Final answer:
Plants have adapted to sporadic rainfall by developing short life cycles and drought tolerance. They also have water conservation adaptations and produce dormant seeds.
Step-by-step explanation:
Vegetation has adapted to sporadic rainfall through various strategies. One adaptation is the development of short life cycles. For example, in the Australian desert where rainfall is infrequent, small flowering plants quickly grow and produce seeds when rain occurs. These seeds then lie dormant until the next rainfall. Another adaptation is drought tolerance, where plants like mosses can dry out and appear lifeless during dry periods but regain their green appearance when water is available again. Other plants have evolved water conservation adaptations such as deep roots, reduced foliage, and water-storing stems, while seed plants in the desert produce seeds that can remain dormant for long periods between rains.