1. Plant Adaptations

2. Types of Adaptations
Structural adaptations are the way something is built or made.
Behavioral adaptations are the way something acts naturally or by instinct.

3. Adaptations to get food
Leaves and stems absorb energy from the sun.

4. Adaptations to get food
Plants lean or grow towards the sun.
Roots grow down into soil.
Vines climb up trees to catch sunlight.

5. Adaptations to get special nutrient
Plants like the Venus fly trap, trap insects for food.

6. Adaptations to get water and nutrients
Roots soak up water and nutrients from soil.

7. Adaptations to get water and nutrients
Desert flowers can stay dormant for months, only coming to life when it rains.
These plants have a short life cycle.

8. Adaptations to protect water
Hairy leaves shade the plant
Leaves that turn away
from the sun
Extensive roots quickly
absorb water

9. Adaptations to protect water
Waxy coating
Small leaves or no leaves
Leaves that turn
away from the sun

10. Adaptations for Reproduction
Brightly colored flowers with nectar attract pollinators such as birds, bees and insects.

11. Adaptations for Reproduction
Sweet fruit attracts animals that spread seeds far away.
Some seeds are shaped to catch the wind.

12. Adaptations for Defense
Spines and thorns protect plants from predators

13. Adaptations for Defense
Poison Ivy and Poison oak have toxins that give predators a painful itchy rash.

14. Plant Adaptations for different Biomes

15. Desert Adaptations
Small leaves or spines on desert plants conserve water.
Thick waxy skin holds in water.
Roots near the soils surface soak up rain water quickly before it evaporates.

16. Grassland Adaptations
Narrow leaves lose less water than broad leaves.
Flexible stems bend in the wind.

17. Grasses grow from near their base, not from tip
Deep roots help plants survive prairie fires and grazers.

18. Tundra Adaptations Small plants grow close to the ground for warmth.
Dark colored flowers absorb heat from the sun.
Fuzzy stems provide protection from wind.

19. Rainforest Adaptations
Smooth, slippery bark keeps vines from killing trees.
Slide shaped leaves lets rain run off so fungus doesn’t grow on plants.

20. Drip tips and waxy surfaces quickly shed water

21. Deciduous Forest Adaptations
Thick bark protects trees
Dropping leaves in winter conserves water and nutrients during cold winters.

22. Wildflowers grow on forest floor early in the spring before trees leaf-out and shade the forest floor

23. Coniferous Forest Needle-like leaves sheds snow
Waxy coating reduces water loss

24. Water Adaptations Flexible stems move with water currents.
Floating seeds spread offspring.
Roots as anchors rather than water collector