A xerophyte is a plant that has adaptations to survive in an environment with

little liquid water, such as a desert, a salt marsh, or an acid bog12. Some of the
adaptations of xerophytes are:

They have thick, fleshy stems or leaves that store water. These plants are called
succulents, such as cacti and agaves23.
They have reduced leaf or stem surface area to minimize water loss by
transpiration. Some plants have no leaves or very small leaves, such as cacti and
euphorbias.
They have waxy, hairy, or spiny coatings on their leaves or stems to reflect
sunlight and reduce evaporation. Some plants also have sunken stomata, which are
pores for gas exchange, to create a humid microclimate around them.
They have deep or widespread roots that can absorb water from a large area or from
deep underground. Some plants also have specialized roots that can absorb moisture
from the air, such as orchids and bromeliads.
They have physiological mechanisms that allow them to tolerate drought, such as
closing their stomata during the day, accumulating salts or organic compounds to
lower their water potential, or switching to a different photosynthetic pathway
that reduces water loss, such as CAM (crassulacean acid metabolism)