Final answer:
Plants adapt to long periods of drought through short life cycles, drought tolerance, and resistance to desiccation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Plants have adapted to long periods of drought through various mechanisms. One common adaptation is having short life cycles, where plants quickly flower and produce seeds when there is rainfall after a drought. The seeds then lie dormant until the next rainy period. Another adaptation is drought tolerance, where some plants like mosses can dry out but quickly regain their green appearance and functionality when water becomes available. Additionally, some plants have evolved resistance to desiccation, minimizing water loss to survive in extremely dry environments.