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| Select item below | Question and Answer Archive |
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Can you give me some general information on Xerophytes eg: structures, special adaptations, problems in dry conditions and examples of specific xerophytes (with latin names included)? This is a topic which you will find well covered in biology/botany textbooks. Some plants avoid drought by surviving as seeds or tubers and then start again when water is available - some (Ocotillo) shed their leaves when water is scarce and then sprout a new set. Some are adapted to sit out the drought and they have adaptations like being able to extract water from soil (by having very salty cell sap and therefore a very low water potential in the roots / by having very extensive or deep roots or very shallow roots which pick up the slightest dew and survive on that). Others have special
features about their shape or structure (xeromorphs):- C4 / CAM and noctural opening of stomata for carbon fixation (a big subject) Each of these headings is almost an essay in itself - I hope you find plenty to help you in the text books. Stephen Tomkins and John Hewitson
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