Final answer:
Understory plants in temperate forests have adaptations to capture limited sunlight, necessary for photosynthesis, due to shading from the canopy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understory plants in a temperate forest have evolved adaptations to cope with low light conditions due to the shading by taller trees in the canopy. One key adaptation is the ability to capture limited sunlight. This is a critical resource for photosynthesis, which is the process of converting light energy into chemical energy. Because these plants are often in the shade, they have developed features such as larger leaves, a higher chlorophyll concentration, and the capability to photosynthesize effectively in lower light conditions. For example, spring ephemeral plants grow rapidly and complete their life cycle early in the season before the canopy foliage fully develops, thus taking advantage of the sunlight available.