Usually, the roots of the ocotillo are not exposed, but here--due to wind and rain erosion, and the grade of the slope--the below-ground structure of the plant is apparent for all to see; i.e. for anyone who cares to notice it. Many people wrongly assume that the roots of desert plants must plunge deeply into the earth in order to find precious water.
But the truth is that most arid-land plants actually have shallow roots, using the technique of branching out for great distances just beneath the sandy soil. Most people who have seen the towering saguaro cacti in the Sonoran Desert would be surprised to discover that they have a very shallow root system.
2 comments:
The sandy desert soil is one reason why it can be harder here to plant a garden unless you're using native plants. Water-resistant, shallow-rooted desert plants are beautiful, especially when they bloom.
That is really interesting. Here in SF we don't have that problem....we just need something that can stand up to the wind and cold in the summer.
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