Verified answer

Temperature - Plants have adapted to thrive only when it is most tolerable. Some plants live their entire life cylce in a single season, others die back and feed off stored materials so they can bloom again. Other plants require high heat to open the shells surrounding seed pods in order for the seeds to develop. Most plants change due to the temperature, when it gets warmer in spring, they begin to grow, then in fall, most plants are exposed to cooler temperatures and begin to die back, or go into a hibernation mode, in which growth almost stops.

Moisture - Look to deserts and swamps for your most creative plants. In deserts, cacti have changed their entire structure to survive with so little water. In stead of leaves, spines. Stalks are now reservoirs that can swell to hold water. Deep tap roots are replaced with shallow, widespread roots to catch as much rain as possible. Exhalation is done strictly at night to reduce moisture loss, and wax covers the majority of the plant to protect from moisture loss. Swamps house plants that learn to survive with too much water, like the air plants that can grow with no soil. Here plants must be able to regulate how much water is taken in so as to avoid bloating and exploding cellular structures. Look to the Mangroves of Florida who have risen above the water to help alleviate the strain of water and salt.

Light - Sunflowers are prime example of tracking. Plants will not only grow in the direction of strongest light, but can also track it across the sky.Some plants will move leaves and stalks as the sun moves east to west. Other, more woody, plants will grow sideways to emerge from under a rock or taller plant to reach the sunlight. Many plants have adapted to low light, in which they may have increased or denser pigmentation to receive the most benefit from what little light they do get. Others have adapted to extreme exposure to light and develop coverings. Again look to the hairy cacti of the desert, not only are they protected more from moisture loss by the dense covering of 'hair' but also from the intense sunlight.

Chemicals - Easy one! Carnivorous plants! Pitcher plants and others 'eat' bugs to compensate for lousy soil. The bugs are digested to gain nutrients like nitrogen.