Xerophyta is a plant genus in the family Velloziaceae described as a genus in 1789. It is native to Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula. Some species in this genus are poikilochlorophyllous plants. This means that during dry climatic conditions, they lose chlorophyll and cease photosynthesis and transpiration. Thus they are extremely tolerant of desiccation . Hence the name Xerophyta, from Ancient Greek ξηρός (xeros, "dry") and φυτά (phutá), plural of φυτόν (phutón, “plant”). moved to other genera: Barbaceniopsis Nanuza Vellozia