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ANIMALS AND PLANTS PROTECT THEMSELVES :

PLANTS PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS :

1.  Besides protecting themselves from danger and enemies, plants also need to adapt themselves to extreme weather conditions.
2.  Some of these weather conditions include :

• hot and dry weather
• strong winds
• extremely cold weather  

STRONG WINDS :

1.  Plants in windy areas need special characteristics to withstand strong winds.
2.  Thus the plants will be able to withstand the strong impact of the wind.

Plants have special characteristics to protect themselves from strong winds such as :

1.   Modified roots :

• Plants with supporting roots and buttress roots can protect themselves from strong winds and tides.
• all types of roots help anchor the plant firmly in the ground.

       (A)   Supporting roots:

• some plants have supporting roots.
• the roots grow out from the lower nodes of the stem down into the ground.
• these roots hold the plant firmly to the ground.
• mangrove tree is an example of tree that have supporting roots.
• mangrove tree grows along the coast and it is exposed to strong winds and tides.
• the supporting roots can protect the mangrove trees from strong and tides.

      (B)   Buttress roots :

• some plants have buttress roots.
• these are big roots which grow on the base of the stems on the surface of the soil.
• they can be seen as large structures which are flattened vertically.
• these structure help to support the plant.
• the flame of the forest and shorea trees which grow in the forest are the examples of trees that have buttress roots.

2.   Modified leaves :

         (A)   Divided or spilt leaves :

• some plants have divided leaves to prevent the plant from being uprooted when strong wind blows.
• coconut tree and palm tree are examples of plants that have divided or spilt leaves.

         (B)   Small leaves and needle-shaped  

                  leaves :

• some plants have small leaves.
• strong wind blows through these leaves without uprooting the plants
• pine trees, casuarina and conifers are examples of plants that have small leaves and needle-shaped leaves.

         (C)   Flexible stems :

• some plants have flexible stem.
• these plants have stems which can bend easily and sway during strong winds.
• bamboo plant, coconut tree and lalang are the examples of plants that have flexible stems.

EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER :

1.  Plants that grow in extremely cold weather conditions such as during the winter need special characteristics to adapt themselves in the weather.

2.  For examples, conifer trees are shaped like big cones.

• during winter the cone shape enables snow to slide easily to the ground and not rest on the branches to prevent the branches from breaking.