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Why do desert plan have thorns?

Updated: 8/9/2023
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11y ago

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it is their evolutionary defense against attackers.

In a desert environment, water is very scarce. Therefore, every small amount of water absorbed by plants is indispensable to plant survival. The purpose of thorns is to protect the fleshy stems (which contain water) of the cactus from predators.

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13y ago
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12y ago

Thorns are woody protrusions on plants that often have a sharp point. Not all plants have thorns, however, leading some people to wonder why some plants that have little else in common have thorns while similar plants do not. There are several reasons why plants develop thorns, though their development depends on the environment in which the species grows.

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9y ago

the thorns are actually their leaves. They are small so there is less surface area to lose water from through transpiration.
caucuses have thorns so insects that eat that sort of plant or people who want caucuses get poked and the little creatures die on them. if you look closely at a cactus in the desert its likely to have lots of insects on the thorns, therefore caucuses have thorns to protect it and prevent others from touching it

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11y ago

To protect the fleshy part from the herbivores

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11y ago

It is nature's way to protect these plants from animals eating them. That way, the plants can remain in the ecosystem and protect against erosion.

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10y ago

Thorns is a way plants protect themselves. They can also be a source of shade and water conservation for some cactus.

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Q: Why do desert plan have thorns?
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Related questions

Which desert plant has thorns but is without leaves?

The cacti have spines (not thorns) and do not have leaves. There are also some plants in Africa and Asia that are similar to cacti but have thorns instead of spines.


Its stem has thorns that keep predators from eating its flowers?

The desert cactus


What are succulent plants with thorns that are common in desert?

In the Old World there are a number of species of euphorbias and other genera that have thorns. In the new world (Americas) cacti have spines (not thorns) but are succulents.


What are succulent plants with thorns that are common in desert biomes?

In the Old World there are a number of species of euphorbias and other genera that have thorns. In the new world (Americas) cacti have spines (not thorns) but are succulents.


What plant stem has thorns that keep predators from eating its flowers?

The desert cactus


What will happen if desert plants have leaves in the place of thorns?

The vast majority of desert plants do have leaves and few have only spines.


What is a palm with round serrated leaves?

a desert plant with thorns but withouth leaves


What do desert plants have to stop animals from eating them?

Some desert plants have spines or thorns, some have a bad taste and some are toxic if eaten.


Are desert plants generally succulents?

No, the vast majority of plants in the desert are not succulents. They are typical plants that have developed other means of living in an arid environment.


What is a saxaul tree?

It is a large bush to small tree that is in the desert with thorns, flower buds, blossoms,....etc


What is a sentence using cacti?

The horticulture students were amazed at the variety of cacti present in the Arizona desert.


Is the crown of thorns a plant or animal?

European tradition says that the crown of thorns was made from the hawthorn tree. Hawthorn bushes have huge, gothic looking thorns. Hawthorn is not native to the middle east, however. But the tradition survives and even results in hawthorn being used as a form of traditional protection against vampires.