1. PLANT ADAPTATIONS Talk about the plant parts you see in front of you
PLANT ADAPTATIONS Talk about the plant parts you see in front of you. What adaptations of roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds allow the plants to meet their needs in their habitats?

2. Plant Adaptations Roots Stems Leaves Flowers Fruit/Seeds
Tap root (like a carrot – dandelion – pine tree)
Fibrous root (looks like hair - grass)
Bulb (tulip)
Shallow
Deep
Vines
Woody with bark
Non-woody and flexible
Briars
Tendrils
Thick and waxy - evergreen
Thin – deciduous – leaves fall in autumn to avoid freezing
Prickly
Gutters
Color
Scent
Size
Shape
Fruit – colorful, fragrant, and protect the seed
Seeds – disperse by wind, water, or animals
Germinate with warmth and moisture
Store energy for germinating plant
Plant Adaptations

3. Plant Adaptations Plants have traits, or adaptations,
that allow them to meet their needs
in a specific habitat.

4. How do adaptations help plants survive in their habitats?

5. Root
Adaptations

6. Root Adaptations
Roots take in water and nutrients from the soil and hold the plant in place. Roots also store food and water.
Some cacti have roots close to the surface for living in dry habitats. Their short, shallow roots take up water quickly from the habitat.
Water lilies have deep roots that can reach down into the mud of the pond.

7. Carrots and dandelions have one long thick root, called a tap root.
Anchors the plant in the soil.
Reaches far down to absorb water.
Dandelion Root
Carrot root

9. Stem
Adaptations

10. Stem Adaptations
Stems move and store water and nutrients in the plant. Stems also provide support and protection for the plant during its life cycle.
Vines have stems that can climb so that the leaves are exposed to light.

11. Stem Adaptations
Some stems have briars to deter animals from eating the leaves.
Some stems have tendrils to help climb toward light.

12. Stem Adaptations
Corn and sunflowers have stems that grow thick and strong but are still green and flexible so that they can grow toward the sun.

13. Stem Adaptations
Trees develop woody stems to support their size and offer protection during their long life cycles.

14. Stem Adaptations
Cacti have thick stems that store water when the habitat does not provide it.

15. Leaf
Adaptations

16. Leaf Adaptations
Leaves use light to make food. Each variety of plant will survive where its leaf size, texture, thickness, and shape are adapted to the habitat. Different kinds of plants have different sizes and shapes of leaves.

18. Leaf Adaptations
Water lilies grow wide leaves . The wide leaves float on the water. The leaves capture sunlight to make food.

19. Leaf Adaptations
Most evergreen trees have leaves that are thick and waxy or needle-like. This protects them from freezing and from losing water.

20. Leaf Adaptations
Deciduous trees usually have leaves that are thin. When temperatures cool in fall, the leaves are shed. This prevents the tree leaves from bursting in the cold temperatures.

21. Giant kelp uses gas-filled floats to keep the plant suspended, allowing the kelp blades near the ocean surface to capture light for photosynthesis.

22. Flower
Adaptations

23. Flower Adaptations
Flowers often have special sizes, smells, shapes, or colors that attract organisms for pollination.
Tomato
Morning glory

24. Fruit Adaptations
Fruits are formed around the seeds to protect them. Some fruits are moist and fleshy (tomatoes, grapes, or peaches).
Others fruits are dry and hard (for example, coconuts, walnuts or pea pods).

25. Seed
Adaptations

26. Seed Adaptations Some seeds germinate as soon as conditions allow.
Seeds have adaptations that allow them to be dispersed.
Seeds have enough food for the plant until it begins making food of its own.

27. Explosive Seed Dispersal!

28. Job - take in water, air, and sunlight to make sugar (food)
_________ and waxy – evergreen
_________ – deciduous – leaves fall in autumn to avoid freezing
May be prickly
May be narrow
May be wide
‘Gutters’ help extra water run off

30. Plant Adaptations Roots Stems Leaves Flowers Fruit/Seeds
Tap root (like a carrot – dandelion – pine tree)
Fibrous root (looks like hair - grass)
Bulb (tulip)
Shallow
Deep
Vines
Woody with bark
Non-woody and flexible
Briars
Tendrils
Thick and waxy - evergreen
Thin – deciduous – leaves fall in autumn to avoid freezing
Prickly
Gutters
Color
Scent
Size
Shape
Fruit – colorful, fragrant, and protect the seed
Seeds – disperse by wind, water, or animals
Germinate with warmth and moisture
Store energy for germinating plant
Plant Adaptations

31. Working with a partner, design a wind dispersed seed structure that will carry a single seed (dried lima bean) the farthest distance possible.
You will be given one sheet of white 8 1/2 by 11 paper, a pair of scissors, plastic tape, and a one seed. You may not use more than one sheet of paper but you do not have to use all the paper. You may cut, fold, tear, and/or tape your paper in any manner you choose provided your seed is fixed to the seed structure and does not fall out.
After you have completed the design and assembly of your seed structure, it will be dropped in front of a fan, and the distance it travels will be recorded. Each seed/seed structure will be dropped 3 times, and the average distance traveled for the three trials will be calculated.