Plant Adaptations

Different plant adaptations

by Charanya Sagala

​Terrestrial habitats for plants

​Terrestrial plants grow in different land habitats such as plains, mountains, and deserts. A habitat is a natural environment where a plant grows. Many plants, like rose, hibiscus, banyan tree, cactus, and pine grow on land. Plants growing in different features to suit the climate of that habitat. These features help them to survive in that habitat.

​Adaption- Adaption means adjusting to that climate.

​Habitat-Habitat means in which place does it grow.

​plains-

​Flatland, with heavy or little rainfall. Many types of grass and trees, like neem, banyan, and rubber grow in plains.

​Mountains-

​Landforms are higher than plains. Mountains are cold with snow during winters. Pine, fir, and teak trees grow in the Mountains.

​Desserts-

​Desserts have hot weather and very little rainfall. Plants, like the cactus and opuntia, grow in hot desserts.

​Plant adaptations in Plains

​Plants growing in plains with heavy or little rainfall have green leaves throughout the year are called evergreen plants. Example-Banyan tree, the Mango tree, And the Eucalyptus tree.

​1. Evergreen, like the eucalyptus, has waxy leaves to stop rainwater from wetting the leaves.

2. They also have roots that spread out to help the tree remain firmly fixed in the soil.

​Deciduous

​Plains with little rainfall have hot summers and severe winters. Oak and maple trees grow in such regions. These trees are called deciduous trees

​1. The leaves are broad to help capture sunlight and make enough food to store and use during winter.

​2. Just before winter, the leaves turn into yellowish-orange and then fall off the tree. That is called shed. This helps the trees to save water during winter.

​3. The trees have a thick bark to help protect them during winter.

​Plant adaptations on Mountains

​Mountain plants are tall and conical in shape. This helps snow to slide off its branches easily.

​Roots spread out to help the tree remain firmly fixed in the soil.

​Leaves are in needle shape and have a waxy coating. This helps to protect the leaves from the snow.

​Plant adaptations in Desserts

​Most desert plants are adapted to save water. Example- Cactus, Aloe vera

​Leaves of the cactus are reduced to spines to avoid water loss of water. They also help the plants from being eaten by animals. Their stem carries out photosynthesis.

​Roots are long as they grow deep into the soil and spread out to absorb water.

​Stems and leaves are thick and fleshy as they save water in them. Desert plants use their stored water when no water is available.

​Aquatic plants

​Fixed plant

​Submerged plant

​Floating plant

​Floating plants -

​Have roots freely floating on water. Example- Water hyacinth, Duckweed. They have light and spongy stems and leaves filled with air to allow them to float on the water surface.

​Fixed plant-

​Have roots that are fixed into the soil. Example-Water lily, Lotus. Their stem can bend which helps the plants to withstand water currents. Their leaves are broad and flat and float on the surface of water. They have stomata on top.

​Submerged plants-

​Grow completely underwater with small roots fixed into the soil. Example-Hydrilla, Eelgrass, Seaweed. Their leaves are thin Ribbon-like and narrow to withstand water currents. The leaves do not have stomata and can take in air directly from the water.

Multiple Choice

What are the three types of Aquatic plants

• Floating, Fixed and submerged plants

• fixed plants

• terrestrial plants

• water plant

Multiple Choice

Dessert climate

• Hot and less rainfall

• Cold and snow

• Heavy rainfall

​Than you for learning

​Don't forget to know other interesting lessons

​Bye