Which type of plant adapted to saline coastal or inland marsh environments possesses specialized root membrane barriers that filter out dissolved sodium chloride or excretes excess salt through leaf glands?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Halophyte
- Step 1: High soil salinity creates severe osmotic stress that dehydrates ordinary non-adapted plants (glycophytes) and causes ion toxicity.
- Step 2: Halophytes (such as red mangroves, cordgrass, and glasswort) thrive in coastal estuaries and salt flats by accumulating organic osmolytes in cell vacuoles to draw in water and using specialized leaf salt glands to excrete crystalline salt.
Answer
Halophyte
Why not the others: 'Xerophyte' A xerophyte is a drought-adapted plant inhabiting dry arid regions, featuring succulent water-storage tissues; 'Hydrophyte' A hydrophyte is an aquatic plant adapted to living in freshwater streams, lakes, or ponds; 'Mesophyte' A mesophyte is a standard terrestrial plant adapted to average moisture and temperature conditions without extreme adaptations.
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