What are the adaptations shown by xerophytes?

Answer 1

Xerophytes are plants which are adapted to a dry, arid habitat such as deserts or sand dunes. They have adapted to reduce water loss so as to survive these harsh conditions. Although transpiration is unavoidable, it can be reduced in several ways.

• Smaller leaves, almost needle-shaped, create a far smaller surface area for water to be lost from.
• A densely-packed spongey mesophyll layer means that the cells have less surface area exposed to the air spaces inside the leaf, and therefore less water evaporates into these air spaces.
• The closing of stomata means that fewer gases can escape, and some plants, such as the Tea Plant, only open their stomata at night so as to further inhibit their water loss.
• A thicker waxy cuticle on the outside of the leaf makes the surface more impermeable to water, so controlling evaporation from the leaf.
• Hairs on the surface of the leaf, and especially around the stomata, are called trichores, and these trap humid air, and prevent said air from being moved away by currents so as to keep the water vapour potential low.
• Some plants have rolled leaves, which also maintains the humid air around the stomata.
• Extensive roots maximises the uptake of water.

I hope that this is of use to you.

Answer 2

• Xerophytes are plants that are adapted for growing in dry habitats. Xerophytes can have any of the following adaptations:

• Leaves: reduced in size and surface area to reduce water loss - the spines of cacti are reduced leaves.

• Cuticles: thick to prevent water loss by evaporation - cacti have thick waxy cuticles.

• Stomata: opened only at night to reduce the amount of water lost by transpiration. Cacti do this and it requires absorbing CO2 at night and storing it as malic acid until sunlight returns.

• Roots - deep and/or spreading to maximize the absorption of underground water.

Answer 3

Anything that assists the plant to survive in an extremely dry or desert environment.

Spines/ thorns instead of leaves, thick cuticle for protection from dehydration, shallow root systems for collecting small amounts of rain etc.

Answer 4

Xerophytes posses adaptations that limit water loss and increase storage of water within the plant. This needs to be done because of the dry, harsh conditions in which they survive.

1) Limit water loss; few waxy stomata, sunken stomata that are open at night and large hairs on surface to inc SA, sometimes Xerophytes have curled leaves.

2) increase storage of water; succlent leaves and stem, and many have a fleshy tuber that helps in the storage of water.

Answer 5

Xerophytes show several adaptations to thrive in dry environments, such as deep root systems to access water, succulent leaves or stems to store water, and reduced leaf surface area to minimize water loss through transpiration. They may also have a thick waxy cuticle, stomata that close during the day to reduce water loss, and mechanisms to efficiently use available water resources.

Answer 6

reduced leaf size and its closely packed leaves

Answer 7

joshua tree