Plants in the Arctic
Store Water:
Plants like cacti hold water in their thick stems to use during dry times.
Grow Close to the Ground:
Staying low helps them avoid cold winds.
Plants live in all kinds of places, from hot deserts to freezing Arctic tundras, and even warm, wet rainforests.
Rainforests are warm, wet, and filled with tall trees and lots of plants.
These plants compete for sunlight and water in a crowded environment.
Fast Growth:
Arctic plants grow quickly during the short summer to make the most of the sunlight.
The Arctic is cold, snowy, and has frozen ground.
Plants here have to deal with freezing temperatures and short growing seasons.
Deep Roots:
Their roots grow deep or spread out wide to find water underground.
Climbing or Living on Trees:
Some plants, like vines or bromeliads, climb trees or live on branches to get closer to sunlight.
Plants in the Desert
Fuzzy Leaves:
Plants like Arctic Willows have tiny hairs to keep their leaves warm.
Big Leaves:
Many plants have large leaves to catch sunlight and rain.
Small or No Leaves:
Many desert plants have small leaves or spines to reduce water loss.
Plants in the Rainforest
The desert is hot, dry, and doesn’t get much rain.
Plants here have special ways to survive with very little water.
Grow Tall:
Trees grow tall to reach sunlight above the forest.