Xerophyte

A xerophyte is a plant that survives or thrives in areas with very little free moisture.

Examples of the types of xerophytic plants are:

Cacti from the Cactaceae family - typically these have stems that are round and store a lot of water. Often their leaves are vestigial, or they do not have leaves.

Succulent plants (other than cactii) - they typically store moisture in their stems or leaves.

Bulbs - water is stored in their bulbs, at or below ground. They may spend a period of dormancy during drought conditions underground .

Xerophytes occur in all kind of environments. Cacti and other succulents are typically found in deserts while bromeliads can be found in rain forests. Plants that live under arctic conditions may also have a need for xerophytic adaptations as water is not available for plant uptake when it is frozen.