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The Plant Kingdom
Plants In Toxic Soils
Living on Planet Earth
© 2011 abcteach.com
Too Many Minerals
Plants need minerals in
order to grow strong and
healthy. Water dissolves
the minerals found in the
soil. Plants absorb nutrients
from the soil as water is
drawn up by the roots.
Some soils have too much
of one mineral or another
for most plants to live.
© 2011 abcteach.com
Too Many Minerals
Plants that tolerate soil with large
quantities of salt or metals have
special adaptations. Because they
are able to grow and thrive in
these hostile environments, they
help make life on Earth better for
all living things.
© 2011 abcteach.com
Too Much Salt
Plants that absorb salt
react just as they would in
a drought, they dehydrate.
Farmers who irrigate their
fields have many problems
because salt stays behind
in the soil after important
mineral nutrients and
water evaporate.
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Too Much Salt
Biologists are studying
plant genes and proteins
to make plants more salt
tolerant. Farmers are
learning better ways to
irrigate, rotate and
fertilize their crops.
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Too Much Salt
Some plants found in coastal waters have adapted to
high concentrations of salt in the water. These plants
play a big part in preserving land and helping young
animals grow to adulthood. Their roots support the soil
where water meets land.
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Too Much Salt
These fortified banks provide
shelter for young animals
including invertebrates, fish,
amphibians, reptiles, birds
and mammals. When the
animals are mature enough
to leave the warm, shallow
water, many move away from
these estuaries.
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Too Much Salt
Mangroves are the most famous of these plants. They
grow in mud where the sea is shallow and mixed with
fresh water. Mangroves access the higher levels of
oxygen at the surface of the water with their shallow
wide-spread roots.
Mangrove Seed
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Too Much Salt
Some roots begin their
growth high in the trunk and
reach down into the mud.
Special air chambers grow
from these roots like straws.
These breathing pores in the
bark let air in and keep water
out at high tide.
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Too Much Salt
There are many other plants
that have adapted to salt
water. They make some of the
most interesting habitats for
many fish, birds and other
animals.
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Too Much Metal
Volcanoes and earthquakes bring rocks up from the
depths of the earth. These rocks contain large amounts
of magnesium, iron and other metals that are toxic to
most plants.
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Too Much Metal
This kind of soil is easy to
spot. The loose igneous rock
glitters in the sunlight. It has
a variety of colors such as
green-gray, black streaked
with white, and burntorange of the rusting iron.
Igneous rock is from volcanoes.
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Too Much Metal
Soil builds up over time
but it’s loose and quickly
dries out after a rain. The
few plants that grow in
these soils are hardy. They
don’t get much to drink,
have poor nutrition, and
receive too much bright
light and heat.
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Too Much Metal
Against all odds, many species have developed roots, stems
and leaves with unique functions. They usually grow very
low to the ground. Their leaves are tougher than their
originating species and may have hairs that reflect light.
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Too Much Metal
These plants are survivors
that offer food and shelter to
small animals and add
nutrients to the toxic soil.
© 2011 abcteach.com
Too Many Minerals
Plants have been around for millions of years. We are just
beginning to understand all their wondrous abilities. Even
though some live in difficult circumstances they are able to
offer our planet the gifts of oxygen for us to breathe, food
and shelter for animals, and beautiful scenery.
© 2011 abcteach.com
The Plant Kingdom
Images Courtesy of:
Microsoft Clipart
www.office.com
http://search.usa.gov/search/
Contributions from abcteach.com staff members,
and others as identified.
Plant Adaption Series inspired by:
Dawson, John & Lucas, Rob. The Nature of Plants, Habitats, Challenges and
Adaptations. Timber Press, Portland OR, 2005.
Living on Planet Earth
© 2011 abcteach.com