Xerophytic

Xerophytic is a term used to describe plants that are adapted to dry, arid, or low-precipitation environments. The adaptations are structural, physiological, and sometimes behavioral, enabling these plants to survive with minimal water. Xerophytes can occur in deserts, Mediterranean climates, savannas, steppes, and high-altitude or coastal regions that experience strong evaporation.

Common adaptations include a thick or waxy cuticle on above-ground surfaces to limit water loss, reduced leaf size or conversion of leaves into spines to reduce transpiration, and the development of succulent tissues that store water. Many xerophytes possess sunken stomata or stomatal crypts, pubescence, or a reflective surface to reduce heat load. Physiologically, many species use Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) or, less often, C4 photosynthesis to minimize water loss during gas exchange. Root systems may be deep and extensive to access groundwater or shallow and widespread to capture limited rain quickly. Some plants shed leaves during drought or enter seasonal dormancy to endure dry spells.

Xerophytes occur across numerous plant groups, including cacti, succulents such as agave and aloe, yucca, and various grasses and shrubs. While often associated with deserts, xerophytic traits are found in many habitats where water availability is unpredictable or scarce. The term is frequently used in horticulture and ecology, where xerophytic plants are employed in drought-tolerant landscaping and studied for their unique adaptations to water stress.

Etymology derives from Greek xerós meaning dry and phyton meaning plant.