Plant Adaptations
Cacti
-Chlorophyll on the outer tissue of their skin and stems conduct photosynthesis and manufacture the food. This is ideal because photosynthesis can occur quickly after the sun has hit the plant.
-Spines protect the plant from animals, provide shade and collect moisture.
-Shallow wide-spread root systems allow for quick acquisition of water when it rains- this way, the water is soaked up immediately.
-Reflect the heat of the sun to reduce water loss.
-Covered with thick waxy cuticle that prevents loss of water.
-Often can tolerate hyper saline conditions often present in the desert.
-Spines protect the plant from animals, provide shade and collect moisture.
-Shallow wide-spread root systems allow for quick acquisition of water when it rains- this way, the water is soaked up immediately.
-Reflect the heat of the sun to reduce water loss.
-Covered with thick waxy cuticle that prevents loss of water.
-Often can tolerate hyper saline conditions often present in the desert.
Succulents
-Store water in fleshy leaves, stems or roots in compounds or cells.
-Shallow roots.
-Waxy cuticles make the plant nearly waterproof when the stomata's are closed.
-Light coloration allows heat to reflect of the leaves.
-Shallow roots.
-Waxy cuticles make the plant nearly waterproof when the stomata's are closed.
-Light coloration allows heat to reflect of the leaves.
Desert Spoon
-Curved leaves directs water to the centre of plant.
Jojoba Bush
-angle their leaves vertically so that the surface area exposed to the sun is minimized.
Texas Sage
-Grey, silver or pale green foliage reflect off light, and reduces hea
Brittlebush
-Fuzzy hairs on its leaves that act as the suns reflectors.