Statethe adaptation of the leaves of the plant for photosynthesis.

The leaves are broad to have large surface area to trap sunlight.
The leaves are thin so that light and carbon dioxide can diffuse through it easily.
Cuticle leaves are waterproof to prevent loss of water through transpiration.
Leaves have vascular tissue like xylem that transport water and minerals from the
roots to the leaves and phloem that transport organic substances (food) away
from the leaves.
Guard cells are found on the lower epidermis which controls the opening and
closing of stomata to allow gaseous exchange to occur.
Palisade mesophyll cells are closely packed with an upright arrangement to
capture maximum sunlight.
Spongy mesophyll cells are irregular in shape and loosely arranged with air
spaces for easy diffusion of water and carbon dioxide.

F4 C6
Adaptation of plants in different habitats
Habitat Adaptations
Land plants 1. Lower epidermis have large number of stomata for
Eg. Hisbiscus maximum carbon dioxide absorption.
2. The upper epidermis does not have many stomata to
prevent water loss due to direct exposure to sunlight.
3. Chloroplast are found in the palisade and mesophyll cells for
maximum absorption of sunlight.
Floating plants 1. The stomata are mostly found on the upper epidermis for
Eg. Water lilies gaseous exchange.
2. Upper epidermis is covered by a thick and waxy cuticle to
repel water and keep the stomata open.
3. Chloroplasts are mainly found in the upper epidermis to
maximise absorption of sunlight.
4. Weak stems support the large floating leaves for maximum
absorption of sunlight.
Desert plants 1. Leaves contain very few stomata to prevent loss of water
Eg. Cactus through transpiration.
2. The stomata are located in the grooves along the stem.
3. Some cacti open their stomata at night when it is cooler
rather than during the day when it is hotter.
4. Carbon dioxide is used during the day when the stomata is
closed.
5. The stem of cacti have reduced leaves and some are
modified to become thorns.
6. Some shrubs in the desert have sunken stomata to reduce
water loss.
Aquatic plants 1. The epidermis of leaves do not have waterproof cuticle
(Submerged because they do not experience water loss.
plants) 2. Stomata are not found on the leaves. The cells on the
Eg. Hydrilla surface are able to absorb water, nutrients and dissolved
gases from the surroundings.
3. Aquatic plants have thin-textured, feathery and highly
divided leaves to create large surface area for absorption
and photosynthesis.
4. Chloroplasts are found all over the surface of plant to
maximise absorption of sunlight.
5. Air filled cavities often extend throughout the leaves and
stems, providing an internal atmosphere where gaseous
exchange takes place.
F5 C2
Support in aquatic and terrestrial plants
Types of plants Support
Submerged Thin, narrow and flexible leaves to provide little resistance to
plants water flow.
Have air sacs within the leaves and stems to keep the plant
afloat to obtain maximum sunlight.
The stem has no woody tissues because these plants are
supported by water buoyancy.
Floating plants Broad leaves that are firm but flexible to resist wave action.
Have aerenchyma tissues (spongy) with large air spaces to
provide buoyancy.
Do not need much strengthening tissues in their stems and
leaves.
Herbaceous Supported by the turgidity of the parenchyma and
plants collenchyma cells.
The turgor pressure of the fluids in the vacuole pushes the
cell contents and plasma membranes against the cell walls,
creating support.
The thickening of cell walls with cellulose and pectin in the
collenchyma cells provide additional mechanical strength.
Woody plants Have sclerenchyma and xylem tissues.
Sclerenchyma tissues support the non-growing parts of plant
because they have rigid and thick cell walls.
During development, the cell walls of xylem vessels and
tracheids are thickened with lignin.
Primary xylem is formed.
As plant grows, they undergo secondary growth which results
the formation of a large amount of secondary xylem called
wood.
Woods make plants stronger and provide mechanical support.

F5 C4
What is meant by primary growth and secondary growth in plants & similarities and
differences?
Primary growth Secondary growth
The growth of plant after germination.
Results in an increase of the length of Results in an increase in diameter/ add
shoot and root/ increase in height in girth (width) to the stems and roots in
plants. woody plants.
Begins at the apical meristems. Begins at the lateral meristems.
Apical meristem is located at the root and Cork cambium is located at the inner layer
shoot tips. of cork and vascular cambium at the
vascular bundle.
Occurs in both monocotyledon and Occurs mainly in dicotyledon plants.
dicotyledon plants.
Forms primary tissue like primary xylem, Forms secondary xylem and secondary
primary phloem and cortex. phloem.
Similarities
Both involves cell division/ mitosis in plants.
Both form xylem and phloem.