Shrub and Trees
One of the important life group in the desert is formed by
atrophied trees and bushes. they are normally found in sandy deserts, although
they are in almost all desert areas.
Trees and shrubs in the desert get water from deep underground, thanks to their very long roots, which can reach up to 246 feet (75 meters). Also, these roots keep the plants held fast to the surface, especially if they manage to get hold of a solid rock.
During the dry season, many of these shrubs and trees have very few leaves if any at all. when the driest season arrives, they lose their leaves and some of their branches and breathe through the porous bark of their trunks. Woody tissue of the trunks and main branches are very strong and main branches are very strong and resistant to the effects of the sun, and some bushes can dry out all the way without dying.
Source: Llamas, Andreu, Plants of the Deserts, Chelsea House Publishers, New York, 1996.