Plant Adaptations of the Tundra and Desert

Most deserts receive less than 300 mm a year.

The temperature in the desert can change drastically from day to night because the air is so dry that heat escapes rapidly at night.

The daytime temperature averages 38°C while in some deserts it can get down to -4°C at night. The temperature also varies greatly depending on the location of the desert.

Desert

Temperatures usually range between -40°C (-40 °F) and 18°C (64°F)

This biome sees 150 to 250 millimeters (6 to 10 inches) of rain per year.

The tundra is usually a wet place because the low temperatures cause evaporation of water to be slow. Much of the arctic has rain and fog in the summers, and water gathers in bogs and ponds.

Tundra

The basics...

The tundra is an area where the ground is permanently frozen. It covers the Arctic and northern regions of Europe, North America and Asia. The harsh conditions are reflected in its name: tundra means “treeless”.

But despite the inhospitable conditions, some plants manage to not only survive, but thrive.

Tundra Cont.

Plants in the Tundra have adapted in a variety of ways. They grow close together, low to the ground and they remain small. Many plants in the biome have a wax type of fuzzy, hairy coating on them which helps to shield them from the cold and the wind. This coating also helps them to retain heat and moisture and it protects the plant seeds to allow for reproduction. Plants found here will typically have small leaves which helps the plants to retain moisture. Only the top layer of soil thaws out in the Tundra, below that is the permafrost, therefore the plants have very shallow root systems. Plants like lichens and moss can survive on bare rock with a bit of moisture. Most of the plants in the Tundra Biome are perennials and don’t die off in the winter, they have long life cycles to help with the short growing season.

Tundra means treeless, therefore most of the plants in the tundra are low growing plants. Arctic Moss, Arctic Willow, Caribou Moss, Labrador Tea, Arctic Poppy, Cotton Grass, Lichens and Moss.

The basics...

A desert plant is one that is adapted to the environment of arid regions with little rainfall. The little water that is obtained from the rainfall is frequently stored in the tissues or hollow center of the desert plant life. These plants reduce transpiration by total or seasonal leaflessness or by densely hairy, waxy, varnished, or otherwise modified leaves.