Re: drought tolerant shade plants

Thanks to everyone for their responses. I now realize my question wasn't phrased properly. I was looking for an explanation of the situation--why there aren't many plants naturally living in dry shade-- as opposed to a list of drought tolerant plants--though I ain't complaining, I got some fabulous lists.

I thought some folks on this list might be interested in the response I got from botanist Martin Grantham:

First I'd think there are some energetic constraints involved. You've got to have light, CO2, and water to make a living as a plant. In a shady & wet environment light is limited for photosynthesis, but the plant is primed with water to maximize photosynthesis whenever light is available. In a bright & dry environment water is limited for photosynthesis, but light will be available with any water that comes the plant's way. In dry shade two of the things necessary for photosynthesis are generally lacking: both light and water. That would make a plant's energy economy likely to be much tighter. Fewer plants might be expected to have the extreme frugality necessary.
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