Compare water plants with land plants in Habitat – Class 6 Science Experiment
Chapter Name: Habitat
Activity Name: Compare water plants with land plants in Habitat
Activity Description:
In this experiment, we will compare the characteristics of an aquatic plant and a land plant to understand how the aquatic plant is suited to living in water.
Required Items:
- Aquatic plant (hydrilla or vallesneria)
- Land plant (tulsi)
- Table for recording observations
Step by Step Procedure:
- Collect an aquatic plant such as hydrilla or vallesneria.
- Collect a land plant, for example, tulsi (holy basil).
- Set up a table with the following headings: Parts, Terrestrial plant (tulsi), Aquatic plant (vallesneria/hydrilla).
- Observe each part of the terrestrial plant (tulsi) and record your observations in the respective column of the table.
- Observe each part of the aquatic plant (vallesneria/hydrilla) and record your observations in the respective column of the table.
- Compare the observations for each part and note any differences or similarities between the terrestrial and aquatic plants.
- Pay special attention to the adaptations of the aquatic plant that help it survive in water.
Experiment Observations:
| Parts | Terrestrial plant (tulsi) | Aquatic plant (vallesneria/hydrilla) |
|---|---|---|
| Stem | Green, erect, and rigid | Long, slender, and flexible |
| Leaf | Broad, flat, and hairy | Thin, ribbon-like, and smooth |
| Root | Thick and branching | Fine, hair-like and abundant |
| Others | – | Floating leaves and submerged stems |
Precautions:
- Handle the plants with care and ensure they are collected responsibly.
- Take necessary precautions to avoid damaging the plants or their habitats.
- Make sure to properly clean and dispose of any plant material after the experiment.
Lesson Learnt from Experiment:
Through this experiment, we observe that aquatic plants, such as vallesneria or hydrilla, have several adaptations that make them suited to living in water:
- Long, slender, and flexible stems allow them to float and adjust to water currents.
- Thin, ribbon-like leaves reduce drag and enable efficient gas exchange underwater.
- Fine, hair-like roots help in nutrient absorption from the water.
- Floating leaves and submerged stems allow for photosynthesis both above and below the water surface.
These adaptations enable aquatic plants to thrive in their watery habitat by maximizing their access to light, nutrients, and oxygen while minimizing resistance to water flow.
