Plant Adaptations

Plant Adaptations

We've learned about animal adaptations but plants have adaptations, too! Today, we'll explore what those adaptations are.

Vocabulary

Adaptation

a change that a living thing goes through so it fits better with its environment

Adapt

to change in response to the environment or situation

Environment

The natural world of the land sea, and air.

Natural Selection

Over time, traits that are essential to an organisms survival are passed on to future generations. Those traits that are not necessary for survival become less common in future generations.

Notes

• plants take hundreds, sometimes thousands of years to adapt.

• Plant adaptations help plants live in environments that don't have a lot of water or sunlight necessary for them to live.

• Underwater plants have flexible stems and leaves so they can bend and flow with the currents

• Floating plants have space in their stems for air to help them to grow

• Plants need water and sunlight to survive

• If plants didn't adapt, they wouldn't be able to survive.

Multiple Choice

What does it mean when a plant adapts?

• It grows on the rainforest floor or under water.

• It changes itself to fit in better with its environment.

• It grows giant leaves and has very bright flowers.

• It converts its surroundings into a kinder climate.

Multiple Choice

How long does adaptation usually take?

• a decade

• an hour

• a few days

• centuries

Multiple Choice

Why do plants adapt to their environments?

• in order to give the surrounding animals and people enough food to survive

• in order to get the water and sunlight they need to survive in a harsh environment

• in order to block sunlight from the floors of the ocean and the rainforest

• in order to grow very tall and to become as bright and colorful as they can

Multiple Choice

How do underwater plants adapt to their surroundings?

• They have flexible leaves and stems.

• They have an air space in their stems.

• They have floating seeds.

• They have very bright colors.

Multiple Choice

How do plants like water lilies float on the water?

• They have seeds that float.

• They have slippery leaves.

• They have an air space in the stems.

• They have poisonous leaves.

Multiple Choice

Why do some plants in the rainforest have bright flowers and grow close to the ground?

• to repel any extra rainfall

• to get as much sunlight on their leaves as possible

• to keep animals and people away from them

• to attract birds and insects for pollination

Multiple Choice

How have some rainforest plants adapted to receive enough sunlight?

• by growing poisonous flowers

• by growing giant, slippery leaves

• by growing giant, bright flowers

• by growing long, deep roots