Yet, some life forms have adapted to even the most severe desert environment. Camels are able to survive long periods without food or water. Many desert plants have long, shallow root systems. This allows the plants to reach out to collect water over great distances. Other desert plants have taproots.
Taproots grow very deep so they can tap sources of underground water.
Plantlife in the desert is usually spread out over great distances. This is why deserts are often described as barren, or lifeless. When many people think of a desert, they think of endless miles of hot sand, but a desert does not have to be hot or sandy. Most of the land of the Middle East and North Africa is hot, dry desert land, but some deserts look very different. All rights reserved.