Introduction to Plant Adaptations

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What do plants need to survive?

•Sunlight•Water•Air•Nutrients

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Plants are designed to survive in their specific environments.

They have adaptations, or special features, that help them meet their needs.

How have these plants adapted to survive?

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Many trees lose their leaves in the winter when they do not get as much sunlight. Why?

~slow growth~save energy

In places with warmer winters, plants and trees do not need to shed their leaves because there is plenty of sunlight.

Lily pads have adapted to be able to absorb as much sunlight as possible.

Their large, fan-like leaves spread out and lay flat on the waters surface.

The leaves have a waxy coating to help them stay dry and prevent them from sinking.

Read with your teacher and use context

clues!

• Lily pads have adapted to be able to absorb as much sunlight as possible.

Their large, fan-like leaves spread out and lay flat on the water’s surface.

The leaves have a waxy coating to help them stay dry and prevent them from sinking.

How have these plants adapted to meet their needs for water?

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A cactus has a very thick stem that stores water.

Its waxy coating helps prevent moisture loss.

Some cacti have long roots that search deep underground for water.

Read with your teacher and use context

clues!

A cactus has a very thick stem that stores water.

Its waxy coating helps prevent moisture loss.

Some cacti have long roots that search deep underground for water.

Evergreen trees living in cold regions slow their growth and become dormant during the winter.

~needle-shaped leaves minimize water loss

~shed and regrow their leaves gradually

Evergreen trees living in cold regions slow their growth and become dormant during the winter.

~needle-shaped leaves minimize water loss

~shed and regrow their leaves gradually

How do these cattails get the air they need?

The soil cattails live in is covered in water, so air can’t get into the soil.

The cattails have air spaces in their stems to take oxygen from their leaves to their roots.

Read with your teacher and use context

clues!

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The soil cattails live in is covered in water, so air can’t get into the soil.

The cattails have air spaces in their stems to take oxygen from their leaves to their roots.

How have these plants adapted to get nutrients?

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It has adapted to be carnivorous.

When an insect walks on its leaf, the leaf snap shut and traps the insect, which it then uses for food.

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The Venus fly trap lives in wetland habitats where the ground is covered with moss and peat but the soil is nutrient-poor.

Read with your teacher

and use context clues!

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The Venus fly trap lives in wetland habitats where the ground is covered with moss and peat but the soil is nutrient-poor.

It has adapted to be carnivorous.

When an insect walks on its leaf, the leaf snap shut and traps the insect, which it then uses for food.

In areas that get a lot of rain, such as in a rainforest, nutrients in the soil are washed away.

Trees form buttress roots to help them stand up in moist soil.

These roots stay close to the surface and spread out wide to get as many nutrients as they can before they are washed away.

Read with your teacher and use context

clues!

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In areas that get a lot of rain, such as in a rainforest, nutrients in the soil are washed away.

Trees form buttress roots to help them stand up in moist soil.

These roots stay close to the surface and spread out wide to get as many nutrients as they can before they are washed away.

Each of these plantshas adapted to its environment.

What other types of adaptations can you think of?

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