Xerophyta is a plant genus in the family Velloziaceae named in 1789.[1][2] It is native to Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula.[3]
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]