Question

Select a specific plant and briefly describe some of the specific adaptations that it has for survival in it's native habitat. Explain how these adaptations help it survive, and also describe a habitat that this plant would not fair well in.

There are no limitations to the type of plant chosen. The plant can be of any genus or species, and can be native to any area on Earth.

Answer 1

Plant choosen- Hydrilla. It is a submerged hydrophyte (plant growing in water) which requires abundance of water to complete its life cycle

Specific adaptations that it has for survival in it's native habitat are-

• Presence of large air spaces and aerenchyma.
• Roots are poorly developed, rather they have root pockets as balancing organs.
• Presence of long, slender, spongy and flexible stem
• Presence of whorls of submerged leaves, which are entirely beneath the water.
• Stomata are absent or vestigial.
• Mechanical tissue that is sclerenchyma is a fully developed or absent.
• Vascular tissue specially xylem is poorly developed.

Such hydrophytes like Hydrilla cannot sustain in deserts.

• Desert plants like xerophytes require well developed long, deep roots, which are absent here.
• Xerophtes need hard and woody stem whereas Hydrilla has a flexible stem.

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