Adaptations of Plants

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Adaptations of Plants

• Xerophytes and Hydrophytes

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Adaptations of Plants

• Plants can survive in many extreme environments.
• Xerophytes Desert Plants
• Hydrophytes Water Plants (live in ponds, rivers
  and swamps)
• In order to survive in these environments, these
  plants need to have adaptations.

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Xerophytes
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Xerophyte Adaptations

• Well established root systems.
• Grow deeply and in all directions in order to
  anchor the plants in sandy soil and against the
  wind.
• Helps to maximize water uptake.

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Xerophyte Adaptations

• Short Life Cycles
• Grow from seeds to mature plants, produce
  flowers, fruits and seeds in a short amount of
  time.
• These few days can coincide with the few days of
  rain.

• Thickened, Waxy Cuticle
• Prevention of water loss because the cuticle
  prevents the water that the leaves already have
  from escaping due to the high heat and intense
  sunlight.

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Xerophyte Adaptations
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Xerophyte Adaptations

• Many desert plants are called C4 or CAM plants.
• These plants only open their stomata in the dark
  at night.
• The cooler temperatures allow the plant to take
  up CO2 through their stomata without sacrificing
  water.

• What can help you to remember the adaptations?
• Imagine you are in that environment. What would
  you need?

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Hydrophytes
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Adaptations of Hydrophytes

• Have lots of air spaces in their tissues.
• This helps them to float in water.

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Adaptations of Hydrophytes

• Roots in water-clogged soil are called Breathing
  Roots or Pneumatophores.
• These roots grow to reach the surface above the
  water in order to obtain CO2 to survive.
• Marshes or Swamps

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Adaptations of Hydrophytes

• Again, if you were in that environment, what
  would you need to survive?
• To breathe underwater?
• To float on the water?