Plant Adaptations in Different Environments

What is Plant Adaptation?

• Adaptation is a process by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment.
• Adaptations often develop in response to a change in the organism's habitat.

Plant Adaptations in Different Environments

Desert Plants

• Desert plants like the thorny cactus and Joshua tree have:
  • Small or no leaves to conserve water
  • Many spines to conserve water
  • Thick wax coat on leaves to retain water
  • Leafless plants like cacti store water in their green stem
  • Roots near the soil surface to soak up water before it evaporates

Tropical Rainforest Plants

• Plants in the tropical rainforest have:
  • Drip tips and waxy coverings on leaves to shed extra water
  • Prop roots to support them in shallow soil
  • Grow on top of one another to reach sunlight
• Examples of plants: Bromeliads and lianas

Temperate Forest Plants

• Plants in the temperate forest have:
  • Thick barks to shed them against chilly winters
  • Broad leaves that capture a lot of sunlight
  • Deciduous trees drop their leaves in autumn to minimize water loss
• Examples of plants: Wildflowers, oak, ash, maple, etc.

Aquatic Plants

• Aquatic plants have:
  • Greener leaves on the upper side and red on the lower portion
  • No stems as they do not require water to be absorbed
• Examples of plants: Water lily and lotus

Fun Facts

• The roots of the mesquite can be up to 50 to 80 meters long, the longest among desert plants.
• Grasslands are also known as prairies and have deep roots to survive prairie fires.

What is Plant Adaptation?

• Adaptation is a process by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment
• Adaptations often develop in response to a change in the organism's habitat

Plant Adaptations in Different Environments

Desert Plants

• Have small or no leaves to conserve water
• Have many spines to conserve water
• Have a thick wax coat on leaves to retain water
• Are leafless, storing water in their green stems (e.g., cactus)
• Have roots near the soil surface to soak up water before it evaporates (e.g., Joshua tree)

Tropical Rainforest Plants

• Have drip tips and waxy coverings on leaves to shed extra water
• Have prop roots to support them in shallow soil
• Grow on top of one another to reach sunlight (e.g., Bromeliads and lianas)

Temperate Forest Plants

• Have thick barks to protect against chilly winters
• Have broad leaves that capture a lot of sunlight
• Are deciduous, dropping leaves in autumn to minimize water loss (e.g., wildflowers, oak, ash, maple)

Aquatic Plants

• Have greener leaves on the upper side and red on the lower portion
• Do not have stems, as they do not require water to be absorbed (e.g., water lily and lotus)

Fun Facts

• Mesquite roots can be up to 50-80 meters long, the longest among desert plants
• Grasslands (also known as prairies) have deep roots to survive prairie fires