Question 5
Investigating transport in a celery stalk. Follow the path of water as it moves up through a stalk. You need a stalk of celery, pak choi or another plant with a thick stalk (preferably with leaves at the top), a small beaker or Petri dish, water mixed with coloured dye, and a blade with a cork board or other non-slip cutting surface.
1. Put coloured water in the container, no more than 1 to 2 cm deep.
2. Cut across the lower end of the stalk (not the leaf end), making a clean cut that is not blocked or damaged.
3. Stand the cut end in the coloured water.
4. Every five minutes or so, look for the blue dye moving up the stalk. This can be quick or slow.
5. When the dye reaches the top, take the stalk out and rinse dye off its end with tap water.
6. Put the stalk on a non-slip surface and cut across it about halfway up.
Safety: cut away from yourself so that a slipping blade does not hit your hand. Carry out the investigation and record what you observe.
1. Put coloured water in the container, no more than 1 to 2 cm deep.
2. Cut across the lower end of the stalk (not the leaf end), making a clean cut that is not blocked or damaged.
3. Stand the cut end in the coloured water.
4. Every five minutes or so, look for the blue dye moving up the stalk. This can be quick or slow.
5. When the dye reaches the top, take the stalk out and rinse dye off its end with tap water.
6. Put the stalk on a non-slip surface and cut across it about halfway up.
Safety: cut away from yourself so that a slipping blade does not hit your hand. Carry out the investigation and record what you observe.
