Plant adaptations

Science 4

1. Plant adaptations - Plants have specialized parts that enable them to survive in their habitats

2. For getting water and sunlight Water and sunlight are needed in making their food. Plants living in aquatic or terrestrial have different specialized parts

3. roots Plants living in desert lie immediately under the ground and are spread horizontally. This root system enables them to seep easily the water especially that the place has little or no rainfall in a year.

4. roots The roots of aquatic plants are smaller and shorter. No need for thicker or longer roots for the transportation of water since they are already submerged in water. Most of them have thin or hair like roots. Mangroves have specialized roots with air spaces which conducts air down to the roots and allow the root tissue to respire normally.

5. leaves Plants in the deserts have developed leaves that are usually thick, tough, and waxy. These structures enable the plant to retain water, keep the water inside the leaves from dripping out, reflect light from the sun and help reduce the loss of water, and bromeliads’ leaves have sunken middle part that catches water from the rain. Bromeliads

6. leaves Trees in tropical forests and temperate forests have broad leaves with drip tips or pointed tips that are very slippery and let rain water glide off the leaves. Excess water cause the plants to form mold or mildew, rot, and die. The adaptation in their leaves helps them keep the trees in these forests dry.

7. leaves Plants’ leaves in coniferous forests are thin and shaped like long needles. The structure prevent more water from being lost since the plants in this habitat do not have much access to water. B ecause it is located at cold regions which the ground I always covered in snow and the sun is almost low in the sky.

8. leaves Aquatic plants have wide leaves that enables the plant to get enough sunlight even as the plant floats in the water.

9. stems Terrestrial plants like rattan have developed lianas or vines with thick and twisted stems that loop around the palms’ tree trunks and move upward to reach the sunlight. This adaptation enables the plant to gain more sunlight.

10. stems Aloe vera plant has long and fleshy stems that store some of the plant’s water. Water lotus has developed long and thick stem that lifts its circular leaves way above the water’s surface and bring them closer to the source of sunlight.

11. For protection Protection from animals and even humans Structures: thorns or spines, toxic substances, and even smells.

12. Thorns and spines Thorns - a modified branch that has adapted such that it is sharper and more pointed than the rest of the branch. Animals trying to much on a plant that has thorn like rose had to contend with the plant’s thorns. Spines – modified part of the leaf that is sharper and more pointed than the rest of the leaf. It protect themselves from being eaten by animals that would like to get their water.

13. Poisonous substances Nettles have tiny hair or hairlike structures that release a stinging and toxic liquid when the plants are touched.

14. Poisonous substances Roots of black walnut tree can even produce substances that poison the surrounding ground to discourage the growth of plants near the tree. Chrysanthemum plant also produce toxic substance to the insects that come near it.

15. Poisonous substances Oak tree contains substance that can poison the people who try to eat them. Chili plants though it is edible to humans but for the lower type of animals (herbivorous) are hurt when they attempt to eat them.

16. Other means Makahiya leaves closes when touched. This act as defense against herbivores that may be deterred by the plants sudden response. Leaves of cogon grass and pineapple plants have sharp blades that cause harm to herbivores like deer and goats when the latter try to feed on them. The skunk cabbage, rafflesia flower, and kalumpang tree have stinky smells that drive away their enemies.