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Which trees and grasses are common in Australian savannas?

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Flat savanna plain with scattered acacia trees under a partly cloudy sky in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. — Savanna A savanna marked with acacia trees in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Africa's Serengeti Plain is commonly used as an example of the savanna biome—a hot, seasonally dry ecological region characterized by an open tree canopy (i.e., scattered trees) above an understory of continuous grasses.

Australian savannas are characterized by sclerophyllous vegetation, featuring evergreen trees that adapt to the dry season by reducing water loss rather than shedding leaves.1

Common Trees

The dominant trees across Australian savannas are various species of Eucalyptus. Other common woody plants include:1
* Acacia
* Bauhinia
* Screwpine (Pandanus)
* Baobabs (Adansonia gregorii), which are particularly conspicuous in parts of northwest Australia.1

Common Grasses

The composition of the understory varies based on moisture levels:
* Moist savannas: Dominated by tall spear grass (Heteropogon) or kangaroo grass (Themeda).1
* Arid regions: Characterized by prickly spinifex grasses, such as Triodia and Plectrachne, which form hummocks that trap sand.12

In some areas, woody plants like Acacia and Eucalyptus may be so dense that the landscape transitions away from being considered a true grassland.2