How does a cactus plant survive in deserts?

Adaptations of cactus
- Cactus plants are adapted to survive in hot and dry desert conditions.
- They have several adaptations that help them to conserve water and survive in desert conditions.

No leaves
- One of the adaptations of cactus plants is that they do not have leaves.
- Leaves are the primary site of photosynthesis in most plants, but they also lose water through transpiration.
- By not having leaves, cactus plants reduce water loss and conserve water.

Stem photosynthesis
- Instead of leaves, cactus plants have stems that are modified for photosynthesis.
- The stems are green and contain chlorophyll, which is the pigment that captures sunlight for photosynthesis.
- This adaptation allows cactus plants to produce food without losing water through transpiration.

Spines instead of leaves
- Cactus plants have spines instead of leaves.
- Spines help protect the plant from herbivores that may be looking for water.
- Spines also help to reduce the surface area of the plant, which reduces water loss through transpiration.

Shallow roots
- Another adaptation of cactus plants is that they have shallow roots that spread out wide.
- This allows the plant to quickly absorb any water that may fall on the desert surface.
- The shallow roots also allow the plant to anchor itself in the sand and prevent it from being blown away by strong desert winds.

Conclusion
- Overall, cactus plants are able to survive in deserts by having several adaptations that help them to conserve water and produce food without losing water through transpiration.
- By not having leaves, having stem photosynthesis, spines instead of leaves, and shallow roots, cactus plants are able to thrive in hot and dry desert conditions.

What does the monkey do?