Why does cactus survive in a desert

The cactus spines also have a part to play in this process; they catch the rain and dew, guiding it to the base of the plant where the roots wait to absorb the moisture. Deserts are typically very windy and, due to the high temperatures and low humidity that they are known for, the wind tends to be very dry.

Cacti spines break up the airflow around the cacti, which helps slow the rate at which the water stored within them evaporates. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use sunlight to create food from carbon dioxide and water. In most plants, the process of photosynthesis occurs in the leaves. However, as mentioned previously, cacti have spines instead of leaves. Put simply, cacti absorb carbon dioxide at night, when the temperature has dropped, to reduce the amount of moisture lost through transpiration when the cacti open their stoma or pores.

Due to their extremely low humidity, deserts do not trap the heat from the sun and often get very cold at night. Because photosynthesis requires sunlight, the absorbed carbon dioxide is then stored until the sun rises, and the process can be completed. As mentioned previously, instead of having far-reaching roots, cacti have shallow root systems that wait near the surface of the earth that allow the plant to absorb water quickly.

Compared to other plants, cacti have relatively short growing periods. This is because plants need to use more water during their growth phases. Cacti are resilient plants that have adapted themselves to survive in deserts. They have shallow root systems, fantastic water storage ability, and stems that can photosynthesize. Other than that, they can hibernate when needed and protect themselves with their spines. So, there you have it. Cacti are brilliant plants that can thrive without using too much water.

Read ahead to learn about the different types of cacti! Thanks for your patience. Drag a word to its definition. You have answered 0 of 3 questions correctly and your score is:. Want to add a little wonder to your website?

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Follow Twitter Instagram Facebook. How does a cactus live without water? How many types of cacti are there? Could you live in the desert? Tags: See All Tags Atacama Desert , barren , biology , cacti , cactus , Canada , conserve , defense mechanism , desert , dry , environment , gallon , leaf , nature , North America , plant , prickly , rain , roots , saguaro , scarce , science , South America , spine , store , succulent , tall , thrive , water.

Wonder What's Next? Keep the learning going by exploring one or more of the following activities with a friend or family member: How important is water to your survival?

More importantly, how critical is water to maintaining good health? Did you realize that cacti came in so many shapes, sizes, and colors? Explore the wide variety of cacti around the world by checking out the Cactuspedia Photo Gallery! Which cacti are your favorites? If you could grow any cactus at home, which one would you choose? How would you survive if you lived in a desert? We're sure some of our Wonder Friends do live in desert areas.

Those of you who live in or near a desert, post a picture or leave us a comment on Facebook to let us know what life in the desert is like. If you don't live in or near a desert, what do you think life would be like in the desert? How would the desert differ from where you live now? Would you like the dry weather? Do you think it would be too hot?

If you lived in a desert, would you want to have a cactus in your yard? Why or why not? Could you imagine playing hide and seek in a desert full of cacti? That could be a prickly game! Did you get it?

Test your knowledge. Wonder Words water desert dusty tall green cactus prickly downpour thrive modified spines extensive saguaro sporadic restricting barren scarce compensate Take the Wonder Word Challenge. Join the Discussion. Amelia Oct 29, Hello wonderoplis, I have a question can cati be brown, a deep brown or even a quite dark green? Nov 5, Smita Jul 9, Malayah Oct 29, I love worderopolis! We are so glad to have you as a Wonder Friend!

Gary Mar 19, Mar 20, I think it is interesting that there are 2, different kinds of cactus. That makes me think about sharp things. I also wonder why they put cactus in cartoons? Mar 8, Wow, there are a lot of different types of cacti! Thanks for sharing, jason!

King Nov 14, Nov 16, Evan Aug 25, When it rains it stores water in its middle and slowy savors it. Aug 28, Sarah Aug 20, I think this site is amazing!!

It answered most of my questions and was helpful. I think you need to do one about how the Cacti grows and how the spikes appear. Aug 22, Oct 23, That's great, colonel! Cheesymage Oct 20, Oct 21, We love your enthusiasm, Cheesymage! Light, Shadows and Reflections Electricity and Circuits Fun with Magnets Water Air Around Us Q2 How is a cactus adapted to survive in a desert?

Looking to do well in your science exam? Learn from an expert tutor. Book a free class! Solution: A cactus is able to survive in the desert due to the following features: i It has long roots that go deep inside the soil for absorbing water. Set your child up for success with Lido, book a class today!

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