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Petrified Forest National Park
Plants
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Photo by Marge Post | Plants make use of soil pockets, even those collected within broken petrified wood pieces. |
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Not all plants at Petrified Forest National Park are fossils. Living plants are critical components within the grassland ecosystem found throughout the park. Plants capture particulate dust in the air, filter gaseous pollutants, convert carbon dioxide to oxygen, provide habitat for animals, and supply raw materials for humans.
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Photo by Marge Post/NPS | Purple Aster Flowers |
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Plants of arid climates have adaptations which enable them to survive the extremes of temperature and precipitation. These adaptations can be grouped in two basic categories, drought escapers and drought resistors. Drought escapers are plants which take advantage of favorable growing conditions when they exist, but go dormant when those conditions disappear. They are usually annuals, growing only when enough water is available. Seeds produced under good conditions can lie dormant for years if conditions are not favorable for germination. Most grasses and wildflowers are drought escapers.
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Photo by Marge Post/NPS | Prickly Pear Cactus Flowers |
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Drought resistors are typically perennials. They have mechanisms for reducing the damage a drought can cause. For example, some will drop their leaves if water is unavailable. Many have small, hairy leaves which reduce exposure to air currents and solar radiation and thereby limit the amount of water lost to evaporation. Cacti, yuccas and mosses are examples of drought resistors. Yuccas have extensive taproots which can reach water beyond the ability of other plants. Mosses can tolerate complete dehydration. When rains return after extensive dry periods, mosses green up immediately.
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Grassland Site Bulletin Information on the grassland ecosystem found in the park. more... | |
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Did You Know?
In additon to the world class fossil record at Petrified Forest National Park, archeological resources are so abundant and so significant that they could stand alone within their own park!
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Last Updated: August 30, 2006 at 19:12 EST |