#desert-ecology

#desert-ecology

With deep roots, sturdy trunks, and the ability to withstand extreme temperatures, date palms (Phoenix dactylifera) are among the species best adapted to the arid desert environment. It is no coincidence that in many local indigenous cultures they are known as the "tree of life," as their fruits, leaves, and trunks have provided food, shelter, and building materials for thousands of years. Without them, much of human settlement in desert regions would not have been possible.

The fungi form symbiotic relationships with most land plants, trading nutrients for carbon, essential for surviving in arid deserts like Saguaro National Park.