Plants:
A Savanna is grassland with scattered individual trees. There are very few dense groupings of trees and shrubs, in part because of the regularly occurring fires that break out throughout the dry season, when most ground plants are dried and void of moisture. These fires are often started by both lightening and man. It serves to clean up the underbrush and promotes new fresh grass growth while returning nutrients to the earth and doing very little damage to most of the trees, since many trees have developed thick bark to protect against fire.
Consequently, a few specific types of trees have adapted to these conditions of short periods of heavy rains, followed by drought and then fire.
Diversity of plant life and ecosystem decomposition:
Diversity of plant species is considerably less in savanna than in the biomes like rain forests, but the savanna’s species are characterized by their high density. All savannas are characterized by both a dry and a wet season. The wet season encourages new grass growth, but because the rainfall is not consistent year round, grasses, trees and plants in general are hindered in their ability to live and grow in the savanna. Consequently there are fewer species of plants, but they tend to be very dense. However, because some plants thrive more in a wet environment, while others prefer a dry environment, there is a somewhat diverse mixture of plants in the savanna environment.
As in most environments, the fungi and bacteria inhabiting the soil ultimately reduce the remains further and finish the decomposition process. There are also some unique relationships between plants and animals, such as a particular tree that will grow only on the remains of termite mounds, due to the unique composition of the soil. Termites and other insects are also excellent decomposers when it comes to their effectiveness at reducing vegetation.
Plant adaptations: The following is a listing and description of a sampling of those plants specially adapted to the African savanna.
*Many plants have developed long taproots to reach down to water. Some kinds of trees have thick
fire resistant bark and trunks that can store water.
*Toward the end of the dry season, many trees may lose their leaves to reduce transpirational loss of water, even though the leafless branches of some species carry open flowers.
*In the dry season the grasses develop an adaptation that allows them to grow fast during times of rain when there is an ample amount of water. But when water becomes scarce they turn brown to limit water loss.
*The grasses have adaptations that discourage animals from grazing on them; some grasses are too sharp or bitter tasting for some animals, but not others, to eat.
Disease: Plant diseases destroy many thousands of acres of crops, trees and grass land every year in
the African savanna. This leads to the starvation deaths of many people and animals.
A Savanna is grassland with scattered individual trees. There are very few dense groupings of trees and shrubs, in part because of the regularly occurring fires that break out throughout the dry season, when most ground plants are dried and void of moisture. These fires are often started by both lightening and man. It serves to clean up the underbrush and promotes new fresh grass growth while returning nutrients to the earth and doing very little damage to most of the trees, since many trees have developed thick bark to protect against fire.
Consequently, a few specific types of trees have adapted to these conditions of short periods of heavy rains, followed by drought and then fire.
Diversity of plant life and ecosystem decomposition:
Diversity of plant species is considerably less in savanna than in the biomes like rain forests, but the savanna’s species are characterized by their high density. All savannas are characterized by both a dry and a wet season. The wet season encourages new grass growth, but because the rainfall is not consistent year round, grasses, trees and plants in general are hindered in their ability to live and grow in the savanna. Consequently there are fewer species of plants, but they tend to be very dense. However, because some plants thrive more in a wet environment, while others prefer a dry environment, there is a somewhat diverse mixture of plants in the savanna environment.
As in most environments, the fungi and bacteria inhabiting the soil ultimately reduce the remains further and finish the decomposition process. There are also some unique relationships between plants and animals, such as a particular tree that will grow only on the remains of termite mounds, due to the unique composition of the soil. Termites and other insects are also excellent decomposers when it comes to their effectiveness at reducing vegetation.
Plant adaptations: The following is a listing and description of a sampling of those plants specially adapted to the African savanna.
*Many plants have developed long taproots to reach down to water. Some kinds of trees have thick
fire resistant bark and trunks that can store water.
*Toward the end of the dry season, many trees may lose their leaves to reduce transpirational loss of water, even though the leafless branches of some species carry open flowers.
*In the dry season the grasses develop an adaptation that allows them to grow fast during times of rain when there is an ample amount of water. But when water becomes scarce they turn brown to limit water loss.
*The grasses have adaptations that discourage animals from grazing on them; some grasses are too sharp or bitter tasting for some animals, but not others, to eat.
Disease: Plant diseases destroy many thousands of acres of crops, trees and grass land every year in
the African savanna. This leads to the starvation deaths of many people and animals.
Typical vegetation profile of savanna vegetation.
* Note the long tap roots of the trees that enable them to reach deep water during periods of drought.
*Note also that even the grasses have longer roots that enable them to quickly revive and regrow even after they dry out and appear to die or get burned up by fire.
Since the typical soil found in the savanna is porous and does not hold water long, these plant root adaptations are necessary to help the plants to survive the dry seasons.
* Note the long tap roots of the trees that enable them to reach deep water during periods of drought.
*Note also that even the grasses have longer roots that enable them to quickly revive and regrow even after they dry out and appear to die or get burned up by fire.
Since the typical soil found in the savanna is porous and does not hold water long, these plant root adaptations are necessary to help the plants to survive the dry seasons.
Trees: These specific types of plants are typical of the types of plants that can be found in savannas around the world.
Umbrella Thorn Acacia tree:
One of the most recognizable trees of the African savanna, it grows in sand dunes and rocky grounds of Africa's grasslands. Acacia's grow in areas with annual rainfall as low as 4 cm.
** This tree can survive in 122° F temperatures during the day, and freezing temperatures at nights.
One of the most recognizable trees of the African savanna, it grows in sand dunes and rocky grounds of Africa's grasslands. Acacia's grow in areas with annual rainfall as low as 4 cm.
** This tree can survive in 122° F temperatures during the day, and freezing temperatures at nights.
Boabab tree
These trees can store thousands of gallons of water within its trunk in order to survive the dry season.
These trees can store thousands of gallons of water within its trunk in order to survive the dry season.
Mopane tree
This is a very common tree in Africa. Its wood is extremely hard and it is very resistant to termites. People use its wood for many things.
This is a very common tree in Africa. Its wood is extremely hard and it is very resistant to termites. People use its wood for many things.
Grasses: The African savanna is dominated by 3-6 feet tall grass, although sparse
distribution of trees does occur in certain areas. Some fire-resistant
and drought-resistant trees are also present. The following grasses are typical of what would be found in the African savanna.
Bermuda Grass
is one of the most sun loving warm season grasses. It will turn brown at the first dip in temperature, this helps prevent moisture loss during dry periods.
is one of the most sun loving warm season grasses. It will turn brown at the first dip in temperature, this helps prevent moisture loss during dry periods.