04/09/2026
Did you know we have underground trees?💡
Underground trees is an African phenomenon that is characteristic of fire-prone savannas and grasslands with high precipitation.
One may argue that high rainfall should favour the development of forests instead of grasslands. But, research shows that higher levels of precipitation correlates with high grass productivity. And more grass favours frequent fires which result in maintaining the savanna state and it can also result in trapping tree saplings preventing them from growing into mature trees.
Regular fires, soil conditions and high rainfall are often considered the driving forces behind the evolution of these growth forms and scientists argue that geoxyles are trees that have adopted a dwarf growth form in order to survive. Being underground has a significant advantage because these trees are considered to be quite indestructible.
With the majority of the trees underground they can withstand above ground pressures such as grazing and fires and they are drought resistant with speculation that they may reach thousands of years in age – super trees indeed.
The grasslands of Mountainlands are home to several species, of which the more visible ones are Parinari capensis subsp. capensis, Lannea edulis var. edulis and Diospyros galpinii.
