The life of the entire savannah is directly dependent on its weather. With every drought, it loses its brightness, turning into a sea of sultry gloom and dried grass. Moreover, in a few days of rain, nature becomes completely unrecognizable. This article will cover the most common African savannah plants.
Description
Savannahs are found in places where the dry period lasts up to 8 months per year. The thick bark of very thick, short tree trunks can sometimes reach 30 millimeters or more. It prevents the rapid loss of moisture, and also protects plants from fire. With frequent fires, savannah plants practically do not suffer, only the bark is charred. The aboveground organs of the bushes burn out during fires, and sleeping buds located near the surface of the soil form new shoots, thus rising from the ashes. The second feature of trees is their flattened umbrella-shaped or disk-shaped crowns.
Plants and animals of the savannah survive drought and in another way - store water. So, trees that have learned to do this on their own have an interesting appearance: very thick branches and trunks, as well as fleshy leaves. These organs are reservoirs in which plants conserve moisture, which is so necessary for them in such harsh conditions.
Cereals
Considering the grass plants of the savannah of Africa, it is worth highlighting elephant grass. It got its name due to the fact that elephants love to feast on its shoots. In places where the Doge season is longer, the height of the grass reaches three meters. The ground part of the escape to drought dries up and very often completely destroyed by fires, while the underground part is preserved, giving them a new life after rains.
Acacia savannah
Acacia savannas are also often found in Africa. This is mainly whitish, Senegalese, acacia giraffe. Due to its flattened crown, the tree became known as umbrella-shaped. The adhesives contained in the bark are widely used in industry, while wood is used to create expensive high-quality furniture.
Baobab
Continuing to talk about savannah plants, it must be said that baobab is its hallmark . The tree reaches a height of 25 meters, has a thick trunk (in diameter up to 10 meters), as well as a huge spreading crown. Not so long ago, a baobab giant with a trunk diameter of 44 meters was discovered in Africa, in addition, 189 meters high. Such savannah plants are long-livers; in some, the age reaches 5,000 years. Baobab blooms for several months, with each flower living only one night. They are pollinated by bats.
Oil palm
Savannah plants are quite diverse. Among them there is an oil palm. This plant has a lifespan of up to 120 years. It is worth mentioning that the pulp of its fruits contains about 70% of the oil used in soap making. When notching the inflorescences get the juice used for making wine.
Features of the animal world
The plants and animals of the savannah are always interconnected. The plant diversity listed above is the feed for the majority of herbivores. The bulk of them are antelopes:
- oryx;
- blue wildebeest ;
- Congongi.
Near the wildebeest you can always see herds of gazelles Grant and Thompson and zebras. All herbivores are excellent prey for various predators. Cheetahs, lions, hyenas and leopards maintain balance by being at the top of this food chain.
On different continents, savannahs differ in their floristic composition, but are united by the similarity of some features: the presence of the main grass layer with an abundance of xerophilous cereals, as well as the upper rare layer of trees and shrubs that grow individually or in small groups.