Regions: Southwest and Midwest
Southwest
The Southwest terrain is characterized by arid landscapes of deserts, canyonlands, mesas, and plains. Extremes of heat and cold, as well as a lack of water, lead to many of the plants adapting to grow slowly to conserve water and nutrients. This is why much of the plant life in the Southwest is diminutive in stature compared to other regions. In the southwest you can find cacti and succulents, as well as smaller species of conifers and deciduous shrubs. Some water-loving species can be present in this region, but their occurrence is either short-lived with the brief rainy seasons, or...