African grasses

Fountain Grass, Pennisetum setaceum

Although there are many native grasses in East Africa they are seldom used in garden or landscape design. Some foreign grasses can sometimes be found in parks and gardens, but you still see even them rather rarely.

Here however the indigenous Pennisetum setaceum is used at the entrance to Mamba Village in Nairobi. Pennisetum setaceum is native to open, more or less dry habitats in eastern and central Africa, Middle East and further east, but is introduced to many other parts of the world and is now well spread in southern Europe, South Africa, southern North America, Hawaii and many other places. The Fountain Grass is a perennial plant but not very hardy, so in colder areas when it is grown as an ornamental bedding plant it is treated as an annual.

Rhynchelytrum, the Natal Grass or Champagne Grass grows here in a naturalistic, meadow style planting in a private garden in Karen in Nairobi 

Grass as a forage plant is more common...

The Kapok

The Kapok tree, Ceiba pentandra, is a tropical tree native to northern South America extending to Mexico in the north. It belongs to the Bombacaceae family (today often included in the Malvaceae family).

The Kapok is an extremely fast growing tree and can reach 60-70 meters (200-230 ft). It has a very substantial trunk up to 3 m (10 ft) in diameter. The trunk and most of the branches are often, like this tree shows, crowded with large, prickly thorns.

When the tree has reached the adult stage it produces several hundred of flowers followed by big, oval seed pods. The pods contain seeds surrounded by a fluffy, yellowish white fiber that resembles cotton. However it is difficult to spin, so instead it is often used as filling in pillows, mattresses and similar stuff.

In tropical and subtropical regions the tree is grown as an ornamental. Here it is planted in a private garden in Karen in Nairobi

 

The Rift Valley Euphorbias

Cacti belonging to the Cactaceae family are originally found only in the new world, although many species are introduced and naturalized in suitable parts of Europe and Africa. In arid biotopes in Africa many other kind of plants have developed the same succulens strategi and look rather similar to the true cacti of America.

At the slopes down to the Rift Valley in Kenya an huge arborescent euphorbia dominates the landscape, the Euphorbia candelabrum.

On the way down to Rift Valley from NorthEast

Euphorbia candelabrum is endemic to East Africa

A group of giant euphorbias

The Euphorbia candelabrum are scattered along the hill side

Thorny Acacias

There are some 1200 different species of Acacia distributed all over the tropics and in warm temparete areas. They are found in Australia, Africa as well as in America and preferently on dry grounds. In Africa they are very important trees and shrubs of the savanna and the low bush steppe. Although the African species all are more or less thorny their leaves are still eaten by many animals. The giraffa has specilaized in feeding on Acacia species and with its long and flexible tongue it can avoid the thorns rather well.



The Whistling Acacia, Acacia drepanolobium, is a common small shrub of the East African dry savannas and steppes. It wears long whitish spines and is adorned with dark galls in the size of brussel sprout heads. The galls are hollow inside and have several small openings in the surface. They are found all over the branches. The hollow insides are inhabited by aggressive ants of the genus Crematogaster, a world wide genus sometimes called acrobat ants. The ants form a mutually beneficial partnership together with the acacia as the insects protect the plant against browsing animals by very unpleasant bites on lips and tongue, while the shrub provides housing for the ants inside the galls.

The Flat Topped Acacia, Acacia tortilis, is an abundant, extremely drought tolerant tree from grasslands and savannas in East Africa. It is a medium size tree with a height of about 15 m and has small white aromatic smelling flowers in dense clusters. The Flat Topped Acacia is an important source for shade for resting mammals and the leaves and buds are eaten by many animals. It is also used as firewood and for charcoal production by the local people.

A Private Roundabout

This cold and snowy winter I decided to spend one month in Kenya. So far I dont regret that at all. Here below you see some pictures from a little roundabout ourside a private garden planted with many different plants including cabbage plants, Tulbaghia violacea, Bougainvillea and Lavandula.