Succulents

Succulents are plants that can store water in specialised tissues, such as their leaves, stems or roots. This ability allows them to survive extended dry periods. Typical habitats include deserts, semi-deserts, steppes and other regions with irregular water supply.

The term "succulent" comes from the Latin sucus, meaning sap or juice, and roughly translates as "juicy plant". It refers to plants with thickened, water-rich tissues and an overall structure adapted to reduce water loss.

Key adaptations include water storage, a reduced leaf surface and lower transpiration. Many species have a waxy coating or greatly reduced leaves, sometimes in the form of spines. In numerous succulents, carbon dioxide is absorbed mainly at night, which means less water is lost during the day.

Succulents are grouped into different forms depending on where the water is stored. Leaf succulents store water in their leaves, stem succulents in the shoot, and root succulents in underground plant parts.

Succulents are found worldwide on every continent except the polar regions. They are especially common in dry, warm climate zones. Well-known examples include aloe, agaves, cacti, houseleeks, stonecrops and the jade plant.

The term describes the plant's structure rather than its position. Succulence is thus a strategy for adapting to drought. It can also occur in plants living under other forms of stress, such as certain salt-tolerant plants known as halophytes.