Write the characteristics of Xerophytes on the basis of their a) leaves b) stem pls tell
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Answer:
A xerophyte (xero meaning dry, phyte meaning plant) is a plant which is able to survive in an environment with little availability of water or moisture. Plants like the cacti and other succulents are typically found in deserts where low rainfall is the normal phenomen, but few xerophytes can also be found in moist habitats such as tropical forests, exploiting niches where water supplies are limited or too intermittent for mesophytic plants.
Plants that live under arctic conditions may also have a need for xerophytic adaptations, as water is unavailable for uptake when the ground is frozen. Their leaves are covered with silvery hairs.
Adaptations of xerophytes include reduced permeability of the epidermal layer, stomata and cuticle to maintain optimal amounts of water in the tissues by reducing transpiration, adaptations of the root system to acquire water from deep underground sources or directly from humid atmospheres and succulence, or storage of water in swollen stems, leaves or root tissues. The typical morphological consequences of these adaptations are collectively called xeromorphisms.