xerophytes
Drought-adapted plants
Xerophytes are plants adapted to survive in dry environments with little water.
Cacti, succulents, and sagebrush are xerophytes—they store water in fleshy tissues, have waxy coatings to reduce evaporation, or grow deep roots to reach underground moisture.
The term appears in botany and ecology: Desert xerophytes have evolved remarkable drought-resistance mechanisms.
Spiny water-storing plants
Thorny desert legume
- yuccaSpiny desert plant
- prickly pearSpine-covered cactus, edible fruit
- brittlebushWoody desert perennial, fragrant resin
- sagebrushAromatic arid-land shrub
saltbush · nopal · buffalo grass · smoke tree · barrel cactus · cholla · jojoba · organ pipe
Able to withstand aridity
- CAM photosynthesisNocturnal CO2 fixation pathway
- trichomesEpidermal outgrowths on plants
- waxy coatingLipid-based protective layer
- deep rootsLong-standing connection to place
Dense, drought-adapted shrubbery
- manzanitaRed-barked western shrub
- scrub oakLow-growing drought-tolerant tree
- oleanderToxic flowering evergreen shrub
- lavenderFragrant herb, pale violet
rosemary · olive · cork oak · cistus · rockrose · sage · thyme · acacia
Organisms facing extinction risk
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- seed bankCollection preserving plant genetics
- botanical gardenCultivated collection of labeled flora
- genetic diversityAllelic variation within populations
climate adaptation · desertification · xeriscape · protected areas · endemic species
Tropical plant, often epiphytic
- baobabBulbous African tree species
- dragon treeTropical plant with blood-red sap
- elephant footLarge mammal's limb base
- resurrection plantDesiccation-tolerant botanical specimen
cacti
Spiny water-storing plants
kalanchoe · saguaro · jade plant · euphorbia · hen and chicks
mesquite
Thorny desert legume
- yuccaSpiny desert plant
- prickly pearSpine-covered cactus, edible fruit
- brittlebushWoody desert perennial, fragrant resin
sagebrush · saltbush · nopal · buffalo grass · smoke tree · barrel cactus · cholla · jojoba · organ pipe · century plant
drought-tolerant
Able to withstand aridity
- CAM photosynthesisNocturnal CO2 fixation pathway
- trichomesEpidermal outgrowths on plants
- waxy coatingLipid-based protective layer
deep roots · shallow roots · dormancy · pubescence · reflective surfaces
chaparral
Dense, drought-adapted shrubbery
- manzanitaRed-barked western shrub
- scrub oakLow-growing drought-tolerant tree
- oleanderToxic flowering evergreen shrub
lavender · rosemary · olive · cork oak · cistus · rockrose · sage · thyme · acacia · eucalyptus
endangered species
Organisms facing extinction risk
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- seed bankCollection preserving plant genetics
- botanical gardenCultivated collection of labeled flora
genetic diversity · climate adaptation · desertification · xeriscape · protected areas · endemic species
bromeliad
Tropical plant, often epiphytic
- baobabBulbous African tree species
- dragon treeTropical plant with blood-red sap
- elephant footLarge mammal's limb base
resurrection plant · air plant · desert rose · crown of thorns
xerophyteshydrophytes
Plants living in water
aquatic plants · marsh plants · wetland plants · floating plants · water lilies