Savanna Plants List

Savanna Plants: Unique Due to The Adaptation Strategy 

We know at least some of the iconic savanna plants’ names, like Acacia spirorbis, baobab, Elephant grass, Red oat, and Bermuda grass. Savanna plants in general can be divided into drought-resistant grasses and scattered trees. They form a balanced ecosystem, using different water depths. Fires and animals don’t allow either of them to take over. 

This entire category is defined and shaped by a combination of stresses. These are seasonal droughts, poor and toxic soils, extreme temperatures, and periodic fires. To resist them, trees developed deep taproots, deciduous habits, thick bark, and small and leathery leaves. Grasses developed deep root systems and dormancy mechanisms. 

The Geographic Diversity of the Species 

The full savanna plants’ list would include thousands of species. The group diversity is wide, but we can still categorize them by their geography. African, South American (Cerrado), and Australian savannas are built around their own very specific types of threats. 

In Africa, these are mammals, so the plants are built not to be eaten. For example, African acacia trees have a flat canopy, small leaflets, and thorns. In the Cerrado, plants resist toxic soils and fire. 

That’s why its species, such as pau-terra or murici, may have twisted trunks, furrowed corky bark, and large, rough leaves. For Australian savannas, the main challenge is fire, which is why many trees are tall and straight, with vertical leaves. 

You can see the diverse savanna plants’ names and pictures above, and learn more about every group by discovering both common and rare species and their environmental requirements.