Question

There is very little water available in deserts. How do you think the plants conserve water there?

• A. They have broad leaves to store as much water as they can.
• B. They have very short roots to ensure fast absorption of water.
• C. They make sure they lose very little water through transpiration.
• D. They try to lose a lot of water through transpiration.

Answer 1

The correct option is C They make sure they lose very little water through transpiration.

Desert plants have different adaptations to cope up with extreme conditions like high temperature, water scarcity, etc.
These adaptations are:
$\bullet$ Leaves are modified into spines to minimise the loss of water through transpiration.
$\bullet$ The stem has thick cuticle and huge water holding capacity. The thick cuticle helps in reducing transpiration.
$\bullet$ Deep roots help in obtaining water from long distances.