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Located in northeast Africa, Sudan is absolutely a surprise for world travelers. It's a country where you can visit the golden, forgotten pyramids of Meroë that tell the old stories of thousands of years ago. It's also geographically diverse and home to a rich variety of plants. More than 4,000 species of plant can be found in Sudan.
Pyramids of Meroe, Sudan. /VCG Photo
In this article, we introduce two iconic plants native to the country.
Umbrella thorn acacia
Umbrella thorn acacia is a common plant in Africa. /VCG Photo
The umbrella thorn acacia is one of the most well-known and recognizable trees in Africa. Its fully grown canopy looks like an umbrella, where the tree acquires its name. It has two types of thorns on the branches. One is long and straight, the other is short and hooked. The flowers are white, aromatic and a good source of honey.
The tree mainly grows in the African savannah. Its taproot can reach deep, about 115 ft under the ground, its leaves are small, the thorns on branches can prevent animals from eating the leaves. All of these adaptions help the species survive the hot and dry weather.
Umbrella thorn acacia mainly grows in the African savannah. /VCG Photo
The tree not only provides shade for animals, but is also used in industries. The trunk is cut for firewood, the stem is used to treat diarrhea and the pods are cooked to make porridge.
Roselle
Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is a species of Hibiscus. /VCG Photo
The plant is an ingredient of a popular beverage in Sudan. Locals soak dried calyx of roselle in water and then mix it with sugar to prepare a red and cold drink, which contains plenty of natural antioxidants such as vitamin C.
Roselle /VCG Photo
In western Sudan, roselle is an important cash crop, especially for local small farmers. The country produces some of the best roselles in the world, but the quantity is relatively low.
About 'Plants & Nations'
Plants & Nations is a series of articles and pictures about common plants in the world. It serves as a guide to beautiful plants from different countries.
For more articles of the series, you can check:
(Top image via VCG)
(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)