Plant Adaptations

Adaptations, correlated to biomes

Acquisition of carbon and/or minerals

• Mycorrhizae (See specialized roots)

• Root nodules (See specialized roots)

• Photosynthetic roots (See specialized roots)

• Parasitic roots (See specialized roots)

• Cladophylls (See specialized stems)

• Sun and shade leaves (See specialized leaves)

• Autumn color change - e.g. using secondary pigments for photosynthesis (See specialized leaves)

• Deciduous leaves - e.g. leaves that easily decompose into soil minerals (See specialized leaves)

• CAM photosynthesis (See specialized leaves)

• Carnivorous leaves (See specialized leaves)

Oxygen for root respiration

• Pneumatophores (See specialized roots)

• Buttress roots (See specialized roots)

• Prop roots (See specialized roots)

Roots to pull plants underground

• Contractile roots (See specialized roots)

Water storage or loss prevention

• Water storage tubers in roots (See specialized roots)

• Water storage stems (see specialized stems)

• Velamen on roots (See specialized roots)

• Deciduous leaves - e.g. remove leaves to avoid desiccation in drying winter (See specialized leaves)

• Reduced leaf area (See specialized leaves)

• Succulence (See specialized leaves)

• Reduced number of stomata (See specialized leaves)

• Sunken stomata (See specialized leaves)

• Hypodermis (See specialized leaves)

• Spiral/curly leaves (See specialized leaves)

• Window leaves (See specialized leaves)

Food storage 

• Root tubers (See specialized roots)

• Corms (see specialized stems)

• Bulbs (See specialized leaves)

Support or climbing

• Adventitious roots (See specialized roots)

• Buttress roots (See specialized roots)

• Prop roots (See specialized roots)

• Stem tendrils (see specialized stems)

• Leaf tendrils (See specialized leaves)

• Deciduous leaves - e.g. prevent weight of snow in winter (See specialized leaves)

Sexual reproduction adaptations

• Flowers: pollinator attraction (see flowers)

• Fruits: seed dispersal (see fruits)

• Seed and spore-bearing cones: aggregate reproductive parts (see reproduction)

• Bracts (See specialized leaves)

• Animal pollination (See reproduction)

Vegetative reproductive adaptations

• Root suckers (See specialized roots)

• Stolons (see specialized stems)

• Rhizomes (see specialized stems)

• Reproductive leaves (See specialized leaves)

Protection against herbivores 

• Thorns (see specialized stems)

• Spines (See specialized leaves)

• Prickles  (See dermal tissues)

• Autumn color change - e.g. red color as a warning sign to insects (See specialized leaves)

Protection against plant competitors

• Allelopathy (See specialized leaves)

• Deciduous leaves - e.g. tannins in oak leaves (See specialized leaves)