Plants in Extreme Environments Flashcards

1️⃣ Familiarise yourself with the flashcards:

Look through all the flashcards to see what's on both sides.
Make sure you understand the information on each card. If something's unclear, click the link to the revision notes at the bottom of the page for more details.

2️⃣ Test yourself:

Look at the question or prompt on each card and try to remember the answer before flipping it over.
Check the answer and make a note of any cards you find challenging and need to go over more.

3️⃣ Consistently Review and Practice:

Use spaced repetition: spend more time on the cards you struggle with and go over them more often.
Regularly review all the flashcards to help you better understand and retain the information over time.

Note: We may include questions that have multiple correct answers. It's useful to remember specific examples to understand these concepts better.

PERSONALISED 1-TO-1 TUTORING

Get support with clear explanations, practice and feedback (Ages 5 to 16).

Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to remove ads

What is a xerophyte?

A plant adapted to live with very little water, such as a cactus or marram grass.

Spines give a much smaller surface area, so less water is lost. They can also shade the stem and deter animals.

It makes a waterproof layer on the leaf and stem, which reduces evaporation.

The pits and hairs trap moist air near the stomata, so less water vapour escapes.

Rolling the leaf traps moist air and hides most stomata from wind, so water loss is lower.

They can quickly absorb rainwater from a large area after short showers.

It reaches groundwater far below the surface, so the plant can get water in long dry periods.

A succulent stores water in thick, fleshy stems or leaves. This provides a water supply when it is dry.

Nights are cooler and less windy. Opening then lets in carbon dioxide with less water loss.

Fewer pores mean less water can escape by transpiration.