Plants have developed various specialized structures that allow them to survive in different habitats. These adaptations help plants obtain water and sunlight. For example, desert plants have roots that spread horizontally to absorb water and thick, waxy leaves to retain water. Aquatic plant roots are smaller as they are submerged, while their leaves are wide to capture sunlight underwater. Leaves of trees in tropical forests have drip tips to shed excess rain, while conifer leaves are needle-like to reduce water loss in cold climates. Plants also have adaptations for protection, such as thorns, toxic substances, and smells, which deter animals from eating them.

1. PLANT
ADAPTATIONS
- P L A N T S H AV E S P E C I A L I Z E D PA R T S T H AT E N A B L E
T H E M TO S U R V I V E I N T H E I R H A B I TAT S

2. FOR GETTING
WATER AND
SUNLIGHT
- W A T E R A N D S U N L I G H T A R E N E E D E D I N M A K I N G
T H E I R F O O D .
- P L A N T S L I V I N G I N A Q U A T I C O R T E R R E S T R I A L H A V E
D I F F E R E N T S P E C I A L I Z E D P A R T S

3. ROOTS
• Plants living in desert lie immediately under the ground and are spread
horizontally. This root system enables them to seep easily the water
especially that the place has little or no rainfall in a year.

4. ROOTS
• The roots of aquatic plants are smaller and shorter. No need for thicker
or longer roots for the transportation of water since they are already
submerged in water. Most of them have thin or hair like roots.
Mangroves have specialized roots with air spaces which conducts air
down to the roots and allow the root tissue to respire normally.

5. LEAVES
• Plants in the deserts have developed leaves that are usually thick, tough, and
waxy. These structures enable the plant to retain water, keep the water
inside the leaves from dripping out, reflect light from the sun and help
reduce the loss of water, and bromeliads’ leaves have sunken middle part
that catches water from the rain.
Bromeliads

6. LEAVES
• Trees in tropical forests and temperate forests have broad leaves with drip
tips or pointed tips that are very slippery and let rain water glide off the
leaves. Excess water cause the plants to form mold or mildew, rot, and die.
The adaptation in their leaves helps them keep the trees in these forests dry.

7. LEAVES
• Plants’ leaves in coniferous forests are thin and shaped like long needles.
The structure prevent more water from being lost since the plants in this
habitat do not have much access to water. Because it is located at cold
regions which the ground I always covered in snow and the sun is almost
low in the sky.

8. LEAVES
• Aquatic plants have wide leaves that enables the plant to get enough
sunlight even as the plant floats in the water.

9. STEMS
• Terrestrial plants like rattan have developed lianas or vines with thick and
twisted stems that loop around the palms’ tree trunks and move upward to
reach the sunlight. This adaptation enables the plant to gain more sunlight.

10. STEMS
• Aloe vera plant has long and fleshy stems that store some of the plant’s
water.
• Water lotus has developed long and thick stem that lifts its circular leaves
way above the water’s surface and bring them closer to the source of
sunlight.

11. FOR
PROTECTION
- P R O T E C T I O N F R O M A N I M A L S A N D E V E N H U M A N S
- S T R U C T U R E S : T H O R N S O R S P I N E S , T O X I C
S U B S T A N C E S , A N D E V E N S M E L L S .

12. THORNS AND SPINES
• Thorns - a modified branch that has
adapted such that it is sharper and
more pointed than the rest of the
branch.
• Animals trying to much on a plant
that has thorn like rose had to
contend with the plant’s thorns.
• Spines – modified part of the leaf
that is sharper and more pointed
than the rest of the leaf. It protect
themselves from being eaten by
animals that would like to get their
water.

13. POISONOUS SUBSTANCES
• Nettles have tiny hair or hairlike
structures that release a
and toxic liquid when the plants
are touched.

14. POISONOUS
SUBSTANCES
• Roots of black walnut tree can
even produce substances that
poison the surrounding ground
to discourage the growth of
plants near the tree.
• Chrysanthemum plant also
produce toxic substance to the
insects that come near it.

15. POISONOUS
SUBSTANCES
• Oak tree contains substance
that can poison the people who
try to eat them.
• Chili plants though it is edible
to humans but for the lower
type of animals (herbivorous)
are hurt when they attempt to
eat them.

16. OTHER MEANS
• Makahiya leaves closes when
touched. This act as defense
against herbivores that may be
deterred by the plants sudden
response.
• Leaves of cogon grass and
pineapple plants have sharp
blades that cause harm to
herbivores like deer and goats
when the latter try to feed on
them.
• The skunk cabbage, rafflesia
flower, and kalumpang tree have
stinky smells that drive away
their enemies.