2.3.3

Adaptation of Plants to Hot Deserts

Test yourself

How are Plants Adapted to Hot Deserts?

Plants have evolved adaptations to survive in the high temperatures and low rainfall of hot deserts.

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Roots

  • Plants' roots either go very deep into the ground or spread out broadly around the plant.
  • This allows the plants to capture the maximum water possible when it does rain in a hot desert.
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Small spines instead of leaves

  • Trees in taiga forests have needles to reduce water loss.
  • In deserts, lots of plants have spines instead of needles or leaves.
  • This gives the minimum possible surface area so that water can be preserved by the plant instead of lost via evaporation/transpiration.
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Water storage mechanisms

  • Succulent plants (like cacti) have a thickened area that can be used to store water.
  • Plants in the desert need some area to store water because rainfall is so rare.
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Dormant seeds

  • Some plants only reproduce when it has rained. If they tried to reproduce when there was no rain, the seeds/saplings would die.
  • Seeds can be dormant for months or years and then 'germinate' once there is rainfall in the desert.

Jump to other topics

1The Challenge of Natural Hazards

1.1Natural Hazards

1.2Tectonic Hazards

1.3Weather Hazards

1.4Climate Change

2The Living World

3Physical Landscapes in the UK

3.1The UK Physical Landscape

3.2Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.3River Landscapes in the UK

3.4Glacial Landscapes in the UK

4Urban Issues & Challenges

5The Changing Economic World

6The Challenge of Resource Management

6.1Resource Management

6.2Food

6.3Water

6.4Energy

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