An example of osmosis in plants is the absorption of water from the soil by the root. Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration through a selectively permeable membrane. In plants, the root hairs, which are thin extensions of the root, have a higher concentration of solutes (dissolved substances) than the surrounding soil. As a result, water moves from the area of high water concentration in the soil to the area of low water concentration in the root hairs via osmosis. This is an essential process for the plant to absorb the water and nutrients it needs for growth and survival.