PRACTICAL WORK

 XEROPHYTE

AIM:-  To preserve the xerophyte specimen .
MATERIALS REQUIRED :-  Formalin , plastic box , xerophyte specimens.
PROCEDURE

1. Take  any  part  of  xerophyte  specimens
2.  Put  it  in  a  plastic  box  &  pour  formalin  upto  its  brim.
3.  Preserve  it.

OBSERVATION
The  specimen  remain  undamaged  &  according  to  the  need  ,  it  can  be  reused.
CONCLUSION
Xerophyte  plant  have  similar  shape , size &  structure  &  look  very  similar , even  if  the  plants  are  not  closely  related , through  a process  called  convergent  evolution.
MORPHOLOGICAL  ADAPTATIONS
-Reduction  of  surface  area
-Reduction  of  air  flow
Some  xerophytes  have  tiny  hairs  on   their  surface  to  provide  a  wind  break  & reduce  air  flow ,  thereby  reducing  the  rate  of  transpiration.
-Reflectivity
The  colour  or  wax  of  the leaf  or  hairs  on  the surface  , may  serve  to  reflect  sunlight  &  reduce  evaporation.
PHYSIOLOGICAL  ADAPTATIONS
- Some  plant  store  water  in  root  structure , stems , leaves.
- Tiny pores  on  the  xerophytic  plants  caleed  stomata  reduce  evaporation  by  opening  only  at  night.
- Plants  produce  smaller  leaves
- During  day  times , xerophytic plant  may  stop  growing  & go  dominant , or change  the  allocation  of  the  products  of  photosynthesis from  going  new  leaves  to  the roots.
- Seeds  may be  modified  to  require  an  excessive  amount  of  water  before  germinating ,  so  as  to ensure  sufficient  water  supply  for  the  seedlings  survival.                 

SUBMITTED  BY

ANJANA  GOPAL