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The flora of Kenya is influenced by the wide range of altitudes and the variations in climate. After the rainy seasons flowers bloom throughout the countryside, even desert areas dry a few months before. Rivers support not only wildlife, but also an array of plant life. Kenya supports over forty varieties of acacias, valuable for its hardwood used in building. Acacias predominate in the Maasai Mara, where its leaves are eaten by a wide variety of animals undaunted by its thorns. The low-lying areas are home to the baobab, an expansive branching tree that stands out in the grasslands. The tree is the basis for many African legends. During the dry season the leaves fall and the branches resemble upside down roots. Everything from its wood to its bark to the leaves is used by the native tribes.
As elevations increase over 1000 feet, forests of hardwood and evergreens thrive. At lower elevations, these forests have been cleared for timber and agricultural land. Since many of the native species take over 200 years to mature, some have been replaced with faster growing trees from other continents. The forests are marked by the variety of species, and are typically located in watershed areas of the mountains and hills. Cooler areas with consistent rainfall, such as Nairobi, support lush evergreen forests. As you climb into the mountains over 6000 feet, some areas are covered with dense groves of bamboo, cedar, and junipers. Bright orchids and flowering creepers coexist among the trees. Higher elevations reach above the forests, where gladioli and heather grow. Here one can find groundsel trees and the giant lobelia, reaching over 20 feet in the air.
Along the coast mangrove,
predominate growing in the salty water and sandy soil of the swamps. The mangroves filter the organic materials washed down from the mountains and provide a home for a variety of marine life. The wood from these swamps is used for scaffolding in construction. Although not originally a native species, coconuts have propagated in Kenya for thousands of years. The nut provides food and drink; the trunk is used to build houses and the leaves to thatch roofs. The doum palm is indigenous and is unique among palm tree in that it has branches.
Near the equator, thousands of acres of sisel are grown for its valuable fiber, used to weave rope and mats. Agriculture has introduced a wide range of crops to Kenya, including citrus trees, coffee and tea.
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