B2. Botanical exploration of Angola

292 Pages·2013·2.4 MB·English

S
T R E L I T Z I A 22
P
Plants of Angola /
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Plantas de Angola
by
E. Figueiredo & G.F. Smith
Pretoria
2008
S
T R E L I T Z I A
This series has replaced Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa and Annals of the
Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens which SANBI inherited from its predecessor organisations.
The plant genus Strelitzia occurs naturally in the eastern parts of southern Africa. It comprises
three arborescent species, known as wild bananas, and two acaulescent species, known as crane
flowers or bird-of-paradise flowers. The logo of the South African National Biodiversity Institute is
based on the striking inflorescence of Strelitzia reginae, a native of the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-
Natal that has become a garden favourite worldwide. It symbolises the commitment of the Institute
to promote the sustainable use, conservation, appreciation and enjoyment of the exceptionally rich
biodiversity of South Africa, for the benefit of all its people.
Authors
Estrela Figueiredo
Herbarium, Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical, Trav. Conde da Ribeira 9, 1300–142
Lisboa, Portugal.
Gideon F. Smith
Office of the Chief Director: Biosystematics Research and Biodiversity Collections, South African
National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa; Acocks Chair,
H.G.W.J. Schweickerdt Herbarium, Department of Botany, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002
South Africa.
SCIENTIFIC EDITOR: Otto A. Leistner
TECHNICAL EDITOR: Emsie du Plessis
LAYOUT & DESIGN: Elizma Fouché
PHOTOGRAPH FRONT COVER: Welwitschia mirabilis in the Namibe Desert, by
Paige A. Parker (www.paigeparker.com).
PHOTOGRAPHS BACK COVER: Aloe esculenta, growing in cultivation in the Conserv a-
tory of the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gard en in
Cape Town, by Estrela Figueiredo; Dicoma antunesii
and Euphorbia virosa in Angola, by Roi Carballal.
How to cite this work:
FIGUEIREDO, E. & SMITH, G.F. 2008. Plants of Angola/Plantas de Angola. Strelitzia 22. South
African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
How to cite families treated by contributors (see list on page vi):
CONTRIBUTOR. 2008. Plant family name. In E. Figueiredo & G.F. Smith, Plants of Angola/Plantas
de Angola. Strelitzia 22: page–page. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
All other families to be cited as this work (see top).
ISBN: 978-1-919976-45-7
© Published by: South African National Biodiversity Institute.
Obtainable from: SANBI Bookshop, Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa.
Tel.: [phone]. Fax: [phone].E-mail: [email protected].
Website: www.sanbi.org.
Printed by Seriti Printing (Pty) Ltd, P.O. Box 24829, Gezina, 0031 South Africa.
C C
Contents Conteúdo
Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv Prefácio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Contributors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi Contribuidores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
Acknowledgements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi Agradecimentos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1. Introdução. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2. Botanical exploration of Angola . . . . . . . . . . 2 2. Exploração Botânica de Angola . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Friedrich Welwitsch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Friedrich Welwitsch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Hugo Baum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Hugo Baum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
John Gossweiler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 John Gossweiler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
List of collectors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Lista de colectores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Herbaria with collections from Angola. . . . . . . . . 11 Herbários com colecções de Angola . . . . . . . . . . 11
Types from Angola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Tipos de Angola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3. About this list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 3. Acerca desta lista. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Nomenclature changes and typification Alterações nomenclaturais e tipificação
published in this list. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 publicadas nesta lista. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Summary of diversity and endemism Sumário dos valores de diversidade e endemismo
figures in this list. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 nesta lista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
4. Cited and general literature references 4. Referências bibliográficas citadas e gerais
and internet resources relevant to the e recursos na internet relevantes para o
study of the flora of Angola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 estudo da flora de Angola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5. List of accepted names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 5. Lista de nomes aceites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
6. List of synonyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217 6. Lista de sinónimos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
7. Index to accepted families and genera . . . . . . 273 7. Índice das famílias e dos géneros aceites. . . . 273
iii
F
Foreword
by Brian J. Huntley
Angola is blessed with an unusually rich biodiversity, Carrisso led two collecting expeditions to Angola, including an
with at least 6 961 plant, 275 mammal, 915 bird and 266 extensive tour in 1937 with A.W. Exell and F.A. Mendonça,
freshwater fish species. In the far southwest, the Namib during which 3 211 specimens were collected, and on which
Desert stretches northwards from the Cunene, inhabited by Carrisso died at Pedras Salvadoras (also known as Pico
oryx, springbok and Welwitschia; in the northwest, the tall de Azevedo), in the Namib, while preparing recommenda-
rainforests of the Maiombe in Cabinda harbour gorillas, chim- tions for the establishment of the Iona National Park and the
panzees and many other rare primates and forest antelope; Moçâmedes Reserve. Carrisso is therefore remembered both
the extensive miombo woodlands of the central plateau are as a botanist and a conservationist of singular importance to
home to Angola’s national emblem—the giant sable; while the
Angola.
afromontane forests and grasslands of Morro Moco and the
highlands and escarpments of Benguela, Huambo and Huíla Conspectus florae angolensis, edited for many years by
provide habitat to a rich diversity of endemic birds. Carrisso’s friends Exell and Mendonça, served for many years
as the primary vehicle for the publication of monographs on
This diversity has long been valued and understood by
the flora of Angola. Sadly, following independence in 1975
the people of Angola. Traditional knowledge, transferred from
and the nearly three decades of civil war that followed, little
one generation to the next over millennia, remains a primary
opportunity existed for field research, and the government’s
source of information on the country’s fauna and flora. Visitors
attention had to focus on security and socio-economic priori-
to Angola, such as Welwitsch, Gossweiler, Redinha, Exell and
ties. As a result, contributions to the Conspectus have waned,
others, have paid tribute to the detailed knowledge held by
but the prospects of a rejuvenation of botany in Angola follow-
local people of the taxonomic, ecological, medicinal and eco-
ing the peace accord of 2002 look promising.
nomic characteristics of the flora of this country. But much
of this knowledge remains undocumented and thus inacces-
Against this background, one can appreciate the impor-
sible to the majority of the country’s people and to the world
tance of the present volume. When the SABONET (Southern
at large.
African Botanical Diversity Network) project was launched in
This volume constitutes a critically important step 1996, Angola had no full-time professional staff in its herbar-
towards assembling the knowledge of the flora of Angola ia, its facilities were in a state of decay, and there seemed to
within a modern, easily accessible and scientific framework. be little prospect of any improvement. Fortunately, participa-
For the first time, we have a comprehensive catalogue of the tion in SABONET resulted in the training of several Angolan
diversity of Angola’s flora based on published descriptions and taxonomists, the rehabilitation of the collections and the elec-
herbarium material. This volume also provides a valuable syn- tronic data-basing of a good proportion of these. A preliminary
opsis of botanical collectors and a comprehensive list of publi- Red Data List and a checklist of Poaceae were published, and
cations on the country’s flora. a wider understanding of the importance of herbaria and field
botany was developed.
The first Angolan plant species described in the scien-
tific literature was Maerua angolensis DC., collected in the This volume results from the collaboration of 32
Benguela hinterland by Joaquim José da Silva who was sent researchers in nine countries. Without the voluntary contribu-
to Angola by royal warrant from 1783 to 1787 to collect tions of these scientists from around the globe, the analysis,
plants. His collection, deposited in the Museu Real da Ajuda synthesis and documentation of Angola’s floral knowledge
in Lisbon, was removed to Paris during the Napoleonic occu- would have been impossible. Increasingly, nations from all
pation of Portugal, and was only described in 1824. continents are seeking ways of assisting one another to ensure
a sustainable and humane future for all. The Convention on
From this small beginning, a continuing stream of plant
Biological Diversity (CBD), to which Angola is a signatory,
collectors has been active in Angola, as described in a chap-
spells out the joint responsibilities of every nation with regard
ter of this volume. Two collectors—the Austrian Friedrich
to our collective natural wealth. Angola has responded to the
Welwitsch (1806–1872), and the Swiss John Gossweiler
CBD programme of work by the preparation and publication
(1873–1952)—stand out as the fathers of Angolan botany,
of a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, which
having travelled and collected throughout the country over
emphasises the urgent need to build capacity in biodiversity
many years. Their valuable material is preserved in the her-
inventory, documentation and conservation.
baria of Europe, and their type specimens are now available
to workers in Angola and beyond through the digital library of
Much has still to be done, but this volume represents
the African Plants Initiative Project. Sadly, many of the impor-
a major step towards meeting the Angolan government’s com-
tant collections and type specimens of the numerous German
mitment to the CBD objectives. The editors and authors are
collectors who visited Angola in the late 19th and early 20th
commended on the publication of this benchmark contribution.
century were lost in the bombing of the Berlin Herbarium dur-
ing the Second World War.
During the 20th century, botanists, ecologists, mission-
aries, farmers and many visiting scientists added to the collec-
tions in the herbaria of Europe and in the scientific institutions
of Angola. The need for a Flora of Angola was soon recognised, Emeritus Professor Brian J. Huntley
and this was founded as the Conspectus florae angolensis by Chief Executive, South African National Biodiversity Institute,
LLuis Wittnich Carrisso (1886–1937). As Director of the 1990–2006
BBotanical Institute at the University of Coimbra, Dr Ecologist, Repartição Técnica da Fauna, Angola, 1971–1975
iv
P
Prefácio
por Brian J. Huntley
Angola foi abençoada com uma biodiversidade invulgar- da Universidade de Coimbra, o Dr. Carrisso chefiou duas expe-
mente rica. Em termos de espécies tem, pelo menos, 6 961 dições botânicas a Angola, incluindo uma excursão bastante
plantas, 275 mamíferos, 915 aves e 266 peixes de água doce. extensa em 1937, com A.W. Exell e F.A. Mendonça, durante a
No sudoeste, o deserto do Namibe estende-se do Cunene para qual foram colhidos 3 211 espécimes e na qual Carrisso fale-
norte, povoado por guelengues-do-deserto, cabras-de-leque ceu em Pedras Salvadoras (local também conhecido como Pico
e Welwitschia; no noroeste, as altas florestas húmidas do de Azevedo), no Namibe, onde preparava recomendações para
Maiombe, em Cabinda, abrigam gorilas, chimpanzés e muitos o estabelecimento do Parque Nacional do Iona e da Reserva de
outros primatas raros e antílopes de floresta; as extensas matas Moçâmedes. Carrisso é recordado como um botânico e conser-
de miombo do planalto central são o lar da espécie emblemá- vacionista de particular importância para Angola.
tica nacional de Angola—a palanca negra gigante; as florestas
afromontanas e pradarias do Morro Moco e das terras altas e O Conspectus florae angolensis, editado durante muitos
anos pelos amigos de Carrisso, Exell e Mendonça, serviu por
escarpas de Benguela, Huambo e Huíla, fornecem habitat a
bastante tempo de veículo principal para a publicação de estu-
uma grande diversidade de aves endémicas.
dos monográficos da flora de Angola. Infelizmente, na sequência
Esta diversidade tem sido compreendida e valorizada da independência em 1975 e das quase três décadas de guer-
pelo povo de Angola. O conhecimento tradicional, transmitido ra civil que se seguiram, existiram poucas oportunidades para
de uma geração para a seguinte ao longo de milhares de anos, desenvolver trabalho de campo e a atenção do governo teve de
constitui uma fonte básica de informação sobre a fauna e flora se virar para prioridades socio-económicas e de segurança. Em
do país. Visitantes de Angola, como Welwitsch, Gossweiler, consequência, os contributos para o Conspectus esmoreceram.
No entanto, na sequência do acordo de paz de 2002, as previ-
Redinha, Exell e outros, têm reconhecido o conhecimento deta-
sões de um rejuvenescimento da botânica em Angola tornam-se
lhado que as populações locais detêm sobre as características
promissoras.
taxonómicas, ecológicas, medicinais e económicas da flora do
país. Todavia, grande parte deste conhecimento não se encon-
Neste cenário, a importância deste volume pode ser
tra documentada permanecendo inacessível à maioria da popu-
apreciada de melhor maneira. Quando o projecto SABONET
lação do país e do mundo.
(Southern African Botanical Diversity Network) foi lançado,
em 1996, não existiam nos herbários angolanos profissionais
Este volume constitui um passo importante no sentido de
a trabalhar em tempo integral, as infra-estruturas encontra-
reunir o conhecimento da flora de Angola num enquadramento
vam-se degradadas e havia poucas expectativas de melhoria.
científico, moderno e de fácil acesso. Pela primeira vez temos
Felizmente, a participação no SABONET resultou no treino de
um catálogo completo da diversidade da flora de Angola basea-
vários taxonomistas angolanos, na reabilitação das colecções e
do em descrições publicadas e em exemplares de herbário. Este
na criação de bases de dados electrónicas de uma boa parte
trabalho fornece também uma valiosa compilação de colectores
dessas colecções. Foram publicadas uma Lista Vermelha pre-
botânicos e uma extensa lista de publicações sobre a flora do
liminar e uma checklist das Poaceae, e foi criado um entendi-
país.
mento mais amplo da importância dos herbários e do trabalho
de campo.
A primeira planta angolana descrita na literatura cientí-
fica foi a Maerua angolensis DC., colhida nas vizinhanças de
Este volume resulta da colaboração de 32 investiga-
Benguela por Joaquim José da Silva que havia sido enviado a
dores em nove países. Sem as contribuições voluntárias des-
Angola por decreto real, de 1783 a 1787, com a finalidade
tes cientistas de vários locais do Mundo, a análise, síntese e
de fazer colheitas de plantas. Esta sua colheita, depositada
documentação do conhecimento da flora de Angola não teria
no Museu Real da Ajuda em Lisboa, foi transferida para Paris
sido possível. Cada vez mais, nações de todos os continentes
durante a ocupação de Portugal pelas forças Napoleónicas, procuram forma de se auxiliarem mutuamente de modo a asse-
tendo vindo a ser descrita apenas em 1824. gurarem um futuro sustentável e humano. A Convenção sobre a
Diversidade Biológica (CBD), da qual Angola é signatária, des-
Desde este pequeno começo, um fluxo contínuo de colec-
creve as responsabilidades conjuntas das nações no que respei-
tores botânicos tem actuado em Angola, como se descreve num
ta à riqueza natural colectiva. Angola respondeu ao programa de
capítulo deste volume. Destacam-se dois colectores, o austríaco
trabalho da CBD com a preparação e publicação da Estratégia
Friedrich Welwitsch (1806–1872) e o suíço John Gossweiler
e Plano de Acção Nacionais para a Biodiversidade, que realça a
(1873–1952), como os pais da botânica angolana, tendo via-
necessidade urgente de construir capacidade na inventariação,
jado e colhido no país ao longo de vários anos. As suas valio-
documentação e conservação da biodiversidade.
sas colecções estão conservadas em herbários europeus e os
seus espécimes-tipo encontram-se agora disponíveis a estu- Muito tem ainda de ser feito, mas este trabalho repre-
diosos, em Angola ou noutro país, através da biblioteca digital senta um passo muito importante na direcção do compromisso
do African Plants Initiative Project. Lamentavelmente, grande do governo de Angola relativamente aos objectivos da CBD. Os
número das colecções e espécimes-tipo dos numerosos colecto- editores e autores são dignos de elogio pela publicação desta
res alemães que visitaram Angola no fim do século XIX e início obra de referência.
do século XX foram perdidas no bombardeamento do herbário
de Berlim durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial.
Durante o século XX, botânicos, ecologistas, missionários,
fazendeiros e muitos cientistas de visita a Angola contribuíram
para o aumento das colecções nos herbários europeus e nas Emeritus Professor Brian J. Huntley
instituições científicas angolanas. Reconheceu-se a necessida- Chief Executive, South African National Biodiveerrssiittyy
de de uma Flora de Angola, a qual veio a ser criada com o Institute, 1990–2006
nome Conspectus florae angolensis por Luís Wittnich Carrisso Ecologista, Repartição Técnica da Fauunnaa,,
(1886–1937). Na qualidade de director do Instituto Botânico Angola, 1971–1975
v
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Contributors Contribuidores
(*= in collaboration / em colaboração)
Sara Albuquerque, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United King- Eurico S. Martins, Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical,
dom (Friedrich Welwitsch) Portugal (Collectors*)
William Baker, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom Susana Matos, Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical, Por-
(Arecaceae) tugal (Anisophylleaceae, Asphodelaceae*, Linaceae, Collec-
Henk Beentje, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom tors*)
(Asteraceae*, Ericaceae) Abraham Muthama Muasya, University of Cape Town, South
Matt Buys, South African National Biodiversity Institute, South Africa (Cyperaceae*)
Africa (Aizoaceae, Boraginaceae, Mesembryanthemaceae, Santiago Ortiz, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Molluginaceae) (Asteraceae*, Polygonaceae)
Benny Bytebier, Stellenbosch University, South Africa (Orchi- Jorge Paiva, Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal (Annonaceae,
daceae*)
Polygalaceae)
João Francisco Cardoso, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Angola
Elizabeth Retief, South African National Biodiversity Institute,
(Collectors*)
South Africa (Geraniaceae, Vitaceae, Zygophyllaceae)
Joaquim César, Instituto de Investigação Agronómica, Angola
J.P. (Koos) Roux, South African National Biodiversity Institute,
(Herbaria with collections from Angola*)
South Africa (Lycopodiophyta, Equisetophyta and Pterido-
Robert B. Faden, Smithsonian Institution, USA (Commeli-
phyta)
naceae)
Brian Schrire, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom
Shahina Ghazanfar, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United
(Fabaceae*)
Kingdom (Basellaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Illecebraceae,
David Simpson, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom
Nyctaginaceae, Phytolaccaceae, Plumbaginaceae, Portu-
(Cyperaceae*)
lacaceae, Scrophulariaceae)
Miguel Soares, Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical,
David Goyder, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom
Portugal (Fabaceae*)
(Apocynaceae*)
Alicia Grobler, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Marc Sosef, University of Wageningen, The Netherlands (Bego-
South Africa (Fabaceae*) niaceae)
Hans-Dieter Ihlenfeldt, BioCentre Klein Flottbek and Botanical Timo van der Niet, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Garden, Germany (Pedaliaceae) (Orchidaceae*)
Ronell R. Klopper, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Justyna Wiland-Szymanska, A. Mickiewicz University, Poland
South Africa (Asphodelaceae*) (Dracaenaceae*)
Otto A. Leistner, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Paul Wilkin, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom
South Africa (Malvaceae, Poaceae) (Dioscoreaceae, Dracaenaceae*, Taccaceae)
Tsepang Makholela, South African National Biodiversity Insti- Pieter Winter, South African National Biodiversity Institute,
tute, South Africa (Acanthaceae) South Africa (Apiaceae)
A A
Acknowledgements Agradecimentos
The authors would like to thank Prof. Brian Huntley, Os autores agradecem ao Prof. Brian Huntley, Senior
Senior Advisor to the Department of Environmental Affairs Advisor do Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism,
and Tourism, for supporting the project from its inception, o apoio ao projecto desde o seu início, e aos membros do
and the following staff members of the South African National South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) que
Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) who assisted with the comple- contribuíram para a realização do projecto: Emsie du Plessis,
tion of the project: Emsie du Plessis, Gerrit Germishuizen, Gerrit Germishuizen, Sandra Turck, Louisa Liebenberg,
Sandra Turck, Louisa Liebenberg, Elizma Fouché and Elizma Fouché e Hannelie Snyman. Agradecemos também
Hannelie Snyman. Thanks are also due to Michele Smith a Michele Smith e David Sutton, do The Natural History
and David Sutton of The Natural History Museum, UK, for Museum, Reino Unido, a informação sobre colectores, a
providing information on collectors, to Reuben Roberts of Reuben Roberts, do Knowledge Management Office do
SANBI’s Knowledge Management Office in Kirstenbosch, SANBI, em Kirstenbosch, Cape Town, o apoio no tratamento
Cape Town, for assistance with data issues, and especially de dados, e em especial, a Rina Marais, o apoio administra-
to Rina Marais for administrative support. Thanks are also tivo. Agradecemos também a Dick Brummitt, Roi Carballal,
due to Dick Brummitt, Roi Carballal, Philip Downs and Philip Downs e Paige Parker. Agradece-se ao Dr Eurico
Paige Parker. We thank Dr Eurico Martins for revising the Martins a revisão da versão portuguesa do texto. Estamos
Portuguese version of the text. We are also grateful to all gratos a todos os colaboradores que partilharam o seu co-
the collaborators who shared their knowledge on the flora nhecimento sobre a flora de Angola contribuindo para esta
of Angola, and for contributing to this book. Finally, Dr Otto obra, e ao Dr Otto Leistner pela sua inestimável ajuda em
Leistner is sincerely thanked for invaluable assistance with questões científicas.
sscientific matters.
vi
S T R E L I T Z I A 22(2008) 1
I I
1. Introduction 1. Introdução
Comprehensive inventories that catalogue the occur- Inventários exaustivos da biodiversidade numa deter-
rence of components of biodiversity in any given geographi- minada região geográfica são instrumentos fundamentais
cal region remain fundamental, indeed essential, research para quem planeia medidas de conservação e para outros
tools for conservation planners and other users of biodiver- utilizadores da informação sobre biodiversidade. O acesso
sity information. Access to basic biodiversity information is a uma informação básica sobre biodiversidade é, portanto,
therefore critical for managing the biological resources of any essencial para a gestão dos recursos naturais de qualquer
country. Although progress has been made with compiling país. Embora tenha sido feito algum progresso na inventari-
an inventory of the flora of Angola, for example through the ação da flora de Angola, nomeadamente através do projecto
Southern African Botanical Diversity Network (SABONET) Southern African Botanical Diversity Network (SABONET),
project, a complete checklist remained elusive. Therefore, in continuava a não existir uma lista completa da flora. Por
spite of its richness and diversity, the flora of Angola present- este motivo, e apesar da sua riqueza e diversidade, a flora
ed a serious gap in the knowledge of the southern African de Angola constituía uma grave lacuna no conhecimento da
plant diversity. diversidade vegetal da África austral.
Até à data, os valores para diversidade e endemismo
Until now, the figures for vascular plant diversity
das plantas vasculares de Angola eram desconhecidos e
and endemism in Angola were unknown and could only be
po diam apenas ser sujeitos a estimativa (por exemplo, Lebrun
estimated (e.g. Lebrun & Stork 1991). One reason is that
& Stork 1991). Contrariamente ao que aconteceu com a
Angola, unlike most African countries, was not included in
maioria dos países africanos, Angola não foi incluída em ne-
any of the major African regional Flora projects. Instead, its
nhum dos principais projectos de Floras regionais africanas.
flora was treated separately in the work Conspectus florae
Em vez disso, a sua flora tem sido tratada separadamente no
angolensis (CFA), which remains incomplete. While other
Conspectus florae angolensis (CFA), que continua incompleto.
regional Floras, such as the Flora of tropical East Africa
Enquanto outras Floras como a Flora of tropical East Africa
(FTEA) and Flora zambesiaca (FZ), are now nearing comple-
(FTEA) e a Flora zambesiaca (FZ) se encontram próximas da
tion, production of the CFA has stopped, leaving much of
sua conclusão, a produção do CFA encontra-se parada, per-
the flora uncatalogued and certainly under-studied. Without
manecendo grande parte da flora por catalogar. Na ausência
a basic taxonomic platform, it is exceedingly difficult to eval-
de uma plataforma taxonómica básica, é extremamente difícil
uate the conservation status of rare Angolan plants and it
avaliar o estado de conservação de plantas raras angolanas,
may prove to be difficult to implement proposed conserva-
podendo revelar-se também difícil a implementação de
tion measures and assess their success. Likewise, ecological
medidas de conservação e a avaliação do seu sucesso. Do
and vegetation studies that often depend on plant diversity
mesmo modo, estudos de ecologia e de vegetação, que fre-
catalogues and a taxonomic framework cannot be adequate-
quentemente dependem de catálogos da diversidade vegetal
ly and reliably developed.
e necessitam de um enquadramento taxonómico, não podem
ser desenvolvidos de modo adequado e fiável.
The work presented here is the result of a collaborative
effort of 32 researchers from nine countries, with the primary O trabalho que agora se apresenta resulta de um
aim to produce a preliminary checklist of the flora of Angola esforço de colaboração de 32 investigadores provenientes
that will serve as a basis for further research. Current knowl- de nove países, com o intuito principal de produzir uma
edge of the occurrence and representation of several plant lista preliminar da flora de Angola que sirva de base para
families in the flora of this vast southern African country is investigação futura. O conhecimento actual da ocorrência e
still inadequate, and this list will undoubtedly benefit from re presentação de várias famílias de plantas na flora deste
future improvement. Essentially, inventories of biological vasto país é ainda inadequado e a presente lista beneficiará
entities can never be static. As knowledge of the taxonomy certamente de futuros melhoramentos. De resto, os inventá-
and systematics of plant groups improves and expands, the rios de entidades biológicas nunca podem ser estáticos. À
regularly changing, but always improving, landscape of plant medida que o conhecimento da taxonomia e sistemática de
classification science demands updating. It is nevertheless grupos de plantas melhora e aumenta, o seu universo de
anticipated that the current work will provide researchers, classificação tem de ser actualizado. É expectável, no entan-
students, ecologists and other stakeholders with the basic to, que a presente obra forneça a investigadores, estudantes,
plant diversity information that has been lacking for Angola. ecologistas e outros interessados, a informação básica sobre
It is also expected that the additional content included in biodiversidade vegetal que tem faltado a Angola. Esperamos
this book will prove to be useful, such as a comprehensive também que o conteúdo adicional deste trabalho, que inclui
list of botanical collectors who operated in Angola, and bib- uma lista exaustiva dos colectores botânicos que desenvol-
liographic references relevant to the study of the flora of the veram actividades em Angola, e referências bibliográficas
country. relevantes para o estudo da flora do país, se revele útil.
2 S T R E L I T Z I A 22 (2008)
B
2. Botanical exploration of Angola
The literature on botanical exploration and collectors in with different collection dates. So, when the collection was
Angola is extensive and mostly available in both Portuguese separated into different sets and the duplicates were distrib-
and English (see 4. Cited and general literature references uted to the different institutions, those with the same collec-
and internet resources relevant to the study of the flora of tion number were not always from the same locality or even,
Angola). However, finding specific information on a particu- according to later taxonomic judgements, of the same taxon
lar collector can be time-consuming as the information on (Dolezal 1974). Shortly before he died in London in 1872,
collectors is scattered among several publications and other he expressed the wish that his collections be deposited in
resources. Furthermore, during the course of this project BM and other herbaria, but the Portuguese government
it was noted that, owing to the rather long Portuguese demanded that they be returned to Lisbon, because they
surnames, the same collector is often found under differ- had financed the expedition. A court case followed, which
ent names in different databases (for example, Azancot de ruled that the first set should be returned to Lisbon (LISU),
Menezes or Menezes; Mendes dos Santos or Santos). On the the second set deposited at BM and the remaining sets
other hand, some common surnames are shared by several passed on to other institutions (Stearn 1973). W.P. Hiern
collectors (for example Silva) and if initials are not available, (1896–1901) was responsible for splitting up the collection
then the correct identity of the collector can be determined and later published a catalogue of all the plants. Apart from
only by assessing collecting date and geographical collect- LISU and BM, the Angolan collections of Welwitsch are now
ing area. To facilitate quick access to such information, we found in B, BR, C, COI, E, G, K, L , M, MEL, MO, MPU, NU,
undertook the compilation of a list of all the collectors known NY, P, PRE, PO, STU, U and WAG.
to have operated in Angola. This compilation, presented in
this chapter, includes full names and (where possible) infor-
Hugo Baum
mation on their dates of birth and death, period of collecting,
herbaria where their collections are housed, localities vis-
Hugo Baum (1867–1950) was the collector of the
ited (as cited in the literature; geographical names were not
Kunene-Sambesi Expedition, undertaken in 1899–1900. His
updated) and biographical information. Herbarium abbre-
life and work were recently described by Mansfeld (2002–
viations follow Holmgren et al. (1990). Other abbreviations
2003). The Kunene-Sambesi Expedition left Moçâmedes
are presented in full at the bottom of the list. Portuguese
(Namibe) on 11 August 1899 and travelled east, through
or Angolan nationalities are not mentioned for individuals
the actual provinces of Cunene and Cuando-Cubango. After
who lived in Angola during the colonial period. We have not
reaching the Cuando River in March 1900, they returned
expanded or repeated descriptive texts published elsewhere
and arrived back at Moçâmedes on 26 June 1900. Over
on the collectors. Rather, in this chapter, in addition to the
1 000 plant collections were made during the expedition
list of collectors, information is provided on herbaria holding
and many of them became types. In Warburg (1903), which
collections from Angola and on types of plant names originat-
reported the results of the expedition, 280 taxa new to sci-
ing from that country. The three main collectors (in terms of
ence were described, with 309 collections referred to as
type material) who operated in Angola, Friedrich Welwitsch,
types. To these must be added an unknown number of taxa
Hugo Baum and John Gossweiler, are treated separately and
that were published later. In the Aluka database, the number
in more detail below.
of Baum type images (including duplicates) recorded when
the site was accessed on 29 January 2008, was 1 209.
Friedrich Welwitsch Baum’s collections are deposited in several herbaria, namely
B, BM, BR, COI, E, G, K, M, NY, P, S, W and Z.
by S. Albuquerque
Friedrich Welwitsch (1806–1872) was born in Austria John Gossweiler
but took up employment in Portugal in 1839. In 1853 he
was sent to Angola by the Portuguese government to collect John Gossweiler (1873–1952), a botanist of Swiss
the plants and animals of that country for scientific analysis origin, collected a total of over 14 000 numbers in Angola
and to ascertain their economic potential. He remained in between 1900 and 1950. He is the only botanist who col-
Angola for seven years, travelling through the provinces of lected in all the Angolan provinces. His life and work are
Luanda, Bengo, Cuanza Norte, Malange, Benguela, Namibe described in several publications (e.g. Exell 1952; Fernandes
and Huíla, collecting specimens and making detailed field 1954; Martins 1994b). The first set of his collection (study
notes on their appearance, distribution and habitat. In 1861 set) is deposited at LISC. Although this set is not complete,
he returned to Portugal with over 8 000 botanical collections it is fairly comprehensive and contains a large number of
referable to about 5 000 species, about 1 000 of which were duplicates registered in the herbarium as additional sheets.
new to science. This represents perhaps the most significant These sheets provide an important source of information in
single collection ever made in tropical Africa (Dolezal 1974). the case of rare and endemic species. Many duplicates of
Finding that he was unable to identify them in Portugal, he the Gossweiler collections can be found at BM, COI, LISU, P
moved to London with his collections in 1863, retaining the and K, among others. A problem that arises when duplicates
specimens in the houses where he lived but trying to name of the Gossweiler collection are compared, is the conflicting
them during visits to the British Museum (BM) and Kew (K). information on localities, habit and habitat. This may be due
When Welwitsch was in the field, he adopted a numbering to Gossweiler having annotated and corrected the informa-
system which is not retained on the specimens now, since he tion on the labels of the study set when he worked on the
reorganised the collection in London and replaced the origi- collections in Lisbon. The collections at BM include the holo-
nal numbers with a taxonomic sequence. All collections that types of the taxa published by R.D. Good (1926–1933) and
he considered to be the same species were given the same A.W. Exell (1926–1933) in the catalogue of Gossweiler’s
number, even though they were from different localities and plants.