In the wilds of Africa one cannot image a more classic sight than that of a majestic tusker elephant reaching high into a tree, hind legs stretching (as if on tippy toes), trunk reaching for the prize that is the fruit or seed pod that will satisfy his hunger, at least for a little while.
One such tree that attracts elephants is the ana tree known also as the “apple ring tree” (3) or faidherbia albida. Browsing in an ana tree, to an elephant, is pure bliss.
Besides their favored status elephants actually contribute to the shape of the ana tree by rubbing and scratching themselves against its base. It then becomes gnarled and “twisted” (3) in the process. Elephant by Design! How much more of an elephant tree can one get!
Image: Faidherbia albida – the Apple Ring Tree of the Zambezi Valley, By African Plant Hunter, Ana Tree, elephant approaching
Image: Faidherbia albida – the Apple Ring Tree of the Zambezi Valley, By African Plant Hunter, Ana Tree massive branches
Follow along with the video below to learn about the nocturnal nature of elephants amidst these life-giving trees in Africa.
Source (3)
Gus, the African Plant Hunter:
“If you are in West Africa and you are a farmer in the Sahelian region, right on the edge of the Sahara Desert, one of the trees that you would be looking to plant as a leguminous, nitrogen-fixing tree is this one behind me, faidherbia albida, previously known as acacia albida.”
“Right here where I am now in the mid-Zambezi valley in Zimbabwe, right on the edge of the Zambezi River, this tree is known for something completely different.”
“Here people refer to it locally as the “apple ring tree“, and the reason they do is that the seed pod, which is a curly reddish pod, quite long, is very much favored by elephants and this tree is very well known all along the Zambezi waterfront for the magnificent shape and stature.”
Image: cc flickr by Bernard DUPONT, Faidherbia albida pods Ana Tree in South Africa
Image: cc flickr by Bernard DUPONT, Faidherbia albida pods closeup Ana Tree in South Africa
“Every single one of these trees that you find has been regularly browsed by elephant. The elephant… it is that characteristic sight, going up on their hind legs here to reach these pods and pull down, and you will always see, including in this tree, you will always see where the branches have been broken by elephants standing right up on their hind legs.”
“Also another thing that you notice here (points behind him to the tree) is that all of these… a lot of these trees have this very kind of twisted base. This is where the elephants have come and rubbed themselves against the tree and caused the tree to respond to that with a little bit of a growth.”
“So, very often, instead of the tall, straight bowl or stem that you would normally see of an albida, here in in the Zambezi Valley you very often find them with this kind of twisted, contorted base.”
Image: Faidherbia albida – the Apple Ring Tree of the Zambezi Valley, By African Plant Hunter, Ana Tree, elephants created this twisted base
“Good news – when you see one of these trees you know there are sure to be elephants around. If you camp underneath one you know you are probably gonna have nocturnal visitors, and that can be sometimes a little bit terrifying.”
“I have woken up in the middle of the night to see suddenly it has become dark on a moonlit night and I open my tent and there, standing on his hind legs, right over my tent, is an elephant reaching up into the branch to pull down the apple rings. But it is a beautiful, awe-inspiring, amazing sight when you see it.”
“So, this is faidherbia albida. if you have never been to this part of the world , the Zambezi Valley, I highly highly recommend Mana Pools, Chewore, Chikwenya, Rukomechi.”
“There are a whole range of places here on the Zimbabwean side, similarly on the Zambian side. It is a really stunningly beautiful wildlife area and the trees that you will characteristically see here are these faidherbia albida.”
Image: Faidherbia albida – the Apple Ring Tree of the Zambezi Valley, By African Plant Hunter, Ana Tree, elephants by Zembezi River
“My name is Gus, the African Plant Hunter. If we have not met before, this is what I do, sharing little tidbits about African plants, African trees, and if you like what you see, you’re welcome to join me for more.”
“You’ll find it on my website, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook , Africanplanthunter.com, do check it out. Thanks for watching and I look forward to seeing you again. Take it easy, cheers, bye!” Transcribed from Faidherbia albida – the Apple Ring Tree of the Zambezi Valley By African Plant Hunter (3)
Images:
CC Flickr by Bernard DUPONT, Faidherbia albida pods Ana Tree in South Africa (1) & Faidherbia albida pods closeup Ana Tree in South Africa (2); and from cc video Faidherbia albida – the Apple Ring Tree of the Zambezi Valley By African Plant Hunter YT CH (3); & cc flickr by b-onsafari, full copyright respected, elephant reaching into ana tree (4)
Sources:
(1) https://www.flickr.com/photos/berniedup/11887672376/sizes/c/
(2) https://www.flickr.com/photos/berniedup/11886823095/sizes/c/
(3) Faidherbia albida – the Apple Ring Tree of the Zambezi Valley By African Plant Hunter YT CH https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Faidherbia+albida++the+Apple+Ring+Tree+of+the+Zambezi+Valley+creative+commons
(4) https://www.flickr.com/photos/b-onsafari/33635206898/sizes/z/
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Image: cc flickr by b-onsafari, full copyright respected, elephant reaching into ana tree
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