How does the shape of a cactus help it survive?
The ribs also help to channel water from rainfall to the roots and help to shade portions of the stem throughout the day. Many cacti stems have a globular shape, which for water storage, is the optimal shape. A globe maximizes volume while minimizing surface area. This helps the cactus survive the cold of winter.
What special structures do Cactus have?
Cacti generally have thick herbaceous or woody chlorophyll-containing stems. Cacti can be distinguished from other succulent plants by the presence of areoles, small cushionlike structures with trichomes (plant hairs) and, in almost all species, spines or barbed bristles (glochids).
How do you shape a cactus?
Pads or leaves may just snap off or you can use pruners to remove them. For a big job like cutting back a columnar specimen, use a saw and remove the main trunk at the point at which you would like to see branching or at the height you require the plant. Try to remove the stem at a growth point.
What is the benefit of needle shaped leaves to a cactus?
So, one reason for why cacti have needles is to prevent thirsty or hungry animals from eating or damaging the plant. You may also notice that cactus spines can differ in color and texture. Some spines are rigid while others are feathery.
What are the sharp things on a cactus called?
Glochids or glochidia (singular “glochidium”) are hair-like spines or short prickles, generally barbed, found on the areoles of cacti in the sub-family Opuntioideae. Cactus glochids easily detach from the plant and lodge in the skin, causing irritation upon contact.
What is a plant with needle like leaves called?
Pines, spruces, firs and cedars are some of the trees with needle shaped leaves. Due to dryness in air, they have needle shaped leaves to prevent the water loss due to transpiration.
What is the purpose of the flower of a plant?
The primary purpose of the flower is reproduction. Since the flowers are the reproductive organs of the plant, they mediate the joining of the sperm, contained within pollen, to the ovules — contained in the ovary.
What shape are Pinus leaves found?
Salient Features of Pinus give pyramidal or conical appearance. shoot of limited growth. the axil of scaly leaves. Each dwarf shoot bear two scaly leaves which is also known as prophylls.
Which tree is having sharp and needle-like leaves?
Pines, spruces, firs and cedars are some trees with needle shaped leaves.
Which type of plants are found in hilly areas?
The primary plants of these regions are pine, spruce, cedar (deodar) and fir trees. These trees have straight and tall trunks and needle-like clears out. They are called coniferous trees. These trees keep their leaves green all consistently thus they are called evergreen trees.
How does the needle-like leaf benefit the conifer?
What is the advantage of trees having needle shaped leaves? Since needles don’t shed each fall they can capture sunlight for nearly the entire year. Needles can survive ice and snow. Needles have lower wind resistance than big, flat leaves, so they’re less likely to make the tree fall over during a big storm.
Why are pine needles so thin?
The basic design of pine needles helps explain the trees’ competitive edge in dry climates. Their exceedingly narrow form reduces the surface area exposed to dehydration, and the waxy coating, or cuticle, outside the thick epidermis provides a barrier to water loss. Needle length varies widely among pines.
Why do trees in hilly areas have needle like leaves?
Plants in hilly areas have needle-shaped leaves as an adaptation because: Shape of the leaf helps in retaining water by reducing evaporation. They are covered with the waxy coating which reduces transpiration (type of water loss).
Do all conifers have needle like leaves?
Conifers include pine, spruce, fir, cedars, larch (also known as tamarack), and many more. A conifer is a cone-bearing tree which almost always has modified leaves known as needles, and is typically evergreen. All true conifers have needles, but they’re a bit different in nature.
Do all evergreen trees have needles?
Most evergreens—such as pine, fir, spruce, juniper, and cedar—are cone-bearing conifer trees with needles that stay on the tree for several years, only falling off because of old age, to be quickly replenished. Some broad-leafed shrubs like holly may also keep their leaves year-round.
What is the advantage for a plant to produce broad leaves compared to narrow needle-like leaves?
Needles offer some nifty advantages over broad leaves—especially in tough conditions. The short answer is: survival. In general plants like it hot and humid—such as in rain forests near the Equator (or in greenhouses).
What would be a disadvantage of having small needlelike leaves?
a student examining leaf cross sections under a microscope finds many loosely packed cells with thin cell walls. what is a disadvantage of having small, needlelike leaves? decreased efficiency of light capture. which structure is correctly paired with its tissue system?
Why are leaves flat and thin?
The leaves are thin and flat so that they can be more exposed towards sunlight for absorption of light and carbon dioxide. This results in increased photosynthesis. The veins also provides larger surface area to distribute the pressure applied on leaves thereby helps in locating nutrients to tissues during an injury.