Strange plants don't fear the desert

The plants here seem thorny, slightly scary but they are very beautiful and very useful. Dry and sandy soil are the most descriptive words that characterize desert regions - the most extreme climate on Earth with an average annual rainfall of less than 250mm / year.

desert

During the day, the temperature here can be hotter than 60 degrees Celsius and very low at night at about -45 degrees Celsius. Despite extreme weather conditions, in fact, desert ecosystems are quite diverse. . The flora here is quite well adapted to environmental conditions due to its ability to store water, especially thorny trees.

1. Desert roses

Desert roses appear in the dry, sub-Saharan climate of Africa. This is one of the most colorful flowering plants in these desert regions with the scientific name Adenium obesum (or Kudu) . Along with common characteristics like other species in the desert, Kudu stores water for the dry season with his roots and bulging roots. However, the resin extracted from this species is very poisonous and it is used for hunting by locals . So if you accidentally meet them in the desert, the advice is that you should not pay attention to flowers. this pink.

2. Giant cacti

If you talk about the desert, then surely you will think of the cactus, however the size of the species is usually larger than normal or very large, especially Saguaro cacti , a species that people often call bones giant dragon. This is a typical species for the Mexican desert. After the rain, this cactus usually absorbs a huge amount of water, the weight can now reach 750 - 900kg.

They are pollinated by birds, bees and mostly bats; flowers in around April and produces red fruits (sweet, edible) at the end of June. The growth rate of the plant depends very much on rainfall, however, even if the rainfall is lower than the average, the amount of water stored can still help this plant for flowers and fruits each year. Products obtained from this species are highly appreciated by local people.

The maximum life span of this species is up to 150 years, but do you know, if you lose a tree, it will take half the life (about 75 years) to be able to develop a new branch.

3. Flower "century"

Adding a species of flowering plants in the desert, it sounds like you feel strange about its name, right? In fact, the scientific name of this species is Agave Americana . However, there is no such unconventional name like that. The reason is because in the life stage, it only flowers once exactly. With severe weather like the desert of Mexico, this flower is known for its incredible survival ability, regardless of whether it is cold or drought, regardless of whether the soil is acidic or alkaline they live and grow very well.

You see the shape of its leaves, thanks to such structure they catch water from the rain and bring down the roots! In addition, this plant's resin is used as a diuretic and laxative medicine. Leaf juice can treat bruises and digestive diseases. Not only leaves, sap, but also flowers from this species are used as daily dishes.

4. Prickly pear tree

The prickly pear tree is a cactus family, they have up to 200 different species and are concentrated in the Mexican desert. In particular, prickly pears can be used as a sour-tasting drink. However, you can see small spikes on their bodies and fruit, if not careful, they can stick to the skin, causing discomfort in the throat and tongue if you eat or drink them.

Despite the harsh desert environment, the plants here still grow very well, though it looks a bit scary, but they are very beautiful and useful.