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How Do You Pollinate 40 Million Almond Trees?

Season 1 Episode 5 | 2m 33s

Central California is the biggest orchard in the world and almonds are one of its main crops. There are 40 million trees here with 20,000 flowers each, meaning there are billions of flowers in this one location. But there are no pollinators for the job, they were wiped out when the surrounding environment was cleared. So 40 billion bees are trucked in from across the U.S. when the trees bloom.

Extras
Sir David Attenborough reveals how humans help plants, many of which face extinction.
Marksmen use paintballs filled with herbicide shot from a helicopter to stop Miconia.
Some plants developed adaptations that were unhelpful for the cultivation of crops.
Sir David Attenborough explores desert plants with survival tactics.
The saguaro features a pleated surface which allows it to expand.
The baobab stores thousands of gallons of water in its spongy wood.
Tristerix seeds travel in bird droppings to invade the bodies of giant cactus.
The Hammer Orchid emits the scent of the female thynnid wasp to confuse the male.
Sir David Attenborough reveals the surprising effects of the seasons on plant life.
Fungi is able to link a whole group of trees through their root systems.
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Sir David Attenborough reveals how humans help plants, many of which face extinction.
Sir David Attenborough explores desert plants with survival tactics.
Sir David Attenborough reveals the surprising effects of the seasons on plant life.
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Sir David Attenborough takes a plants-eye view of life in a rainforest.