How do desert plants live in a desert? It’s very hot in the daytime, very cold at night, hardly any water available, and even the soil is harsh. Life finds a way, however, even in such an unforgiving place as a desert.
Take the Saguaro Cactus for example. These types of desert plants in general, the cacti, adapt in a number of general ways. They have thin needles instead of leaves, so water does not evaporate from them. In addition, their trunks are thick and bloated. This allows them to store moisture far from the surface, again protecting it from evaporation. The Saguero has developed two additional features. Number one it gains protection from the sun by growing in the shade of another tree or shrub. It’s just like people who look for shade on a sunny day. It can reach 15 feet high, but the growth is very slow, maybe an inch each year. Reaching maturity under these conditions is an important part of survival.
There are common adaptations shared by many desert plants. Xerophytes, such as the cacti and specifically the Saguaro Cactus, have the needles instead of leaves and share other methods of gathering and storing water. Phreatophytes use a different adaptation. Their roots are deep enough to reach all the way down to the water table. There are two more important adaptations.
Perennials are desert plants that count their lifespans in years. Perennials remain dormant in the harshest part of the season. They spring into action when water is available. This is how they survive.
Another category of desert plants are the annuals, which live for only a season. Unlike the perennials whose strategy is to stick around for a long time, the annuals only bloom when conditions are right. They live during the wet times and spread their seeds to grow the next generation.
Desert plants are pretty amazing.
