Question

plant is a shrub that grows to be approximately five feet tall. its leaves are used by human residents of the arctic tundra to create both beverages and medicine. the leaves are harvested from each plant individually off the branches throughout the year. how has the labrador tea plant adapted to enable its survival against the cold of the tundra biome?
a. shallow roots
b. dense hairs
c. retention of dead leaves
d. low to the ground
please select the best answer from the choices provided

Explanation:

• Shallow roots (a): In tundra, permafrost exists. Shallow roots help plants like Labrador tea to get nutrients from the thin layer of soil above the permafrost. But this is more about nutrient and water uptake rather than cold - resistance.
• Dense hairs (b): Dense hairs on plant leaves can act as an insulator. They trap a layer of air around the leaf, reducing heat loss and protecting the plant from the cold.
• Retention of dead leaves (c): Retaining dead leaves can provide some insulation. However, it is not as effective as dense hairs in directly combating the cold.
• Low to the ground (d): Growing low to the ground can protect plants from strong winds in the tundra. But the question is about adaptation against cold.

Answer:

B. dense hairs