Sclerophyll facts for kids

Fynbos plants growing in South Africa

Sclerophyll (say: SKLER-oh-fill) is a special type of plant life. These plants have tough, hard leaves and their leaves grow very close together on the stem. The name "sclerophyll" comes from two Greek words: sclero, meaning "hard," and phyllon, meaning "leaf."

Sclerophyll plants are found in many places around the world. They grow best in areas with a Mediterranean climate. This means they have mild, wet winters and long, hot, dry summers. Wildfires are common in these areas. Because of these conditions, sclerophyll plants are very good at surviving dry summers. Their hard, evergreen leaves help them keep water.

Where Do Sclerophyll Plants Grow?

Sclerophyll plants thrive in regions with Mediterranean climates. These areas include:

• Parts of the Americas, like the chaparral areas in:
  • California
  • The Chilean Matorral
• Australia, especially in the western (Perth), eastern (Sydney), and southern (Adelaide) parts.
• The Mediterranean Basin, which includes forests and scrub lands around the Mediterranean Sea.
• The Cape Province in South Africa.

Images for kids

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  Chaparral plants in Southern California

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  The hard leaves of a Banksia integrifolia plant. Notice how close the leaves are!

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  Sclerophyll woodland in Spain

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  Sclerophyll woodland in Tuscany, Italy

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  A sclerophyll bushland in Sydney, Australia

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  Sclerophyll shrubland in southwestern Madagascar

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  Bush around Eagle Bay, Western Australia

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  Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora) trees in a sclerophyll woodland near Melbourne, Australia

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  Sclerophyll plants on Mount Meron in Israel

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  Hard-leaved plants in the High Atlas mountains, Morocco

See also

In Spanish: Esclerófilo para niños