Question

When growing in windy environments, this organism will grow low along the ground, but when growing in sheltered environments, it grows tall. The leaves have a waxy coating to reduce moisture loss, a chemical makeup that makes them fairly fire resistant, and produce a scent that deters predators. It also has a large root system and root crowns. What organism and environment is described above?

Answer 1

The answer is a coyote brush and a chaparral biome.

The coyote brush, also known as a chaparral broom, is a shrub native to chaparral biomes of California, Oregon, and Washington. Chaparral biome is characterized by mild, not rainy but moist, and windy climate. There are very few species of plants adapted to living in this environment, mostly trees and shrubs. Since it is very moist and very dry in the chaparral, the coyote brush has a waxy coating to reduce moisture loss. To deter predators, who have no many plants to choose, the coyote brush produces a scent. Also, it has an adaptation which helps it in the windy environments - it usually grows low along the ground.