Xerophytes are plants growing in a water-scarce environment. These plants show numerous adaptations to survive in a drought situation. They resist the drought conditions by conserving or storing water (succulents) and tolerate high temperatures through desiccation of the tissues by shutting down the metabolic activities.
A good example of xerophytes is the cactus. These plants are capable of tolerating long periods of dry conditions by having deep-spreading roots and the capacity to store water with waxy, thorny leaves and fleshy stems.
The ephemerals are not true xerophytes because they are drought escaping in nature means they are transitory or quickly fading, e.g., Euphorbia, Boerhaavia, Tribulus terrestrial, etc.