Plant adaptations Flashcards
What are buttress roots?
extended shallow roots used to access nutrients
Why do trees have buttress roots?
to give good support and stability
What is a drip tip leaf?
A triangular shaped leaf that allows water to drip off
Why do leaves have a drip tip?
to stop bacteria from growing or damaging by regular heavy rain
What are epiphytes?
plant that grows on trees without soil
Why do epiphytes grow on trees?
to get more sunlight than from the ground
What are lianas?
vines that climb through the top of trees
Why do lianas climb in trees?
to kill the trees and take it’s supply of sunlight
What is a strangler fig?
a fig that covers the whole tree and blocks sunlight
What is a branchless trunk?
smooth,thin bark that has branches at the top
Why do trees have branchless trunks?
to compete for light and prevent parasitic plants from getting nutrients
What are pitcher plants?
a plant adapted to lack of sunlight/nutrients
Why do pitcher plants have less?
gains energy/nutrients from other creatures
What are waxy leaves?
leaves that prevent rainfall from staying on
Why do waxy leaves not let rainfall stay on?
to increase photosynthesis as the leaf remains in sunlight
