Verified Solution Science Diversity in the Living World

Why do desert plants often have very small leaves or no leaves at all, like cacti?

6 views 2 helpful Updated Jun 30, 2026
Solution ✔ Verified
  • ATo attract more insects for pollination.
  • BTo reduce the amount of water lost through transpiration.
  • CTo help them absorb more sunlight.
  • DTo make them less attractive to herbivores.
Explanation

Desert plants adapted to conserve water. Having small leaves or no leaves (like spines on cacti) significantly reduces the surface area for transpiration, which is the process of water evaporating from leaves, thus minimizing water loss.

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