semidesert
Almost barren terrain
A semidesert is a region with very little rainfall—more than a true desert but not enough to support abundant vegetation.
Scrubby plants, sparse grasses, and drought-adapted species characterize these transitional zones: The semidesert landscape stretched for miles, dotted with sagebrush and the occasional juniper.
Devoid of water
- droughtProlonged water scarcity
- parchedExtremely dry or thirsty
- drynessAbsence of moisture
- aridityAbsence of moisture
evaporation · scorched · sunbaked · desiccation · waterless · dusty · sparse · rainfall
Area of low shrubs
- shrublandBush-dominated vegetation zone
- sagebrushAromatic arid-land shrub
- chaparralDense, drought-adapted shrubbery
- mesquiteThorny desert legume
acacia · cacti · succulents · xerophyte · tumbleweed · thornbush · saltbush · creosote
Treeless Eurasian grassland
- savannaTropical grassland, sparse trees
- grasslandTreeless herb-covered ecosystem
- prairieOpen grassy flatland
- barrenUnable to produce
desolate · dunes · cracked · rocky · sandy · plateau · basin · badlands
Major ecological community
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- ecotoneBoundary between distinct habitats
- faunaAnimal life collectively
- floraPlants of a region
biodiversity · wildlife · habitat · adaptation · conservation · grazing · erosion · survival
arid
Devoid of water
aridity · evaporation · scorched · sunbaked · desiccation · waterless · dusty · sparse · rainfall · seasonal
scrubland
Area of low shrubs
- shrublandBush-dominated vegetation zone
- sagebrushAromatic arid-land shrub
- chaparralDense, drought-adapted shrubbery
mesquite · acacia · cacti · succulents · xerophyte · tumbleweed · thornbush · saltbush · creosote · hardy
steppe
Treeless Eurasian grassland
- savannaTropical grassland, sparse trees
- grasslandTreeless herb-covered ecosystem
- prairieOpen grassy flatland
barren · desolate · dunes · cracked · rocky · sandy · plateau · basin · badlands · outback
biome
Major ecological community
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- ecotoneBoundary between distinct habitats
- faunaAnimal life collectively
flora · biodiversity · wildlife · habitat · adaptation · conservation · grazing · erosion · survival · resilience
- drylands
- Central AsiaKazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan
semidesertrainforest
Wet tropical woodland ecosystem
tropical rainforest · jungle · wetland · swamp · marsh
semidesertforest
Tree-dense ecosystem
woodland · dense forest · old-growth forest · taiga · boreal forest
desert, deserts, desertification, semiarid, desertify, desertified