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Difficulty: EasyMorphological and Physiological Adaptations to Environments

Halophytic plants such as Avicennia actively excrete excess absorbed salts through specialized epidermal salt glands on their leaves as a physiological adaptation to survive in high-salinity habitats.

Answer: Answer

Answer

The statement is true because leaf salt glands represent a physiological adaptation enabling halophytes to excrete excess salt and maintain osmotic balance in saline soils.
Halophytes such as black mangrove (Avicennia) employ leaf salt glands that actively transport excess sodium and chloride ions out of photosynthetic tissues, leaving behind visible salt crystals on leaf surfaces to maintain osmotic balance.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the environmental challenge facing the plant
Avicennia grows in estuarine mangrove swamps with high soil salinity.
High salinity creates osmotic stress and potential ion toxicity for plants.
2
Analyze the adaptation mechanism described
Epidermal salt glands on the leaves actively secrete excess sodium and chloride ions onto the leaf surface.
Active transport of ions prevents harmful accumulation of salts in photosynthetic leaf cells.
3
Determine whether the statement is true or false
The statement accurately describes a physiological adaptation of halophytes.
Active secretion of excess salt by leaf glands is a well-established physiological adaptation in species like Avicennia.

Key Concept

Physiological adaptations of halophytes to saline environments
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Topics

Morphological and Physiological Adaptations to Environments

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