Book 16, Question 60
Why Do Some Desert Plants Have Fuzzy or Silvery Leaves?
Some desert plants have fuzzy or silvery leaves, because tiny hairs help them stay cool and moist! The hairs slow water loss and bounce sunlight away. Silvery leaves are like a little sun hat.
More fun facts
- Brittlebush has bright yellow flowers and silvery green leaves, and it grows all over the Sonoran Desert.
- The silvery look comes from tiny hairs on the leaves.
- The hairs work like a blanket that protects the leaves from heat and cold.
- Their white color reflects sunlight, which helps keep the plant cool.
- The hairs also trap moisture, so the leaves lose less water.
- Leaves that grow at the start of the growing season are greener, while later leaves are more hairy and reflect more light.
- In very dry or cold times, brittlebush simply drops its leaves.
Sources: desertmuseum.org, ehleringer.net
Questions kids ask
Who eats brittlebush?
Bighorn sheep and mule deer eat the leaves, and rodents eat the seeds.