24 Succulents-Mid

Succulents FOCUS Question What helps succulents survive in dry habitats?

多肉植物焦点问题是什么帮助多肉植物在干燥的栖息地生存?

The Juicy Plants Check out the plants on this page. They are called succulents (SUH-kyoo-lints). They come in many interesting shapes and sizes. Unlike many other plants, most succulents grow in places with little rainfall. How do succulents survive in such dry habitats? They have special adaptations—features that help them survive. These adaptations help them collect water during rainstorms and store it for dry times. Some succulents have thick stems. Others store water in their leaves. Thick, waxy layers help to hold water inside the plant.

多汁的植物看看本页上的植物。 它们被称为多肉植物(SUH-kyoo-lints)。 它们有许多有趣的形状和大小。 与许多其他植物不同，大多数多肉植物生长在少雨的地方。 多肉植物如何在如此干燥的环境中生存? 它们有特殊的适应能力——帮助它们生存的特征。 这些适应性帮助它们在暴雨时收集水分，并储存起来以备干旱时使用。 一些多肉植物的茎很粗。 其他植物则把水分储存在叶子里。 厚厚的蜡质层有助于保持植物内部的水分。

Succulent Habitats Succulents can grow in low dry deserts and on high, freezing mountaintops. They even grow on sandy beaches. Their adaptations help them live in many different areas. Let's take a trip around the world and identify some succulents.

多肉植物可以生长在低海拔干燥的沙漠和高海拔寒冷的山顶。 它们甚至生长在沙滩上。 它们的适应性帮助它们生活在许多不同的地区。 让我们环游世界，辨认一些多肉植物。

Succulents of the Desert Succulents are common plants in deserts. Deserts often go for long periods without any rain. The succulents that live there have special adaptations that help them to collect and save water. Yuccas (YUK-uhs) live in the desert. These plants have tough, spear-shaped leaves. The leaves are shaped so that rain flows down to the roots. The leaves are also covered with a thick, waxy skin, which keeps them from losing water. They have a deep, thick root to help store water. Cacti are a type of succulent. Many kinds of cacti, such as prickly pears and barrel cacti, live in the desert. Barrel cacti have large trunks to store water.

沙漠中的多肉植物是沙漠中常见的植物。 沙漠经常长时间不下雨。 生活在那里的多肉植物有特殊的适应能力，帮助它们收集和节约水。 尤卡(Yuccas, YUK-uhs)生活在沙漠中。 这些植物有坚韧的矛状叶子。 叶子的形状可以让雨水流到根部。 叶子上还覆盖着一层厚厚的蜡状表皮，这可以防止它们失水。 它们有一个又深又粗的根来帮助储存水分。 仙人掌是一种多肉植物。 沙漠中生长着许多种仙人掌，如仙人球和桶形仙人掌。 桶形仙人掌有很大的树干来储存水分。

Jumping cholla (CHOY-yuh) cacti are sometimes called teddy bear cacti. From far away, they look fuzzy and cuddly. Do not hug them, though! These plants are covered with thousands of sharp spines. The spines make shade for the plants, helping them survive in the desert heat. Cacti need less water when they are cooler. The stem of a jumping cholla is separated into sections, or segments, that store water. These segments break away easily. In fact, even the wind can break them off. Each broken segment can become a new plant. Word Wise The jumping cholla gets its name because people once thought the segments "jumped" off of the plant. Actually, the segments just break off easily.

跳跳仙人掌有时也被称为泰迪熊仙人掌。 从远处看，它们毛茸茸的，很可爱。 但是不要拥抱他们!这些植物长满了成千上万根锋利的刺。 这些刺为植物提供荫凉，帮助它们在沙漠的高温中生存。 凉爽时，仙人掌需要的水较少。 jump cholla的茎被分割成部分，或段，储存水分。 这些碎片很容易脱落。 事实上，即使是风也能把它们折断。 每一个破碎的片段都可以变成一棵新的植物。 跳跃全萝草之所以得名，是因为人们曾经认为这些部分是从植物上“跳”下来的。 事实上，这段很容易脱落。

Succulents of the Mountains If you hike to the top of a mountain, you might see succulents growing. Some mountaintops get little water. They can also be very cold. Succulents such as the monk's hood cactus and sand dollar cactus are found in mountains. Monk's hood cacti are small and do not need much water. Sand dollar cacti are very small. When there is very little water available, these cacti turn brown and flatten to the ground until more water is available.

如果你徒步到山顶，你可能会看到多肉植物在生长。 有些山顶几乎没有水。 它们也可能很冷。 多肉植物如僧帽仙人掌和沙美元仙人掌是在山上发现的。 僧帽仙人掌很小，不需要太多水。 沙美元仙人掌非常小。 当可用的水很少时，这些仙人掌就会变成棕色，压扁在地上，直到有更多的水可用。