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Tropical Wet & Dry Plants

Between wet tropical climates and dry tropical climates, there are wet/dry tropical climates. This type of landscape is known as "savanna" climate. Like the African Savannas this is a harsh environment with long dry seasons of heat, freezing nights and flooding rains. Drought-resistant grasses and dispersed trees characterize a wet/dry climate. There are wet/dry tropics in Africa, Venezuela, Brazil, northern and eastern India, western Central America, the Caribbean Islands, Florida, Myanmar and the Indo-Chinese Peninsula

Acacia
- Acacia trees have the spreading crown that is a distinctive characteristic.
  
  Certain types of acacia trees commonly grow in a wet/dry tropical climate such as the African savanna. The umbrella thorn acacia has the umbrella-shaped foliage that is commonly pictured on African landscapes. This tree can survive over 100-degree days and below-freezing nights. Acacia trees, both the umbrella thorn and the acacia Senegal which is also common in the savanna, have sharp thorns that come in pairs. These trees survive in a climate that sees 5 to 11 months of drought.
Grasses
- This wet/dry climate is characterized by perennial grasses that stretch across the landscape. Bermuda grass is one of these hardy plants. This grass originated in the savannas of Africa, and it grows in areas prone to trampling, grazing and flooding. This plant is now found all over the world between the 45-degree north latitude and 45-degree south latitude. Elephant grass is a taller, thicker grass that is common in a wet/dry tropical climate. Elephant grass grown in dense clumps that can reach 10 feet in height. It grows along lake beds and rivers where the soil is rich. These clumps are nearly impenetrable. The blades of grass are very sharp allowing birds to nest within them avoiding predators.
Jackal Berry Tree
- This tree is found throughout African Savannas in Senegal, Serengeti, Sudan, Namibia and Transvaal. This tree commonly grows on termite mounds. The termites aerate the soil for the tree roots, which grow in and provide protection for the termites. Termites don't feed on the living wood but are provided protection by the tree roots. The Jackal Berry tree grows to an average height of 15 to 18 feet and features a dense dark crown of foliage. Leaves are 5 1/2 inches long and 3 inches wide. New leaves grow between June and October giving the tree a burst of orange and yellow.
Eucalyptus
- The jarrah tree is a very tall species of eucalyptus.
  
  The eucalyptus tree does not tolerate cold weather very well and needs a warm dry climate. They are found throughout the plains of Africa and the savannas as well as in Australia. The gum tree eucalyptus is 20 to 30 feet tall with gray-green leaves that grow opposite each other along stems. The jarrah tree is a species of eucalyptus that grows taller than the gum tree and can reach heights of over 100 feet. The leaves and flowers are found in the top of the tree; the flowers are clustered in fragrant groups of seven or eight.

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