By Team Aakash Byju's
The roots change their shape and get modified for support, food storage and respiration. Ex: Mangroves.
They are also modified to absorb and transfer water and minerals from the soil to various areas of the plant. Ex: The taproots of carrot.
Stems of many plants are modified to perform different functions, which can be aerial, subaerial or underground modifications.
These modifications help in better adaptation and survival which are not normally associated with the stem.
– Underground - Example: Ginger, Onion. – Subaerial - Example: Grasses, Pineapple. – Aerial - Example: Cucumber, Lemon.
Modification in stems can be categorised into three types:
Leaves can be modified to develop spines, which prevent water loss and act as a defence and some leaves are thick, which aids in water storage. Ex: Acacia.
Some leaves are modified into tendrils to provide support to the plant, while others are transformed to catch and digest insects. Ex: Sweet Pea.