Plant adaptations link a plant’s structure to the problem its environment poses. This section has four lessons and a practice set, and sits within the SPM Biology guide.
What does this section cover?
Start with relating xerophyte features to water conservation. Then explain hydrophyte adaptations, where the problem is too much water.
Next, explaining halophyte adaptations deals with salt. The fourth lesson is comparing structures using environmental evidence, and the practice set mixes all four.
One problem, three plants
An original framing: three plants each face a different water problem.
| Plant | Environment problem | Feature | How it helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cactus-like plant | Little water | Thick waxy cuticle | Reduces water loss |
| Water lily | Water all around | Air spaces in leaves | Keeps leaves floating |
| Mangrove | Salty, waterlogged mud | Aerial roots | Take in oxygen |
The pattern is the same each time: problem, feature, solution.
Who should start where?
If you mix up the three plant types, start with the lesson for each in order. If you know the features but lose marks on explanation, go to the comparing lesson.
Water and mineral movement ideas come from transport in plants, so a gap there shows up here too.
How do the parts connect?
Each plant type is a different answer to the question of how water and gases are managed. The comparing lesson asks you to read evidence, such as stomata counts or cuticle thickness, and pick the plant type that matches.
Questions on this chapter can use plants you have not met, so the reasoning matters more than the names. Read the environment first, name the problem it poses, and only then pick the feature that solves it.
Logging slips in the mistake log tool shows which plant type needs another pass.