ate the South. It grows about a foot a day.
2007-06-01 07:54:15 · answer #7 · answered by Lady Geologist 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Banana leaves are supposed to grow as much as a foot a day.
2007-06-01 08:05:50 · answer #8 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
reminds me of one time a few of us were talking about control of pest plants, like herbicides or grazing or naturla enemies or whatnot. One old fellow said he always sprayed kudzu with motor oil. we asked him if it killed the plant, and he said "Of course not - but this way as fast as it it grows, the friction doesn't start forest fires.."
2007-06-01 15:45:11 · answer #9 · answered by John R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
simple lawn grass will grow 1/2 inch a day---easy
2007-06-01 10:56:06 · answer #10 · answered by hoodoobluesman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋