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How are desert plants adapted to conserving water?

How are desert plants adapted to conserving water?

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sharon
-Leaves are modified to spines/ thorns; to reduce surface area over which transpiration can occur;
-Shed their leaves during the dry season; to reduce the surface area exposed to transpiration;
-Leaves have thick , waxy cuticles; to minimize rate of cuticular transpiration.
-Leaves for some plants can roll or fold; to reduce rate of transpiration by not exposing stomata to environmental factors.
-Have sunken stomata; which accumulates moisture in sub-stomatal air spaces hence low diffusion gradient thus reducing transpiration rate. Reduced number of stomata; hence low rate of transpiration.
-Some plants have reversed stomatal rhythm; to prevent excessive water loss by transpiration. Possession of very deep roots; to absorb water from deep in the soil surface; Possession of parenchyma cells in swollen stems and leaves; for storage of water; Many leaves are sclerophylous/ possess resin coatings; to increase reflection of solar radiation ; hence lower transpiration rate.
sharon kalunda answered the question on August 5, 2019 at 06:20

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