Joshua Tree
 

The Joshua Tree grows in the Mojave desert. It is a large desert plant with spiky leaves. It also has a fruit which is food for desert animals.

Dragon Tree

The Dragon Tree is not from the American deserts. It is from the Canary Islands. It has a sap that hardens to a dark red. People call the sap "Dragon's Blood." The sap is sometimes used as a fake stone in jewelry. 

Barrel Cactus
 

The pleated shape of the Barrel Cactus allows it to expand when it rains and store water in its spongy tissue. It shrinks in size during dry times as it uses the stored water. 

Saguaro
 

The stem of the Saguaro Cactus stores all of its water. The stem is green. Photosynthesis occurs in the top layer of the stem instead of in leaves. This plant has another adaptation that is hidden from us. This is its large net of roots -- that extend far away from its trunk. How would these roots help a desert plant? The roots collect water after rain. Stored in the pleated expandable stem, the water keeps the saguaro alive until the next rain. Saguaro fruit is used in jam and woody skeletons are used in building materials. The Saguaro only grows in the Sonoran Desert. 

Prickly Pear Cactus

Since many desert plants store water in their spongy tissue, animals will eat them for the moisture. The thorns keep them safe from many animal predators. You can find lots of Prickly Pear Cactus in the Chihuahuan desert.

Fish Hook Cactus

The fish hook shaped spines of the Fish Hook Cactus help divert heat and shade the growing tip of the plant. Many cacti lean further toward the sun as they grow. Some may eventually uproot themselves.  

Copyright © 2002 Missouri Botanical Garden

Aloe

The waxy surface of the aloe plant acts like a plastic wrapper, keeping precious water inside. For centuries, the juice of the aloe plant has been used by Native Americans as a medicine. Today, doctors recognize the healing properties of the Aloe plant. Many people keep an aloe plant in their kitchen. Its juice is helpful to soothe the pain of burns.