A vegetation class that is dominated by tall succulents and profusely branching smooth-barked deciduous hardwoods which vary in density from mesquite bush in the Caribbean to the open spurge thicket in Central Africa; the climate is that of a warm desert, except for a rather short intense rainy season. Also known as Dorngeholz; Dorngestrauch; dornveld; savane armée; savane épineuse; thorn scrub.