 Fig. 1. The leaves of this creeper are modified as pitchers to catch insects. Pitcher plant-Nepenthus. Although Plant adaptations could mean the changes that have taken place in forming various parts such as the root, stem and leaves etc. one may rightly consider the flattened structure of the leaf is an adaptation to receive the maximum amount of sunlight and the fact that roots grow into the soil is an adaptation to fix the plant as well as to search for water. In our study adaptations are limited to changes that have taken place in plants due to the adverse conditions in the environment. For example plants growing in water are adapted to currents and the buoyancy of water. Land plants have strong stems to lift the foliage to light and air and a deeply penetrating root system to keep the plant erect. Let us look at this phenomenon from an ecological point of view.
1. More about Aquatic Plants As the water can lift the plant up strong stems are absent. Even the leaves are flexible to survive water currents. Some have cavities or bubbles for air. Some plants can even be floating.    Vallisnaria Hydrilla Kelp - a sea weed.  Lotus Nelumbium under ground stem (rhizome) has tubes for air exchange. A floating fresh water plant Pistia stratiotes. Water lettuce. Mangrove swarms  Xerophytes These are plants growing in dry regions. They adapted to tolerate blazing sun and drought conditions. Some of the adaptations include shiny leaves to reflect light reduced surfaces to reduce evaporation. They store water either in fleshy stems or leaves. Some leaves are modified to thorns as a protective measure against herbivores.   Opuntia Euphorbia tirucalli. Tropical Rain forest These have almost the ideal conditions for the plants to grow. Bright sun shine for over 8.hous a day throughout the year, over 80% humidity to reduce evaporation and a thick mulch formed by the fallen leaves that keeps water like a sponge and supply all the essential nutrients as they decay due to bacteria, fungi etc. When the conditions become favourable every specie that happens to land there try to establish a colony. What happens then? Cut throat competition starts. One tree will try to grow taller to catch more sunlight another rapidly growing a thin stem will wrap round the giant climb up and spread over the canopy. Another seed will come either by the wind, or with the help of a bird and perch on a branch produce dangling roots to absorb water from humid air will mature and display a cluster of flowers to the flying insects for pollination.  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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