How do Caryophyllales plants survive in deserts and salty habitats?

Plants in the order Caryophyllales survive in arid and saline environments through a variety of specialized morphological and physiological adaptations.

Water Storage and Conservation

Many members of the order, particularly in families such as Aizoaceae, Cactaceae, and Amaranthaceae, are succulents. These plants possess thick, fleshy stems or leaves designed to store water, allowing them to endure periods of drought. To minimize water loss through transpiration, many of these plants utilize crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). This form of photosynthesis involves keeping stomata closed during the hot, dry day and opening them at night to take up carbon dioxide.12

Adaptations to Saline Habitats

Caryophyllales includes many halophytic (salt-loving) species that thrive in saline soils or salt marshes. For example, plants in the Tamaricaceae and Frankeniaceae families have evolved specialized salt-excreting glands to manage high salt concentrations. Other xerophytic adaptations found within the order include waxy leaf coatings, the ability to shed leaves during dry spells, and the development of dense, hairy leaf coverings to reduce water loss and sunlight absorption.324