Instead, the plants of the mediterranean shrubland develop leaves that can withstand arid conditions. Many of the plant species have thorns to protect them from herbivore damage. This biome is sometimes also called chaparral or sclerophyll forest. Tree and shrub species in the savanna usually shed their leaves during the dry season. This adaptation reduces water loss from the plants.
New leaves appear several weeks before the start of the rain season.
Scientists believe that savanna plant species may have developed this strategy to take advantage of the season variance of the start of the rains. Climatically, these biomes are characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons. Temperatures are hot all year long. Savanna vegetation is typical composed of a mixture of grass and trees. The savanna biome constitutes extensive areas in eastern Africa, South America, and Australia.