Life Strategies of Succulents in Deserts: With Special Reference to the Namib Desert
Deserts provide a seemingly hostile environment in which plants can, nevertheless, survive and grow. This book, originally published in 1992, considers the ecological strategies adopted by desert succulents to overcome these problems. Much fresh data on the physiological ecology of succulent plants of southern Africa is presented - the results of more than ten years' work by the authors, both in the field and the laboratory. This information forms the basis for a better understanding of the water relations and carbon balance of succulents during short- and long-term drought and leads the authors to a definition of succulence as a tool for the temporary storage of water, essential for the conservation of physiological performance during times of drought. The authors conclude by providing a basic scheme in which the significant functional aspects of succulent life strategies are given, revealing the main trends in the biology of these fascinating plants.
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Contents
1
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2 |
Climate and vegetation of deserts
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28 |
The Namib desert
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76 |
Life strategies of succulents
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298 |
319 | |
332 | |
Common terms and phrases
absorbed absorptivity accumulation active air temperature Aloe amount annual arid atmosphere balance bergwind biomass budget calculated CAM succulents carbon cell changes clear CO₂ compared concentration conductance Consequently considerably convective cover Crassula decrease desert detailed determined drought dry matter energy epidermis equation example exchange flow fluxes fraction gain germination given growing growth habitat heat higher humidity important increase layer leaf leaves less light loss lower malic acid March means measured Mesembryanthemaceae Namib night non-succulent Numees occur organs osmotic pattern period photosynthesis plant presented pressure rain rainfall range reflected relative Richtersveld roots season seeds shown shrubs similar soil solar radiation species stem stomata storage tissue strategy structures surface Table temperature term thermal radiation tissue transpiration uptake utilizable water values vegetation water content water potential water storage water vapour wavelength winter