Desert vegetation typically is low and widely spaced. Generally, desert plants survive either by escaping or enduring the arid conditions. Succulents, such as American cacti and agaves, succeed because of their ability to store water. Shallow, widespread roots, often with special rootlets, quickly absorb rainwater. Cacti typically are leafless and spiny and have a thick, waxy cuticle and sunken stomata that close by day to conserve water.