xerophyte
Arid-adapted vegetation
A xerophyte is a plant adapted to survive in dry conditions with little water.
Cacti, succulents, and sagebrush are xerophytes, having evolved features like thick waxy coatings, deep roots, or water-storing tissues.
Desert xerophytes have developed remarkable strategies for conserving moisture.
Moist and flavorful
- cactusSpiny desert plant
- aloeMedicinal gel plant
- agaveSpiny desert succulent
- saguaroColumnar desert cactus
euphorbia · sedum · kalanchoe · yucca · mesquite · stonecrop · ice-plant
To leave behind completely
- scrublandArea of low shrubs
- chaparralDense, drought-adapted shrubbery
- steppeTreeless Eurasian grassland
- dunesWind-formed sand ridges
sand · aridity · Sahara · Gobi · Mojave · Sonoran · Namib · Atacama
Able to withstand aridity
- resilientAble to recover quickly
- hardyAble to endure difficulty
- perennialRecurring each year
- evergreenRetains foliage year-round
tenacious · dormancy · endurance · long-lived · slow-growing · deep-rooted · fire-adapted
Water loss from land surfaces
- pollinationFlower reproductive transfer
- xeriscapingLow-irrigation garden design
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- microhabitatSmall distinct living area
Moisture-rich quality
- drought-toleranceCapacity to endure aridity
- trichomesEpidermal outgrowths on plants
- mycorrhizaeFungal-root mutualistic associations
succulent
Moist and flavorful
saguaro · euphorbia · sedum · kalanchoe · yucca · mesquite · stonecrop · ice-plant
desert
To leave behind completely
- scrublandArea of low shrubs
- chaparralDense, drought-adapted shrubbery
- steppeTreeless Eurasian grassland
dunes · sand · aridity · Sahara · Gobi · Mojave · Sonoran · Namib · Atacama · Kalahari
drought-resistant
Able to withstand aridity
evergreen · tenacious · dormancy · endurance · long-lived · slow-growing · deep-rooted · fire-adapted
evapotranspiration
Water loss from land surfaces
- pollinationFlower reproductive transfer
- xeriscapingLow-irrigation garden design
- biodiversityRange of life forms
succulence
Moisture-rich quality
- drought-toleranceCapacity to endure aridity
- trichomesEpidermal outgrowths on plants
- mycorrhizaeFungal-root mutualistic associations