Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Ephedraceae are adapted to extremely arid regions, growing often in high sunny habitats, and occur as high as 4000 m above sea level in both the Andes and the Himalayas. [1] They make up a significant part of the North American Great Basin sage brush ecosystem. Today, Ephedra plants are found no further south than 3°N in the Saharo-Arabian zone.
Plants absorb water from the soil, which then evaporates from their shoots and leaves; this process is known as transpiration.If placed in a dry environment, a typical mesophytic plant would evaporate water faster than the rate of water uptake from the soil, leading to wilting and even death.
Venus flytraps live in a very specialised habitat, whereas less carnivorous plants (Byblis, Pinguicula) are found in less unusual habitats (i.e., those typical for non-carnivores). Byblis and Drosophyllum both come from relatively arid regions and are both passive flypapers, arguably the lowest maintenance form of trap. Venus flytraps filter ...
Big sagebrush is a coarse, many-branched, pale-grey shrub with yellow flowers and silvery-grey foliage, which is generally 0.5–3 metres (1 + 1 ⁄ 2 –10 feet) tall. [3] A deep taproot 1–4 m (3 + 1 ⁄ 2 –13 ft) in length, coupled with laterally spreading roots near the surface, allows sagebrush to gather water from both surface precipitation and the water table several meters beneath.
The semi-natural grasslands contain many species of wild plants, including grasses, sedges, rushes, and herbs; 25 plant-species per 100 square centimeters can be found. [9] A European record that was found on a meadow in Estonia described 76 species of plants in one square meter. [ 9 ]
Rainfall is non-seasonal, typically from 475 to 521mm per year, with occasional frost higher up the slopes, and snow may fall in winter. Mean monthly maximum temperature is 27°C in February and mean monthly minimum 6°C in July. Albany Arid Thicket is the most species rich South African arid thicket type.
The diversity of climatic conditions, though quite harsh, supports a rich array of habitats. Many of these habitats are ephemeral in nature, reflecting the paucity and seasonality of available water. [1] Woody-stemmed shrubs and plants characterize vegetation in these regions. Above all, these plants have evolved to minimize water loss.
Caatinga harbors a unique biota, with thousands of endemic species. Caatinga contains over 1,000 vascular plant species in addition to 187 bees, 240 fish species, 167 reptiles and amphibians, 516 birds, and 148 mammal species, with endemism levels varying from 9 percent in birds to 57 percent in fishes. [7]