Flora and fauna play an important role in shaping a country’s ecosystem. Plants not only provide us with shade, they may bear food, house animals and provide their surrounding community with necessity. Here, we take a look at some of the plant-life growing in Algeria.
The Algerian Fir is endemic to Djebel Babor in Algeria. Djebel Babor is the second tallest mountain in the Tell Atlas mountain range. This medium-sized evergreen tree grows 20-35 meters tall and 1 meter in diameter. Its flattened needle-like leaves bear cones that start off a bluish-green hue with a violet tinge that mature into brown cones. Mature cones release their seeds back into the environment. This tree is drought tolerant and grows at an altitude of 1,800-2,004 meters. The Tell Atlas range is also home to the sturdy Atlas Cedar. This cedar grows mixed in with fir, juniper, Holm oak and maple trees. Such a forest is perfect for the Barbary Macaque.
The Gum Arabic Tree is useful in a variety of ways. Because of its thorns it may make a great protective hedge. Parts of the plant are sometimes used as medicine for ailments from a simple cough to dysentery, and even liver issues. Characteristic golden-yellow globular flowers are produced by the tree.
Most people may think that nothing can survive to grow in the desert. And while the Sahara spans over 8.6 million square kilometers, 200,000 of that distance is fertile. Water is not the only challenge for these plants to survive. Since the Sahara is so massive, its topography varies. Still, even in the world’s largest desert, there is plant-life. Most plants have complex root structures that plummet deep into the ground to water sources beneath. Succulents and cacti like the euphorbia are masters at water conservation. This makes them drought resistant. Small flowering annuals have a rapid cycle and lay dormant until the next rainfall. Their brilliant hued flowers assure quick pollination. Grasses, shrubs and small trees all posses a deep root system. There are even bulbs that live dormant underground until its time for them to bloom.