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

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

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

6. Behavioral Adaptations
Adaptations to get water and nutrients
Desert flowers can stay dormant for months, only coming to life when it rains.

7. Structural Adaptations
Adaptations for reproduction
Brightly colored flowers with nectar attract pollinators such as birds, bees and insects.

8. Structural Adaptations
Adaptations for reproduction
Sweet fruit attracts animals that spread seeds far away.
Some seeds are shaped to catch the wind.

9. Behavioral Adaptations
Adaptations for reproduction
Plants drop seeds to grow new offspring.

10. Structural Adaptations
Adaptations for defense
Spines and thorns protect plants from predators

11. Structural Adaptations
Adaptations for defense
Poison Ivy and Poison oak have toxins that give predators a painful itchy rash.

12. Plant Adaptations for different Biomes

13. Desert and Drought Adaptations
Small leaves, needles, or spines on desert plants conserve water.
Thick waxy leaf coating holds in water.
Stomata (openings in leaves) are under the leaf and often only open at night to conserve water and stop transpiration.
Roots near the soils surface soak up rain water quickly before it evaporates.
Cactus, Yucca,
Succulents, and Pines

14. Grassland Adaptations
Deep roots help plants survive prairie fires.
Narrow leaves lose less water than broad leaves.
Flexible stems bend in the wind.
Grasses, Milkweed, Coneflower, & Stinging Nettle

15. 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.
Mosses,
Low growing plants, &
Small berry plants

16. Rainforest Adaptations
Smooth, slippery bark keeps vines from killing trees.
Slide shaped leaves lets rain run off so fungus doesn’t grow on plants.
Deep growing roots anchor the plant to prevent it from washing away.
Bamboo, Mangrove, Epiphytes such as Bromeliads and orchids.

17. Temperate Forest Adaptations
Thick bark protects trees and dropping leaves in winter conserves water and nutrients during cold winters.
Deciduous trees (drop leaves) like birch, beech, oak, and maple, ferns, and Northern Arrowwood shrubs

18. Water Adaptations Flexible stems move with water currents.
Floating seeds spread offspring.
Air pockets in stems at the base of leaves to help leaves float.
Water Lily, Lotus, & Hornwort

19. Parasitic Plants
Have roots that can draw nutrients from another living plant.
Do not require soil.
Mistletoe, Rafflesia,
Yellow rattle, and Australian Christmas tree

20. Parasitic Plants
Corpse Flower - Rafflesia
Yellow Rattle

21. Carnivorous Plants
Get some of their food by trapping and consuming animals (mainly insects)
Because they eat bugs they can live in areas with poor soil.
Venus Fly Trap, Monkey cup,
Sundew, and Cobra Lily

22. Carnivorous Plants
Sundew
Pitcher Plants – Monkey cup