Ecological Adaptations

Ecological adaptations are the structural, anatomical and physiological changes a plant undergoes so that it can survive and function successfully in a particular kind of habitat. Adaptations let plants persist under whatever ecological conditions prevail where they grow, and based on the habitat they are adapted to, land plants are traditionally sorted into five broad groups: hydrophytes (adapted to water/wet places), xerophytes (adapted to dry places), mesophytes (adapted to moderate, 'average' conditions), epiphytes (adapted to growing on other plants), and halophytes (adapted to salty soils). Each group shows a characteristic, recognisable suite of morphological, anatomical and physiological features that solve the specific survival problem posed by its habitat — hydrophytes solve the problem of too much water and too little oxygen, xe …