Animals and plants of the savannah

The life of the entire savanna is directly dependent on its weather. It at each drought loses its brightness, turning into a sea of sultry despondency and dried grass. In this case, for a few days of rain, nature becomes completely unrecognizable. This article will examine the most common plants of the savannah of Africa.

Description

Savannahs occur in places where the dry period lasts up to 8 months per year. The powerful bark of very thick, low tree trunks can sometimes reach 30 millimeters or more. It prevents rapid loss of moisture, and also protects plants from fire. With frequent fires, savanna plants practically do not suffer, only the bark is charred. Aboveground organs of bushes burn out in 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 umbellate or discoid crowns.

Plants and animals of savannah experience drought and in another way - they store water. So, the trees that have learned to do this on their own, differ in an interesting shape: very thick branches and trunks, and also fleshy leaves. These organs are reservoirs in which plants conserve moisture, so necessary for them in such harsh conditions.

Cereals

Considering the grassy plants of the savannah of Africa, it is worth noting elephant grass. It got its name due to the fact that elephants like to regale its shoots. In those places in which the Doges season is longer, the height of the grasses reaches three meters. The terrestrial part of the shoot in the drought dries up and is often completely destroyed by fires, while the underground part is preserved, giving a new life after the rains.

Acacia savannah

In Africa, acacia savannahs are also often found. Basically it is whitish, Senegalese, acacia giraffe. Due to its crown, having a flattened shape, the tree became known as umbellate. Adhesives contained in the bark are widely used in industry, with wood being used to create expensive quality furniture.

Baobab

Continuing to talk about plants of the savannah, it must be said that her business card is baobab. The tree reaches a height of 25 meters, has a thick trunk (in diameter up to 10 meters), and a sprawling huge crown. Not so long ago in Africa was found a baobab-giant with a trunk diameter of 44 meters, in addition, a height of 189 meters. Such plants of the savannah are long-lived, at some age reaches 5000 years. Baobab blooms for several months, with each flower living only one night. They are pollinated by bats.

Oil palm

Plants of the savanna are quite diverse. Among them there is an oil palm tree. This plant has a life expectancy of 120 years. It is worth mentioning that the flesh of its fruits contains about 70% of the oil used in soap making. When notching the inflorescence, the juice used to make the wine is obtained.

Features of wildlife

Plants and savanna animals are always interconnected. The aforementioned vegetable diversity is the food for the majority of herbivores. Most of them are antelopes:

• Oryx;
• Blue wildebeest;
• Congonies.

Near the wildebeest you can always see the herds of Grant and Thompson gazelles and zebras. All herbivores are excellent prey for various predators. Cheetahs, lions, hyenas and leopards maintain a balance by being on top of this food chain.

On different continents, savannahs differ in their floral composition, but are united by the similarity of some features: the presence of the main grassy layer with an abundance of xerophilous cereals, as well as the upper rare layer of trees and shrubs that grow singly or in small groups.