Under Your Feet

22

A pebbly

disguise puts

off plant-eating

animals.

Prickles protect

the stem

from thirsty

creatures.

Thick, spongy

bark holds water.

The roots can go

far to find water.

A chunky stem

stores water

for the plant

to use.

R

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f

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Dry desert soils are home

to plants that can live without

rain for long periods of time.

Plants are few and far between,

but they have amazing

abilities to absorb water.

Living stones

Pebble plants can absorb water

from fog. During droughts they

shrink below ground, so they

need even less water.

Cactus

A network of

shallow, wide-

spreading roots

helps the plant

drink as much

water as possible

if it rains.

Saxaul tree

This tree’s root networks hold

large amounts of dry sand in

place. Planting more of them

stops soil blowing away.

D

RY SO

IL

S

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GGY

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022-023_Sand_And_Soggy_Soil.indd 22 08/11/2019 15:56