Question

Give biological reason for the following statement:

In some xerophytes leaves are modified into spines.

Answer 1

Xerophytes:

1. The plants that have adapted to survive in places with low water availability, like deserts, are xerophytes.
2. In xerophytic areas like deserts, the rate of transpiration is high, so plants adapt to minimize transpiration.

Reason for modification of leaves into spines:

1. The modification of some leaves to spines helps plants prevent water loss by transpiration by minimizing the surface area.
2. This modification can also defend plants against herbivore animals.