answersLogoWhite

0

First a definition; a desert is an area where the average evaporation rate is higher than the rate of precipitation (rainfall), this means that you have hot deserts (like the Sahara) and cold deserts (like Antarctica where no plant life exists and the Arctic Desert where limited plant life exists).

Normally people associate cacti with deserts, these are however just one group of desert dwelling plants.

Plants which are found in hot deserts vary, as do the specific environments of specific deserts - Example, plants found in the Sahara Desert are not the same as what you would find in the Australian Outback or in the Arizona Desert. They are on different continents and the indigenous plant species within those regions have adapted to allow them to grow in these regions.

Desert plants are grouped as:

Ephemeral Annuals - They are referred to as drought escaping plants or drought evaders e.g. cassia, Argemone etc.

Succulents - fleshy xerophytes which accumulate large amount of water. Common in desert or dry places and are known as drought avoiding plants e.g. Opuntia, Agave, Euphorbia, Asparagus etc.

Non-Succulents - These plants are true xerophytes and are drought resistant e.g. Capparis, Zyzyphus. A Xerophytic plant is one which lives with very little water, or in an area that has an arid climate.

Other examples of desert dwelling plants include (not specific to any location or desert):

Acacia species (mainly trees and small shrubs)

Agave species (fleshy succulents)

Atriplex species (the Salt bush, small hardy shrub)

Calligonum crinitum

Cornulaca arabica (saltbush)

Cyperus conglomeratus

Dipterygium glaucum

Larrea tridentata

Limeum arabicum

Parkinsonia aculeate (hardy shrub or small tree)

Prosopis cinera (Ghaf, hardy tree)

Prosopis juliflora (Mesquite, hardy tree)

Protoasparagus (hardy groundcover)

Sansevieria (fleshy groundcovers)

Welwitchia mirabillas (hardy slow growing shrub)

Yucca species

Ziziphus (hardy tree)

Zygophyllum mandavillei

Cacti (generic term)

Cereus peruvianus (spiny succulent)

Echinocactus (Barrel Cactus, spiny succulent)

Euphorbia species (spiny succulent)

Opuntia species (spiny succulent)

Palms (generic term)

Chamaerops humilis (hardy palm)

Phoenix dactylifera (Date Palm)

Sabal palmetto (hardy palm)

Washingtonia robusta

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What abiotic factor affects all desert plants?

The biggest abiotic factor that affects all desert plants is temperature. This heat makes life for all desert plants very difficult.


What are the producers in a desert food chain?

Saguaro cactus, sagebrush, creosote, and mesquite. All of which are types of plants in the desert and are considered producers.


What is a desert producer?

All the plants in a desert are producers, especially grasses.


What are the producers of a desert?

All plants are producers and the only producers in a desert.


What item is part of the biomass of a desert?

All plants and animals of the desert are part of the biomass of the desert.


Do desert plants perform photosynthesis?

Yes, desert plants carry out photosynthesis.


Do all plants need water including the plants that live in the desert?

Yes.


What is the producer in a desert?

Any plant, and only plants, are the producers in a desert.Any plant, and only plants, are the producers in a desert.


What is the primary producer in the desert?

All plants are the primary producers in the desert or any biome.


What is producers of desert?

All the plants in a desert are producers. Grasses are probably the most notable.


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 state would not have native desert plants?

All the mainland states have deserts, and all have native plants. Tasmania has no deserts, so logically it has no native desert plants. However it may have plants, also found in deserts.