Desiccation-tolerant flowering plants in southern Africa

Abstract

The South African flora contains a unique abundance of higher plants which withstand virtually complete desiccation. Water potentials of fielddry leaves corresponded to 30 to 40 percent relative humidity. Mature leaves survived from 15 to approximately 0 percent relative humidity. Known examples were increased from 4 to 15 species, which for the first time included grasses.