ENSC 13300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Succulent Plant, The Stems, Biome
16 Nov 2016
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Various Desert Plants
A desert biome is often characterized by high temperature, high
humidity and low precipitation and the drastic fall in temperature at
night. When you think of the desert, you might not associate it with
fertility, but there are a number of different plants – including cactuses
– that inhabit the planet’s driest regions. The desert plants are unique
in their own way, plants that you won’t find anywhere else. Some of
these plants are a major tourist attraction. These 31 desert plants are
some of the few that make their home in the sand.
What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well.
– Antoine de Saint-Exupery
1. Pancake Prickly Pear Cactus
The Pancake Prickly Pear is an instantly recognizable species of
cactus and is common in areas surrounding the United States and
Mexico border. Their “pancake” flat arms can grow up to 7 feet high.
It has circular pads arising from a thick, round trunk. The pads are
four to six inches long, 9 inches wide, and .75 inches thick and are
covered with spines.
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2. Barrel Cactus
While the Prickly Pear may have size going for it, the Barrel Cactus is
one of the most popular cactus varieties for use as succulents. It is
also one the most common plant found in deserts across the world.
Low to the ground and with a lovely center flower, beware of trying to
pick it – the Barrel’s spines can be toxic. The Barrel cactus is found in
the Mojave, Sonora, and the Chihuahua deserts. These plants look
very beautiful but you got to deal with spines of the barrel with much
care as they can be prove to be dangerous.
3. Saguaro Cactus
The Saguaro Cactus most resembles a tree, and it can grow arms up
to 40 feet tall. Saguaros live for extremely long times and they are
well designed for life in the desert as they are able to collect and
store rainwater. The Saguaro Cactus the Sonoran Desert of
southeastern California, southern Arizona, and northwestern Mexico.
The flowers of Saguaro Cactus bloom at night and is closed during
the heat of midday. The flowers are white and yellow in colour.
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4. Lace or Hedgehog Cactus
These lovely small plants are also favorites for use as succulents, as
they stay a few inches tall and produce beautiful flowers in the
summer. In the desert it is common to see them grouped together
(needless to say, always keep your shoes on!). The stems are
cylindrical in shape and are up to 1 foot long and 1 to 2 1/2 inches
thick. The flowers of Hedgehog Cactus are a beautiful deep red, with
many petals that form the shape of a cup. The fruits are red, and
edible.
5. Organ Pipe Cactus
The Organ Pipe Cactus is another desert staple, and is a common
site in the rockier deserts of the United States and Mexico. Aptly
named, the arms of the Organ Pipe grow upwards from a base,
creating a silhouette reminiscent of a pipe organ. They have little
narrow stems that do not grow into branches. The flowers are purple
or light pink in color that bloom at night and is closed during the heat
of midday.
6. Brittlebush
This desert shrub produces little yellow flowers, and as its name
suggests, is known for the brittleness of its stems. They have
historically been used as medicine, glue, and a number of different
purposes. It is most common plant of the Mojave and Sonoron
deserts that grow as a low, roundish mound 2 to 5 feet high. The
flowers on brittlebush grow from March to June and are bright yellow
in color. Leaves are broader at the base than at the tip and are about
1-4 inches long.
7. Creosote Bush
Creosote Bush is also known as Greasewood, and is a shrub that can
grow upwards of 10 feet. While they can be fragile in their early
years, Creosotes grow into extremely hardy plants, and they will
overtake neighboring plants that encroach on their water and
resources. Creosote Bush is found in the desert slopes and plains of
Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico and, Texas. It has
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
A desert biome is often characterized by high temperature, high humidity and low precipitation and the drastic fall in temperature at night. When you think of the desert, you might not associate it with fertility, but there are a number of different plants including cactuses. The desert plants are unique in their own way, plants that you won"t find anywhere else. Some of these plants are a major tourist attraction. These 31 desert plants are some of the few that make their home in the sand. What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well. Antoine de saint-exupery: pancake prickly pear cactus. The pancake prickly pear is an instantly recognizable species of cactus and is common in areas surrounding the united states and. Their pancake flat arms can grow up to 7 feet high. It has circular pads arising from a thick, round trunk.
