Sclerophyll facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Fynbos in South Africa

Sclerophyll is a type of vegetation which has hard leaves and short internodes (the distance between leaves along the stem). The word comes from the Greek sclero (hard) and phyllon (leaf).

Sclerophyllous plants occur in many parts of the world. They are shaped by a Mediterranean climate, with mild, wet winters and long hot dry summers. Wildfires often occur. These conditions feature summer drought-tolerant plants with hard sclerophyllous evergreen leaves,

This kind of climate occurs in:

  1. The Americas, in the chaparral biomes
    1. Californian woodlands
    2. Chilean Matorral
  2. Australia, this type of biome occurs throughout western (Perth), eastern (Sydney) and southern (Adelaide) areas.
  3. Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome that cover the Mediterranean Basin
  4. Cape Province of South Africa.

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Sclerophyll Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.