Xerophytes is the correct name for those plants that have developed different strategies which allow them to survive in extreme heat and dry conditions. This group includes cactus, succulent plants, and many other species:
- Succulence: from the latin word sucus meaning juice or sap, are leaves stems or roots which have a fleshy, even gelatinous tissue that store water collected during rain periods
- Thornes: shap formations of foliar origin or modified branches that were reduce to spines
- Curly leaves to reduce evapotranspiration surface
Quercus coccifera is a mediterranean specie originally from Spain and the Balearic islands En: http://www.redjaen.es/ - Presence of hair and wax to reduce foliar temperature
- Stomatal sensitivity which allows plants to maintaine stomas closed during the day if the soil is too dry
- Deep root system to increase water absortion
- Reduction in leave size and flatter organs to reduce solar incidence
In big cities like Los Angeles water availability is complicated and drought has being present several times during the last decade, therefore the need to increase healthy soil areas which could absorb and retain water, flora and fauna is beyond necessary and must be done carefully, designing nursing environments that will require minimun resources to grow and develope. Xerophytes are perfect guests to achieve these purposes!
mae-tierra 