Desert Diversity Thriving in a Dry Place

Plant Adaptations In the Sonoran Desert areas of Saguaro National Park plants must be able to live in a place that gets less than 12 inches of rain a year, where temperatures can reach 115 degrees and the sun shines more than 300 days a year!

Plant Adaptations In places that are not so dry, plants are known for their large leaves … like a maple tree’s. But in the desert, leaves must change so they will not lose water and dry up in the heat. These special changes for the desert environment are called adaptations.

Plant Adaptations Use the photos in this presentation and the materials and instructions you get from your teacher to explore the changes to leaves that have allowed desert plants to thrive in a dry place!

Palo Verde Tree The Palo Verde tree is the State Tree of Arizona, home of Saguaro National Park. Research: What does “palo verde” mean? (Hint: it’s Spanish.)

Creosote-bush One of the most common plants in the Sonoran Desert, the creosotebush “smells like rain” when its oils are released into the air during storms. Research: Creosotebush is greasy like creosote… but what is creosote?

Mormon Tea Mormon Tea was used has a refreshing and medicinal beverage by Native Americans and settlers alike. Research: Instead of flowers, Mormon Tea has male and female cones. What plant in your area has cones?

Jojoba Jojoba seeds are a source of an excellent oil that is used instead of whale oil. “The plant that saved whales.” Research: Find out one common product in your house that may have jojoba oil.

Ocotillo Ocotillo has bright red, nectar-rich flowers that attract hummingbirds in spring. Research: What does “ocotillo” mean? (Hint: it’s Spanish.)

Yucca The Yucca flower is the State Tree of New Mexico, and common in it’s Chihuahuan Desert. Research: Find out one common product in your house that may have yucca extract.

Agave The Agave plant stores water in its leaves for 15 to 30 years. Then it grows a flower stalk, sets seeds, and dies! Research: Find out one product in an adult drink (Margaritas!) that comes from agave.

Saguaro Cactus The “Giant Cactus” can grow to nearly 60 feet and weigh 20 tons or more! Research: What state has the Saguaro flower as its state flower?

Brittlebush Dry Season Wet Season Look at the pictures of the dry season and wet season Brittlebush. It’s your call … how does brittlebush change its leaves for the seasons? (There are at least two answers!) Dry Season Wet Season Can you guess why it is called Brittlebush?

Desert Diversity Bring your green paper when you visit Saguaro National Park and use it to figure out how other desert plants have changed their leaves to survive! All pictures were taken at the Saguaro National Park East Visitor Center, August 2011 Photos: J. Wallner Finger model: V. Powers