What plants are native to Africa. Amazing facts about Africa

The article contains information about plants characteristic of this territory. Gives examples of endangered species of plants and animals. Indicates the areas of application of the gifts of nature.

Plants of Africa

The African continent ranks second in the world in terms of area and population. Thanks to the variable climate, a variety of plant species grow here.

The vegetation of Africa is quite diverse. This is influenced by the presence of various climatic zones. In the zone subequatorial belt The presence of many exotic plant species is noted. In the savanna area, the advantage is given to such thorny bushes as:

• terminalia;
• acacia;
• varieties of low growing trees.

Features of the continent's flora

The flora of the deserts of Africa is sparse. It consists of grasses and dotted areas covered with shrubs and trees in oases.

On the territory of rare oases of the Sahara, the unique Erg Chebbi date palm grows.

In the depressions you can find halophytic plants that are resistant to salt.

TOP 4 articleswho are reading along with this

Rice. 1. Halophytic plants.

Over time, the vegetation of desert areas has adapted to irregular rainfall and frequent droughts. This is indicated by diversity physiological characteristics, which can be boasted by plants that live only on these land areas.

In the mountainous regions of the desert you can find many endemic species. The Sahara Mountains are home to acacias, tamarisks, wormwood, ephedra, doum palm, oleander, thyme and palmate dates. People living in the oases have adapted to successfully grow figs, olives, many types of fruit and citrus trees, as well as a variety of vegetable crops.

Rice. 2. Oleander.

A unique desert plant, Velvichia, whose growth period exceeds more than a thousand years, grows two huge leaves. Their length is over 3 m. They grow thanks to dew and fog, since these are the only sources of life-giving moisture among the desert expanses.

IN equatorial belt continent has preserved the most significant forest areas in the world tropical zones, which may soon disappear forever.

Rice. 3. Velvichia and acacia.

Some representatives of the flora are under threat of complete extinction. An example is the baobab tree. These trees are the most ancient representatives flora continent. Some trees are over three thousand years old. Baobab tree trunks are used as natural water storage containers. The ebony tree is also in danger of becoming extinct. Its wood is quite heavy. It is highly valued among the indigenous inhabitants.

The flora of Africa has its own symbol - acacia.

The trees are adapted to hot and dry climates. They grow in most of the black continent. Often, acacia leaves are the only greenery that animals can eat. Many animals African savannah are among the species inhabiting the Red Book. Endangered species include cheetahs and African lions. Due to climate change, individuals of this biological species threatened by habitat loss.

Africa is home to many varieties of aloe species. These plants are quite juicy with sweet nectar. Nectar serves as bait for a large number of birds. Aloe juice is used in medicinal production and cosmetology.

Plants in southern Africa are the most widely studied. The flora of the central and northern parts of the continent is less known.

The desert biome is the driest of Africa's biomes and is considered one of the driest places on Earth. The largest desert region is the Sahara, in northern Africa. It is located from the west coast of Africa to Arabian Peninsula and is part of the world's largest desert system, which extends into southern Central Asia.

The smaller desert region of southern Africa includes the Namib Desert, located along the western half of southern Africa, especially near the coast, and the Kalahari Desert, which lies mostly inland and east of the Namib Desert.

Where there is more moisture, pastures predominate, and with increasing rainfall, the meadows gradually turn into tropical savannas. The difference between grassland and savanna is subjective, but is determined in part by tree growth, with large quantity trees characterizes the savanna. Grassland Biome / tropical savannah forms a wide stripe on larger territory central Africa and dominates the eastern and southern parts mainland.

Rainforests occupy a much smaller portion of Africa than the other two biomes. They are most common in parts of central Africa where there is no dominant grassland/tropical savanna biome, and are found close to the coast of central West Africa. Scattered areas tropical forests also found along the main river systems West Africa, from the equator almost to the southern part of the continent.

Tropical deserts of Africa

The Sahara and Namib deserts are dominated by sand dunes or rock formations, but most deserts have a noticeable amount of plant cover.

The Sahara is characterized by widespread plant species that occur in similar habitats. The deserts of southern Africa have more distinctive flora, and many species are endemic to specific local areas.

Mesembryanthemum

To survive in harsh desert climate plants use several adaptations. Mesembryanthemum is a genus of flowering plants, widespread in all African deserts. These plants usually have thick, succulent leaves.

These succulents store water in their leaves or stems. Most plants open their stomata (small holes in the leaves) during the day to receive carbon dioxide from the surrounding air.

This will lead to big losses water in desert environment, which is why succulents open their stomata at night. Through a biochemical process, they store carbon dioxide until the next day, when it is released inside the plant, so can occur without opening the stomata.

Barnyard grass

To prevent water loss, many succulents have no leaves at all. Barnyard grass ( Anabasis articulata), found in the Sahara Desert, is a naked succulent with articulated stems.

spurge spurge

Euphorbia-thorn ( Euphorbia echinus) another Saharan plant, has succulent, comb-like stems with thorns. This evergreen shrub reaches 1 m in height. Its stems are branched and covered with short white spines.

Water dependent desert plants

Water-dependent plants are limited to areas near a permanent water source such as a river, lake, or stream.

Date palm

Date palm trees usually reach a height of 21-23 meters. The leaves are 4-6 meters long, with spines on the petiole. The fruit of this tree is the date.

Tamarinds and acacia trees are common where water is available. A variety of different sedges and rushes are found wherever there are abundant constants, the best known of which is the reed.

Desert Ephemera

Annual plants whose seeds germinate when moisture becomes available and quickly mature, leave their seeds and die are called ephemeral. These plants make up a significant part of the African desert flora.

Most ephemeral plants are herbs. Ephemera are entirely dependent on seasonal or sporadic rainfall. Within a few days of significant rainfall, the desert turns bright green, and after a few more days flowers appear, often in abundance.

cushion plant

Some ephemerals germinate with astonishing speed, such as cushion plants, which germinate and produce actively photosynthetic seed leaves within 10 hours of being wetted.

Savannah

Are situated in . They are covered with herbaceous vegetation, but trees and shrubs grow chaotically. The most common type of savanna in Africa is savanna-woodland, consisting of tall, moisture-loving grasses and tall, deciduous or semi-deciduous trees that are unevenly distributed.

Savannah grasses

Grasses make up most of the plant cover under and between trees. In some types of savanna, grass can be taller than 1.8 m. Despite much debate, two factors seem to perpetuate the dominance of grasses: seasonal wetness with long intervening dry periods and periodic fires.

Given the excess moisture and lack of fire, savannas seem inevitably to become forests. Human activities, such as grazing or cutting down trees, contribute to the dominance of grasses.

Various varieties of grasses exist in the savanna, but it is difficult to distinguish them except during flowering periods. Many grow best immediately after a fire, when exposed to sun and potential pollinators.

Savannah trees and shrubs

African savanna trees often have relatively wide branches that end at approximately the same height, giving the trees peculiar look. Many of them belong to the legume family, namely Brachystegia, Julbernardia and Isoberlinia.

There is especially a large number of acacia species, from shrubs to trees, many of which have thorns. Some also have a symbiotic relationship with ants, which protects them from herbivores.

Baobab

Baobab is famous for its large sizes, unusual appearance and is found in many regions of the savannah. The tree has an extremely thick trunk with smooth, gray bark. The baobab tree can live for two thousand years.

Tropical evergreen rainforests

The main characteristics of African tropical rainforests are their extremely lush growth, high species diversity and complex structure. The diversity is often so great that one tree species cannot be identified as dominant within an area.

Relatively large trees such as ironwood, iroko and sapele predominate. Forest trees grow so close that their crowns overlap each other, forming a canopy that limits the amount of light falling underneath them. Several large trees, called emergent trees, emerge above the thick canopy.

A layer of smaller trees grows beneath the main canopy. A few small shrubs and grasses grow near ground level, but most herbaceous plants and other perennials are epiphytes, growing on other plants.

Almost every accessible location, trunks and branches of trees have epiphytes that create a unique. All this dense plant growth is maintained monsoon climate, in which more than 1500 mm of precipitation falls annually, most of it occurs in the summer.

Lianas

Vines are large, woody vines that cling to trees, and many of them hang to the ground. They were made famous in the Tarzan films. The fruits are eaten by birds or monkeys and the seeds are deposited in their feces on branches high in the canopy. The seeds germinate and the stem heads down towards the ground. Once the stem reaches the ground, it forms a root system; additional stems then develop and grow upward along the tree trunk.

Strangler ficus

After many years, the strangler ficus can entwine the tree so thoroughly that it does not allow water and nutrients get to your "victim". Eventually, the host tree dies and rots, leaving a hollow trunk.

Epiphytes

Epiphytes are plants that grow or are permanently attached to other plants - phorophytes.

Mosses or Bryophytes

The most common epiphytes are bryophytes - lower plants associated with mosses and lichens, a symbiotic combination of algae (or cyanobacteria) and fungus.

Ferns

The most numerous higher plants are ferns and orchids. As these plants colonize tree branches, they gradually trap dust and decaying materials, eventually creating a thin layer of soil that other plants can use.

Grasses are almost completely absent from the forest floor of the African rainforest; those that grow there have much wider leaves than usual. Some forest floor grasses are capable of growing in deep shade under canopy, sometimes so adapted to low light that they can be damaged when exposed to direct sunlight.

Some of the popular indoor plants descended from them, so they don't need intense sunlight, to survive. Nevertheless greatest number plants grow under breaks in the canopy, where more light penetrates.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

Africa is one of the largest continents on the planet, second in size only to Eurasia. It is equally divided by the equator, stretching from the tropics in the north to the tropics in the south. Only on the outskirts of the mainland are the subtropics slightly “clung”.

Africa is probably the last continent on the planet where there is still an untouched wild nature. It's tough here harsh conditions survival, strong, dangerous animals live here. There are a large number of unusual plants that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Today we will talk to you about plants growing in Africa, interesting African plants and unusual ones. We will learn about plants that benefit humans, as well as those that are no less dangerous than predatory animals:

Plants with unusual properties

Bottle tree:

The name of this tree speaks for itself. It very much resembles a pot-bellied bottle. A large volume of rainwater accumulates between the bark and wood of the lower part of the trunk. middle part plays the role of a reservoir containing healthy, nutritious sweetish juice. It is thick and very jelly-like.

Bottle tree water is actively used by local residents, and the sweetish juice is one of their favorite delicacies. Well, the leaves of this tree themselves are excellent food for livestock. Residents make fiber from the bark and weave fabrics.

Sinsepalum:

This plant is native to West Africa. Sinsepalum berries have an amazing property. Eating them before meals adds flavor sweet food bitter, and makes bitter or sour food sweet. Therefore, before drinking palm wine, which has a sour taste, the natives eat several sinsepalum berries to improve the taste.

Carnivorous plants

Nepenthes:

This unusual liana grows in Madagascar. Its long flexible branches reach a length of 10-15 meters and are covered with leaves. Appearance These leaves resemble pitchers that serve as live traps for small animals. Inside the jugs, a sticky liquid is produced that traps a mouse, lizard or frog that gets inside.

Genlisey:

This is a low, modest-looking grass on which large, unusual shape, yellow flowers. This spectacle is overshadowed only by the fact that long flowers are nothing more than a trap for insects. In addition, Genlisea has underground leaves, with the help of which the carnivorous plant lures and then digests insects and small animals living in the soil.

Pemphigus:

This plant loves water very much. Therefore it grows on wet soils or directly to fresh water. This predatory plant is interesting because it has a bubble trap. In most species of this plant, the traps are very small and only catch small, protozoa. However, some species have traps of larger diameter (0.2 to 1.2 cm). They can already catch even water fleas and tadpoles that get there along with the water.

“Peaceful” plants that are useful to people

Dish pumpkin:

When talking about interesting and unusual plants growing in Africa, one cannot fail to mention the gourd or gourd. When it ripens, the flesh of the vegetable dries out greatly, and the dense peel becomes hard as a stone. Local residents use these ripened pumpkins as hollow vessels for water or bulk products. At the same time, people have learned to change their shape using special clamps where the developing ovary is placed.

As a result, you can get deep dishes, jugs, as well as flat plates and trays. Spoons, toys, smoking pipes, snuff boxes and various souvenirs are carved from the hard shell of the dish gourd.

Pumpkin - luffa:

Wonderful washcloths are made from the fruits of another type of pumpkin - luffa. The fibers of the fruit are woven into fiber and then made into hats, swim shoes, and other people need products.

Madagascar liana:

The vines of this plant play a large role in the economy of some tribes that use them in their farming. The branches of the plant are very flexible, elastic and durable. Therefore, they are used as ropes, weaving baskets and mats.

The Madagascar vine secretes a substance that repels ants and insects, which damage everything made of wood. Therefore, the branches of this plant are used in the construction of houses. Well, and the large vine pods, if their halves are opened, better than any tiles will protect the building from rain.

Africa – amazing continent, captivating natural charm and naturalness. Many scientists consider it the cradle of civilization. After all, it is on this mainland Human civilization began to develop. Open slightly unusual world, which the mainland lives in, will be helped by a selection that presents all the most amazing things about Africa.

Interesting facts about the local population

Africa is home to 16% of the world's population. Of these, experts identify about 3 thousand. ethnic groups. The second largest continent on the planet has 54 countries.

Among the 2 thousand languages ​​spoken on this continent, the most common is Arabic.

Not everyone knows the amazing fact about Africa that the smallest people on the planet live on its lands. The Negrilli are a group of short peoples better known as Pygmies. The height of adult men of a special race varies between 125-150 cm. The growth limiter in pygmies starts during the period of intrauterine development. Children are initially born vertically challenged and grow much slower than Europeans.

At the same time, it is quite remarkable that among black residents of other African countries there are many tall people. The tallest people in the world are representatives of the Nilotes. Their average height is 184 cm.

This continent has the lowest life expectancy. Men live on average 50 years, and women even less - 48 years. Among total number 90% of malaria cases in the world occur in the inhabitants of this continent. About 3 thousand African children die from this disease every year. The number of HIV-infected people living in the southern part of the Sahara is estimated in the hundreds of thousands.

Attractive countries of the continent for tourists

Africa is considered both the poorest and the richest on the planet. The lowest level of well-being is noted here. At the same time, on the mainland there are lands with stunning flora and fauna, the depths of which are rich in such precious metals and stones as gold, emerald, diamond, garnet, tanzanite, amethyst, ruby.

The most populous country is Nigeria. Egypt ranks second in terms of population and attractiveness for tourists. The list of peaceful and safe countries for tourists also includes: Botswana, Ghana, Namibia, Cape Verde, Zimbabwe.

It is in Africa that you can see the only surviving wonder of the world - the Pyramids of Cheops. But few people know an amazing fact about Africa that the pyramids were built not only on the lands of Egypt. In Sudan, the number of “desert temples” reaches 223. True, the dimensions are several times smaller.

Some of the most amazing countries in Africa include:

1. Kenya. The equator line runs through the lands of this state. The country is interesting for tourists because it provides the opportunity to witness with their own eyes the great migration of animals, including representatives of the “African Big Five”: buffalo, rhinoceroses, elephants, leopards and lions. Those who like to study the characteristics of the cultures of different nationalities can get acquainted with tribes that have preserved traditional lifestyle: Meru, Samburu, Maasai.
2. Uganda. The pearl of the continent is located in the fault zone earth's crust. It is famous for its amazing and diverse nature. Natural attractions that are popular among locals and visitors are: Kabarega waterfall, mountain river The White Nile, as well as the picturesque lakes Edward, Kyoga, Victoria, Alberta. On state protected natural parks In Uganda, you can find representatives of the fauna of endangered species, including mountain gorillas.
3. Tanzania. This country is attractive due to its pristine jungle. Tourists come here in an effort to admire exotic animals during a safari. In Tanzania there is the legendary Kilimanjaro volcano and a crater formed at the bottom salt Lake Ngoro-Ngoro.

But still, most of the countries of the mainland belong to the number of third world countries that are still on the path of development. For an ordinary tourist, visiting them can be associated with a risk to life.

Breathtaking nature spots

Because Africa is crossed by the center line earth's surface and the prime meridian, it is rightfully considered the hottest and most symmetrical among all continents. The area of ​​the mainland is 29.2 million sq. km. And four-fifths of it was consumed rainforests and deserts.

One of the amazing facts about Africa is that the Sahara is the most big desert not only on the scale of the continent, but throughout the entire planet. It accounts for 30% of the area of ​​the entire continent. The area of ​​this uninhabited expanse of earth is greater than general territory USA. At the same time, the Sahara continues to expand. Every year it increases in size, expanding its borders to 10 km. In the middle of the Sahara there are lakes with salt water. But their life-giving moisture is not able to quench thirst.

Amazing natural attractions of Africa:

• Nile– the river, with a length of 6850 km, is considered the longest on the planet.
• Victoria is a freshwater lake whose impressive size makes it the second largest on Earth.
• Ink Lake- a natural phenomenon. Instead of clear water it contains ink that is created naturally, but is poisonous to living organisms.
• "Roaring Smoke"- the grandiose Victoria Falls, over 100 m high and almost 1000 m long, the noise from the falling streams in which spreads over 40 km in the area.
• Oh Doinio Legai– a volcano that erupts black natrocarbonate lava and is rightfully considered the coldest in the world.

On the mainland they grow very amazing trees. For example: soap, the fruits and leaves of which are soapy, or candle, the elongated seeds of which contain a high concentration of oils. Dairy, sausage and breadfruit trees also grow here.

Lives in desert lands big number rare animals: elephants, bongos, giraffes, rhinoceroses, cheetahs, gazelles, zebras, hippos, lions, okapi, aardvarks. Some species are not found anywhere else in the world.

The most dangerous African animals are hippos. Previously, they were widespread throughout the territory. Today, hippos live only in the southern part on the border with the Sahara. Therefore, they have been given the status of “rapidly declining species.” Despite this, some tribes continue to hunt prohibited animals.

Among the most amazing animals in Africa special attention rodents "naked mole rats" deserve skin who do not age and do not feel pain from exposure to fire and cuts. Lungfishes also live here, which are able to burrow into the ground during critical dry periods.

November 14, 2012, 10:39

Each type of tree is unique in its own way. There are about 100,000 various types trees, including a quarter of all living plant species on Earth. But among the billions of trees around the world, there are completely unique and amazing representatives. Baobabs


The majestic baobabs of Madagascar are very beautiful trees that can survive very severe drought. They grow mainly in Africa. These baobabs grow on the wonderful island of Socotra. bottle tree And this is a distant relative of the baobab, the Australian bottle tree. In Australia, in the driest areas in the north of Queensland, bottle trees grow, which, like baobabs, can store water in the trunk. They really look like a bottle. Only this “bottle” has two compartments. At the bottom of the trunk, between the bark and the wood, there is a reservoir that holds a significant amount of water. Another reservoir is placed in the middle part of the trunk - however, it does not contain water, but a large amount of sweetish, thick, jelly-like juice, very healthy and nutritious. These trees reach 15 meters in height and 1.8 meters in diameter. Bottle tree of Socotra Island.
also known as Desert Rose. Dragon Tree Dragon Tree in Icod de los Vinos in Tenerife, one of Canary Islands, is a unique representative of this species. It is believed to be between 650 and 1,500 years old, but experts find it difficult to make exact conclusions since it has more than one trunk. Rather, it consists of many small trunks that hold onto each other as they grow upward. The tree has a dense canopy of leaves and gets its name from the resin that is released when its bark and leaves are cut away. Residents believe that this is dried dragon blood and have been using it to treat various ailments since ancient times. Dragon trees on Socotra island. The branches of these trees expand towards the sky, and from below they resemble many flying saucers... From above, they look like huge mushrooms. The fact is that for the last 6 - 7 million years, the Socotra archipelago has been isolated from the African mainland, which could not but affect the development of its flora and fauna. Also among interesting plants Socotra - strange and extremely rare Cucumber Tree
This is a plant with prickly wrinkled leaves, spiky fruits similar to ordinary cucumbers and a thick trunk swollen with milky juice. The disproportion between the height and thickness of the trunk, as well as the scant foliage cover, give it a funny appearance. Some specimens do not exceed one and a half meters in height, and have a much larger diameter. Tree flask Its scientific name is moringa and it grows in Africa. When it rains, the jar tree can absorb and retain enormous amounts of water, so it often becomes pot-bellied. The flag tree can grow up to 6 meters in height. Spiny phagara
The unusual fagara tree is a resident of moist evergreen forests east coast South Africa and Transvaal. Its trunk is literally strewn with eight-centimeter cones with sharp spikes at the end, similar to short massive cow horns. The maximum diameter of the tree reaches half a meter, and the height sometimes exceeds 20 meters. African tulip tree One of the most beautifully flowering plants in the world is the African tulip tree or Spatodea campanulate. Collected in lush inflorescences, the flowers of this tree are orange-red in color and resemble tulip flowers in shape. The tulip tree reaches a height of 7 to 25 meters and is native to the tropical dry forests of Africa. The open, cup-shaped flowers retain moisture from dew rain, which attracts many species of birds, and the nectar is popular with birds. Another beautiful flowering tree Delonix royal
It has many more names, such as fire tree, fire tree, red flame, peacock flower and phoenix tail. Can be found everywhere tropical climate. But his homeland is Madagascar.
Jacaranda
His homeland is Brazil.
These tall, spreading trees, reaching 15 meters, are one of the favorite decorative elements of streets, squares and public gardens in Argentina and Buenos Aires. Rainbow eucalyptus This is the only species of eucalyptus native to the northern hemisphere. Motherland rainbow eucalyptus- Philippine Islands. In addition to the fact that eucalyptus grows up to 70 meters in height, it also shines with all the colors of the rainbow: its bark can be colored yellow, green, orange and even purple. Take a look at the photo, it seems as if this pattern was painted by some abstract artist, but in fact, this coloring of the rainbow eucalyptus was created by nature itself. The unusual phenomenon is explained by areas of the bark peeling off in different time. The different colors are indicators of the age of the bark: when recently shed, the outer bark will be a bright green color. Over time, the bark darkens and changes from blue to purple and then reaches maroon and orange. It turns out a kind of natural camouflage. Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines are the natural habitats of this tree. Record-breaking trees A giant sequoia named General Sherman grows in national park Sequoia in California. Its height is 83 meters, and its weight exceeds 6 tons. General Sherman is a very beautiful tree with huge history at 2200 years old. The chapel oak of Allouville-Bellefosse in France is considered one of the most beautiful oaks in the world. This is not only a tree, but also a structure, and religious monument. The tree chapel was built in 1669 after a lightning strike. Pando aspens in Utah grow in a colony that is unique in its kind. Each tree here is genetically identical; in fact, it is an integral living organism with an intertwined root system. Pando consists of 47,000 aspen trees growing on 107 acres. This is a unique natural formation, whose age exceeds 80,000 years!
One of the oldest living organisms on the planet is the Methuselah pine, which is almost 5 thousand years old.
The record holder for crown diameter is the Indian banyan tree. According to measurements in 1929, one of the banyan trees had a crown of 300 meters. Since then the tree has grown even more.
Banyan tree, Cambodia
The El Arboldel Tule cypress in Mexico is so thick that its trunk spans 58 meters - the thickest tree in the world.
There was a version that these were three trees woven together, but analysis showed that this was still one very beautiful specimen. Man-made masterpieces The next examples will be the creations of farmer Axel Erlandson. He shapes his trees accordingly to give each of them a special shape. Erlandson never told anyone how he achieved such forms, taking his secrets to the grave, and his trees were bought by a local millionaire and transplanted into an amusement park.