rosette succulents
Rosette Succulents
"Despite the relatively harsh conditions of North America’s deserts, a wide range of plants taking many shapes and forms have been able to thrive in these areas. Rosette succulents make up a diverse group of plants that have successfully established in desert ecosystems, especially at the elevations at which clouds form. Many of them have relatively large leaves that store large volumes of water and are arranged in layers spreading out from around the base of the plant. This structure helps them to collect and store water from rain and fog, and is one of the keys to their success in these environments." Click on the image for more information.
stomata
Stomata
"This photograph of a stoma (plural: 'stomata') and guard cells on a buttercup leaf was taken using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Stomata are pores in the surface of a leaf. The stomata and guard cells regulate the gases entering and leaving a plant's leaf." Copyright S Lowry and Getty Images
lithops
Lithops
In ancient Greek lithos means "stone" and ops means "face". This stone-faced succulent has adapted to its environment by camouflaging itself amongst the stones in which it grows. In this way, it protects itself from being eaten by animals. Click on the image for more information.
