Plant Labs
Scientific name of the shin dagger
*Agave lechuguilla *
Scientific name of creosote bush (or greenwood or governess)
*Larrea tridentata*
Honey mesquite scientific name
*Prosopus glandulosa*
Escapism examples
- Annuals - Biennials
What makes a desert a harsh environment?
- lack of water - low humidity - temperature extremes - high winds - High soil salinity/alkaline
4 tactics
1. Escapism 2. Opportunism 3. Tolerance 4. Avoidance
What is a desert?
A dry, barren region that recieves less than ten inches of rain a year
Annuals
A flowering plant that completes its entire life cycle in a single year or growing season
Tactics employed by the creosote bush
All of them; escape, opportunism, tolerance, and avoidance
Biennials
Angiosperms that complete their life cycle in two years
What does having small leaves avoid?
Avoid water exiting the stomata (aka desiccation) by having a small surface area
*Leuchophyllum* sp./rain sage tactics
Avoidance (small leaves)
What is the indicator plant of the Great Basin desert?
Big sage brush
4 North American deserts
Chihuahuan Sonoran Mojave Great Basin
*Salsola tragus*/tumbleweed tactics
Escapism (drops seeds as it tumbles), avoidance (small leaves), and opportunism (shallow roots)
*Leuchophyllum* sp./rain sage defining characteristics
Flowers (white, pink, or purple)
*Fouquieria splendens*/ocotillo/coach whip adaptations
Green bark
Tolerance (being tough) examples
Low water and high salt in tissues
Tactics
Morphological traits to survive
*Opuntia polycantha* sp./common name: prickly pear cactus tactics
Opportunism (shallow roots
*Fouquieria splendens*/ocotillo/coach whip tactics
Opportunism (shallow roots)
*Salsola tragus*/tumbleweed defining characteristics
Purple and green lines on its stem
*Fouquieria splendens*/ocotillo/coach whip defining characteristics
Red tubular flowers, and rarely flowers and leaves and the same time
What is the indicator plant of the Sonoran desert?
Saguaro cactus
Opportunism examples
Shallow roots Deep tap roots
Cacti have ___ ___ so they can maximize water absorption. Trees and big shrubs have a(n) ___ ___ ___ so that they can reach the water table.
Shallow roots, deep tap root
Avoidance examples
Small leaves, leaflets
Defining characteristics of creosote bush
Smells like rain! Yellow flowers
*Opuntia polycantha* sp./common name: prickly pear cactus adaptations
Spines (modified leaves)
What is the indicator plant of the Chihuahuan desert?
The *Agave lechuguilla*, more commonly known as the shin dagger
What desert do we live in?
The Chihuahuan desert
What is the indicator plant of the Mojave desert?
The Joshua tree
*Baileya multiradiata*/desert marigold defining characteristics
Velvety cuticle, perennial, yellow flower
*Leuchophyllum* sp./rain sage adaptations
Velvety, thickened cuticle that maintains water
*Asclepias subverticillata*/milkweed adaptation
White secretion (protection against herbivores)
Opportunism
grabbing opportunities; seeking unprincipled advantage
*Parkinsonia aculeata*/palo verde tactics
opportunism (deep tap root) and avoidance (leaflets)
*Prosopus glandulosa*/honey mesquite tactics
opportunism (deep tap root) and avoidance (small leaves)
*Chilopsis linearis*/desert willow tactics
opportunism (deep taproot) and avoidance (thin leaves
*Yucca treculeana* sp./Torrey yucca tactics
opportunism (shallow roots)
*Prosopus glandulosa*/honey mesquite defining characteristics:
seed pods have circles, formed by beetles called weevils
*Yucca treculeana* sp./Torrey yucca adaptations
thin, fibrous leaves
*Yucca treculeana* sp./Torrey yucca defining characteristics
white, highly aromatic flowers
Parkinsonia aculeata/ palo verde defining characteristics
yellow flowers and thorns and green bark
