Xerophytic plants

Xerophytic plants are adapted to live in dry condition.
Adaptations
1. Thick waxy cuticle
  1. Prevents the movement of water out of the leaves. Creating a shining surface to reflect the heat and create a lower temperature.
2. Sunken stomata
  1. The stomata are often sunk into pits. This means moist air can get stuck and creates a longer pathway for diffusion also in turn reducing the rate of evaporation.
  2. The stomata close when there is little water, therefore reducing the chance of evaporation.
  4. The stomata is the space that is created between guard cells. For gaseous exchange.
3. Leaf rolled with stomata inside
  1. The inner surface of the rolled leaf is covered in hairs, this traps the moisture and reduces transpiration. This also creates a smaller surface area and it means that wind doesn't have the same drying effect that it usually does.
4. Small leaves
  1. Usually needle shaped leaves with a circular cross section. reducing surface area and therefore reducing the area at which evaporation can take place. They also protect the plant from animals, create shade and collect any moisture.
5. Extensive shallow root system
  1. They are mostly circular, which allows for quick absorption of large amounts of water.
6. Spongy mesophyll
  1. They are more densely packed, so it reduces the area to where the air is exposed to inside the rolled leaf. This means that less water has the chance to evaporate.
Marram grass
Water potential
1. Water potential in Xerophytes is low because of the adaptations they have made to stop the evaporation of water.

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Xerophytic plants

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Medienanhänge

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