poikilohydry

noun1

1. •
   The condition of being poikilohydric; the lack of structural or functional mechanisms to actively regulate the equilibrium between the concentration of water in cell tissue and that in the environment.

   • Poikilohydry occurs in such organisms as lichens and bryophytes, which lack mechanisms such as waterproofing cuticles or stomata that can help resist desiccation.
   • Frequently, poikilohydry is coupled with the capacity to tolerate dehydration or low water content of cell tissue and to recover from it without physiological damage.