Plant Adaptations

• Structural adaptations for water-Roots


  • Roots are the part of the plant responsible for finding and absorbing water. 
• Structural adaptations for water-roots


  The length of the roots can affect a plant's ability to find water
• Structural adaptations for water-roots


  Since rain in the desert is quick to evaporate, roots that grow horizontally can help to catch shallow water.
• Structural adaptations for water-roots


  Rain can also be absorbed into the groundwater, allowing long roots to also be beneficial.
• Structural adaptations for water-leaves


  • Although the roots of a plant are responsible for taking in water, the leaves hold water within their cells. When temperatures rise, water will evaporate off of the surface of leaves. 
• Structural adaptations for water-leaves


  • The size and shape of a leaf can help the plant to reserve water in hot temperatures. 
• Structural adaptations for water-leaves


  • Narrow leaves have a smaller surface area so very little water will be able to evaporate out of the plant.  
• Structural adaptations for water-leaves


  • Some desert plants also have thicker stems and leaves to allow them to store water within them. This is the case for succulents, a plant species that includes agave, cacti, aloe vera, and more. 
• Structural adaptations for protection-thorns


  • Thorns are sharp and can prevent animals from eating plants. 
• Structural adaptations for sunlight-leaves


  • Narrow leaves have a smaller surface area so very little water will be able to evaporate out of the plant. 
• Structural adaptations for nutrients-bulbs


  • During the cold winter months, plants can go through a dormant period where they pause their life processes and try to conserve energy.
• Structural adaptations for nutrients-bulbs


  • Some plants have bulbs that grow underground and store nutrients.
• physiological adaptations for nutrients-use of bulbs


  Plants that have bulbs have internal processes to use these nutrients for during these months. 
• structural adaptations for sunlight-leaves


  • Broad leaves have a large surface area to allow more sunlight to be absorbed by the plant.
• physiological adaptations all plants need-tropisms


  hydrotropism,geotropism,phototropism,thigmotropism
• Tropisms


  Are seen when a plant’s cells are responding to external stimuli such as water
• Basic needs of a plant


  Light, Air, Nutrients, Space to grow, Water