Term (also xerophyte) for "drought-loving" plants (ancient Greek xērós = dry and arid, phílos = loving) that prefer extremely dry habitats or can adapt to deserts, steppes, rocks, salt landscapes or even cold winter areas (frost drought or winter drought = state of water shortage).
Such plants are known as xerophytes (or xeromorphic plants) and include, for example, agaves (picture left), cacti (picture right), eucalyptus and certain conifers. A distinction is made between different types, which react in different ways to a lack of water or are developed accordingly. These include, for example, deep rooting down to the groundwater level, dry dormancy or through special osmotic absorbency of the roots. Some grape varieties have also adapted particularly well to dry environmental conditions. Although they are not xerophilic, they have developed a resistance to dryness or drought.
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