Most xerophytic plants have a thick waxy cuticle on their stems, and leaves if they have them. The waxy cuticle helps prevent water loss as it is impermeable to evaporation, meaning that water cannot travel through the waxy cuticle to evaporate.
While we were researching we ran into the query “Why do xerophytes have a thick waxy cuticle?”.
, and own image., and waxy cuticle. Most xerophytic plants have a thick waxy cuticle on their stems, and leaves if they have them. The waxy cuticle helps prevent water loss as it is impermeable to evaporation, meaning that water cannot travel through the waxy cuticle to evaporate.
How thick is the cuticle in xerophytes?
In extreme xerophytes the cuticle may be as thick as, thicker than, the diameter of the epidermal cell. In addition to the presence of thick cuticle, the walls of epiderml cells become cutinized and sometimes also those of underlying cell.
A common question we ran across in our research was “Why do xerophytic plants have ridges on their stems?”.
Well, the stem would be made of the thick fleshy water storing tissue, and the ridges help increasing the rate which sunlight is absorbed at without compromising the preservation of water. Most xerophytic plants have a thick waxy cuticle on their stems, and leaves if they have them.
This of course begs the question “What is the shape of the epidermal cells in xerophytes?”
The epidermal cells are usually radially elongated. In the leaves of Nerium and Ficus, the epidermis becomes multilayered. In many xerophytes in addition to a cutinized epidermis, single to multi-layered hypodermis is also present.
Why do xerophytes have hairs?
Some xerophytes have tiny hairs on their surface to provide a wind break and reduce air flow, thereby reducing the rate of evaporation. When a plant surface is covered with tiny hairs, it is called tomentose.
Why do Some xerophytic plants have hairs on their leaves?
In several xerophytic plants, especially those of alpine regions exposed to strong winds, a covering of matted epidermal hairs on the underside of the leaves prevent water loss. Hairs can also be abundant over the entire aerial part of the plant.
What are xerophyte leaves like?
In such xerophytes the leaves are either scale-like or very small in size. Generally they are not found in the mature plant, or they persist as small scales or bracts.
In many xerophytes, reduction of the leaf surface partly checks water loss because the total exposed surface of the plant body is relatively small as compared with that of normal mesophytes (viz, Casuarina, Asparagus, etc.). In such xerophytes the leaves are either scale-like or very small in size.
Another answer is xerophytes Plant adapted to live in dry conditions. Thick waxy cuticle : The cuticle cuts down water loss in two ways: it acts as a barrier to evaporation and also the shiny surface reflects heat and so lowers temperature.
Plant Adaptation: Plant adaptation is the way in which plants are able to survive in various conditions on Earth. Xerophytes: Plants who have developed the ability to adapt to dry regions are called xerophytes. Stomata: Stomata are skin pores for plants that release water vapor. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study., and com member.
What is the function of the waxy cuticle in plants?
The waxy cuticle also helps prevent evaporation of water by being shiny, and the shininess helps reflect the sunlight, which reduces evaporation as sunlight can cause water to evaporate. The image to the left shows the plant Aloe plicatilis, and this plant shows that there is quite a thick waxy cuticle due to the appearance of the fleshy leaves.