The Features Which Terrestrial Plants Have Adopted

Adaptations

• 1.       The arrangement of leaves is accurate to allow maximum of their surface to sunlight.
• 2.       The flat surface of leaves also provides maximum surface area for absorption of sunlight.
• 3.       The epidermis of leaves is made up of single cell & covered by cuticle. The cuticle avoids water loss & thin epidermis contain tiny pores i.e., stomata for the exchange if gases with surrounding.
• 4.       Different types of mesophyll cells are present in the epidermis. Palisade cells: which are compact. Spongy cells: present in lower layer & contain intercellular air spaces.
• 5.       Terrestrial plants have adapted for gaseous exchange by having more stomata in lower epidermis of leaves as compared to aquatic plants.
• 6.       Aquatic plants have more stomata on upper leaf epidermis as compared to terrestrial plants
• 7.       Xylem vessels have affinity for sap to facilitate their transport to leaf by various mechanisms. Phloem cells are adapted to transport food from leaves to all plant body efficiently.
• 8.       Stomata are so controlled that they provide entry of air into leaf & it leads to intercellular spaces after diffusing in to water (present around mesophyll cell in a thin layer).
• 9.       Chloroplast is present in mesophyll cells, where photosynthesis takes place.