In plant ecology, what name is given to plants that develop and survive in very dry or arid conditions?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to plant ecology and environmental science. It asks you to recall the correct term for plants that grow in areas where water is scarce, such as deserts and dry rocky slopes. Knowing these terms helps you understand how plants adapt to different habitats and moisture conditions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question describes plants developing in dry conditions.
• The options list mesophytes, xerophytes, hydrophytes, and lithophytes.
• Standard ecological definitions of plant habitat groups are assumed.

Concept / Approach:
Plants are often grouped based on the moisture conditions of their habitat. Mesophytes grow in places with moderate water availability, neither very dry nor waterlogged. Xerophytes are plants adapted to very dry environments such as deserts, with special features to reduce water loss and store water. Hydrophytes live in or near water, sometimes completely submerged. Lithophytes are plants that grow on rocks, often in crevices where some moisture and organic matter collect. The key phrase in the question is dry conditions, which directly points to xerophytes rather than mesophytes or hydrophytes.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Textbooks in botany and ecology usually present a table or chart showing three main categories of plants based on water requirements: hydrophytes, mesophytes, and xerophytes. The chart explains that xerophytes live in deserts or dry habitats and exhibit drought resistance or drought avoidance strategies. Lithophytes may be mentioned in relation to rocky habitats but are not defined solely by water availability. These standard definitions confirm that xerophytes are the plants that develop in dry conditions.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Mesophytes, which grow in moderate moisture conditions, is wrong because these plants prefer neither very dry nor very wet environments and are not specially adapted to drought.

Hydrophytes, which live in aquatic or waterlogged habitats, is incorrect because they occur where water is abundant, not scarce.

Lithophytes, which grow on bare rocks, is not the best answer because rocky habitats can vary in moisture, and the term does not specifically mean dry or desert like conditions.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes mix up these terms due to their similar sounding endings. Another mistake is to assume that all rocky habitats are dry and therefore choose lithophytes, ignoring that lithophytes are defined by substrate rather than just water availability. Some learners also think that mesophytes can tolerate both extremes and therefore suit any habitat, which is not accurate. Always link xerophytes with dryness and water saving adaptations, hydrophytes with water abundance, and mesophytes with moderate conditions.

Final Answer:
Plants that develop and survive in very dry or arid conditions are called Xerophytes, which are adapted to dry and desert like conditions.