Plant Adaptations.
Desert & Grassland
Desert plants
The desert is very try and often hot. rain fall averages less then 10 inches per year, there is a lot of sunlight shining on the plants which makes it worse for the plants. The soil is often sandy or rocky and unable to hold much water. Winds are often strong and dry out the plants. The plants must cope with extreme water loss.
Some plants, called succulents, store water in their stems or leaves.
Long root systems spread out wide or go deep into the ground to absorb water.
Some plants have a waxy coating on the stems and leaves which help them reduce water loss.
This cactus displays light-colored hair that helps shade the plant.
which reduces water loss.
Grassland plants
The temperate grassland features hot summers and cold winters. rainfall is uncertain and drought is common. They usually receive about 10 to 30 inches of rain per year. The soil is very rich in organic material. The area is well-suited to agriculture, and a few original prairies survive today.
some prairie trees have thick bark to resists fire.
Roots of prairie grasses extend deep into the ground to absorb as much moisture as they can.
Many take advantage of exposed, windy conditions and are wind pollinate.
Prairie grasses are able to bend in the wind because of the soft stems they have.
The plants reproduce by letting their pollination get blown away by the wind.