Question

Which one is a xerophyte?
A. Capparis
B. Lotus
C. China Rose
D. Casuarina

Answer 1

Hint: Xerophytes are plants that grow in extreme conditions and can survive on very little water as they conserve their water in their parenchymatous cells.

Complete answer: The xerophytes are plants that can survive the extreme environmental conditions. They can live on very little water for their survival. Xerophytes conserve water in the parenchymatous cells which are specialized for this purpose. The Capparis decidua is a xerophyte plant which is commonly known as “kair” and is a plant of the desert. They are present in the arid regions of India where it is used as for the pickles, vegetables, and curry, they are also found in the Middle East, Africa and southern Asia, which includes the Thar forest. They have a mass of slender, leafless branches, and the small caducous leaves which are generally found on the young shoots of these plants.
Hence, the correct answer is option is A.

Additional information: Xerophytic plants such as cactus preserve water by closing their stomata during the day time. They have modified leaves that help them to stay alive on such harsh conditions. Xerophytic plants mostly fix carbon dioxide using a special mechanism called the CAM pathway.

Note: The Capparis which belongs to the family Capparidaceae. The “kair” is a caducous plant where only the stems and the fruits are common in the foliage condition since they are xerophytic, so they are found in the desert regions and are highly drought resistant, that is it can survive for a long period of time.