Adaptations in Plants
a) Plants can be found in various locations like mountains, deserts, oceans, plains, and river valleys.
b)They are able to adapt to their specific environment.
c) Plants that grow on land are called terrestrial plants, while those that live in water are called aquatic plants.
d) Plants change themselves in certain ways to fit into their surroundings, and this natural process is known as adaptations.
e) Adaptations in plants are special changes that they make to survive and thrive in their specific environments.
Adaptations in Terrestrial Plants
There are various kinds of terrestrial plants:
1. Plants on the Hills or Mountains
a) There are special types of plants that grow on hills or mountains.
b) These plants are usually tall and have a straight shape.
c) They look like cones because their branches are arranged in a conical pattern.
d) The leaves of these plants are long and thin, like needles, and they have a shiny covering on them to protect against water loss.
e) These cone-shaped trees are called conifers, and some examples of conifers are Pine and Fir trees.
f) The conical shape helps them shed off snow easily, and the waxy coating on their leaves helps them keep water inside.
2. Plants in Plains
a) In the flat areas called plains, there are special plants that can withstand the hot weather and provide shade during the summer.
b) These plants have plenty of space to grow, so they have lots of branches and leaves.
c) Their leaves are flat, and some trees even shed their leaves during winter.
d) These plants in the plains also receive a good amount of rainfall to help them grow.
e) Some examples of plants found in the plains are mango trees, teak trees, neem trees, banyan trees, and oak trees.
3. Plants in Deserts
a) Deserts are places where there is very little water and it's very hot and sandy.
b) Desert plants have adapted to conserve water. Instead of having large, thin leaves that lose water easily, they often have small or no leaves at all.
c) Some plants, like cacti, even have spines instead of leaves to reduce water loss.
d) Many desert plants have fleshy stems or leaves that can store water.
e) Desert plants have long roots that can reach deep into the ground to find water.
f) A few examples of plants found in deserts are catus, acacia and desert marigold.
4. Plants in Marshy Areas
a) In marshy areas, which are found near the seashore where rivers flow into the sea, there are special plants called mangroves. These plants have adapted to live in soil that is always wet.
b) One interesting adaptation of mangroves is their roots. Instead of growing into the soil, the roots of mangroves grow above the ground. These special roots are called breathing roots or pneumatophores.
c) By growing above the ground, the mangrove roots can take in the oxygen they need for survival.
d) This adaptation helps mangroves thrive in marshy areas where other plants might struggle to grow.
Deciduous and Evergreen Trees
a) Some trees shed their leaves during autumn or winter, and we call them deciduous trees. These trees have lots of branches. Examples of deciduous trees are teak, sal, and maple.
b) On the other hand, there are trees that do not shed their leaves and stay green all year long. We call them evergreen trees. Evergreen trees have many leaves and keep their green colour throughout the year. Mahogany and rosewood are examples of evergreen trees.
Adaptations in Aquatic Plants
There are three groups of aquatic plants:
1. Floating Plants
a) These plants are small and lightweight.
b) They are like sponges and don't have roots fixed in the soil.
c) Instead, they float on the water's surface.
d) Some examples of floating plants are water fern, duckweed, water lettuce, and water hyacinth.
2. Fixed Plants
a) Some plants, like lotus and water lilies, have roots that are fixed in the muddy bottom of a pond or lake.
b) They have long, thin, hollow, and flexible stems that support their large leaves and flowers, which float on the water's surface.
c) The leaves are broad and have a wax coating.
d) The stomata, which are tiny openings, are located on the upper surface of the leaf, which helps the plant exchange gases easily.
3. Underwater Plants
a) These plants, such as hydrilla, eelgrass, tape grass, and pondweed, grow completely submerged in water.
b) Their roots are firmly anchored in the soil or the bottom of shallow ponds and rivers.
c) Underwater plants have long and narrow leaves that resemble ribbons.
d) Unlike other plants, their leaves do not have stomata. Instead, these plants have adapted to absorb gases directly through their body surface, which means their entire plant body helps them breathe underwater.
4. Unusual Plants
a) There are some plants that feed on insects. They are called insectivorous plants.
b) These plants eat insects because they live in places where the soil doesn't have enough nutrients for them to grow properly.
c) One example of an insectivorous plant is called the Venus flytrap. Its leaves have a special design that allows them to snap shut when an insect lands on them.
d) Once the insect is caught, the plant releases special juices that help it digest the insect and take in the nutrients from its body to survive and grow.
e) Another example of an insectivorous plant is the pitcher plant.
