Write the morphological and anatomical comparisons of xerophytes.
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Answer:
Morphological Adaptations of Xerophytes
1. The root system is very well developed with root hairs and root caps. e.g. Calotropis.
2. The roots are fasciculated as in Asparagus.
3. Stems are stunted, woody, dry, hard, ridged, and covered with thick bark, may be underground, e.g. Saccharum. In Opuntiaphylloclade is covered with spines.
4. Stem is covered with thick coating of wax and silica in Equisetum or dense hairs as in Calotropis.
5. Stems may be modified into a thorn e.g. Ulex or cladodes e.g. Asparagus.
6. Leaves are very much reduced, small scale-like, appearing only for a brief period (Caducous) sometimes modified into spines or scales as in Casuarina, Ruscus, Asparagus.
7. Lamina may be narrow or needle like as in Pinus or divided into many leaflets as in Acacia or succulents as in Aloe.
8. In Euphorbia and Zizyphus jujuba stipules become modified into spines.
9. Xerophytes like Calotropis have hairy covering on the leaves and stems to check transpiration.
Anatomical Adaptations of Xerophytes
1. Root hairs and root caps are well developed in Opuntia.
2. Roots may become fleshy to store water as in Asparagus
3. In succulent xerophytes, stems possess a water storage region (thin walled parenchyma cells)
4. Stems of non-succulent xerophytes show a very thick cuticle, well developed epidermis with thickened cell wall, several layered and sclerenchymatous hypodermis e.g. Casuarina.
5. The stems have sunken stomata and well developed vascular and mechanical tissues.