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Lexicon

The largest wine encyclopedia in the world with 24,314 Terms.

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xerophilic

Term (also xerophyte) for "drought-loving" plants that prefer extremely dry habitats or can adapt to deserts, steppes, rocks, saline landscapes or even winter cold areas (frost dryness or winter drought = state of water shortage). Such plants are known as xerophytes (or xeromorphic plants), including agaves, cacti, eucalyptus and certain coniferous plants. A distinction is made between different types, which react in different ways or are appropriately developed in the event of water shortage. For example by deep rooting to the groundwater level, drought dormancy or by special osmotic suction power of the roots. Some grape varieties have also adapted particularly well to dry environmental conditions. Although they are not xerophilic, they have developed resistance to drought or drought. See also under water balance.