Why do xerophytes have small leaves

The tap roots are much longer and bigger than the plant which is visible at the surface. Spines - some plants have spines instead of leaves eg cacti. Spines lose less water than leaves so are very efficient in a hot climate.

Spines also prevent animals from eating the plant. Waxy skin - some leaves have a thick, waxy skin on their surface. This reduces water loss by transpiration. Water storage - some plants, known as succulents , store water in their stems, leaves, roots or even fruits. Plants which store water in their leaves and stems also have a thick waxy skin so that they lose less water by transpiration. In taxonomy, aloe as a genus is higher, and aloe vera as a species ranks lower.

This means that the genus is a general category, and the species is a specific category. These Aloe Vera spikes act as a mechanism to prevent loss of water from the leaves. The leaves have a flat surface and spikes on the edges, which makes it a perfect structure for these types of weather conditions.

The different species of plants classified as aloes are all examples of xerophytes. This means they are adapted to drier climates than plants…. Aloes have adapted to habitats with low water availability. Aloes adapt to this by using their tissue to store large volumes of water. Aloe vera has thick and fleshy leaves, which are enlarged to accommodate the aqueous tissue.

The leaf cuticle is thick and covered with a layer of wax. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Skip to content Home Sociology What special characteristics must a plant have to survive in the desert?

Ben Davis April 25, What special characteristics must a plant have to survive in the desert? What is the characteristics of Xerophytes? What are Xerophytes short answer? What are Xerophytes Class 6? What does zero fight mean? Why do Xerophytes have thick cuticles? How do Xerophytes reduce water loss?

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