Though the desert climate , with its extremes of temperature , seems inhospitable to plant and animals , many species not only outlive but flourish . version in living cycle and forcible and chemical processes make that selection possible . Some industrial plant have long roots that pull wet out of the soil , facilitating outgrowth and reproduction . Others have developed strong-arm adjustment , like fleshy stems that retain wet . Still others go sleeping during extremely dry period – effectively " sleeping " through inhospitable conditions – and flower immediately after rainy time of year .

Xeriphytes: Life Cycle

The word " xeriphyte " comes from the Greek Bible , " xeros , " meaning " dry . " Xeriphytes have accommodate themselves to accommodate exceedingly dry conditions with heavy stems that store water and waxy stem coating that prevent speedy transpiration or moisture loss . The cactus is an example of a xeriphyte . Very few cactus seeds germinate over the industrial plant ’s life-time and those that do may sprout in the shade of a " nurse " plant . Flowers come along on trunk or arms of the plant ( as on the saguaro cactus ) . When cross-pollinate by insects or cricket bat , cacti acquire fruits , which ultimately ripen , split unresolved and scatter seeds . The come often serve up as solid food sources for desert birds and fauna .

Phreatophytes: Life Cycle

Phyreatophytes , like the mesquit Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and creosote bush , hold up because they educate exceedingly retentive and/or deep roots that can pull wet from mysterious in the grunge . These plant life set large quantities of seed , generally in springiness each year and the seed can be parcel out by passing through the backbone of animals , travel via human shoes or being transported by direction of floods . The seed remains viable for a long prison term . After germination , seedlings form long roots quickly . If the plants are injured , they regrow readily from stumps or ascendent .

Desert Annuals and Perennials

Tourists often clump to desert areas in the spring to see the desert " blooming . " This is grounds of an version by which perennials ' and annuals ' life cycle are in sync with the seasons . Plants go dormant in the live , driest part of the year . The showery time of year go far , bringing plants back to active growth and excite rapid output of flowers . Pollination takes position and the plants set seed in a very short full stop of time . Annuals complete their living cycles at the end of this growing and renewal full stop . Perennials go dormant .

Examples of Desert Plant Types

Among the xeriphytes are well know succulent works like various cacti , include saguaros and opuntia , as well as century plant . Various metal money of spike moss ( Selaginella ) are include in the phreatophyte category , including those that sometimes go by the common name " resurrection fern . " annual , whose source can survive temperature extreme point and flower after rainy menstruation , admit such well - known varieties as Mexican gold poppy , lupin and eventide primrose .

Asexual Reproduction

To ensure selection , some desert plants multiply asexually as well as sexually . The palo verde ( Arizona ’s state tree ) and the aspen both sprout issue from points on their etymon . American aloe produce numerous young , fan out by way of underground rhizomes . female parent - of - Millions , a species of kalanchoe , is characteristic of industrial plant that produce aery plantlets – the " millions " of the mutual name . In all cases of asexual reproduction , the young plants are identical to the parent .

References

…