Water is so precious in the desert, the plants must adapt to their environment — including each other — to make the most of it.
Let’s take two of the largest plants found on the open range of the Sonoran Desert: the giant Saguaro cactus and the Palo Verde tree.
They each have their own unique adaptations.
For example, the Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) has an internal ribcage matched with a pleated, accordion-like trunk that allows it to expand and store up to 200 gallons of water.
The Palo Verde (Parkinsonia spp.) — unlike most trees — can photosynthesize through its green bark, allowing it to grow tiny leaves that need little water. To boot, the tree can completely shed its leaves during drought, and regrow them when the rains come.
Each plant has numerous other water-conservations adaptations, but the most interesting is the synergy they have with each other. And it comes down to their roots.
The Saguaro mostly has a shallow but extensive root system that allows the giant to soak up water near the surface of the rocky soil, before the moisture has a chance to evaporate. This is particularly important in the summer monsoon where thunderstorms can drop downpours even when the air temperature is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Palo Verde, in contrast, has a deep tap root that allows it more access to groundwater and the ability to maximize the winter rains that soak deeper in the earth.
So by each plant using water from different parts of the ground, these two giants of the Sonoran can live harmoniously in close quarters without competing with each other for water.
If only modern humans could learn a little more about living harmoniously for greater good.
But anyway, that’s today’s Daily Dose. I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling a bit parched. Time to get a glass of water!
Stay hydrated,
-Jake
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