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In order to understand why desert plants have cuticles (cutin) you first have to know what cutin is, it's function, and why some plants have it. Then you can begin to answer why plants specialized for desert climate have cutin.
Cutin is a fatty, wax-like substance secreted by a plant's dermal tissue system. The dermal tissue is also known as the epidermis which is the outermost layer of cells on all young plant organs. If you consider all of this "waxy stuff" as a whole it is termed "cuticle,"similar to the cuticle above your nails. As you can imagine, wax is insoluble in water and therefore "water-proofs" the skin of the plant. In other words, it dictates how much water is lost through the epidermal cells by evaporation, ensures water does not enter, and also keeps other molecules from entering. The cuticle also protects again UV radiation.
Regarding plant's evolutionary history, the adaptation of cutin provided a way for marine plant life to move onto land. Suppose if you were a marine plant and your entire body was surrounded in water, you would rely less on gaseous exchange and evolving structures or mechanisms to trap water within you. If you move onto land and are in hot, dry, desert climates water is scarce and you must adapt to survive. This is why desert plants have cutin.
I hope that helps! I am a Biology major and am currently taking a botany course.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoCutin is part of the cuticle of plant leaves. The cuticle is a waxy protective film covering the epidermis. Plants in the desert need to retain as much water as possible and this helps.
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Are lipids cutin?
Yes, cutin is a lipid. Cutin refers to one of two waxy polymers that are the main components of the plant cuticle which covers the aerial surface of the plants. Wax is usually considered as a lipid.
What plants cannot survive in the desert?
Desert plants have adapted to the extremes of heat and aridity by using both physical and behavioral mechanisms.
Plants from what division are well suited for desert life?
Plants from the division Magnoliophyta are well suited for desert life.
Why is a desert an ecosystem?
An ecosystem is a place where plants and animals ( maybe humans ) live and animals and plants live in the desert so … 
What will happen if desert plants have leaves in the place of thorns?
The vast majority of desert plants do have leaves and few have only spines.
Are lipids cutin?
Yes, cutin is a lipid. Cutin refers to one of two waxy polymers that are the main components of the plant cuticle which covers the aerial surface of the plants. Wax is usually considered as a lipid.
What is the role of plants in a desert?
Plants are the producers in the desert. They form the basis for all food chains. Plants also provide shade and shelter to many animals.
What is the function of cutin in leaves?
Cutin is a component that is found in all plants. The function of cutin in the leaves of a plant is to block water from seeping in. It is often seen as a waxy type of substance on the surface.
What the the cell wall in plants made of?
Cellulose,Hemicellulose,Pectin in primary cellwall Suberin,Cutin,Lignin in secondary cellwall
Which has thicker cutin pine or lilac?
which has a thicker cutin pine or lilac leaf
What plants cannot survive in the desert?
Desert plants have adapted to the extremes of heat and aridity by using both physical and behavioral mechanisms.
Is cutin a lipid?
yes it is
How are the plants in a desert ecosystem most likely to differ from the plants in a rain forest ecosystem?
Plants in the desert can sustain water and do not need as much of it. Plants in wet climates require much more water than desert plants.
How do plants in the desert manufacture food?
Desert plants carry out photosynthesis as do other plants to produce their own food.
Where do the desert plants live?
By definition, in the desert
What plants grow in the Safari Desert?
There is no such desert named the "Safari Desert."
Are there large or small plants in a desert biome?
THE DESERT BIOME IS THE BIGEST BIOME IN THE WORLD
