Plant Adaptations to Living in Wet Places

What is an adaptation? A trait that allows organisms to survive their environment. Examples?

What stresses does living in the wet places put on plants? Unstable soil Salt (if it is brackish or salt water) No oxygen to the roots

Why no oxygen to the roots? Bacteria in the soil use oxygen Water keeps air from reaching the soil, so the used up oxygen does not get replaced.

Foldable 8 tabs  4 per side Outside=name of the adaptation Inside=picture/description of the adaptation Inside=how it helps the plant survive

Aerenchyma Enlarged holes in the stem Allows oxygen to be transported down to the roots

Buttressing Flared out base of the trunk Provides stability Increases surface area to allow for more oxygen to be brought into the plant

Fluting Folds in the base of the trunk Increases surface area for increased gas exchange

Pneumatophores aka knees Extra trunks Increased surface area for increased gas exchange

Adventitious roots Above ground roots Allows for more oxygen intake

Hypertrophied lenticels Enlarged openings in the trunk Allows more oxygen to come in

Floating leaves Leaves float (duh) Allows for gas exchange Better for photosynthesis

Salt glands Excrete salt from plants Maintains homeostasis Seen in a lot of saltwater marsh plants such as Spartina alterniflora