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A xerophyte (from Greek ξηρός xeros 'dry' + φυτόν phuton 'plant') is a species of plant that has adaptations to survive in an environment with little liquid water. Examples of xerophytes include cacti, pineapple and some gymnosperm plants. The morphology and physiology of xerophytes are adapted to conserve water during dry periods.
A xerophile (from Greek ξηρός : xērós 'dry' and φίλος : phílos 'loving') [1] is an extremophilic organism that can grow and reproduce in conditions with a low availability of water, also known as water activity. Water activity, a thermodynamical value denoted aw, is defined as the partial water vapor pressure p in equilibrium with ...
Osmoregulation is the active regulation of the osmotic pressure of an organism's body fluids, detected by osmoreceptors, to maintain the homeostasis of the organism's water content; that is, it maintains the fluid balance and the concentration of electrolytes (salts in solution which in this case is represented by body fluid) to keep the body fluids from becoming too diluted or concentrated.
Desert ecology is the study of interactions between both biotic and abiotic components of desert environments. A desert ecosystem is defined by interactions between organisms, the climate in which they live, and any other non-living influences on the habitat. Deserts are arid regions that are generally associated with warm temperatures; however ...
Succulent plant. Succulent plants have thickened stems, or leaves, such as this Aloe. In botany, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are plants with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in arid climates or soil conditions. The word succulent comes from the Latin word sucus, meaning "juice" or "sap". [1]
Xerocole. The fennec fox 's large ears help keep it cool: when the blood vessels dilate, blood from the body cycles in and dissipates over the expanded surface area. [1] A xerocole (from Greek xēros / ˈzɪroʊs / 'dry' and Latin col (ere) 'to inhabit'), [2][3][4] is a general term referring to any animal that is adapted to live in a desert.
Family: Velloziaceae. Genus: Xerophyta. Juss. (1789) Xerophyta is a genus of flowering plants in the family Velloziaceae. It was named in 1789 by de Jussieu. [1][2] It is native to Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula. [3] Some species in this genus are poikilochlorophyllous plants.
Permeability. Permeability is a property of porous materials that is an indication of the ability for fluids (gas or liquid) to flow through them. Fluids can more easily flow through a material with high permeability than one with low permeability. [1] The permeability of a medium is related to the porosity, but also to the shapes of the pores ...