DIFFERENT PARTS = DIFFERENT ADVANTAGES

Obviously, not all plants look the same. They have different flowers, stems, and even root structures. Extreme examples have given some plants big advantages. These advantages have let them settle in new environments and become more successful.

Cactus thorns are as uniques and specialized as each species.

Cactus thorns are as uniques and specialized as each species.

SPECIALIZED LEAVES

What kinds of leaves are there? What kinds aren't there? There are thick ones for storing water as in succulents. There are long twisting vine-like leaves that can wrap around and dig in for support as in grapes. There are also thorns. Nothing says, "Don't eat me" like a bunch of sharp thorns on your branches.

FLOWERS

Flowers have developed such a wide variety. That variety is often dependent on what kind of creature helps out with the pollination. If I am a big insect, I will be looking at plants with big flowers. If I am a tiny little bug, I might live my whole life inside a flower. There are also a variety of colors that attract different insects and animals.

Many of the flowers you see, like daisies, are actually dozes of small flowers.

STEMS

Stems are a good place to store water. It's very efficient to develop a big protected area. Think about a barrel in hot areas where water is scarce. Enter a cactus. All stem and trunk. No leaves. Having no leaves means very little evaporation on hot days. Other extremes are plants with no stem. They could grow one, being vascular plants, but they have found it to be an advantage to stay near the ground. Vines are another extreme.

The bark of a tree or plant can also perform a specific function. Corks in wine bottles are actually from the bark of a tree (cork tree). Some bark has been designed to peel away as the tree grows. Other types of bark are very thick to protect the plant from animals and insects.

EPIPHYTES - SPECIALIZED ROOTS

Not all plants even live in the ground. Some specialized plants called epiphytes actually live on the side of other trees or on rocks. They are able to collect water themselves but do not use roots to gather it up. Their roots have been specialized to dig in or grab on to the larger object. They don't always hurt the trees; they just hang out on the outside. Epiphytes can include some seedless species, bromeliads, and orchids. There are also epiphyte species that can grow very large and even break tree limbs. They can suck nutrients away from the tree and weaken it over time. Several ficus species are killer parasitic epiphytes.

RELATED LINKS

- Biology4Kids: Scientific Method
- Chem4Kids: Metabolism
- Chem4Kids: Carbohydrates
- Geography4Kids: Ecosystems
- Geography4Kids: Food Chains
- Geography4Kids: Carbon Cycle
- Geography4Kids: Oxygen Cycle
- Geography4Kids: Nitrogen Cycle

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