What vegetables grow in Africa. Rare plants of the world

Species pelargonium is a fairly large group of plants (about 230), divided into sections, or sections. At the moment, there are 15 such sections, and in each, plants are combined according to certain characteristics. If we compare representatives of different sections, we will find it difficult to believe that they belong to the same genus. Pelargonium species can be annual or perennial, herbaceous or woody shrubs, sometimes approaching trees in growth, evergreen or seasonally shedding their leaves. Some have tubers or are succulents, some are tree-like and some are creeping and creeping. The height of some reaches two meters, while others barely reach ten centimeters...

Not surprisingly, plant care is also different. And here knowledge about the belonging of pelargonium to a certain section will help.

Succulents of the Otidia section, which includes P. alternans, P. carnosum, P. ceratophyllum, P. laxum and others, have adapted to drought by storing nutrients and water in the fleshy stems. Small, narrow, dissected leaves also help retain moisture by reducing evaporation. The natural environment did not pamper them, so even in artificial conditions they are content with poor, well-drained soils with a small addition of clay and rare, preferably wick, watering. They do not grow quickly, but readily if kept warm and given plenty of light.

A rosette of leaves emerges directly from the ground. These are slow-growing pelargoniums with a long dormant period and are difficult to propagate. At the same time, the plants are very decorative, and the flowering of many species justifies the long wait for this joyful event.

In their natural habitat, they usually grow on sandy soils, so they choose a well-draining substrate, such as peat and sand.

Plants from the Hoarea section are very susceptible to excess water, especially during the dormant period, which we have in the summer. Dry pelargonium tubers begin to be watered in September-October, very carefully, in order to bring the plants out of dormancy. As the leaves grow, watering is increased. As soon as the leaves turn brown and begin to die, flowers will appear directly from the top of the tuber. This is a signal to gradually reduce watering. During the short growing season, plants need bright light; liquid fertilizers can be used in small quantities.

They are propagated by seeds or by separating daughter nodules after flowering. They bloom in winter, but for this they need a temperature of +16-17 degrees.

One of the easiest pelargonium species to cultivate is P. citronellum. Its leaves have a bright, refreshing lemon aroma. It grows best in full sun in regular store-bought soil or a mixture of peat, turf, leaf soil and sand. Water moderately. In partial shade, the foliage becomes more decorative, but the flowering is less abundant. Needs shaping.

Another favorite of mine, P. odoratissimum, is also easy to keep. It smells strong, its aroma is dominated by apple and hints of spices, mint, lemon, and rose can be heard.

I grew my P. odoratissimum from seed. In the photo she is a little over a year old. During flowering, the bush seems untidy due to its long flowering tendrils. But in summer, this feature allows you to keep the plant in a hanging basket in the fresh air. The plant is evergreen, perennial, does not require cool maintenance.

The leaves of the species P. grossularioides (section Peristera) have a subtle fruity odor with notes of coconut and peaches. In addition, this pelargonium has an ampel shape, which makes it popular in home collections.

Species pelargoniums are rarely bothered by pests and diseases. Blackleg remains almost the only disease that mainly affects rooting cuttings. It can be prevented by light soil (with a large proportion of vermiculite), low soil moisture, air temperature of about +20 degrees, and bright lighting.

All pelargonium species in the wild reproduce by seeds. But even in a small collection, it is difficult to protect plants from cross-pollination by insects and guarantee the purity of the species. Therefore, as a rule, either cuttings or underground nodules are taken from species pelargoniums. Cuttings are rooted in the same way as cuttings of pelargoniums of other groups. It is important that they are not lignified. The separated nodules are planted so that the place of their attachment to the mother roots is directed upward. They germinate for at least a month.

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 wild nature remains untouched by man. 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 fibers from the bark and weave fabrics.

Sinsepalum:

This plant is native to West Africa. Synsepalum berries have an amazing property. Eating them before meals makes sweet foods taste bitter, and bitter or sour foods taste 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 vine grows in Madagascar. Its long flexible branches reach a length of 10-15 meters and are covered with leaves. The appearance of these leaves resembles pitchers, which serve as a live trap 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 in moist soils or directly in 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 is an amazing continent where you can find many interesting and unusual plants. All of them, useful and not so useful, play an important role in the lives of people and nature. It is impossible to talk about everyone at once, and we will definitely return to our conversation next time.

Sumac (Rhus lancea L. f.), Sumac family (Anacardiaceae) - evergreen shrub or a tree up to 9 m high with dark brown bark and reddish branches. The leaflets of the compound leaves are narrow, dark above and pale green below. The flowers are small, yellowish-green, in elegant inflorescences. The fruit is round, with a large seed and a thin layer of pulp (beer is made from it, the berries are eaten by birds). The wood is heavy, reddish-brown, highly polished and processed. The plant is found in dry areas South Africa along river banks and in depressions.

Bottle tree, bumbo, Pachypodium Lila (Pachypodium lealiii Welcome. = P. giganteum Engl.), Kutrov family (Apocynaceae) - a shrub or tree up to 7.6 m tall, with a bottle-shaped trunk, widened at the base and narrowed towards the apex. Around the main one there are several lateral stems that branch at the apex. The bark is gray-green or light brown, often streaked with purple. The leaves are sessile, narrow-oblong, velvety, collected at the tops of the branches. The spines are purple, up to 1.5-3 cm long, usually arranged in pairs. The flowers, reminiscent of petunia flowers, are collected in clusters at the ends of the branches. It grows on dry rocky hills in the northern part of South-West Africa.

1 - Pachypodium namakwanii (Pachypodium namaquanum(Wyley ex Harv.) Welw.), Kutrov family (Apocynaceae) - a succulent tree up to 1.5-2 m in height, popularly called “ghost people”. It has a cylindrical, spiny, usually unbranched trunk. Grayish-green velvety leaves are crowded at the tops and quickly fall off. The crown is always inclined to the north (that is, towards the sun, since this plant southern hemisphere). It has a very strange shape. In early September, its crown is dotted with tubular reddish-brown flowers with the scent of jasmine. This plant is found on dry rocky hills near the river. Orange in Namaqualand and southwest Africa. It is under guard and a fine will be charged for damage. 2 - Succulent Impala lily, or adenium obese (Adenium obesum(Forsk) Roem. et Schult. var. multiflorum (Klotrsch) Codd), Family Apocynaceae - grows in tropical Africa: in the eastern and northern regions of the Transvaal, in the northern part of Zululand, in Kenya and Swaziland. This is a shrub about 1.2 m in height. The leaves are succulent, light green, fleshy, and sit in funnels at the ends of the branches. The flowers are large, white with pink or red fringe, appearing in winter, often on leafless branches. The fruit is paired, each part is pea-shaped, the juice of the fruit is used as poison for arrows. The plant is eaten by wild animals. The Impala lily has a tree-like form only in protected areas of northern Rhodesia. 3 - Baobab palmate, adansonia palmate, monkey breadfruit (Adansonia digitata L.), Baobab family (Bombacaceae) - a tree 10-25 cm in height with a powerful trunk, up to 12 m in diameter, and a huge crown. The leaves are large, palmately compound, falling during the dry season and turning green during the rainy season. The bark is very hard and smooth. Flowers up to 20 cm in diameter appear during the rainy season. The fruits are up to 40 cm long, look like a huge cucumber, with juicy pulp, mealy and sour, in which a mass of seeds is immersed. The wood is soft, light, porous, and there are no annual rings. Often during fires, huge hollows are formed in the tree (due to burning out of the core), but it continues to live. The roots grow hundreds of meters from the tree. Baobab is a typical tree of the African savanna. Due to its versatility, it is becoming rare, so it is recommended that it be protected in a number of countries in South Africa. The oldest specimens are preserved in the Kruger National Park.

Baobabs are characteristic of tropical countries, especially tropical America. There are 28 genera and about 190 species in the family. These are often very large trees with thick, barrel-shaped trunks. In thickened trunks, parenchyma tissue is highly developed, storing water, which allows the plant to tolerate severe droughts.

1 - Boswellia Cartera (Boswellia carteri Birdw.), Burseraceae family, is found in highlands in Somalia, but its numbers are declining every year due to the collection of valuable incense resin. The genus includes more than 20 species. These are low trees or shrubs with a shapeless, crooked trunk and weeping branches. Their leaves are feathery and hairy. The genus Encephalartos, Family Cycadaceae, is interesting for its ancient origin. It contains about 40 species. These are mainly low palm-shaped plants with a trunk 1-4, less often 8-15 m high; there are also stemless species. Their trunk is simple or branched from the base. The leaves are tough, with spiny-pointed segments and usually serrated on one or both edges. The local name is “breadfruit”: previously, the trunks were split and hardened pieces of resin were collected for food. The seeds resemble dates, with a hard core, a layer of juicy pulp and a hard, often brightly colored shell. In the past, many cycads were exported from Africa abroad or transferred to botanical gardens, parks, and private collections. Now all representatives of the genus are protected in Africa. 2 - Encephalartos Altenstein (Encephalartos altensteinii Lehm.) - a plant usually 2-4, less often 7 m high; adult specimens are found surrounded by lower, almost stemless offspring. During the pollination period, yellowish female and male strobili emit a peculiar strong aroma that attracts a lot of insects, especially beetles. Megastrobiles are 40-50 cm long, up to 30 cm wide, weighing up to 40 kg. Grows in southeast Africa. Widely distributed in botanical gardens. 3 - Encephalartos kaffir (Encephalartos caffer(Thunb.) Lehm.) - characterized by very slow growth, can live up to 500 years. Its habitat is small: it extends along the coast of the Indian Ocean in the Cape Province of South Africa from Port Elizabeth in the south and almost to Durban in the north. This plant has long been used as a food plant, but currently its reserves have decreased alarmingly due to the development of habitats for corn crops.

4 in Fig. top - Cyathea Drega, Drega tree fern, oriental tree fern (Cyathea dregei Kunze), Family Cyacheaceae - reaches a height of 5.5 m, has a strong, thick, unbranched trunk and an arched crown of very long, graceful, triple-dissected leaves, dark green above and light below. Found in South Africa (eastern Cape, Natal, eastern and central Transvaal) to tropical zone. It usually grows on plateaus, at an altitude of 350 m above sea level. seas, in the velds and on grassy slopes along streams. Protected in the Natal National Park, but protection is also required in the Transvaal.

2 - Encephalartos umbelusianus (Encephalartos umbeluziensis R.A. Dyer), Family Cycadaceae - quite small, less than 4 m in height. It has no trunk above the surface of the ground: thanks to the retracting action of its roots, the trunk goes into the ground as it grows, so that only the crown of leaves is visible above the surface, and the old leaf bases are on the underground part of the trunk. Grows in shady forests along the valleys of tributaries of the river. Mgulizi, from where it goes through the mountains to Mozambique. 3 - Encephalartos shaggy (Encephalartos villosus Lehm.) - distributed from the east of the Cape and Natal to Swaziland. This is also a stemless plant, differing from the previous species in longer and succulent leaves and significantly longer and thinner male cones. The genus Euphorbia is the most extensive in the Euphorbia family (Euphorbiaceae) - about 2 thousand species. It is well represented in Africa. Particularly interesting among plants of this genus are tree-like succulents, which give a unique appearance to the South African landscape. All succulent milkweeds are included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna. The Cape Province of South Africa is distinguished by a significant diversity of euphorbias. The rarest species are spurge bighorn (Euphorbia grandicornis Goebel.) ( 1 in Fig. left), spurge terrible (Euphorbia horrhida Boiss.)( 4 in Fig. left), spurge warty (Euphorbia mamillaris L.) ( 1 in Fig. down), spurge melon (Euphorbia meloformis) (2 in Fig. down), spurge plump (Euphorbia obesa Hook.) ( 4 in Fig. down), etc.

Euphorbia Cameroonian (Euphorbia cameronii N.E.Brown) is endangered. This is a succulent non-thorny shrub up to 3 m in height and 3.5 m in diameter, branches from the base and has a dense conical crown. The branches are cylindrical, 1.5-3 cm thick, with spirally arranged leaf scars. The leaves are terminal, fleshy, obovate. The flowers are small, yellowish-green, located at the tops of the branches. This milkweed is endemic to Somalia, known from 4-5 localities in the Golis Mountains region. Disappears under the influence of overgrazing and as a result of changes in living conditions. As a succulent shrub with succulent, fleshy branches, it can be eaten by livestock, mainly camels, but also sheep and goats. During drought, it is used as a source of moisture in arid regions. It grows mainly on rocky hills, but one locality is known on a sandy alluvial plain. 3 - A very rare species of the Cape Province is aloe variegated (Aloe variegata L.), whose numbers are declining as a result of the destruction of its habitats. Widely distributed in culture.

Lead tree or elephant tusk tree (Combretum imberbe Wawra), Combretaceae family - reaches a height of 21 m and a diameter of 1 m. Its wood is heavy, the dead tree stands with branches for a long time. The trunk is pale gray, sometimes almost white, and the bark cracks into small squares or rectangles, which is a characteristic feature of the tree. The main branches, almost white, are called "elephant tusks", young branches often ending in hard spines. The foliage is drooping (withered). The small, simple leaves are opposite, mounted on petioles, silver-gray, pale grayish-green or yellowish-green, covered below and sometimes above with tiny silvery, golden or reddish scales. Small yellow or cream flowers are collected in loose cylindrical spikelets, sitting in the axils of the leaves or at the ends of the branches. The fruit is massive, round, up to 1.9 cm in diameter, 4-winged, yellowish-green, the plant is characterized by slow growth, lives over 1000 years. Grows along rivers, in shrub velds in Zululand, Swaziland, Transvaal, southwest Africa. The leaves serve as food for many animals, the juice is used as food, and the wood, which burns very slowly and produces a lot of heat, serves as an excellent fuel. Africans consider the lead tree to be sacred, the ancestor of humans, domestic and wild animals.

1 - Burkea africa, wild Hevea (Burkea africana Hook.), family Legumes (Fabaceae) - a tree 4.5-8 (21) m in height, strongly branching almost from the base. The crown is flat, the branches are rough, the bark resembles crocodile skin, dark red. The leaves are drooping, sit at the ends of the branches in clusters, double- or triple-pinnate, young silvery, later dark greenish-blue, flowers pale yellow. Grows in tropical West Africa, usually on sand, in acacia savanna, in dry open shrub veld at an altitude of 600-1370 m above sea level. seas. 2 - African longleaf acacia (Peltophorum africanum Sond.), Rhodesian black acacia, Legume family (Fabaceae) - a wide-spreading tree up to 9 m in height. The trunk is often twisted or branched almost from the ground. The leaves are alternate, silver-gray, twice divided. A flower with bright yellow curving petals and a pubescent calyx. Flowers are borne in racemes, terminal inflorescences or leaf axils. The wood is reddish, medium weight, easy to polish and process, and is quite widely used. This acacia is found in Natal, Zululand, Swaziland, the northern and eastern parts of the Transvaal, Central tropical Africa, Botswana, southwest Africa, and Angola. Grows in sandy soils in dry scrubland and open savannas: it is a common plant of the Transvaal bushland. Population numbers are declining due to the development of territories for agriculture and the use of beans for livestock feed. This is one of the rain trees of Africa: in late spring, drops of water appear on the branches and fall, like rain, to the ground under the crown. A good garden tree: the seeds germinate quickly and are resistant to cold weather. 3 - Lonchocarpus capasian (Lonchocarpus capassa Rolfe), Legume family (Fabaceae) - a small tree 4.5-12 m in height. Parts of the trunk are devoid of branches to a considerable height. The bark is smooth, white or gray, sometimes cracks, revealing its creamy-yellow interior and red sap. The leaves are compound, gray-green. The flowers are small, fragrant, similar to pea flowers, blue or purple, with a velvety calyx, on large unbranched peduncles at the ends of the branches. The wood is yellowish; local residents use it to make dishes, canoes, and for medicinal purposes. The bark and roots are highly toxic and are used as fish poison. It is found in the bushes and lowland velds of Zululand, Swaziland, and the eastern and northern Transvaal. It also grows in the forests of the northeastern part of southwestern Africa, in Botswana, and further north in tropical Africa. A good garden tree, one of the rain or weeping trees of Africa.

4 in Fig. above - Xanthocercis zambezianis (Xanthocercis zambesiaca(Bak.) Dumaz-le-Grand), Legume Family (Fabaceae) – evergreen tree up to 18 m in height with very thick several trunks about 0.5 to 2.4 m in diameter (sometimes there is only one trunk). The branches “cry” at the ends. The leaves are alternate, with 5-12 alternate or opposite leaflets with a larger leaflet at the end. The flowers are small, white, with a grayish velvety calyx, collected in small clusters at the ends of the branches. The fruit is unusual for a legume - 2.5 cm long and 1.3 cm wide, with a smooth brown skin, it contains black seed in thin juicy pulp. The wood is white and heavy. It grows in lowland forests, on deep sands along rivers, in the hot, dry area between Soutpansberg and the river. Limpopo, in the northern part of the Kruger National Park, northern Botswana, Rhodesia and Zambia. Easily regenerated from seeds. Little known in culture.

The genus of aloe (family Liliaceae, Liliaceae) is widespread throughout the African continent, but tropical areas are especially rich in it. Aloe is a deciduous succulent, often tree-like, with highly branched trunks at the top, bearing bunches of fleshy leaves at the ends of succulent green branches. In the lower part, the trunks often become woody and covered with brown bark. There are about 240 species in the genus. All species are included in Appendix II of the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species.

1 - Aloe arborescens (Aloe arborescens Mill.) is a beautiful branched plant no more than 3.3 m high. The stems branch from the base, each of them ends in a rosette of leaves. The leaves are long, rather fleshy, green or gray-green, with serrated edges. The inflorescence is usually unbranched. The flowers are light scarlet, cylindrical, densely covering the peduncle. The pulp of the leaves is used as medicine. The species' range is quite wide; the plant is found in South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, Rhodesia and Malawi. This is one of the few aloes that have a significant altitudinal amplitude - distributed from sea level to mountain tops of 1829 m. It grows both in coastal bushes and on mountain slopes among stones. Widely cultivated. 2 - Aloe fibrous (Aloe fibrosa Lavranos et Newton) is a shrub with stems and branches up to 2.5 m in length and 3 cm in thickness. The leaves are lanceolate, sharp, sometimes with a bent back tip, bright green (turning brown in the sun), sometimes with spots. The inflorescence is simple or with 1-2 branches, about 100 cm in height, conical. The perianth is orange-red with yellow edges. It grows in Kenya on sandy soils and among gneiss rocks in woody savanna. Several species of aloe are endangered in the Cape Province - small-flowered (Aloe parviflora Baker) ( 3 in Fig. left), Pillanza (Aloe pillansii Guthrie), striped ( Aloe striatula Haw.), sessile-flowered (Aloe sessiliflora Ple Evans). 4 - Aloe multifolia, Aloe Lesotho (Aloe polyphylla Schonl ex Pillans) is a succulent perennial with a rounded rosette of 75-150 usually straight leaves up to 80 cm in diameter, arranged in a spiral. The leaves are very fleshy, ovate-oblong. Peduncle 50-60 cm in height, branching almost from the base, with flowers located at the tops of the branches. The flowers are pale red or pink, less often yellow. Endemic to Lesotho (South Africa), found on the ridge. Thaba Putsoa and to Maseru in the Drakensberg Mountains. This rare species is of great horticultural importance, but supplies have dwindled due to the digging up of plants for sale to gardeners. Currently, about 3,500 specimens are known. in about 50 places. The plant has disappeared from 12 previously known locations.

1 - Nubian dragon tree (Dracaena ombet Kotschy et Peyr.), Agave family (Liliaceae) - included in the IUCN Red List. This tree, 3-4 m in height, has an umbrella-shaped crown, consisting of strong branches that branch regularly after flowering and bearing at their tops dense bunches of thick sword-shaped leaves 40-70 cm long, broadly oval at the base. Numerous flowers are collected in cylindrical racemes. Flower with 6 white or pale pink narrow oblong-lanceolate perianth lobes. The berries are spherical, yellow. An ancient relic and one of the most remarkable plants of Djibouti, Ethiopia and Sudan (Eritrea and the Red Sea Hills), it is possible that it grows along the northern coast of Somalia. It is found in bush thickets on dry hills along sandstones or quartzite outcrops, at an altitude of 750-1200 m, together with candelabra-shaped tree Abyssinian spurge (Euphorbia abyssinica J.E. Gmelin) and various acacias. The vegetation of these hills suffers from overgrazing and is severely degraded. Some specimens of dracaena are preserved only on bare rocks; previously this species was a subdominant here. The number of dragon trees has also declined due to exploitation (extraction of sap, cutting for firewood, collection of fibrous leaves for the manufacture of various wicker products). In the past, the species was protected in Sudan in the area of ​​​​the Erkovit oasis, but now the vegetation there has changed so much that already in 1961 only dead trunks were found. The only way to preserve the Nubian dragon tree is by breeding it in botanical gardens. All dracaenas were used in Mediterranean countries as a medicinal and coloring agent, and in India for religious ceremonies. There are about 50 species in the genus, and they are also protected Uzumbara dragon tree (Dracaena usambarensis Engl.), known from a locality in northeastern Tongaland and widely distributed in tropical Africa. 2 - Acacia giraffe (Acacia giraffae Willd.), family Mimosa (Mimosaceae) - a tree up to 9 m in height in South Africa and up to 2 m in Botswana. It usually has a wide crown of dense, delicate foliage and a straight trunk with dark red bark. Young branches bear 2 spines at the base, the inflorescence is round yellow balls in bunches in the axils of the leaves. It is found in the deserts and savannas of South Africa - in the Central and Western Transvaal, west of the Orange Province, in Rhodesia and Angola, as well as in the south and southwest of Aforika, in Botswana. It grows very slowly, the oldest specimens are hundreds of years old. The seeds germinate poorly, the seedlings require light.

3 in Fig. top - Acacia Galpini, monkey thorn (Acacia galpini Burtt Davy), Family Mimosa (Mimosaceae) - a tree up to 82 m high, if you take into account the underground part of the trunk (usually the lower part is covered with silt over the centuries, it is possible that trees up to 120 m in height were known. The trunk circumference is 1 m above the ground reaches 23.2 m, and the diameter of the crown is 555 m, the height above the ground is usually 25 m. The branches are widely spreading, on the trunk and branches there are long curved spines, the foliage is light green. The wood is heavy, dense, with a darker middle part. grew along the banks of the Magalakwena River, a tributary of the Limpopo, in the north-west of the Transvaal. Currently, almost all the old trees have been destroyed by fires and hurricanes, but in some places in the Transvaal there are still trees up to 25 m in height.

4 in the rice above - Angrekum two-row (Angraecum distichum Ldl.), Orchid family (Orchidaceae) - found in western tropical Africa along with another orchid - Angrecum Eichler (Angraecum eichlerianum Kränzl.). This genus is very characteristic of Africa and the island of Madagascar and has 206 species. Most of them are epiphytes with leafy stems and highly developed aerial roots. Leaves are double-rowed, belt-shaped, flowers are solitary or in inflorescences. Many species have white flowers with a spur; they smell strongly at night, since they are pollinated by moths, the proboscis of which is equal to the length of the spur. Flowers of some species are used in making tea for their aroma.

1 - Chondropetalum akoki (Chondropetalum acockii Pillans), Family Restionaceae, is a rush-like perennial with creeping rhizomes and very thin, straight, unbranched stems 70 cm in height. Male inflorescences are in spreading panicles 5-10 cm long; Women's are similar to men's, but smaller. There are several known localities of this species in South Africa, in a very populated area between Cape Town and Mair over a distance of 45 km. The search for other populations in the remaining areas of relict vegetation was unsuccessful. It grows on poorly drained sands located on clays that retain moisture at an altitude of 100-300 m above sea level. seas. Four populations are known from areas of natural vegetation remaining in this developed area. The area of ​​each population is less than 2 hectares. 2 - Bulbophyllum barbella (Bulbophyllum barbigerum Ldl.), Orchid family (Orchidaceae) - found in West Africa. It has wide oval tubers 3 cm long with a single leaf. A peduncle up to 15 cm high bears 8-14 brownish-purple flowers. All species of this genus are epiphytes. Of interest is the original, very mobile lip of their flowers. 3 - Disa single-flowered (Disa uniflora Berg), Orchid family (Orchidaceae) is a very spectacular plant, the flowers are collected in inflorescences. There are about 80 species in the genus Disa, distributed in Africa, Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands. The Cape region is especially rich in them. Grows in damp and marshy places, in meadows. Genus Hyphene, Palma doum or fan palm has about 11 species, distributed in tropical Africa, Arabia and the Mascarene Islands. One species is found in South Africa and another in South West Africa and Botswana. Unlike all other palm trees, Hyphene has a branched crown. The leaves are fan-shaped, with xiphoid lobes, the fruits have a scaly skin. The juice of the fruit is used to make palm wine.

4 in Fig. top - Egyptian ginger palm (Hyphaene thebaica(L.) Maert.) almost disappeared from the face of the Earth. This tree is 10 m high with 3-4 branches, each of which ends in a bunch of fan-shaped leaves, flowers appear among them. In females, the flowers are replaced by large clusters of reddish, shiny, yellow-brown fruits (there are up to 200 of them in one cluster). The fruits are edible, their fibrous powdery husk tastes like gingerbread, but is very dry. In Upper Egypt, this palm is called the “dum palm.” It grows in oases along with other rare plants. Its numbers have decreased due to irrigation work in the Nile Valley. The Egyptian palm tree is also known in the region of Chad and Chadian Sakhali.

Another type of doom palm - Hyphaene ventricosa Kirk. - found in the north of South-West Africa and Botswana, and to the north penetrates tropical Africa. This tree is 15-18 m tall with a simple trunk, often having a characteristic convexity in the middle or lower part. The crown consists of large fan leaves collected at the top of the trunk. The plant is dioecious. The fruits have a hard brown shell, underneath there is a layer of edible pulp, in which the hard core is immersed. The milk from the young fruits resembles the milk of coconuts. The top of the trunk is often cut off to extract the sap used to make palm wine. Its numbers have also decreased significantly.

In general, Africa is one of the centers of origin of palm trees. Two species of African palms are endangered and many are rare.

1 in Fig. below - Medemia argun (Medemia argun(Mart.) Wurttemberg ex H. Wendl.), Palm family (Palmaceae) - a palm tree up to 10 m in height with a bare, unbranched trunk bearing a crown of fan-shaped leaves up to 1.4 m in length, sitting on the same long petioles. The leaf lobes are hard, xiphoid, the lateral ones are much shorter and narrower than the middle ones. Male and female flowers are on different trees. The males are small, with 3 spreading petals 3-4 mm long, hidden in tomentose bracts and collected in dense spikes about 15-28 mm long and 1 cm thick. Female flowers are 5 mm in diameter, round, on strong petioles 1 cm long. The fruits are elliptical, 2-5 cm long, with a shiny brownish-purple surface. This palm tree is found in just a few places in Egypt and Sudan. There are 3 known locations in Egypt - an uninhabited oasis 220 km southwest of Aswan, 200 km west of Aswan and on the eastern bank of the Nile (in the south). In Sudan it is known from one locality, approximately 200 km southeast of Wadi Halfa. It grows in river shallows, wadis and oases. Apparently, in the past it was much more widespread, and widely - in ancient Egypt: in the ancient Egyptian pyramids there are numerous images and fruits of it). In general, palm populations are at critically low levels due to exploitation (the fruits are edible, and the leaves are used to make mats).

2 - Wissmannia keeled (Wissmannia cariensis(Chiov.) Burret), Palm family (Palmaceae) - a palm tree with a single grayish-brown trunk up to 15-20 m in height and 40 cm in diameter. Its crown consists of 40 fan leaves. The petioles are 120 cm long, armed along the edge with spines bent back and yellowish-green on the lower surface. Leaf blades are up to 95 cm long, green on both sides. The inflorescences are axillary, each branch bears a yellow bisexual flower. The ripe fruit is round. The palm is very similar to some species of the widely cultivated genus Livistona. Vissmannia is known from Somalia, Djibouti and South Yemen. It grows along river banks, in valleys and oases, and in Djibouti near brackish water bodies. Its numbers have noticeably decreased. The decrease in numbers is associated with logging (wood is valued as a building material), grazing of sheep and cattle, which prevents its resumption. Cultivated in Kenya, found in botanical garden Kew (England). Both described palm species are included in the IUCN Red List. 3 - Orotamius Zeichera, swamp rose (Orothamnus zeyheri Pappe ex Hook.), Proteaceae family - classified as vulnerable species. This is a single-stemmed tree or low-branched shrub 1-4 m in height. The leaves are densely arranged on the branches, elliptical, leathery, hairy, especially along the edges. The flower heads (AO 1-3 at the tips of the branches) are subulate, 5-7 cm long, with pink-red pubescent bracts 4-6 cm long surrounding the lemon yellow flowers. The fruit is oblong, about 6 mm. Swamp rose is found only in South Africa. There are 9 known populations and several small groups of this plant in the Kogelberg mountains in the south-west of the Cape region and one population near Hermanus, 25 km east of the previous ones. It grows on steep slopes of southern exposure, at an altitude of 500-850 m. It may disappear due to uncontrolled burning of vegetation, fungal diseases and damage by rats. This is the most beautiful species of all Proteaceae. The rose-like red bracts of the heads are very decorative and have long attracted the attention of flower traders.

4 in Fig. above - Velvichia is amazing (Welwitschia bainesii(Hook.f.) Carr = W.mirabilis Hook. f.), Family Welwitschiaceae - a unique dwarf desert tree that has only 2 leaves throughout its life. The trunk usually reaches a height of 30 cm, very rarely 1.5 m, but underground it can be up to 3 m long. The trunk diameter is more than 1 m. The wood is as dense and hard as that of a sequoia. The leaves appear small, but as they grow they become wide, thick, leathery, ribbed, up to 3.7 m long, greenish-brown in color. They never fall and continue to grow, piling up on the sand. Male and female cones appear at the base of the leaves, on different individuals. Males are pink, while females are greyish-green at first and red when ripe. The seeds are winged, light, and carried by the wind. All organs of the plant secrete a transparent resin. It is found in southwestern Africa only along the west coast, from southern Angola to the south, reaching the southern tropic in the bend of the river. Caseb in the Namib Desert. The range is limited to the area of ​​ocean fogs, the greatest distance from the sea is 80 km. Grows in sandy deserts scattered, in single specimens, never forming groups. Is protected by law. Velvichia is a transitional plant between the types of gymnosperms and angiosperms.

Published based on the book: Belousova L.S., Denisova L.V. Rare plants of the world. M.: Forest industry, 1983. 344 p.

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 the interesting plants of Socotra is a 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. Wood 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 is often pot-bellied. The flag tree can grow up to 6 meters in height. Spiny phagara
The unusual fagara tree is an inhabitant of the moist evergreen forests of the east coast of South Africa and the 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 anywhere where the climate is tropical. 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. The rainbow eucalyptus is native to the 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 sections of the bark peeling off at different times. 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. The result is 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 a 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 is made up 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.

The African continent ranks second in the world in terms of area and population. Due to the variable climate, Africa has a variety of plant and animal species: large predators wander through vast savannas among peacefully grazing herds of herbivores. Monkeys and snakes reign in the dark, dense forests. Africa is home to some of the most interesting animals in the world.

Flora

Equatorial Africa retains the world's largest areas of endangered tropical forest.

Some plants are endangered, including the baobab. These trees are probably the oldest inhabitants of the continent, with some estimated to be over 3,000 years old. Baobab tree trunks are used to store water, and the bark and leaves are used for medicinal purposes.

Black or ebony is also endangered. It has heavy wood, which is highly valued among indigenous peoples and in the international market.

Acacia is the symbol tree of Africa. These trees are adapted to hot and dry climates and grow across most of the black continent. Often acacia leaves are the only greenery that animals can get. To protect against starving people, the tree grew thorns, and now only giraffes can feast on acacia leaves.

Many types of aloe grow in Africa, including aloe vera. These are succulent plants with sweet nectar that attracts many birds. Aloe juice is widely used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes.

Animal world

Africa boasts more than 1,100 species of mammals, including herd animals such as wildebeest, buffalo and antelope, as well as zebras, giraffes and elephants. Rodents are represented by squirrels and rats of various species, there are also rabbits and hares. There are more than 60 species of carnivores on the continent: lions, cheetahs, hyenas, leopards and others. Africa is also home to four species great apes, including western and eastern gorillas, chimpanzees, pygmy chimpanzees, and many other primate species.

Thanks to Africa's diverse climate, there are many species of reptiles and amphibians. There are chameleons, cobras, vipers, pythons, geckos, rare species frogs. Large turtles and crocodiles also inhabit the dark continent.

Many representatives of the savanna fauna are listed in the Red Book. Among them are cheetahs and African lions. They are threatened by habitat loss and climate change.

The black rhinoceros is a huge animal weighing one and a half tons and has three horns. Unfortunately, the horns have medicinal properties, which has led to a decrease in the number of rhinoceroses. African elephants and rare zebras may also become extinct due to habitat loss. Poachers do not stop their hunt for valuable tusks, horns and skins.

Africa is an amazing continent; perhaps this is where the first life originated. There are still many unexplored areas and areas that are difficult for scientists to reach. This means that Africa will surprise us with new discoveries more than once again.

Video: Nature of Africa. Nature conservation, environmental problems.