Thylakoid membranes are found within chloroplasts, which are used for photosynthesis. Plants found in both aquatic and terrestrial environments photosynthesize, so these membranes cannot be considered adaptations uniquely benefiting terrestrial plants.

Comparatively, cutin is a waxy coating found on various parts of plants that helps prevent water loss when exposed to air. Stomata are tiny openings in the epidermis of plants that allow for the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen while minimizing water loss. Roots and root hairs allow plants to absorb nutrients and water from the soil. Water loss was the primary challenge plants faced when moving from aquatic to terrestrial environments; cutin, stomata, roots, and root hairs all help terrestrial plants absorb and conserve water.

Cell walls were present in plant cells before the transition to land. Seeds, stomata, waxy cuticles, and vascular transport all evolved to reduce water loss and circulate water to all areas of the plant. Water loss and circulation were not an issue before the transition to land; plants were forced to adapt these traits in order to survive in a terrestrial environment.

Plants developed more rigid structures to help maintain their growth on land as opposed to water.

Waxy cuticles developed to help reduce water loss/desiccation. Roots allowed plants greater access to water, as well as provided anchoring to the ground; this allowed plants to grow taller. Vascular tissue facilitated transport of water and nutrients to all parts of the plant. Stomata helped with gas exchange.

Carbon fixation converts inorganic carbon dioxide into organic carbon compounds, such as glucose and cellulose. This is a characteristic function of both C₃ and C₄, and is a primary purpose of light independent reactions.

Closed stomata during the day is a characteristic of CAM plants, which allows for the conservation of water that is usually lost during photorespiration.

Bundle-sheath cells are a characteristic of C₄ plants. The presence of bundle-sheath cells isolates rubisco, preventing rubisco from binding to oxygen during photorespiration.

Plants have a multicellular haploid stage called the gametophyte. Gametophytes () produce gametes () through mitosis, which combine to produce a zygote (). The zygote grows into a multicellular, diploid sporophyte (), which produces spores () through meiosis. Those spores give rise to multicellular gametophytes.

The chloroplast is believed to have evolved from photosynthetic bacteria that formed a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with an ancestor of plants through endosymbiosis. There is lots of evidence supporting the endosymbiotic theory, which is based on the principle of one organism phagocytosing another, resulting in mutualism.

Biotic pollinators, such as bees and hummingbirds, share a mutualistic relationship with angiosperms. This leads to co-evolution, in which the selective pressure of one species impacts the genetic composition of another. In this case, the preferences of the pollinators impact the reproductive success of specific angiosperms.