Plant adaptations

Adaptions of plants refers to ways in which the

plant has undergone changes to its genes as well

as physical appearance in order to survive in a

hostile or competitive environment.

Plants may be adapted to survive in dry environments

by means of:

o changes to surface area, particularly of the leaves

o water-storage tissues

o extensive root systems.

Saxifrage Arctic Willow

Bearberry Arctic flower

Cold climate plants

• Plants are small - usually less than 12

inches tall to avoid wind

• Plants are dark - helps them absorb solar

heat.

• Small waxy leaves / needles

• Some plants are covered with hair

• Some plants grow in clumps for protection

• Some plants have dish-like flowers that

follow the sun

Many desert or arid plants have silver leaves or

leaves covered with reflective hairs in order to

reflect excessive heat.

Cold climate trees

Trees

• many trees are evergreen

• many trees have needle-like leaves to lose

less water

• waxy coating on needles

• needles are dark in colour

• trees have branches that droop downward

Plants in Dry ClimatesAdaptations:

Can you think of any?

Make a list.

• Some plants store water in their stems or leaves = succulents

• Some plants have no leaves

• Long root systems spread out wide or go deep into the ground to absorb water

• Spines to protect from being eaten

• Plants slower growing so require less

energy

• Flowers that open at night lure pollinators

who tend to be active during the night

• Hair help shade the plant, reducing water

loss

Cacti have evolved

spines to replace leaves

to reduce transpiration

and offer protection from

predators - most thorns

and spines are

protection adaptations.

Some desert/ arid region

plants like Protasparagus

have adapted

underground storage

organs to store water

when it is periodically

available

Other types of plant adaptation

Some vines have adapted tendrils or suckers to

be able to hoist their foliage up into areas of

optimal light and avoid the completion on the

ground.

The Venus Flytrap has adapted "traps" to catch

insects and supplement the nutrient

requirements lacking in its natural soil.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7eQKSf0LmY

Jungle plants have adapted large deep green

leaf surfaces to maximise their exposure to the

sun while on the jungle floor.

The entire nature and mechanism of deciduous plants is

a survival mechanism, brought about so that the plants

can preserve resources and endure long periods of frost

or snow.

Scientists investigated two types of violet plants. One was found more

frequently in shade, the shade violet. The other was found more

frequently in sunny places, the sun violet.

A B

a) Which violet is which?

b) Give a reason for your choice.

The number of violets in an area of woodland were counted before and after a large

number of trees were removed. The results are shown below.

i) State how light conditions would have changed when the trees were removed.

(ii) Which of the plants survived better before the trees were removed?

(iii) What happened to the number of these plants after the trees were removed?

Violet typeBefore trees

removed

2 years after

trees

removed

5 years after

trees

removed

Shade 190 50 30

Sun 20 60 120