a plant with structural features (e.g. hard or succulent leaves) or functional adaptations that prevent water loss by evaporation; usually associated with arid habitats, but not necessarily drought-tolerant; cf. xerophyte.
<botany> A plant having structural features usually associated with plants of arid habitats (such as hard or succulent leaves) but not necessarily drought-tolerant. ... Compare: scleromorph, xerophyte. ... (09 Oct 1997) ... 
xeromorph, xeromorphy, xeromorphism Plant forms that are adapted to an arid environment.