|
South Saharan Steppe
The South Saharan steppe and woodlands, also known as the South Sahara desert, is a deserts and xeric shrublands ecoregion of northern Africa. This band is a transitional region between the Sahara's very arid center (the Sahara desert ecoregion) to the north, and the wetter Sahelian Acacia savanna ecoregion to the south. In pre-modern times, the grasslands were grazed by migratory gazelles and other ungulates after the rainfalls. More recently, over-grazing by domestic livestock have degraded the territory. Despite the name of the ecoregion, there are few 'woodlands' in the area; those that exist are generally acacia and shrubs along rivers and in wadis. Location and description The ecoregion covers in Algeria, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Sudan. It extends east and west across the continent in a band, forming a transition between the hyper-arid Sahara Desert to the north and the Sahel grasslands and savannas to the south. Climate The climate of the ecoregion is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dar Al-Manasir
Dar al-Manasir ( ar, دار المناصير) is the region of the Fourth Cataract, the most impassable of all rapids of the Nile. It is the homeland of the Arab tribe of the Manasir and from them gets its name. Still today the water rapids cannot be crossed by any large boats making the region accessible only via a sandy and rocky desert track. At the height of the Muqrat, Island of Muqrat (N 19°30') the Nile river is blocked from its northward course taking a sharp turn SSW for 280 kilometres before continuing to flow north. In the middle of this S-shape between the Bayudah Desert to the south and the Nubian Desert to the north, the Nile is forced by the topography to split up into a multitude of tributaries forming a fertile river oasis of small rocky islands described by the traveller GRAY (1949:120) with the following words: "Whereas usually [agriculture] in the Nile Valley […] is confined to the belt on two banks on which the river has deposited silt, in this cataract water ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Köppen Climate Classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notably in 1918 and 1936. Later, the climatologist Rudolf Geiger (1894–1981) introduced some changes to the classification system, which is thus sometimes called the Köppen–Geiger climate classification system. The Köppen climate classification divides climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on seasonal precipitation and temperature patterns. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (temperate), ''D'' (continental), and ''E'' (polar). Each group and subgroup is represented by a letter. All climates are assigned a main group (the first letter). All climates except for those in the ''E'' group are assigned a seasonal precipitation subgroup (the second letter). For example, ''Af'' indi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Addax Nasomaculatus
The addax (''Addax nasomaculatus''), also known as the white antelope and the screwhorn antelope, is an antelope native to the Sahara Desert. The monotypic taxon, only member of the genus ''Addax'', it was first described scientifically by Henri de Blainville in 1816. As suggested by its alternative name, the pale antelope has long, twisted horns – typically in females and in males. Males stand from at the shoulder, with females at . They are sexually dimorphic, as the females are smaller than the males. The colour of the coat depends on the season – in the winter, it is greyish-brown with white hindquarters and legs, and long, brown hair on the head, neck, and shoulders; in the summer, the coat turns almost completely white or sandy blonde. The addax mainly eats grasses and leaves of any available shrubs, leguminous herbs and bushes. They are well-adapted to exist in their desert habitat, as they can live without water for long periods of time. Addax form herds of five ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Panicum Turgidum
''Panicum turgidum'' is an old world clumping desert bunchgrass of the genus ''Panicum''. It is a plant of arid regions across Africa and Asia, and has been introduced to other parts of the world. Description ''Panicum turgidum'' is a perennial bunchgrass, growing in dense bushes up to tall. The stems are long-jointed, hard and polished, with few leaves, resembling bamboo shoots. Side shoots branch out at the nodes, and the stems bend over and root when the nodes get buried. The inflorescence is a terminal panicle up to long with solitary spikelets some long. The roots are covered in hairs to which fine sand adheres creating a felted appearance. This is a drought- and salt-tolerant species, and used for flour, fodder, thatch and erosion control. Distribution and habitat It is common across the Sahara and Arabia, from Senegal to Pakistan, and known by a number of common names, most widely as Taman, tuman, or thaman in Egypt and Arabia; merkba or markouba in Mauritania and som ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maerua Crassifolia
''Maerua crassifolia'' is a species of plant in the Capparaceae family. It is native to Africa, tropical Arabia, and Israel, but is disappearing from Egypt. Foliage from this plant is used as fodder for animals, especially camels, during the dry season in parts of Africa. The plant grows commonly in Yemen, where it is called ''Meru''. In the 18th century the plant's Arabic name ''Meru'' () was used as the source for the genus name ''Maerua''. The 18th-century taxonomist was Peter Forsskål, who visited Yemen in the 1760s. It is used as a common nutrition source in central Africa, where it is called ''jiga'' and made into soups and other dishes. It was part of the daily diet of the Kel Ewey tribe of the tuaregs in the Aïr Mountains as late as in the 1980s, who would mix the cooked leaves with goat milk. ''Maerua crassifolia'' was considered sacred to the ancient Egyptians. Distribution Maerua crassifolia has been found growing along the Tsauchab river in Namibia Namibia ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Balanites Aegyptiaca
''Balanites aegyptiaca'' (also known as the Egyptian balsam) is a species of tree, classified as a member of either the Zygophyllaceae or the Balanitaceae. This tree is native to much of Africa and parts of the Middle East. There are many common names for this plant. In English the fruit has been called desert date, soap berry tree or bush, Thron tree, Egyptian myrobalan, Egyptian balsam or Zachum oil tree; in Arabic it is known as ''lalob'', ''hidjihi'', ''inteishit'', and ''heglig'' (''hijlij''). In Jieng it is called ''Thou or thau'', in Hausa it is called ''aduwa,'' in Tamasheq, the Tuareg language ''taboraq'', in Fulfulde (Pulaar) ''Murtooki'' or ''Tanni'', in Swahili ''mchunju'', in Kamba ''Kilului'' and in Amharic ''bedena''. Distribution ''Balanites aegyptiaca'' is found in Northern Eastern Africa, Egypt, and also the Sahel-Savannah region across Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It can be found in many kinds of habitat, tolerating a wide variety of soil types, from s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Acacia Ehrenbergiana
''Vachellia flava'', synonym ''Acacia ehrenbergiana'', is a species of drought-resistant bush or small tree, commonly known as salam in Arabic. It is found in the Sahara, the northern Sahel, parts of East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Description ''Vachellia flava'' is a tall shrub or small tree, seldom exceeding in height. It is much branched, the trunk has dark brown, shaggy bark and the branches are green or brown with shiny, peeling bark. The compound leaves are small, with up to four pairs of pinnae, each with eight to twelve pairs of pinnules. Growing in the leaf axils are paired white thorns which are up to in length and longer than the leaves. The fluffy, golden-yellow flowers are globular and about in diameter. The seeds pods are flattened and curved with constrictions between the seeds. This shrub resembles the red acacia (''Vachellia seyal'') but that species lives in habitats with higher precipitation and has thorns that are shorter than its leaves. It ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Acacia Tortilis
''Vachellia tortilis'', widely known as ''Acacia tortilis'' but now attributed to the genus ''Vachellia'', is the umbrella thorn acacia, also known as ''umbrella thorn'' and Israeli babool, a medium to large canopied tree native to most of Africa, primarily to the savanna and Sahel of Africa (especially the Somali peninsula and Sudan), but also occurring in the Middle East. Distribution and growing conditions ''Vachellia tortilis'' is widespread in Africa, being found in countries like Tunisa, Morocco, Uganda, Angola, Zimbabwe, Djibouti, and Botswana. It tends to grow in areas where temperatures vary from and rainfall is anywhere from about per year. Characteristics In extremely arid conditions, it may occur as a small, wiry bush. It grows up to in height. The tree carries leaves that grow to approx. in length with between 4 and 10 pair of pinnae each with up to 15 pairs of leaflets. Flowers are small and white, highly aromatic, and occur in tight clusters. Seed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pulicaria
''Pulicaria'' is a genus of flowering plant in the sunflower family, native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. In North America ''Pulicaria'' is known by the common name false fleabane. ''Pulicaria'' species accepted by the Plants of the World Online as of June 2022: *'' Pulicaria adenophora'' *'' Pulicaria albida'' *'' Pulicaria alveolosa'' *'' Pulicaria angustifolia'' *'' Pulicaria arabica'' *'' Pulicaria argyrophylla'' *'' Pulicaria armena'' *''Pulicaria aromatica'' *'' Pulicaria attentuata'' *'' Pulicaria aualites'' *'' Pulicaria aucheri'' *'' Pulicaria auranitica'' *''Pulicaria aylmeri'' *''Pulicaria baluchistanica'' *''Pulicaria boissieri'' *''Pulicaria burchardii'' *''Pulicaria canariensis'' *''Pulicaria carnosa'' *''Pulicaria chrysantha'' *''Pulicaria clausonis'' *''Pulicaria collenettei'' *''Pulicaria confusa'' *'' Pulicaria diffusa'' *'' Pulicaria dioscorides'' *'' Pulicaria discoidea'' *'' Pulicaria diversifolia'' *'' Pulicaria dumulosa'' *''Puli ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Heliotropium
''Heliotropium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the heliotrope family, Heliotropiaceae. There are around 325 species in this almost cosmopolitan genus, which are commonly known as heliotropes (sg. ). It is highly toxic for dogs and cats. Etymology The name "heliotrope" derives from the old idea that the inflorescences of these plants turned their rows of flowers to the Sun.Chittenden, Fred J. Ed., Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening, Oxford 1951 Ἥλιος (''helios'') is Greek for "Sun", τρέπειν (''trepein'') means "to turn". The Middle English name "turnsole" has the same meaning. A Classical myth, told in Ovid's ''Metamorphoses'', imagines that the water nymph Clytie, in love with the sun god Helios, was betrayed by him. Wasting away, she transformed into the heliotrope, whose flowers supposedly always face the Sun. Morphology Like other members of the Heliotropiaceae, plants in the genus ''Heliotropium'' have 5-merous, tetracyclic flowers and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tribulus
''Tribulus'' is a genus of plants in the family Zygophyllaceae and found in diverse climates and soils worldwide from latitudes 35°S to 47°N. The best-known member is '' T. terrestris'' (puncture vine), a widespread invasive species and weed. ''Tribulus'' species are perennial, but some grow as annuals in colder climates. The leaves are opposite and compound. The flowers are perfect (hermaphroditic) and insect-pollinated, with fivefold symmetry. The ovary is divided into locules that are in turn divided by "false septa" (the latter distinguish ''Tribulus'' from other members of its family). Some species are cultivated as ornamental plants in warm regions. Some, notably '' T. cistoides'', '' T. longipetalus'', '' T. terrestris,'' and '' T. zeyheri'', are considered weeds. ''Tribulus omanense'' is the national flower of Dubai. Thirteen species of ''Tribulus'' are accepted by The Plant List, but there are many names still unresolved and needing further study. List of accepted ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stipagrostis
''Stipagrostis'' is a genus of African, Asian, and Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...n plants in the grass family. ; Species References Poaceae genera Grasses of Africa Grasses of Asia Grasses of Europe Grasses of Russia Taxa named by Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck Aristidoideae {{Poaceae-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
%2C_Kalahari.jpg "Click for more on -> Tribulus")