Plants are classified according to the type of habitat in which they grow and their water requirements. Xerophytes are plants adapted to survive in dry, arid conditions such as deserts. They possess structural and physiological adaptations to minimise water loss, including thick, waxy cuticles, reduced or modified leaves (often as spines), deep or extensive root systems, sunken stomata, and the ability to store water in succulent stems or leaves. Examples include cacti, euphorbia, and agave.
The other categories describe different habitat preferences. Mesophytes grow in environments with moderate water availability. Hydrophytes are aquatic plants adapted to waterlogged or submerged habitats. Sporophytes refer to the diploid, spore-producing generation in a plant's life cycle and are not a habitat-based classification.
When distinguishing plant habitat types in an exam, focus on the prefix: xero- (dry), hydro- (water), meso- (moderate).
