Plants have developed various adaptations to survive in different environments. Some plants in cold climates are small, dark-colored, and have small waxy leaves or needles to minimize heat loss. Desert plants often have silver or hairy leaves to reflect sunlight, store water in stems or leaves, or have deep root systems to reach water underground. Adaptations help plants acquire resources and endure environmental stresses.

1. Plant adaptations

2. 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.

3. Saxifrage Arctic Willow
Bearberry Arctic flower
Cold climate plants

4. • 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

5. Many desert or arid plants have silver leaves or
leaves covered with reflective hairs in order to
reflect excessive heat.

6. Cold climate trees

7. 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

8. Plants in Dry Climates
Adaptations:
Can you think of any?
Make a list.

9. • 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

10. • 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

12. Cacti have evolved
spines to replace leaves
to reduce transpiration
and offer protection from
predators - most thorns
and spines are
protection adaptations.

13. Some desert/ arid region
plants like Protasparagus
have adapted
underground storage
organs to store water
when it is periodically
available

14. Other types of plant adaptation

15. 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.

16. 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

17. Jungle plants have adapted large deep green
leaf surfaces to maximise their exposure to the
sun while on the jungle floor.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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 type
Before trees
removed
2 years after
trees
removed
5 years after
trees
removed
Shade 190 50 30
Sun 20 60 120