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Plants cover
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00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:39,199
much of the land surface
of our planet.
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00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:44,359
But there is another
extraordinary green world
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00:00:44,480 --> 00:00:46,719
that is often hidden from us.
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00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,039
It's one where plants
have overcome huge challenges
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00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:05,079
in order to survive.
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00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:16,559
The world of freshwater.
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00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:32,239
At first sight,
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00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:35,239
a lake like this
would seem to have
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00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:40,199
everything that life needs
in order to thrive -
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00:01:40,320 --> 00:01:42,999
clear, oxygen-rich water,
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00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:45,719
plenty of dissolved nutrients
and minerals
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00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:47,799
and lots of sunlight.
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00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:53,079
But in fact, life in freshwater
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00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:56,639
presents plants
with huge problems.
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00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:02,999
To succeed, plants have had
to abandon
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00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:04,719
many of the adaptations
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00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:07,759
that have served them
so well on land
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00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:10,359
and evolve something quite new.
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00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:12,039
And in doing that,
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00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:15,519
they have created
some of the most beautiful
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00:02:15,640 --> 00:02:19,839
and bizarre and important
habitats on Earth.
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00:02:25,640 --> 00:02:28,359
There are few places
where it's more difficult
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00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:30,039
to make a permanent home
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00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:32,519
than a freshwater torrent
like this one.
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00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:58,039
Violent currents
rip across the riverbed,
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00:02:58,160 --> 00:02:59,919
scouring it clean...
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00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,039
...ripping land plants
from their margins...
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00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:10,759
...and drowning them.
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00:03:14,640 --> 00:03:18,999
How could any plant survive
in a place like this?
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00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:37,279
Yet even here, some do manage
to, quite literally, hold on.
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00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:45,879
They can grasp the bare rock
with remarkable strength.
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00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:54,759
This ability
allows plants to thrive
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00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:57,359
in these otherwise
hostile environments.
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00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:06,079
This is
the Caño Cristales river
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00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:07,919
in Colombia.
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00:04:22,840 --> 00:04:26,639
These plants are red macarenia,
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00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:30,479
sometimes called
the orchid of the falls.
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00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:42,719
They cling to the riverbed
not with their roots
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00:04:42,840 --> 00:04:44,919
but with their stems,
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00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:46,679
glued to the rock surface
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00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,999
by one of the most powerful
adhesives in nature.
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00:04:57,960 --> 00:04:59,599
The rock itself will break
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00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:02,119
before these anchors
lose their grip.
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00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:16,799
These feathery filaments
are their modified leaves,
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00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:20,079
and they do what roots
normally do -
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00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:22,919
gather the minerals
and nutrients they need
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00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:24,879
that are dissolved
in the water.
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00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:33,239
With such spectacular colours,
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00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:34,679
it's hardly surprising
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00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:38,439
that the Caño Cristales
is sometimes called
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00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,399
the most beautiful river
on Earth.
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00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:49,439
But being rooted to the spot
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00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:51,319
is not always the best strategy
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00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:53,679
for living in a water world.
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00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:59,959
This is a water lettuce,
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00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,439
and it has
some remarkable adaptations.
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00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:08,639
Its roots hang freely.
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00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:10,759
So it's not anchored
to the ground.
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00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:14,959
And its leaves
are thick and spongy
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00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:17,319
and covered in fine hairs,
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00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:21,839
so the plant itself is,
more or less, unsinkable.
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00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,639
This combination
of characteristics
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00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:34,239
enable the water lettuce
to do something
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00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:37,959
that almost no land plant
can do -
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00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:39,719
it can travel.
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00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:46,399
It is an ability
that becomes invaluable
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00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:49,639
when, during the wet season,
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00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:51,439
flooded rivers
become great highways,
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00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:54,679
as they do here,
in South America.
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00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:03,519
This is the largest inland
water world on Earth,
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00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:05,479
the Pantanal.
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00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:08,359
For a few months every year,
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00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:12,519
it provides water plants
with ideal conditions.
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00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:16,079
But all too soon,
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00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:18,799
it becomes a battleground.
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00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:30,639
Plants are racing to claim
their space on the surface.
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00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:35,239
The water lettuce
rapidly expands
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00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:37,559
its network of hanging roots
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00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:39,239
so that it starts
absorbing nutrients
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00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,599
before
other competitors arrive.
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00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:02,279
Water hyacinth appears.
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00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:07,759
Its leaves
are carried on stalks
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00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:09,319
filled with air
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00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:13,119
that also make it
virtually unsinkable.
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00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:21,399
The race for space intensifies.
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00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:26,479
A new competitor arrives -
ludwigia.
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00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:31,279
It spreads by developing
a chain of tiny rafts...
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00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:34,439
...and jostles for space
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00:08:34,560 --> 00:08:38,279
with the densely packed leaves
of mosaic plants.
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00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:48,799
All are racing to claim
as much sunlight as possible.
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00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:02,839
They flower quickly,
before the floodwaters recede.
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00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:18,999
And these surface dwellers
also have competitors.
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00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:22,919
Including one
that has been waiting
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00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:24,119
in the depths...
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00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:25,999
...and is now stirring.
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00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:38,839
It's a monster.
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00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:08,279
It's well armed.
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00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:26,199
It clears space for itself...
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00:10:28,680 --> 00:10:30,839
...by wielding
one of its buds...
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00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:33,679
...like a club.
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00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:40,639
And now...
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00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:43,799
...it dominates the surface.
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00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:06,719
This is a leaf
of the giant waterlily.
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00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:31,239
It expands
by over 20 centimetres a day
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00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:35,159
and eventually measures
more than two metres across.
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00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:42,239
Its immense leaves
are supported
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00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:44,839
by a network
of air-filled struts
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00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:48,839
and protected by spines
two centimetres long.
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00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:55,479
The leaves float high
in the water,
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00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:59,999
and their surfaces are dotted
with tiny holes - drains -
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00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:01,559
that help them ensure
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00:12:01,680 --> 00:12:05,039
that rainwater doesn't
accumulate and sink them.
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00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:21,799
Nutrients from the fertile mud
below
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00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:24,879
are carried up by tubes
in its stem
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00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:27,519
to fuel the leaf's expansion.
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00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:37,079
Over the next few months,
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00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:40,359
the lily will produce
some 40 or so
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00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:42,719
of these gigantic leaves.
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00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:55,239
And as each one reaches
the surface and expands,
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00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:58,199
more and more light is taken
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00:12:58,320 --> 00:12:59,239
from those plants
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00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:01,239
that are trying to grow
beneath.
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00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:16,639
Competitors are pushed aside.
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00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:42,039
Some are crushed...
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00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:45,399
...or skewered.
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00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:26,319
Eventually, its immense leaves
press their margins
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00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:27,719
against one another,
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00:14:27,840 --> 00:14:31,759
totally cutting off the light
from the plants beneath them.
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00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:37,399
The battle is over...
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00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:40,919
...and victory is total.
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00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:02,799
The frozen water world
of Lake Akan,
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00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:04,199
in northern Japan.
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00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:12,719
Home to one of the strangest
and most primitive of plants.
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00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:18,559
It's an alga,
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00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:22,319
like those that appear
so mysteriously in our ponds.
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00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:28,719
But this one
is truly extraordinary.
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00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:37,279
Each spring,
the melting ice releases
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00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:41,799
soft, velvety balls
of interwoven threads
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00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:44,679
called marimos.
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00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:52,599
This one is small,
no bigger than a walnut.
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00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:55,999
But there are
lots of them here.
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00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:06,319
They attract the attention
of visiting whooper swans.
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00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:37,239
But there is one way
for the marimo to escape
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00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:38,639
from the danger,
146
00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:41,999
and it depends on
a change in the weather.
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00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:48,599
Fortunately, in the spring,
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00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:51,319
winds sweep across the lake...
149
00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:57,599
...creating currents
that carry some of the marimos
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00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:00,479
beyond the reach
of hungry swans.
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00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:06,719
It's the start
of a remarkable journey.
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00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:26,919
They are gently carried
back and forth
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00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:28,399
by the currents
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00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:32,679
so that the marimos become
more and more spherical.
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00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:43,159
And slowly,
they travel into deeper water.
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00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:57,999
Here, there are
great numbers of them,
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certainly many millions.
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00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:04,599
Some are the size
of basketballs.
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00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:13,159
They are safe from swans
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00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:15,399
and the water
is still shallow enough
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for some sunlight
to reach them.
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00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:20,559
It seems a perfect home.
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00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:23,359
And so it is.
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00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:25,879
Almost.
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00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:32,319
The snag is that these waters
also carry a fine sediment
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00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:35,759
that can clog
the marimos' surface,
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00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:37,919
cutting off
the all-important light.
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00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:45,159
But the marimos
are not entirely immobile.
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They dance.
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00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:07,679
The winds blowing
over the lake's surface
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00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:09,479
create currents beneath
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00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:13,839
that are sufficiently strong
to move the marimos.
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00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:23,439
They rub against each other.
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00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:26,679
And, in just a couple of hours
of gentle movement,
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00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:29,399
they're all clean once more.
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00:19:36,120 --> 00:19:37,119
As they spin,
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00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:38,879
every part of their surface
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00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:40,919
gets enough time
in the sunlight
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to keep growing.
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00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:03,279
This is the heart
of the Amazon.
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00:20:20,760 --> 00:20:23,719
There are water worlds here
that are so remote
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00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:27,439
that, even today,
few people have ever seen them.
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00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:32,679
This barely explored tributary
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is Rio Claro.
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00:20:35,640 --> 00:20:37,279
And here,
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00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:39,319
when conditions are just right,
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it's possible to witness
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00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:43,799
a rare
and remarkable spectacle.
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00:20:54,040 --> 00:20:56,199
The river is so crystal clear
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00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:59,199
that its bed is bathed
in sunlight.
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00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:09,319
A magical landscape
of miniature mountains
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00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:10,839
and valleys.
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00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:27,719
It's carpeted by pipewort,
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00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:31,959
fanwort and star grasses.
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00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:44,679
As the sun climbs in the sky...
196
00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:49,639
...bubbles of gas appear.
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00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:54,479
Evidence of photosynthesis.
198
00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:07,519
Deep inside the plant cells,
199
00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:10,159
tiny structures
called chloroplasts
200
00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:12,599
move towards the light.
201
00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:18,759
They absorb carbon dioxide
202
00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:22,119
and use the sun's power
to synthesise the sugars
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00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:24,519
that the plant needs to grow.
204
00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:32,679
And, as a by-product,
they release oxygen...
205
00:22:35,720 --> 00:22:37,519
...the gas that we
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00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:39,439
and all other animals
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00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:42,279
must have
in order to breathe.
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00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:05,799
Now, in late afternoon,
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00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:09,439
bubbles of oxygen
make the river water fizz
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00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:11,559
like champagne.
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00:23:59,440 --> 00:24:02,519
The plants can become
so buoyant with gas
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00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:04,879
that they rise
to the surface...
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00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:08,559
...even carrying the bedrock
with them.
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00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:22,039
Only in this remote water world
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00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:25,519
can this spectacular
natural wonder be seen.
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00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:36,919
Eastern Venezuela.
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00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:44,919
Here, rectangular
table mountains known as tepui
218
00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:47,519
stand above
the tropical forest.
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00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:53,439
There are more than 50 such
220
00:24:53,560 --> 00:24:55,759
isolated mountain plateaus
here,
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00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:58,959
each home to
a unique community of plants.
222
00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:08,319
Downpours are so torrential
that no soil can accumulate
223
00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:10,479
on their broad, rocky summits,
224
00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:12,399
and some plants living up here
225
00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:15,639
have to find their nutrients
from another source.
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00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:26,039
These are bromeliads.
227
00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:33,439
Their leaves are shaped
like a funnel
228
00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:35,039
and collect rainwater,
229
00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:37,839
which accumulates
in the centre.
230
00:25:43,120 --> 00:25:47,919
This small pond is colonised
by all kinds of tiny animals.
231
00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:59,119
And it is their bodies,
when they die,
232
00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:01,239
that provide
some of the nutrients
233
00:26:01,360 --> 00:26:02,919
the bromeliads need.
234
00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:06,759
This makes a good partnership,
235
00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:09,479
in which both parties
can thrive.
236
00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:14,319
But it can be exploited...
237
00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:17,519
...by a plant predator.
238
00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:49,279
This probing stem
239
00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:52,319
belongs to a plant called
a bladderwort.
240
00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:56,679
It too is in need of nutrients.
241
00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:08,079
And a well-stocked
bromeliad pool
242
00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:10,759
is just the place to find them.
243
00:27:13,400 --> 00:27:16,679
This one is full
of aquatic animals.
244
00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:46,079
The bladderwort
begins to change...
245
00:27:48,840 --> 00:27:50,639
...into a hunter.
246
00:27:53,040 --> 00:27:56,319
It develops bladders
247
00:27:56,440 --> 00:27:59,039
and removes sufficient
of the water within them
248
00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:02,279
to create a partial vacuum.
249
00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:11,479
Each bladder has a trap door
beside it with trigger hairs.
250
00:28:13,640 --> 00:28:17,679
And now all the bladderwort
has to do...
251
00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:22,599
...is to bide its time.
252
00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:43,879
It only takes one touch
253
00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:46,279
for the trap door
to snap open...
254
00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:51,439
...and suck in its prey.
255
00:28:58,400 --> 00:29:01,839
It's all over in a millisecond.
256
00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:13,959
And after it has fed,
257
00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:15,959
a bladderwort has enough energy
258
00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:18,359
to produce another tendril,
259
00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:21,359
to search
for another bromeliad pool.
260
00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:41,479
Swamps and bogs
are also poor in nutrients.
261
00:29:43,880 --> 00:29:46,359
So several plants
that live in such places
262
00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:47,879
catch insects too,
263
00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:49,519
if they can.
264
00:30:02,160 --> 00:30:04,679
The leaves of sundews
265
00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:07,519
are covered
with long red hairs,
266
00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:10,439
each tipped with a droplet.
267
00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:34,719
These glistening globules
are in fact glue.
268
00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:52,919
Once the sundews detect
269
00:30:53,040 --> 00:30:55,039
the taste
of their victim's body...
270
00:30:56,760 --> 00:31:00,559
...they flood it
with digestive enzymes.
271
00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:12,639
The little body disintegrates.
272
00:31:17,320 --> 00:31:20,359
And the sundew gets
the nutrients it needs.
273
00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:30,279
Another plant has
an even more elaborate way
274
00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:31,559
of catching a meal.
275
00:31:38,400 --> 00:31:40,879
The Venus flytrap has leaves
276
00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:43,759
that are lined
with interlocking teeth.
277
00:31:49,360 --> 00:31:52,839
It attracts insects
by producing a sweet perfume,
278
00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:54,799
just as a flower does.
279
00:31:57,440 --> 00:32:00,399
It too has a hair trigger.
280
00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:14,959
And another insect is caught.
281
00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:30,559
But the technique
is more complex
282
00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:31,799
than it might seem.
283
00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:39,159
The Venus flytrap
has a problem.
284
00:32:39,280 --> 00:32:42,039
It needs to avoid
false alarms -
285
00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:45,359
snapping shut
on something inedible,
286
00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:49,279
like a raindrop
or a little bit of twig.
287
00:32:50,360 --> 00:32:53,999
That would be a waste
of both time and energy.
288
00:32:54,120 --> 00:32:56,719
So how does it avoid that?
289
00:32:56,840 --> 00:32:59,719
Well, it does it by counting.
290
00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:05,119
If I touch this one
sensitive hair just there...
291
00:33:07,080 --> 00:33:08,759
No reaction.
292
00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:10,399
That could be a false alarm.
293
00:33:11,720 --> 00:33:15,279
But the plant remembers that
for 20 seconds.
294
00:33:15,400 --> 00:33:18,599
And if I touch it a second time
within that time...
295
00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:22,399
...then that's much more likely
to be worth eating.
296
00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:24,439
And so...
297
00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:28,719
...it closes!
298
00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:33,359
So far, so good.
299
00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:36,239
But now it needs to be
absolutely certain
300
00:33:36,360 --> 00:33:38,639
that it's got something
worth eating,
301
00:33:38,760 --> 00:33:41,559
so it continues counting.
302
00:33:41,680 --> 00:33:45,439
Only after it has totted up
five separate touches
303
00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:46,999
to those hairs
304
00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:50,079
will it give the final squeeze
305
00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:52,639
and then begin to produce
the liquid
306
00:33:52,760 --> 00:33:54,399
from the surface of the leaf
307
00:33:54,520 --> 00:33:58,199
which will dissolve the body
of its unfortunate victim.
308
00:34:01,320 --> 00:34:03,799
The flytrap now has
enough energy
309
00:34:03,920 --> 00:34:05,319
to produce flowers
310
00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:08,679
and attract
pollinating insects.
311
00:34:19,080 --> 00:34:21,399
Wind and insects,
between them,
312
00:34:21,520 --> 00:34:24,759
pollinate
virtually all land plants.
313
00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:27,759
But neither method can be used
314
00:34:27,880 --> 00:34:30,919
by plants that live
entirely underwater,
315
00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:33,719
so some lead double lives.
316
00:34:37,160 --> 00:34:39,679
At York Stream,
in southern England,
317
00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:41,239
and swaying in the current
318
00:34:41,360 --> 00:34:44,319
is a plant for which
these rivers are famous.
319
00:34:46,120 --> 00:34:51,039
This is water crowfoot,
a kind of aquatic buttercup.
320
00:34:51,160 --> 00:34:53,919
For most of the year,
it is underwater.
321
00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:57,399
And if I take
this underwater camera...
322
00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:04,999
...you can see its floppy stems
grow horizontally.
323
00:35:05,120 --> 00:35:06,879
That reduces the risk
324
00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:10,039
of being swept away
by the current.
325
00:35:12,200 --> 00:35:14,919
But each spring,
when it's time to flower,
326
00:35:15,040 --> 00:35:19,079
it produces something
crucially different.
327
00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:23,559
A stem that is stiff enough
to resist the current...
328
00:35:25,320 --> 00:35:28,279
...and lift its flowers
into the air above.
329
00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:52,439
And now, of course,
they can get help from insects.
330
00:36:08,040 --> 00:36:11,799
So, every year,
in part at least,
331
00:36:11,920 --> 00:36:14,959
water crowfoot
becomes a land plant...
332
00:36:17,960 --> 00:36:19,279
...and provides us
333
00:36:19,400 --> 00:36:21,879
with one of the loveliest
natural spectacles
334
00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:23,799
of the early English summer.
335
00:36:33,560 --> 00:36:36,519
Water crowfoot is not
the only water plant
336
00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:38,559
to lift its flowers
above the surface.
337
00:36:43,520 --> 00:36:46,959
Plants do so
all around the world.
338
00:36:52,960 --> 00:36:56,119
From the swamps
of the Pantanal...
339
00:37:00,360 --> 00:37:02,679
...to the lakes of Thailand...
340
00:37:04,440 --> 00:37:08,039
...they all burst into
spectacular bloom.
341
00:37:17,320 --> 00:37:21,639
Once they've been pollinated,
they produce seeds.
342
00:37:34,040 --> 00:37:36,679
And now their flowers
have done their job,
343
00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:38,599
some return to a life...
344
00:37:40,080 --> 00:37:41,879
...underwater.
345
00:37:46,840 --> 00:37:49,439
Now they must ensure
346
00:37:49,560 --> 00:37:51,279
that some of their seeds
347
00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:54,759
will find suitable places
in which to germinate.
348
00:38:08,920 --> 00:38:10,679
Bulrushes, every year,
349
00:38:10,800 --> 00:38:15,319
produce these long,
brown, velvety objects.
350
00:38:16,840 --> 00:38:19,079
Look what happens
when I break one open.
351
00:38:22,760 --> 00:38:27,079
It contains almost
a quarter of a million seeds.
352
00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:38,679
Each seed is attached
to a delicate parachute.
353
00:38:44,480 --> 00:38:47,759
Even the slightest breeze
will lift it
354
00:38:47,880 --> 00:38:51,319
and may carry it
for very long distances indeed.
355
00:38:54,200 --> 00:38:57,239
So even though suitable
stretches of freshwater
356
00:38:57,360 --> 00:38:59,159
are few and far between,
357
00:38:59,280 --> 00:39:01,799
there's a good chance
that at least one
358
00:39:01,920 --> 00:39:04,279
will end up in a place
where it can grow.
359
00:39:13,400 --> 00:39:17,559
Much bigger seeds, of course,
can't travel by air.
360
00:39:24,600 --> 00:39:27,439
A river can provide transport,
361
00:39:27,560 --> 00:39:30,159
but it's a one-way journey -
362
00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:31,639
downstream -
363
00:39:31,760 --> 00:39:34,239
that often ends up in the sea.
364
00:39:37,920 --> 00:39:39,319
And that's not ideal.
365
00:39:42,600 --> 00:39:45,959
So how can any riverside plant
avoid this
366
00:39:46,080 --> 00:39:47,839
and travel upstream?
367
00:39:50,560 --> 00:39:53,399
Here, along the Bonito river,
in Brazil,
368
00:39:53,520 --> 00:39:57,679
a variety of trees
manage to do exactly that.
369
00:40:04,400 --> 00:40:06,719
They embed their seeds
370
00:40:06,840 --> 00:40:09,639
in the middle
of soft, sweet fruit.
371
00:40:26,120 --> 00:40:29,239
Monkeys,
such as these capuchins...
372
00:40:30,600 --> 00:40:34,639
...make a meal of them
just as soon as they're ripe.
373
00:40:38,040 --> 00:40:42,719
But monkeys
are very wasteful feeders.
374
00:40:42,840 --> 00:40:44,319
And what's not eaten...
375
00:40:46,280 --> 00:40:49,839
...ends up in the river
and is washed away.
376
00:41:04,160 --> 00:41:05,799
But not all.
377
00:41:24,280 --> 00:41:25,719
In the fruiting season,
378
00:41:25,840 --> 00:41:29,119
hundreds of piraputanga fish
379
00:41:29,240 --> 00:41:31,079
gather beneath these trees.
380
00:41:40,040 --> 00:41:43,959
But the piraputanga want more
than the monkeys' leftovers.
381
00:41:46,880 --> 00:41:50,319
The brightly coloured fruits
are clearly visible,
382
00:41:50,440 --> 00:41:52,999
even to the fish
in the water below.
383
00:42:02,600 --> 00:42:04,759
And some manage to claim them
384
00:42:04,880 --> 00:42:07,119
even before a monkey does.
385
00:42:21,320 --> 00:42:22,799
This isn't a skill mastered
386
00:42:22,920 --> 00:42:26,279
by just one particularly
successful acrobatic fish.
387
00:42:26,400 --> 00:42:30,159
Many of the piraputanga
can do this.
388
00:42:34,920 --> 00:42:38,799
Nor is this a disaster
for the tree.
389
00:42:44,360 --> 00:42:46,119
Far from it.
390
00:42:51,320 --> 00:42:54,839
These piraputanga
are migratory,
391
00:42:54,960 --> 00:42:59,039
heading many miles upriver
to spawn.
392
00:43:06,960 --> 00:43:10,239
The trees, by enticing the fish
to eat their fruits,
393
00:43:10,360 --> 00:43:13,359
have a perfect means of
transport for their seeds.
394
00:43:15,560 --> 00:43:18,399
With luck, the seeds
will be deposited
395
00:43:18,520 --> 00:43:20,999
many miles upstream.
396
00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:41,799
The ability to colonise
new habitats
397
00:43:41,920 --> 00:43:44,919
has allowed one group
of flowering plants
398
00:43:45,040 --> 00:43:47,079
to venture out of freshwater
399
00:43:47,200 --> 00:43:50,759
and into a world that may look
the same to us...
400
00:43:51,800 --> 00:43:54,519
...but for a plant
is crucially different.
401
00:43:58,080 --> 00:44:01,719
The much greater,
saltier world -
402
00:44:01,840 --> 00:44:03,359
the sea.
403
00:44:06,640 --> 00:44:09,919
This is a fruit from one
of the most important plants
404
00:44:10,040 --> 00:44:11,999
on the Earth today.
405
00:44:13,160 --> 00:44:14,479
Sea grass.
406
00:44:22,400 --> 00:44:26,599
This particular one is floating
off the coast of Formentera,
407
00:44:26,720 --> 00:44:28,039
in the Mediterranean.
408
00:44:40,280 --> 00:44:42,439
100,000 years ago,
409
00:44:42,560 --> 00:44:44,999
a sea grass seed like this
410
00:44:45,120 --> 00:44:48,319
sank to the sea floor
just here.
411
00:45:02,960 --> 00:45:05,039
And eventually, it produced...
412
00:45:06,400 --> 00:45:07,879
...a great meadow.
413
00:45:12,040 --> 00:45:16,199
A meadow that is still
flourishing today.
414
00:45:19,600 --> 00:45:22,479
It did so by cloning itself.
415
00:45:25,960 --> 00:45:28,559
Now over ten miles across,
416
00:45:28,680 --> 00:45:30,719
it's not only
one of the largest
417
00:45:30,840 --> 00:45:32,519
living organisms on Earth...
418
00:45:33,840 --> 00:45:36,239
...it's also one of the oldest.
419
00:45:43,880 --> 00:45:46,319
And it supports
a rich community
420
00:45:46,440 --> 00:45:48,479
of many kinds of animals.
421
00:45:53,840 --> 00:45:56,279
It's become
a kind of marine savanna.
422
00:46:01,560 --> 00:46:05,079
Over a thousand species
now live here.
423
00:46:05,200 --> 00:46:08,759
Some, like these elegantly
camouflaged pipefish,
424
00:46:08,880 --> 00:46:12,559
live nowhere else
but amongst the sea grass.
425
00:46:22,400 --> 00:46:26,239
Sea grass fringes
many of the world's coasts.
426
00:46:33,240 --> 00:46:36,079
Turtles depend upon it, too.
427
00:46:40,120 --> 00:46:42,079
And so do dugong,
428
00:46:42,200 --> 00:46:43,919
animals
that are sometimes called,
429
00:46:44,040 --> 00:46:47,919
very appropriately, sea cows.
430
00:46:55,320 --> 00:46:59,079
Today, sea grass
plays a critical role
431
00:46:59,200 --> 00:47:01,479
in maintaining the health
of our planet.
432
00:47:03,400 --> 00:47:06,399
It creates stores of carbon
around its roots
433
00:47:06,520 --> 00:47:08,599
at an enormous rate -
434
00:47:08,720 --> 00:47:11,359
35 times faster, in fact,
435
00:47:11,480 --> 00:47:13,279
than plants that live
on the floor
436
00:47:13,400 --> 00:47:14,879
of a tropical rainforest.
437
00:47:18,480 --> 00:47:20,719
Here, off Formentera,
438
00:47:20,840 --> 00:47:23,679
it's possible to see
beneath the living sea grass
439
00:47:23,800 --> 00:47:26,599
layer upon layer
of trapped carbon
440
00:47:26,720 --> 00:47:28,519
that the plants
have accumulated
441
00:47:28,640 --> 00:47:31,039
over the past 2,000 years.
442
00:47:38,040 --> 00:47:42,639
Sea grass, however, is easily
destroyed by human disturbance.
443
00:47:42,760 --> 00:47:44,679
A third of the world's
underwater meadows
444
00:47:44,800 --> 00:47:46,839
have already been lost,
445
00:47:46,960 --> 00:47:49,359
and many more
are in decline.
446
00:47:57,480 --> 00:47:59,199
Biologists are now striving
447
00:47:59,320 --> 00:48:02,359
to not only protect
the remaining meadows
448
00:48:02,480 --> 00:48:04,079
but to restore them.
449
00:48:07,160 --> 00:48:09,879
One plant at a time.
450
00:48:16,720 --> 00:48:19,759
Sea grass could be
a valuable ally
451
00:48:19,880 --> 00:48:22,159
in our fight
against climate change.
452
00:48:26,200 --> 00:48:30,279
Today, water worlds everywhere
are under threat.
453
00:48:35,960 --> 00:48:39,279
Many of their inhabitants
are disappearing
454
00:48:39,400 --> 00:48:42,439
without us even being aware
of their existence.
455
00:48:50,560 --> 00:48:52,199
The plants that grow in water
456
00:48:52,320 --> 00:48:54,639
are probably
the least noticeable.
457
00:48:54,760 --> 00:48:57,159
They're certainly
the least studied.
458
00:48:57,280 --> 00:48:58,519
But the more you know
459
00:48:58,640 --> 00:49:01,199
about the problems
of living in that way,
460
00:49:01,320 --> 00:49:04,479
the greater the wonder
of their success.
461
00:49:06,080 --> 00:49:09,239
Surely, they deserve
more of our attention
462
00:49:09,360 --> 00:49:12,519
and, most importantly,
our care.
463
00:49:29,440 --> 00:49:32,679
This vast wetland
is the Pantanal.
464
00:49:32,800 --> 00:49:34,479
The Water Worlds team
465
00:49:34,600 --> 00:49:37,319
are heading
to a plant battlefield -
466
00:49:37,440 --> 00:49:41,839
the home
of Brazil's giant waterlily.
467
00:49:44,520 --> 00:49:46,759
This is like seeing
the end of a war -
468
00:49:46,880 --> 00:49:49,079
there are leaves growing
on top of each other,
469
00:49:49,200 --> 00:49:52,559
flowers going through leaves...
Unbelievable.
470
00:49:55,360 --> 00:49:58,039
To capture this story
in all its detail
471
00:49:58,160 --> 00:49:59,719
would take over a year
472
00:49:59,840 --> 00:50:02,599
and require a unique
Green Planet approach,
473
00:50:02,720 --> 00:50:04,479
both filming here
474
00:50:04,600 --> 00:50:07,319
and in a parallel
mini Pantanal,
475
00:50:07,440 --> 00:50:09,159
in deepest, darkest...
476
00:50:09,280 --> 00:50:10,839
...Devon.
477
00:50:14,040 --> 00:50:16,159
This is the unique world
478
00:50:16,280 --> 00:50:19,519
of specialist time-lapse
cameraman Tim Shepherd.
479
00:50:22,480 --> 00:50:24,239
Tim has the reputation
480
00:50:24,360 --> 00:50:27,399
of being able
to think like a plant.
481
00:50:28,480 --> 00:50:30,239
It's absolutely crucial
482
00:50:30,360 --> 00:50:32,159
that you get the plant
really happy.
483
00:50:32,280 --> 00:50:35,519
And to make the giant lily
feel totally at home,
484
00:50:35,640 --> 00:50:39,359
Tim must build a little piece
of Brazilian wetland.
485
00:50:41,680 --> 00:50:44,439
First, a 10,000-litre tank.
486
00:50:47,680 --> 00:50:48,999
Hundreds of bricks,
487
00:50:49,120 --> 00:50:51,839
almost a thousand kilos of soil
488
00:50:51,960 --> 00:50:54,119
and countless cups of tea
later,
489
00:50:54,240 --> 00:50:56,279
the foundations are complete.
490
00:50:57,800 --> 00:50:59,799
So far, so good.
491
00:50:59,920 --> 00:51:02,719
Now time to prepare
492
00:51:02,840 --> 00:51:04,959
for the new Green Planet
camera system.
493
00:51:05,080 --> 00:51:05,999
That way.
494
00:51:06,120 --> 00:51:09,439
We're trying to assemble
the main gantry framework
495
00:51:09,560 --> 00:51:11,839
so that we can mount
the moving rig on top of it.
496
00:51:11,960 --> 00:51:15,079
So it's a bit of a fiddle
to get all the screws
497
00:51:15,200 --> 00:51:16,719
in all the right places,
basically.
498
00:51:18,560 --> 00:51:20,239
After a few weeks,
499
00:51:20,360 --> 00:51:22,239
the building works
are complete.
500
00:51:23,800 --> 00:51:25,759
The flood can now begin.
501
00:51:32,960 --> 00:51:35,599
Tim needs to be sure
everything in the room
502
00:51:35,720 --> 00:51:38,319
is heated
to tropical temperatures...
503
00:51:38,440 --> 00:51:39,879
Ah!
504
00:51:42,240 --> 00:51:45,479
...before the star of the scene
can move in.
505
00:51:48,640 --> 00:51:51,359
Carefully grown
at the Royal Botanic Gardens
506
00:51:51,480 --> 00:51:53,679
at Kew, especially for us.
507
00:51:58,400 --> 00:52:01,279
Everything depends
on this one plant.
508
00:52:01,400 --> 00:52:04,239
There will be no time
for a second attempt.
509
00:52:06,920 --> 00:52:08,879
And even more important
for Tim,
510
00:52:09,000 --> 00:52:11,279
to keep his guest
happy and healthy.
511
00:52:12,560 --> 00:52:15,479
This big monster
needs a lot of feeding.
512
00:52:15,600 --> 00:52:18,039
We've found we need
about five sandbags
513
00:52:18,160 --> 00:52:21,199
full of compost
every two or three weeks.
514
00:52:21,320 --> 00:52:23,479
So we just sort of
lower them in
515
00:52:23,600 --> 00:52:24,919
and stick them
down by the roots.
516
00:52:25,040 --> 00:52:26,799
Whoa! There we go.
517
00:52:26,920 --> 00:52:29,799
Whilst the Devon giant
settles in...
518
00:52:31,320 --> 00:52:32,839
...the Pantanal crew
519
00:52:32,960 --> 00:52:35,999
are continuing
to get their shots.
520
00:52:36,120 --> 00:52:37,039
Time to see
521
00:52:37,160 --> 00:52:39,119
some giant waterlilies
underwater,
522
00:52:39,240 --> 00:52:42,159
and I hope there's no anaconda.
523
00:52:47,920 --> 00:52:49,639
Oof!
524
00:52:49,760 --> 00:52:52,159
Mission accomplished.
525
00:52:54,760 --> 00:52:57,359
The pressure is now on Tim.
526
00:52:59,920 --> 00:53:01,679
After months of pampering,
527
00:53:01,800 --> 00:53:04,639
the giant lily
is ready for action.
528
00:53:07,080 --> 00:53:10,159
First thing to film
is a leaf spike rising up
529
00:53:10,280 --> 00:53:11,359
from the depths.
530
00:53:14,320 --> 00:53:16,639
Luckily,
there are no anacondas here.
531
00:53:19,280 --> 00:53:22,239
The special camera
weighs over 40 kg.
532
00:53:22,360 --> 00:53:24,759
It's suddenly become
less heavy, which is good.
533
00:53:25,840 --> 00:53:26,999
The new rig
534
00:53:27,120 --> 00:53:28,639
means Tim will be able
to follow
535
00:53:28,760 --> 00:53:31,119
the emerging plant
in any direction.
536
00:53:36,600 --> 00:53:38,599
Whoa! Fancy!
537
00:53:40,040 --> 00:53:42,159
The technology is working well,
538
00:53:42,280 --> 00:53:46,039
but nature is starting
to derail Tim's plans.
539
00:53:46,160 --> 00:53:49,159
Getting really tangled up
with all these weeds!
540
00:53:50,400 --> 00:53:52,399
What happens is,
we've got
541
00:53:52,520 --> 00:53:54,879
a bit of an ecosystem
developing here.
542
00:53:55,000 --> 00:53:58,319
Before you know it,
you get masses and masses
543
00:53:58,440 --> 00:54:00,079
of algae growing
in amongst it all.
544
00:54:00,200 --> 00:54:01,719
Eugh!
545
00:54:01,840 --> 00:54:03,959
Gah!
546
00:54:04,080 --> 00:54:07,479
I think I've just released
some anaerobic gases there.
547
00:54:07,600 --> 00:54:09,639
No, not me, the...
548
00:54:09,760 --> 00:54:11,159
...the algae.
549
00:54:12,520 --> 00:54:16,679
State-of-the-art tools
help keep the algae at bay.
550
00:54:19,040 --> 00:54:21,119
Eugh!
551
00:54:27,400 --> 00:54:31,159
Just in time
for Tim to film liftoff.
552
00:54:42,200 --> 00:54:44,719
Well, that's quite nice,
coming out of the water.
553
00:54:44,840 --> 00:54:45,759
Look at that!
554
00:54:45,880 --> 00:54:47,679
Tim's focus can now shift
555
00:54:47,800 --> 00:54:50,839
to the battle that's starting
to take place on the surface.
556
00:54:54,240 --> 00:54:55,399
Well, I'm trying to film
557
00:54:55,520 --> 00:54:57,719
this new bud
coming out on this lily leaf.
558
00:54:57,840 --> 00:54:59,599
It's going to take
about three days
559
00:54:59,720 --> 00:55:02,079
to grow from where it is now
560
00:55:02,200 --> 00:55:04,799
to somewhere in this zone,
between these two other leaves.
561
00:55:04,920 --> 00:55:06,919
I want that to last
about ten seconds.
562
00:55:07,040 --> 00:55:10,359
Ten seconds
is about 250 frames.
563
00:55:10,480 --> 00:55:13,559
That works out to about
one frame every 20 minutes.
564
00:55:14,640 --> 00:55:18,079
But plants don't read scripts.
565
00:55:18,200 --> 00:55:20,679
It's nature -
it doesn't always do
566
00:55:20,800 --> 00:55:22,279
what you think
it's going to do.
567
00:55:28,120 --> 00:55:30,159
We've had a few false starts,
568
00:55:30,280 --> 00:55:32,879
where the leaf has swung out of
shot and gone somewhere else.
569
00:55:38,400 --> 00:55:41,719
Or it just grows a lot quicker
than you thought.
570
00:55:45,640 --> 00:55:47,759
It's a challenge
to get things right,
571
00:55:47,880 --> 00:55:50,399
but with the combination
of Tim's expertise
572
00:55:50,520 --> 00:55:51,679
and the new camera system,
573
00:55:51,800 --> 00:55:54,719
results are starting
to look good.
574
00:55:54,840 --> 00:55:56,639
I think the difference now
with this series
575
00:55:56,760 --> 00:55:59,719
is we can bring the plants
much more to life
576
00:55:59,840 --> 00:56:01,079
as characters
577
00:56:01,200 --> 00:56:04,799
and tell their story
in a much more dynamic way.
578
00:56:07,280 --> 00:56:10,679
It's great to be able
to follow them around,
579
00:56:10,800 --> 00:56:14,079
much more in the way
you'd film an animal behaving.
580
00:56:20,800 --> 00:56:23,799
These rigs have given us
581
00:56:23,920 --> 00:56:25,999
a whole new realm
of possibilities.
582
00:56:26,120 --> 00:56:29,039
After over a year of filming
and recording
583
00:56:29,160 --> 00:56:32,039
100,000 separate images,
584
00:56:32,160 --> 00:56:34,759
the secret life
of the giant waterlily
585
00:56:34,880 --> 00:56:38,239
and the battle of the Pantanal
has been revealed.
42973
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