Xerophyta is a genus of flowering plants in the family Velloziaceae.

[1][2] It is native to Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula.

This means that during dry climatic conditions, they lose chlorophyll and cease photosynthesis and transpiration.

[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.