desert plants
The kingdom of nature is so magnificent that even in the most adverse situations, plants are capable of developing mechanisms to survive. This is how it is with desert plants, who, to stay alive, have had to be bold and adapt to their environment. This is because they have become adept at resisting the onslaught of unbearable heat, long, desperate droughts, and sporadic rains.
Despite the existence of the erroneous belief that in deserts the substrate may be infertile to maintain a Flora, or that the fauna is impossible, that's not the case. The only thing that is truly true is that both the diversity of vegetation and animals it contains have been forced to adapt. The reason, it seems, is solely the climatic conditions, which are at the extreme limits of acceptable levels.
It's worth noting that deserts are present on all continents, except for Europe, where they are found in small numbers. On the other hand, the largest desert in the world is the Sahara Desert, on the African continent. A desert is any territory where the amount of rainfall falls below 25 centimeters per year. However, the total surface area covered by deserts represents one-fifth of the world's surface.
Regarding human life in these places, one-sixth of the world's population lives in areas where these limitations exist. These locations also vary, because not only is extreme heat the cause, but there are also areas where excessive cold develops, as is the case in the Gobi Desert in Asia.
How do desert plants survive?
Each of these plants has its own unique mechanism and ability. It's also common to develop roots that are much longer than the usual roots of the kingdom. This allows them to grow deeper into the substrate to reach the water they need to survive, along with essential nutrients and minerals.
On the other hand, there are those desert plants These plants are capable of conserving and/or storing water through their special structures, known as succulent plants. There are also annual plants, in which the entire process takes place over a period of twelve months, reappearing once the cycle is complete, only to grow again in its entirety.
Perennials are also common, with a lifespan of more than two years. They have the unique ability to become dormant if conditions require it. This mechanism doesn't allow them to die, but rather allows them to become active again after a strong or extreme season.
Unlike the aforementioned strategies of some of the many desert plants, there are others that do not store water and do not become inactive. Therefore, they are simply capable of withstanding the effects of stress and still survive. This makes it possible to appreciate that the longevity of these plants is longer than one might imagine. This appreciation is reinforced by the fact that some desert plants can even live for hundreds of years.
Human influence on the spread of desert plants
Since ancient times, human impact has been able to generate changes in all areas of Planet Earth, so it has not ceased to be noticeable in flora. Proof of this is that the desert plants they are capable of being grown in other places, embellishing gardens or any area in need of vegetation.
Their main advantage lies in their low maintenance requirements and infrequent watering. This is because these plants offer significant flexibility and low maintenance requirements, making them easy to grow even in recreational or common areas.
Today, a significant diversity of desert plants has achieved large-scale integration, where their breadth of species is part of the attraction. It's important to note that just as there are plants resistant to high and harsh temperatures, there are also those that can withstand very low temperatures.
An example of this is the fact that they can even be kept at -25°C. This furthermore makes them easy to manage in different territories, with those grown in Europe being a good example.
Benefits of expanding desert plants to gardens around the world
spread the diversity of desert plants existing to the different gardens of the globe brings with it benefits that cannot be ignored, where part of them are the following:
- Participation in cooperation to protect biological diversity is essential in the sense that it helps preserve species. In this way, those in danger of extinction are able to survive.
- They do not pose any danger due to their high adaptability to different climates.
- They have a low maintenance requirement, so they are ideal for growing and beautifying any area.
- They require occasional or very spaced watering, which means they help preserve the vital liquid wherever they grow.
- They are capable of capturing or conquering the interest of insects, such as normal bees, since the flowers that some produce are good food for them.
- They are particularly beautiful, not only because of their attractiveness and unusualness, but also because of the showy flowers many of them produce. It's worth noting that their flowers have the ability to remain on the plant without wilting for up to five months, throughout the spring and summer seasons.
Curiosities of these plants
the life of the desert plants They fill with intrigue and interest anyone who admires them, because they are shrouded in a mystery of survival. This arises from the need to preserve or drink water, which is very difficult to obtain due to its extreme scarcity. These circumstances are what give them certain characteristics that make them both original and attractive to cultivate.
Some of the many desert plant species possess and develop over the course of their evolution a waxy coating, either along their leaves or on their stems. This coating can cover them, allowing them to significantly reduce water loss in sunlight and high temperatures.
On the other hand, there are those that have numerous silver-colored "hairs" that are capable of reflecting the rays emitted by the King Star, also reducing the incidence that it induces.
There are also desert plants whose stomata, the very small openings through which the plant transpires, are located deep within the soil. This allows for minimal water loss through evaporation. However, apart from the above, there are those whose cleverness lies in dropping their leaves.
Characteristics of desert plants
The main characteristics that identify the diversity of desert plants are:
- They are capable of living granting the greatest water savings, allowing the correct management of the vital liquid where they are grown.
- desert plants Those classified as perennials are those that have a longevity of more than two years. For these, when the climatic impact is difficult for them to bear, they become dormant and remain dormant until the weather passes. Therefore, they don't die, and their seeds and the rest of the process are activated to continue only at the right time. Furthermore, they are so clever that they can protect themselves from the sun's rays and still receive the necessary water.
- Some have the capacity to allow their roots to develop very extensively, so much so that they can reach considerable depths to absorb water, mineral salts, and nutrients.
- Those classified as annual desert plants complete their entire life cycle within a single year, with a new plant possibly appearing after the previous one has finished. This means that one cycle ends and another begins without interruption, thus creating continuity between the end and the beginning.
- Many are Succulents or succulents, this means that they have the ability to store water, for example, in their stem, leaves, among others.
- Apart from the normal differences, referred to the sustenance before the climatic incidence, there are many other desert plants, with the singularity of developing protection mechanisms such as the well-known thorns.
Best Desert Plants to Grow in Gardens
Know what plants are in the desert and what their characteristics are, is essential not only for the knowledge it provides. Its implicit and fundamental reason is that it makes it possible to transfer them to the various gardens of the world. It is also important that they be properly cared for, allowing their preservation without harming or damaging the plant. In this sense, the best desert plants that can be cultivated in different gardens are those described below:
Zacate
It is of the desert plants, with the scientific name "Nolina bigelovii", being native to North America. Its biological classification places it as a plant with a rhizome or underground stem, with horizontal development. It is a member of the asparagaceae family, whose order is the "Asparagales".
Its common habitat is desert-like areas, as well as rocky slopes. The latter are elevations or slopes of the terrain, whose slope between rocks is what gives it its name.
It grows to a height of between one and two and a half meters. It flowers in early spring, and is whitish to creamy in color. Its fruit is shaped like a capsule, while its seeds are longer than they are wide, ovoid in appearance, and grayish in color.
It has woody rosettes, each of which is said to contain a number ranging from 34 to 160 leaves. These leaves have a distinctly spoon-shaped base and are also inflexible, with their laminar organ described as spear-like.
Agave or maguey
This plant is also known as "Agave americana," "pita," "mezcal," "cabuya," or "fique" and is a member of the Asparagaceae family. It has over 300 species, all of which develop in a rosette-like formation. The leaves develop at the base of the plant, spreading and elongating into a distinctive spike-like shape.
These have spines on their lateral edges, which even help them capture water from the morning dew. It is worth noting that this is one of the desert plants whose origin is the arid area of northern Mexico, the southern territory of the United States of America, Colombia, among others.
It is conjectured that the genus of this particular plant begins with respect to its variation of species approximately twelve million years ago. It is capable of developing a height that ranges from eighty centimeters, while its diameter can be up to fifty centimeters.
It's worth noting that this plant must be exposed to sunlight and grow in a highly permeable, clayey substrate. Another important factor is that it must be rich in derivatives of the igneous rock basalt and also contain the chemical element iron.
Its whitish inflorescence bears only once and can reach a height three times the plant's height. The plant dies after developing the fruit.
Additionally, many of its varied species are raw material in the preparation of:
- Sweeteners
- Paper
- Beams
- leaf fibers
- Spirits (drinks)
- Musical instruments
- Roof tiles
- Needles
- Nails
- Fermented drinks
alkali gold
This plant, scientifically named "Isocoma acradenia," is classified as a "Spermatophyta" (spermatophytes or flowering plants). Its family is "Asteraceae," which describes angiosperms, which are the common inflorescences.
Its habitat develops in arid areas and even in those with sandy soils, whose mineral compounds are alkaline and in addition to gypsum. This is one of the particular desert plants, native to the southwestern United States of America, the State of California, and the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California.
It appears as what is called a subshrub, which means that only in its lower part of the woody stem does a characteristic between grass and shrub appear. This is dense and is capable of developing heights that range by the meter. Its stems are erect, whitish to yellowish in color, which turns yellow to gray over time.
At the top of the plant, the inflorescence develops, clustered and yellow. Its fruit is dry, with a single seed, the pericarp of which is not attached, which splits open naturally to release the seed. Remember that the pericarp is the outer area of the fruit that also covers the seed.
Saguaro
This plant, also known as "Sahuaro," with the scientific name "Carnegiea gigantea," is the exclusive and only species of the Carnegiea genus. It is native to the Gila Desert, also known as the Sonoran Desert, located in North America, occupying territory in both the United States of America and Mexico. It can withstand temperatures as low as -9°C, while the maximum is 50°C.
This desert plants It is one of the tallest cacti, but its initial growth and development are extremely slow. This is demonstrated by the fact that during its first twenty-five years, it barely grows to a meter.
It has an estimated longevity of two hundred years, during which time it can eventually grow to over eighteen meters in height. Its branches develop after reaching a height of two or three meters from the substrate, where the number of branches varies widely, even absent. This aspect is limited by the prevailing climate in the area.
It's important to note that the more humid the area where the tree is located, the more branches will develop on its trunk. In this sense, the absence of these branches is possible, which corresponds to the response to being in places with an arid environment.
Its trunk can reach a diameter of seventy-five centimeters, and it is used in housing construction. The whitish flowers bloom in the months of May and June, opening in the late afternoon, lasting only twenty-four hours. Its ovoid, glossy red fruits spontaneously release seeds.
Date
This particular plant, which is also known by the names of "Támara", "Palma", "Fénix", among others, is characterized by being one of the few species that has the virtue of being found in certain desert areas. This is because obviously it is not common to visualize a date palm in these areas. Its scientific name is "Phoenix dactylifera," and it has the ability to survive the onslaught of drought, which leads to limited water supply.
Its geographical location extends from Egypt to Mesopotamia. It produces a highly prized edible fruit called "date," a berry that means fleshy or fibrous fruit. It is a dioecious plant, meaning that there are both males and females.
The best time to be planted is when spring begins, until mid-summer. Its multiplication can be given, either, by means of seeds, by suckers or by in vitro propagation.
It is worth noting that this is one of the desert plants It has a variety of uses, including edible fruit, and its palms can be used to create everything from hats to baskets, mats, and fans, among others. Furthermore, the sheaths of its leaves are used for their perfume, and the wood from its trunk is found in buildings and is used as fuel. All of these are just a few of the varied and widespread uses this particular plant achieves in the different territories it inhabits.
Lithops or Living stones
This unique plant, also known as the "Stone Plant" or "Stone Cactus," has the scientific name "Lithops spp." It is native to Africa, specifically the Namib Desert. Its name is attributed to its impressive ability to take on the appearance of stones, often imperceptibly blending in with the rest of its surroundings.
The obligation of these desert plants The reason they develop this clever strategy is that various animal species choose to eat them, thus avoiding detection. They have only two leaves, which are joined together and completely fleshy. A fissure can be seen in the middle, through which the next two leaves emerge, only appearing when the preceding ones die after completing their life cycle by drying out.
From this middle part, its flowers also sprout, which bear a striking resemblance to the so-called "daisies." They can be either whitish or yellow in color, and also have a distinctive and pleasant aroma.
Stonecrop requires sunlight to thrive. Furthermore, when transplanted or cultivated, it is common for it to be planted even in areas with less direct sunlight, adapting easily. It flowers during the summer and winter seasons. Its growth, after propagation by germinated seeds, develops during the spring.
This plant is characterized by its extremely slow growth, reaching a height of twenty centimeters in an average of ten years. It can tolerate temperatures between 8°C and 45°C.
joshua tree
This particular desert treeYucca brevifolia, with the scientific name "Yucca brevifolia," is found in both the California and Arizona deserts. It grows slowly, and its longevity is estimated at two hundred years. Its leaves have a pointed, succulent appearance, enabling them to capture and retain water.
It can grow to over ten meters in height and can reproduce by both seeds and rhizomes. Remember that the rhizome is the stem found underground in the substrate, which has several buds that develop horizontally. These buds have the ability to generate roots and, along with these, normal shoots.
It's worth noting that this is one of the desert plants that exhibits a fairly slow development and growth. Its growth rate is as low as one or perhaps even two centimeters over the course of twelve months. It blooms with a whitish and yellowish coloration during the spring months. This means it begins in February and lasts until April, depending exclusively on rainfall and the duration of its duration.
During the flowering process, the Joshua tree inhibits the growth of new branches until it later resumes them. Additionally, its flowers are pollinated by nocturnal butterflies.
pitayita
This particular member of the desert plants, with the scientific name “Mammillaria dioica”, belongs to the “Cactaceae” family. This means that it is a cactus and also has numerous spines. According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, IUCN, it is a plant that in its "Red List" is located in the "Vulnerable" line of extinction. This reason makes her be threatened, so cultivating her is to help her stay active.
As a plant native to the western Gila Desert or Sonoran Desert, it is common to find it naturally in various rocky riverbeds. It prefers to grow at altitudes of over 1,500 meters above sea level.
During its development, it can grow more than one trunk, which also gives it the name stem, and whose average height is around twenty centimeters. These can also reach a height of thirty centimeters individually.
Its inflorescence, made during the spring season, has a whitish to yellowish hue. These can be given only to the female gender, as well as to both genders. The organ that it provides from the flower, which is the fruit, has a bright reddish hue and occurs during the summer season.
water barrel
Also known as "barrel cactus", with the scientific name "Ferocactus wislizenii", it is a species of the "Cactaceae" family, which receives its name from its appearance. It is native to the deserts of Sonora and Chihuahua, however, it is one of the desert plants that has the greatest global breadth. Proof of this is her presence in a variety of gardens, which make her known, admired and, moreover, in demand.
In its natural environment of characteristic desert, it is common to get it where there are rocks and sand. That is, when the altitudes are in the range of three hundred and sixteen hundred meters above sea level. It is not able to withstand low temperatures. Their longevity ranges from fifty to one hundred and thirty years.
The development and growth of this unique plant is rounded, in which, internally, it is capable of storing all the water that can be imagined. On the other hand, the number of thorns that can be seen are its leaves and they have the virtue of contributing to the least possible normal outflow of water from the plant.
Its flowering has various shades, the most common being yellow, orange and pink. These grow and open in the upper part of the plant, which is flattened, growing either in groups, with up to three flowers together, or alone.
The reproduction of this plant is only carried out through its seeds, which transport the Types of birds and different rodent animals. If there is darkness where the seed is, germination will not occur and its ideal temperature is between 20°C and 30°C. This plant is capable of producing about thirty thousand seeds in a year.
white peach
Also identified with the names of "Red Duraznillo", "White Nopal", "Yellow Xoconostle", or "Chaveño Nopal", it has the scientific name "Opuntia leucotricha". It is characterized by being a "Spermatophyta" or spermatophyte species, also called phanerogams. These are the ones that make up the genus or class of vascular plants that in their development come to generate seeds and also belong to the “Cactaceae” family.
This desert plants It is native to Mexico. Records show that its cultivation is commonly practiced in the Bermuda Islands. It is also naturalized in the state of Florida, United States of America. Its preferred altitudes are 1,600 to 2,300 meters above sea level.
In its development and growth it can reach heights that are normally in the range of one hundred and eighty centimeters to five hundred centimeters. On the other hand, its crown shows a narrow prolongation or amplitude.
The small trunk is colored grayish-brown, with a scaly texture. At the young stage, the entire trunk is protected and covered with a large number of long, whitish hairs.
Its flowers are greenish-yellow with light red markings, and its fruit is obovate. This term means "egg-shaped," with the widest part at the tip, or apex, resembling a large drop or teardrop.
Governor
This particular plant, also identified by the name of “Creosote Shrub”, has the scientific name of “Larrea tridentata”. Its name is given to it after showing a behavior in which it represses and inhibits other nearby plants from developing, without leaving aside its unpleasant aroma. It is normally found in the deserts of North America, as far north as the Chihuahuan desert.
This member of the desert plants It is classified as an evergreen shrub, meaning it can maintain its foliage for twelve months of the year. It grows up to three meters tall, and its inflorescence is a very showy yellow. It is widely used to treat diseases such as:
- Tuberculosis
- sexually transmitted infections
- Chickenpox
- snake bite
