Hot Desert Vegetation

1
Hot Desert Vegetation
The climate does not favour plant growth yet most
desert regions have some vegetation. How does it
survive?
2

• There are two types of vegetation
• Xerophytes
• These include plants which are adapted to
  tolerate drought e.g. the cactus
• Ephemerals
• These include plants which avoid drought. E.g.
  plants that lie dormant until the rains come and
  plants that can uproot themselves and get blown
  to a new location by the wind (tumbleweed).

Prickly pear cactus
3
A fleshy succulent stem which stores water
A thick waxy skin to reduce water loss by
evaporation and transpiration
Spikes to protect plant from animals
Extensive roots to tap water over a wide area and
to fix the plant in the sandy soil
Deep roots to tap underground water
4
Oasis
An oasis is where the groundwater lies near to
the surface and can be extracted
5
Date palms are often found in oases. It is a
useful plant as the dates can be eaten the
leaves are used to make things (roof thatch,
baskets) and the trunk is a source of
timber. Water can also be used to irrigate crops
end