Plants – Those living things which can’t move and make their own food itself are called plants
Habitat – The place where organism lives naturally and grows is called habitat.
Adaptation -The adjustment made by the living beings to survival in habitat is called adaptation.
Or
The process of changing to suit in the new situation is called adaptation.
The earth is called a green planet due to presence of plants on it.
Types of plants
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Terrestrial Plants: – Those plants which grow on land are called terrestrial /land plants.
These plants grow on normal land condition with sufficient water in the soil.
They can be big trees, shrubs, bushes, plantains, etc.
Plants in Plains – Those plants which grow in plain area are called plants in plain.
Ex- Neem, Mango, Gulmohar, Sheesham and Banyan etc
Note –The area has neither too hot nor too cold is called plain area. It has moderate climate and there is enough rainfall in this area.
Features –
Tree has solid stem with large number of branches and has well developed root system.
Those plants which shed their leaves in winter to protect themselves from cold are called deciduous plants. Their new leaves appear in the spring season. Ex- Peepal, Neem
Those plants which never shed their leaves throughout the year are called evergreen trees. Ex- Robber plant, Pine, Fur, Maple, Oak etc.
Plants in Deserts – Those plants which grow in desert area are called xerophytes/plants in deserts. Ex- Cactus, Mescal agave, Teddy, bear cholla etc.
They live in dry areas so-called “xerophytes” as xero- dry + Phyto- plant.
Note – The hot, dry and sandy area is called deserts. In this area there is very little rainfall.
Features –
Roots of such plants spread over a large area below the ground to absorb enough water.
The leaves have thorns which prevent to animals from grazing on them and decrease evaporation.
They survive in very low water availability and heat temperatures.
Its stem is thick, fleshy and green that helps them to prepare their food.
These plants save water in leaves or stems for use in drought. So their leaves or stems are succulent i.e., a bid bulged and soft.
Plants on Hills (Hilly plants): – Those plants that grow on hills are called hilly plants.
Ex- Spruce, Pine, Oak, Deodar, Fur, Beech, Birch etc.
Note – The area whose climate varies from cold to extreme cold is called hills. In hilly area there is snowfall also.
Features –
Plants are usually tall and straight.
Plants don’t have flowers and have cones with seed inside them due to this they are called conifers.
They are conical in shape so as down the snow during snowfall.
The leaves have waxy coating and needles like shape to protect them from snow.
Plants in Grassland – Those plants that grow in grassland are called plants in grassland.
Ex- Corn, wheat, bamboo etc.
Note – The regions which are covered with grasses and small plants are called grassland.
In this area there is nominal rainfall.
Features –
They are very small in size.
They bind the soil and make it fertile.
They are suitable for farming because they make the soil fertile.
Plants in Marshes: – Those plants that grow in marsh area are called plants in marsh.
Ex- Mangroves, White water lily etc.
Note – The regions where soft wet land is found are called marshes.
Marshes are found at the edges of lakes and streams, where they form a transition between the aquatic and terrestrial (land) ecosystems.
In this area there is plenty of rainfall.
Features –
Roots grow above the ground.
The roots that grow above the ground are called breathing roots.
These roots have small opening at their tips to exchange of gasses.
The maximum marshes plants are monocots. Ex- Sedge, Sphagnum etc.
Plants in Coastal Areas – Those plants that grow in coastal area are called coastal plants.
Ex- Coconut, Rubber, Pepper etc.
The regions between land and sea are called coastal areas.
In this area there is heavy rainfall and water is salty.
Features –
Seeds of coastal plants are usually dispersed by water.
Plants in Forest – Those plants that are found in forest are called forest plants.
Forest is thickly populated with many kinds of trees, plants, shrubs, herbs etc.
They have deciduous plants, coniferous tree and ever green trees. Ex- Sal, Teak etc.
Aquatic Plants – Those plants that grow in water are called aquatic plants/water plants.
Ex: Lotus.
Water plants live in water whole life.
They germinate, grow and survive in water.
They cannot survive in the plain soil.
Types of aquatic plants:
Fixed Floating plants – Those aquatic plants which float on water but their roots are fixed to the bed of the pond are called fixed floating plants.
Ex – Duckweed, green-alge, wolffia, water-hyacinth, lily, lotus and pistia etc.
Features/ Adaptations: –
They have spongy bodies.
They have long, thin, hollow and flexible stems that helps the plants in floating
They have broad and flat leaves that help them to get sufficient air and sunlight.
There is a waxy coating on the surface of leaves that prevent them from rotting.
Their leaves have stomata on the upper surface for respiration or breathing.
Free Floating plants: – Those aquatic plants which float freely on the surface of water and their roots are not fixed to the base of the pond are called free floating plants.
Ex- Water hyacinth, Duck weed (Wolffia), Water lettuce (Pistia) etc.
Features/ Adaptations: –
They are small in size.
They have spongy bodies.
There are lots of empty spaces throughout their body and are filled with air. This makes the plants light enough to float.
Underwater plants/ Submerged plants: – Those aquatic plants which are immersed fully in the water are called submerged plants.
Ex- Hydrilla, Tape grass, Vallisneria and pondweed etc.
They have thin, narrow ribbon-like leaves.
They do not have stomata.
They breathe through the body surface.
Features/ Adaptations: –
They are fixed at the bottom of ponds with their roots.
Their leaves and stems are fully immersed in the water.
They have narrow and ribbon like leaves due to this they face little resistance of water.
It has no stomata on the leaves.
They breathe the air dissolves in the water through their entire body surface.
Based on food habits:
Autotrophs: – Those plants that create food by the process of photosynthesis are called autotrophs or autotrophic plants.
They have ability to trap energy of sun light in their leaves due to green pigment (chlorophyll).
Most plants on earth are autotrophs.
Carnivorous plants – Those plants that produce own food, but also eat other insects and animals when they come near to are called carnivores or insectivorous plants.
Ex: Nepenthes, Venus fly trap.
These plants grow in nitrogen-deficient soil. So for the sake of nitrogen in the form of ammonia, they trap insects and small animals.
They either have a cavity to trap and close the insect or have a glue like secretion to trap insects.
Parasites – Those plants that don’t make food and depend on other plants for food are called parasites or Parasitic Plants.
Ex: Raff Lesia, Dodder Australian Christmas tree.
Saprophytic Plants – Those plants that grow on the dead parts of plants are called saprophytic
plants. It is also called non-green plants.
Ex: Mushrooms, Rhizopus, Mucor, Yeast, Agaricus etc.
It has no chlorophyll hence no photosynthesis take place in it.
Epiphytes – Those plants that grow on the surface of other plants are called epiphytes.
Ex: Fern, mosses, etc.
These plants are not parasites but survive on other big and tall-growing trees.
