干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Transpiration and water uptake by the roots of two succulents - Othonna opima D.C. and Mesembryanthemum pellitum Friedr. - were measured in the Richtersveld (southern Namib desert) with a potometric system. The drought stressed plants reacted to the reestablished water supply by a high transpiration within 24 hours of the transfer to the potometer. O. opima and M. pellitum showed a high water uptake rate after 3 and 5 hours, respectively. This proved that these succulents react quickly to a reestablished water availability from the soil to refill their water storage tissues.