Desert plants often have adaptations for storing water. Which feature illustrates this adaptation?

• A. Long roots reaching deep water tables
• B. Broad leaves for rapid transpiration
• C. Water storage tissues in stems or leaves
• D. Deep shade tolerance

Answer: (C)

Desert plants survive dry spells by holding onto water inside their bodies. Water storage tissues in stems or leaves act like tiny reservoirs, filling up when rain is scarce and releasing water when it’s needed for basic life processes. This makes it possible for the plant to keep cells turgid and continue photosynthesis even during long periods without rainfall. You can see this in succulents and cacti, where the stems or leaves swell with water and serve as stores for later use.

Other options point to different strategies. Long roots help reach deeper water, which is about getting water, not storing it. Broad leaves would lose water quickly through transpiration, not conserve it. Deep shade tolerance isn’t a desert-adaptation that addresses water storage. So the feature that best shows this adaptation is the presence of water storage tissues in stems or leaves.