How are cactus adapted to survive in a desert?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the specific adaptations that cacti have developed in order to survive the harsh conditions of a desert environment.
Answer
Cacti store water in their stems, have spines to reduce water loss, a waxy coating to prevent evaporation, and deep roots for water collection.
Cacti are adapted to desert environments through features like water storage in their stem, spines instead of leaves to minimize water loss, waxy coating to reduce evaporation, and deep or widespread roots for water collection.
Answer for screen readers
Cacti are adapted to desert environments through features like water storage in their stem, spines instead of leaves to minimize water loss, waxy coating to reduce evaporation, and deep or widespread roots for water collection.
More Information
Cacti are well-suited to arid desert conditions largely due to their ability to store water in their thick stems, and their reduced leaf structure, taking the form of spines, minimizes the loss of water via transpiration.
Tips
A common mistake is thinking cacti have typical leaves for photosynthesis; instead, they use their stems, which are green and photosynthetic.
Sources
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