Download Desert Diversity - Electronic Field Trip

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.)
Creosotebush
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
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!)
Wet Season
Dry 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