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Xerophytes, Mesophytes and Hydrophytes

1) Hydrophytes are plants adapted to growing in water, with adaptations like being able to stay afloat and prevent herbivory. An example is the water lily, which has thin epidermal layers, air pockets called aerenchyma for flotation, and structural sclerenchyma cells for support and herbivory prevention. 2) Mesophytes are "standard" plants not specially adapted to wet or dry conditions, preferring moderate climatic conditions. 3) Xerophytes like the oleander are adapted to dry, hot conditions, having defenses like stomatal crypts on the underside of leaves to reduce water loss and a thick cuticle on the

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Mr Nadeem ICT
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403 views

Xerophytes, Mesophytes and Hydrophytes

1) Hydrophytes are plants adapted to growing in water, with adaptations like being able to stay afloat and prevent herbivory. An example is the water lily, which has thin epidermal layers, air pockets called aerenchyma for flotation, and structural sclerenchyma cells for support and herbivory prevention. 2) Mesophytes are "standard" plants not specially adapted to wet or dry conditions, preferring moderate climatic conditions. 3) Xerophytes like the oleander are adapted to dry, hot conditions, having defenses like stomatal crypts on the underside of leaves to reduce water loss and a thick cuticle on the

Uploaded by

Mr Nadeem ICT
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Xerophytes, Mesophytes

and hydrophytes

Dr Shakeel ATCHIA
Hydrophyte
• Hydrophytes (hydro meaning water) are plants adapted to
growing in water.
• Plant is adapted to stay afloat and to prevent herbivory.
TS Nymphea
(water lily)
• Note the thin epidermal layer and the absence of stomata in the lower

• epidermis

• . In the spongy mesophyll

• , there are large pockets where air can be trapped. This type of parenchyma

• tissue

• , specialized for trapping gases, is called aerenchyma

• . Look for sharp-looking, branched cells traversing the leaf

• ’s

• mesophyll

• . These will stain differently from the parenchyma

• cells because they have a thick secondary wall

• . These sclerenchyma

• cells are called astrosclereids and provide the leaf

• structural support, as well as prevention of herbivory.Why are there no stomata on the


lower

• epidermis

• of a Nymphaea leaf

• ?Draw a cross section of the Nymphaea

• leaf

• , labeling each structure or tissue

• with its name and function.


Mesophyte
• "standard" leaf, not specially adapted to either wet or dry
environments.
• Mesophyte plant is adapted to moderate environmental
conditions (meso- meaning middle, -phyte meaning plant),
preferring moderate climatic conditions.
Xerophyte
• Xerophytic (xero- meaning dry) plants are adapted to dry and hot
conditions.
Oleander (Nerium
oleander)
• Oleander also has defenses against herbivory.
• In oleander, pit is lined with trichomes.
• The stomata are located at the base of these pits,
called stomatal crypts.
• The trichomes trap evaporating moisture and maintain
a relatively humid environment around the stomata.
• These stomatal crypts are located only on the
underside of the leaves, where they experience less sun
exposure and therefore less transpiration
• The upper epidermis is free from stomata and, instead,
is coated by a thick cuticle

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