Question

What advantages does a plant have if leaves are reduced to spines?

Answer 1

1. In some plants, leaves or parts of leaves are transformed into pointed structures known as spines. Spines aid in reducing water loss through transpiration. They also keep grazing animals away from the plant.
2. Spines help to reduce evaporation by breaking up the airflow. The trapped air around the cactus can also create a slightly moister buffer zone. Because plants lose a significant amount of water when it evaporates from their leaves.
3. In the absence of leaves, photosynthesis is carried out by enlarged stems.