Certain xerophytes have a waxy covering over their stomata, thus curbing water loss. Others contain very few stomata, or stomata that only open at night when it’s cooler. Each of these adaptations limits water loss and allows the plant to survive in dry environments.
Why do xerophytes have sunken stomata?
Sunken stomata are found in xerophytic plants to prevent water loss from the plants, as xerophytic plants are desert plants with a limited supply of water. As a result, they must store water, which is why the stomata are recessed in them.
Do xerophytes have sunken stomata?
If xerophytes have leaves reduced to spines, there are no stomata present on them. Stomata are important for xerophytes as they are relied on for the supply of gases for cellular processes such as photosynthesis and respiration. Stomata on xerophytes are in sunken pits, which reduces the rate of evaporation.
While we were reading we ran into the query “Why is having sunken stomata an advantage to xerophytes?”.
A sunken stomata is a stomata in a small pit, which protects the escaping water vapor from air currents, decreasing water loss from the leaf. Sunken stomata are a feature of many plants in deserts and other dry environments.
What is a sunken stomata in plants?
Sunken stomata are a feature of many plants in deserts and other dry environments. This plants are generally reffered to as xerophytes. Why do Xerophytes not have well developed branches and leaves?
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.
Why do xerophytes have spines on their leaves?
Because of the environment that Xerophytes live in, most leaves are reduced to spines, rolled up or not present on the plant at all. This reduces the surface area, which reduces the overall amount of transpiration, reducing water loss.
Why is the reduction of transpiration of xerophytes important?
This way, the reduction of transpiration is of great importance in xerophytes. The xerophytes can contain less stomata, either by reduction of leaf surface or of stomatal number per unit area. To reduce excessive transpiration usually the stomata that remain sunken in pits are formed.
I discovered stomata of the rolled leaves will not be exposed to the wind, reducing the rate of transpiration further, reducing water loss. By reducing leaves to spines on some xerophytes, this greatly reduces the surface area of the leaf, which greatly reduces the amount of transpiration, helping assist in reducing water loss.