Useful Tree Species for Eastern Africa
a species selection tool based on the VECEA Map
Somalia-Masai Acacia-Commiphora deciduous bushland and thicket
Description
Emergent species are only a few species that have well-defined trunks which carry the crown well above the main canopy; they are virtually absent from the driest areas. Most of the characteristic species of the main canopy are multiple-stemmed bushes or small bushy trees that are branched near the base. In higher rainfall areas (especially on rocky hills), the emergent trees occur closer together and are somewhat larger (but only exceptionally taller than 10 m). Some authors have categorized this physiognomic variant as woodland. Locally thickets are formed that are impenetrable.
Even when canopy cover is less than 40 percent, but where grasses are inconspicuous (such as the ephemeral species of Aristida adscensionis, Aristida congesta, Brachiaria eruciformis and Brachiaria leersioides and the short-lived perennial species of Cenchrus ciliaris, Chloris roxburghiana and Schmidtia pappophoroides) and most of the phytomass consists of bushes (as in many places within deciduous bushland), it would be misleading to classify this vegetation as wooded grassland. In areas where rainfall is somewhat less than 250 mm per year (but probably more than 200 mm - see Somalia-Masai semi-desert grassland and shrubland ( S ), the vegetation of 2 to 3 m high bushes and stunted trees (principally of Acacia reficiens ssp. misera) is intermediate between bushland and shrubland (White 1983 pp. 113 - 114). We coded and mapped this subtype as Acacia-Commiphora stunted bushland (Bds).

F. Gachathi 2011; Figure 3.4 in VECEA Volume 4
Useful woody species
The main species recorded to occur within this vegetation type are listed below. Clicking the name of any of these species will open the page for that species on the Agroforestry Species Switchboard.
- Characteristic species: Acacia bussei, Acacia mellifera, Acacia nilotica, Acacia reficiens, Acacia thomasii, Acacia tortilis, Adansonia digitata, Adenia globosa, Adenium obesum, Balanites aegyptiaca, Balanites rotundifolia, Bauhinia tomentosa, Boscia coriacea, Boswellia neglecta, Bridelia taitensis, Cadaba farinosa, Cadaba heterotricha, Caesalpinia trothae, Calyptrotheca somalensis, Calyptrotheca taitense, Carphalea glaucescens, Cassia abbreviata, Caucanthus albidus, Cissus quadrangularis, Cissus rotundifolia, Combretum aculeatum, Commiphora africana, Commiphora campestris, Commiphora edulis, Commiphora erythraea, Commiphora mollis, Commiphora schimperi, Cordia monoica, Cordia sinensis, Delonix elata, Dobera glabra, Dobera loranthifolia, Ecbolium amplexicaule, Erythrochlamys spectabilis, Euphorbia grandicornis, Euphorbia invenusta, Euphorbia nyikae, Euphorbia quinquecostata, Euphorbia robecchii, Euphorbia scheffleri, Gerrardanthus lobatus, Givotia gosai, Grewia arborea, Grewia tembensis, Grewia tenax, Grewia villosa, Hymenodictyon parvifolium, Kedrostis gijef, Lannea alata, Lannea triphylla, Maerua denhardtiorum, Melia volkensii, Pergularia daemia, Platycelyphium voense, Premna hildebrandtii, Premna resinosa, Pyrenacantha malvifolia, Salvadora persica, Sarcostemma viminale, Sericocomopsis hildebrandtii, Sericocomopsis pallida, Sesamothamnus rivae, Sterculia africana, Sterculia rhynchocarpa, Sterculia stenocarpa, Terminalia orbicularis, Terminalia parvula, Terminalia spinosa, Thilachium thomasii, Thunbergia guerkeana
- Other species present: Acacia brevispica, Acacia drepanolobium, Acacia gerrardii, Acacia hockii, Acacia lahai, Acacia oerfota, Acacia paolii, Acacia senegal, Acacia seyal, Albizia amara, Albizia anthelmintica, Allophylus rubifolius, Balanites glabra, Berchemia discolor, Boscia angustifolia, Boscia salicifolia, Boswellia microphylla, Boswellia rivae, Calotropis procera, Canthium lactescens, Capparis tomentosa, Carissa spinarum, Commiphora habessinica, Commiphora myrrha, Commiphora rostrata, Dichrostachys cinerea, Erythrina melanacantha, Euclea divinorum, Euphorbia candelabrum, Euphorbia tirucalli, Faidherbia albida, Gardenia volkensii, Grewia bicolor, Grewia similis, Harrisonia abyssinica, Hyphaene compressa, Lannea humilis, Lannea rivae, Lawsonia inermis, Maerua decumbens, Gymnosporia senegalensis, Opilia campestris, Ormocarpum trachycarpum, Ormocarpum trichocarpum, Ozoroa insignis, Plectranthus barbatus, Psydrax schimperiana, Sclerocarya birrea, Rhus natalensis, Senna alexandrina, Steganotaenia araliacea, Tarenna graveolens, Terminalia brownii, Terminalia prunioides, Ximenia americana, Zanthoxylum chalybeum, Ziziphus mauritiana, Ziziphus mucronata, Ziziphus spina-christi
- Marginal species (occurrence less certain): Acacia asak, Erythrina burttii, Hyphaene thebaica, Ormocarpum kirkii, Otostegia integrifolia, Phoenix dactylifera
For more detailed information about the species occurrences see this excel workbook. It provides country specific information on species composition for this vegetation type. It also allows you to select a subset of useful tree species to provide desired products and services. For each species links to a number of websites / databases with information about this species are provided as well.
Conservation status
The table shows the area (km2) of the PNV is outside the protected areas (NP) and the area protected within one of the protected areas, split by IUCN management category. Only the nationally designated protected areas were included.
PNV | Ib | II | III | IV | VI | NC | NP | Sum |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bd | 16 | 37,084 | 1,273 | 16,999 | 106,518 | 20,192 | 612,258 | 794,340 |
Bd/g | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,021 | 2,029 | 3,050 |
Bd/Wcd | 0 | 36 | 191 | 0 | 452 | 186 | 586 | 1,451 |
Wmd/Bd | 0 | 2,735 | 0 | 1,545 | 0 | 1,865 | 10,960 | 17,105 |
Sum | 16 | 39,855 | 1,464 | 18,544 | 106,970 | 23,264 | 625,833 | 815,946 |
IUCN | Bd | Bd/g | Bd/Wcd | Wmd/Bd | Sum |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ib | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
II | 37,084 | 0 | 36 | 2,735 | 39,855 |
III | 1,273 | 0 | 191 | 0 | 1,464 |
IV | 16,999 | 0 | 0 | 1,545 | 18,544 |
VI | 106,518 | 0 | 452 | 0 | 106,970 |
NC | 20,192 | 1,021 | 186 | 1,865 | 23,264 |
NP | 612,258 | 2,029 | 586 | 10,960 | 625,833 |
Sum | 794,340 | 3,050 | 1,451 | 17,105 | 815,946 |
Ia - Strict nature reserve, Ib - Wilderness area, II - National park, III - Natural monument or feature, IV - Habitat/species management area, V - Protected landscape/seascape, VI - Protected area with sustainable use of natural resources, NC - unclassified or not assigned, NP - outside the protected areas
Links
- More about the species selection tool
- Go back to the index other vegetation types
- Go back to http://vegetationmap4africa.org
- The map is described in detail in the documentation.
Citation and terms of use
- Kindt R, van Breugel P, Orwa C, Lillesø JPB, Jamnadass R and Graudal L (2015) Useful tree species for Eastern Africa: a species selection tool based on the VECEA map. Version 2.0. World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and Forest & Landscape Denmark. http://vegetationmap4africa.org
- van Breugel P, Kindt R, Lillesø JPB, Bingham M, Demissew S, Dudley C, Friis I, Gachathi F, Kalema J, Mbago F, Moshi HN, Mulumba, J, Namaganda M, Ndangalasi HJ, Ruffo CK, Védaste M, Jamnadass R and Graudal L (2015) Potential Natural Vegetation Map of Eastern Africa (Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia). Version 2.0. Forest and Landscape (Denmark) and World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). URL: http://vegetationmap4africa.org
Click here for the full terms of use, disclaimer and errors and omissions statement that accompanies our data. When using our data, you agree with these terms.