Flora (Leaving Cert Geography): Flashcards
📚Flashcards
Practise the cards
13 cards from this deck
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Practise the cards
13 cards from this deck
Main challenges for desert plants
Main challenges for desert plants
Water scarcity, intense evaporation, poor soil, harsh conditions
Why desert plants grow far apart
Why desert plants grow far apart
Reduce competition for scarce resources
Five main desert plant adaptations
Five main desert plant adaptations
Roots, ephemerals, succulents, fruit growth, defence
Two main root strategies in deserts
Two main root strategies in deserts
Shallow spreading roots or deep taproots
Purpose of shallow root systems
Purpose of shallow root systems
Collect surface water & dew before evaporation
Creosote bush root spread
Creosote bush root spread
Up to 10 metres horizontally in top 30cm of soil
Acacia tree taproot depth
Acacia tree taproot depth
6-7 metres below ground
Ephemerals definition
Ephemerals definition
Plants with short life cycles for brief wet periods
Mouse-ear cress life cycle duration
Mouse-ear cress life cycle duration
6-8 weeks
Succulents definition
Succulents definition
Plants storing water in thick fleshy tissues with waxy surfaces
Giant saguaro water storage
Giant saguaro water storage
Up to 200 gallons, survives 2 years without rain
Cactus vertical grooves function
Cactus vertical grooves function
Allow expansion & channel rainwater to roots
Why desert plants bloom at night
Why desert plants bloom at night
Prevent water loss & conserve stored water