����ý

• Plants adapt in many ways so that they survive in different habitats.
• These adaptations exist because they give a survival advantage.
• Adaptations include the ability to survive in dry conditions, fast flowing water and even salt water.

All species have features which make them suited to their environment. The characteristics that give plants an advantage are called adaptations. All species have evolved these adaptations over millions of years and would not survive to reproduce without them.

Cacti grow in desert conditions where there is very little water. It is often very hot during the day and cold at night. The adaptations of cacti include:

• Thick, waxy outer layer to reduce water loss and reflect heat.
• Large, fleshy stems to store water.
• Spines instead of leaves to reduce water loss and protect from grazing animals.
• Shallow, widespread roots to catch as much infrequent rainfall as possible. Some species of cacti have very deep roots to find water underground instead.

Bogs are areas of wet ground that are too soft to walk on. They are often very muddy.

The soils here are often low in nutrients so carnivorous plants have adaptations to provide additional nutrients by consuming insects.

Below are some examples of these adaptations:

• Venus fly traps have leaves that close, surround and catch insects.
• Pitcher plants have cylindrical leaves with fluid at the bottom to trap insects that fall in.
• Sundew plants have sticky pads.

Water lilies grow in streams which can have fast flowing currents. The adaptations of water lilies include:

• Strong roots to anchor the plant in the stream bed.
• Strong, flexible stems to avoid being swept away.
• Leaves that grow on top of the water to maximise photosynthesis.
• Flowers that grow on top of the water to be pollinated by insects.

Giant redwoods are some of the largest living things on the planet. The following adaptations make them suited to mountain forests:

• Needles reduce water loss and protect from grazing animals.
• Shallow roots catch as much rainfall after a shower as possible.
• Thick bark is resistant against forest fires.
• Height maximises the exposure to sunlight.

A coast redwood in California nicknamed Hyperion is 116m tall - this makes it the tallest known living tree in the world. The exact location of the tree is kept secret to protect it.

Mangroves are plants that grow on beaches. The salt in seawater kills most plants very quickly but mangroves have the following adaptations:

• Deep roots to hold the plant in place.
• Warty growths on roots to protect pores. These take in oxygen when above water and allow water into the plant and filter out salt when under water.
• Leaves which store salt and then drop off.

All plants need light for photosynthesis. Many plants grow in dense forests or woodlands surrounded by other plants that are also competing for light. Adaptations of climbing plants include:

• Ivy has sticky pads to help it attach to trees.
• Cat’s claw creeper plants have sharp hooks to help them climb.
• The tips of passionflower's shoots rotate around to find a suitable place to latch onto next.