Some species in this genus are poikilochlorophyllous plants. This means that during dry climatic conditions, they lose chlorophyll and cease photosynthesis and transpiration. Thus they are extremely tolerant of desiccation .[4] Hence the name Xerophyta, from Ancient Greek ξηρός (xeros, "dry") and φυτά (phutá), plural of φυτόν (phutón, “plant”).[5]
Sequencing of the genome of Xerophyta viscosa allowed to propose that the mechanism of desiccation tolerance in these plants is achieved by employing the genetic repertoire used by desiccation-tolerant seeds.[6]
^Loss of chlorophylls, cessation of photosynthetic CO2 assimilation and respiration in the poikilochlorophyllous plant Xerophyta scabrida during desiccation. Z. Tuba, H. K. Lichtenthaler, Zs. Csintalan, Z. Nagy1 and K. Szente, Physiologia Plantarum, March 1996, Volume 96, Issue 3, pages 383–388, doi:10.1111/j.1399-3054.1996.tb00448.x
