Table Of ContentPlants of the Nyika Plateau
Plants of the Nyika Plateau i
Recommended citation format
BURROWS, J.E. & WILLIS, C.K. (eds) 2005. Plants of the Nyika Plateau: an account of the vegetation of the Nyika National Parks
of Malawi and Zambia. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31. SABONET, Pretoria.
Produced and published by
Southern African Botanical Diversity Network (SABONET)
c/o South African National Biodiversity Institute, Private Bag X101, 0001, Pretoria
Printed in 2005 in the Republic of South Africa by Capture Press, Pretoria, (27) 12 349-1802
ISBN 1-919976-08-6
© 2005 SABONET. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means
without the permission of the copyright holder.
Editor-in-chief: Marthina Mössmer
Subeditors: Lidia Gibson & Hanlie van Heerden
Indexing: Marthina Mössmer & Martin Mössmer
Text design and layout: Antoinette Burkhardt
Cover design: Antoinette Burkhardt, Pretoria, South Africa (27) 83 6351446.
Front cover: Top: Lake Kaulime (C. Willis). Bottom, left to right: Vittaria guineensis var. orientalis (J. Burrows); Disa ukingensis (H.
Kurzweil); Delphinium leroyi (J. Burrows); Streptocarpus wittei (W. Pawek); Scadoxus multiflorus subsp. multiflorus (J. Burrows).
Back cover: Impressions of Nyika (W. Pawek).
Spine: Impatiens tinctoria subsp. latifolia (J. Burrows).
SABONET website: www.sabonet.org
This report is a product of the Southern African Botanical Diversity Network (SABONET) and was made possible through support
provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF)/United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United States Agency
for International Development (USAID)/World Conservation Union-Regional Office for southern Africa (IUCN ROSA) (Plot no.
14818 Lebatlane Road, Gaborone West, Extension 6 Gaborone, Botswana), under the terms of Grant No. 690-0283-A-00-5950.
The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of GEF/UNDP, USAID/IUCN ROSA,
the SABONET Steering Committee or SABONET National Working Groups.
ii Plants of the Nyika Plateau
Plants of the Nyika Plateau
An account of the vegetation of the Nyika National Parks
of Malawi and Zambia
Edited by
John E. Burrows & Christopher K. Willis
2005
Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31
Plants of the Nyika Plateau iii
Contents
Contributors ..........................................................................................................................viii
Foreword .................................................................................................................................ix
Preface .....................................................................................................................................x
Abbreviations and acronyms ...................................................................................................xi
Herbarium acronyms ...............................................................................................................xi
Acknowledgements ...............................................................................................................xiii
Introduction ..............................................................................................................................1
Climate ...............................................................................................................................2
Drainage and soils ..............................................................................................................3
Landslips ............................................................................................................................3
Fire .....................................................................................................................................4
Vegetation communities .....................................................................................................4
Plant diversity .....................................................................................................................9
Endemism ...........................................................................................................................9
Botanical exploration of the Nyika Plateau .............................................................................11
Species accounts ....................................................................................................................19
Anthocerotophyta .............................................................................................................20
Hepatophyta .....................................................................................................................20
Bryophyta .........................................................................................................................21
Pteridophyta .....................................................................................................................25
Gymnosperms ..................................................................................................................46
Dicotyledons ....................................................................................................................48
Monocotyledons .............................................................................................................287
Glossary ...............................................................................................................................369
References and further reading .............................................................................................376
Photo credits ........................................................................................................................382
Collectors’ index ..................................................................................................................383
Index to common names ......................................................................................................384
Index to scientific names ......................................................................................................387
Plants of the Nyika Plateau vii
Contributors
John Burrows
Buffelskloof Herbarium, Lydenburg
Scientific editor and species treatments for all families, except those listed below.
Lyn Fish
National Herbarium, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria
Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Commelinaceae
Marinda Koekemoer
National Herbarium, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria
Asteraceae, Bryophyta
Hubert Kurzweil
Compton Herbarium, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town
Orchidaceae
Graham Williamson
Orchidaceae
Christopher Willis
South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria
Introduction and Botanical Exploration
Pieter Winter
National Herbarium, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria (formerly of University of the North
Herbarium, Polokwane)
Acanthaceae, Apiaceae, Crassulaceae, Lamiaceae
Illustrators
Sandie Burrows (principal illustrator)
Charmaine Bartman
Auriol Batten
Eleanor Catherine
Maureen Church
Derek Erasmus
Victoria Friis (Goaman)
Christine Grey-Wilson
Mary Grierson
Pat Halliday
Cythna Letty
Julia Loken
John Manning
Wilma Roux
Clare Smith
Margaret Tebbs
William Trevithnick
H. Wouda-du Toit
Graham Williamson
Heather Wood
viii Plants of the Nyika Plateau
Abbreviations and acronyms
AETFAT Association pour l’Etude Taxonomique de la Flore d’Afrique Tropical (Association for the
Taxonomic Study of the Flora of Tropical Africa)
aff. affinis, affiliated to, bordering
alt. altitude
auctt. auctorum, of authors, implying in common usage
BP before present
C.A.R. Central African Republic
ca circa, about, roughly
cf. confer, compare with
coll. collegit, he gathered, collected by
CSIR Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
CUSO Canadian University Service Overseas
Del. Delineavit, drawn by
D.R.C. Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire)
E. east, eastern (in species lists)
et al. et alii, and others
F.T.A. Flora of Tropical Africa
F.T.E.A. Flora of Tropical East Africa
F.Z. Flora zambesiaca
GEF Global Environment Facility
holo. holotype
ibid. ibidem, in the same place
iso. isotype
IUCN The World Conservation Union
lecto. lectotype
loc.cit. loco citato, at the place cited, usually implying “cited above”
LUOTC Leeds University Officer Training Corps
ms. manuscript
N. north, northern (in species lists)
nom. alt. nomen alternativum, an alternative name
nom. cons. nomen conservandum, conserved name
nom. illeg. nomen illegitimum, illegitimate name
nom. nudum nomen nudum, name published without a description
S. south, southern (in species lists)
s.n. sine numero, without a number
SABONET Southern African Botanical Diversity Network
SAC Satellite Application Centre
sp. species, singular
spp. species, plural
SUOTC Southampton University Officer Training Corps
syn. syntype
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
W. west, western (in species lists)
WWF World Wide Fund for Nature
Herbarium acronyms
Herbarium acronyms follow Holmgren, Holmgren & Barnett (1990) and Smith & Willis (1999).
A Herbarium, Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Plants of the Nyika Plateau xi
B Herbarium, Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin-Dahlem, Berlin, Germany
BM Herbarium, Botany Department, The Natural History Museum, London, England, U.K.
BOL Bolus Herbarium, Botany Department, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
BR Herbarium, Nationale Plantentuin van België, Jardin Botanique National de Belgique, Domein van
Bouchout, Meise, Belgium
BRLU Herbarium, Laboratoire de Botanique Systématique et de Phytosociologie, Université Libre de
Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
C Herbarium, Botanical Museum, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
CAH Herbarium, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
COI Herbarium, Botanical Institute, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
DAV John M. Tucker Herbarium, Botany Department, University of California, Davis, California, U.S.A.
DBN Herbarium, National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin, Ireland
DSM Herbarium, Botany Department, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
E Herbarium, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K.
EA Herbarium, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
FHO Daubeny Herbarium, Plant Sciences Department, University of Oxford, England, U.K.
FRIM Forestry Research Institute of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi
GA Herbarium, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, U.S.A
J Charles E. Moss Herbarium, Botany Department, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg,
South Africa
K Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England, U.K.
LISC Herbário, Centro de Botânica, Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical, Lisbon, Portugal
LMA Herbarium, National Institute for Agronomic Research, Maputo, Mozambique
LMJ Herbarium, Botanical Department of the Cotton Research Centre, Maputo, Mozambique. LMJ
transferred to LMA.
M Herbarium, Botanische Staatssammlung, München, Germany
MA Herbario, Real Jardín Botánico, Madrid, Spain
MAL National Herbarium, Zomba, Malawi
MO Herbarium, Missouri Botanical Garden, Saint Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.
MPR Herbarium, National Plant Genetic Resources Centre, Mount Makulu Central Research Station,
Chilanga, Zambia
MU Herbarium, Botany Department, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, U.S.A.
NBG Compton Herbarium, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, South Africa
NDO Herbarium, Division of Forest Research, Forestry Department, Kitwe, Zambia
NH KwaZulu-Natal Herbarium, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Durban, South Africa
NU Herbarium, Botany Department, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal,
South Africa
NY Herbarium, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York, U.S.A.
OXF Fielding-Druce Herbarium, Plant Sciences Department, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, U.K.
P Herbier, Laboratoire de Phanérogamie, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
PRE National Herbarium, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, South Africa
RNG Herbarium, Plant Science Laboratories, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire,
England, U.K.
S Herbarium, Botany Departments, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
SAM South African Museum Herbarium, Cape Town, South Africa; maintained as a separate entity within
the Compton Herbarium (NBG), South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town,
South Africa
SCHG Southern Cape Herbarium, George, South Africa
SRGH National Herbarium (and Botanic Garden), Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe
UC University Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley, California, U.S.A.
UMO Herbarium, Biological Sciences Division, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, U.S.A.
UNIN University of the North Herbarium, Polokwane, South Africa
UPS Botanical Museum (Fytoteket), Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
US United States National Herbarium, Botany Department, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.,
U.S.A.
UT Garrett Herbarium, Utah Museum of Natural History, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah,
U.S.A.
UZL University of Zambia Herbarium, Lusaka, Zambia
WAG Herbarium Vadense, Department of Plant Taxonomy, Agricultural University, Wageningen,
Netherlands
WU Herbarium, Institut für Botanik, Universität Wien, Wien, Austria
xii Plants of the Nyika Plateau
Foreword
I feel very honoured to have been asked by Christopher Willis, chief organiser of the SABONET Nyika Plateau Expedition in 2000,
to provide a foreword for Plants of the Nyika Plateau. This book will be a valuable reference work for biodiversity managers, plan-
ners, academics, researchers, decision-makers, NGOs, and local communities.
The Nyika Plateau is a unique ecosystem for the survival of old plants and birth of new ones. Over millennia, the mixture of both old
and new plant species has resulted in unique plant diversity, making the Nyika Plateau one of the world’s hotspots or important plant
areas. A new visitor to Nyika is always greeted on the main plateau by the beauty of the rolling grasslands with dotted outcrops of
varied forests, hills, and mountaintops. Of course to the tourist, this is just another place for recreation, while the local people regard
the Nyika Plateau as a source of clean water and valuable non-timber products; but to the biologist, that beauty, both at species and
habitat level, becomes a big attraction for scientific inquiry. Thus, the rich plant diversity of the Nyika Plateau has been a subject of
research for botanists over the years, and the SABONET Nyika Plateau Expedition and its resultant publication are commendable
developments that will improve our knowledge about the plants of the Nyika Plateau.
The SABONET Nyika Plateau Expedition was one of the main capacity-building activities of the SABONET project; a similar col-
lecting expedition was undertaken to southern Mozambique in 2001. The expedition was notable since it was organised from within
the sub-region, and was attended by 24 participants from six countries in southern and eastern Africa (Malawi: 7, Mozambique: 1,
South Africa: 9, Zambia: 4, Zimbabwe: 2 and Tanzania: 1). The participation of both veteran and young botanists from the region
enriched the expedition and made it unique. The collection of 3,343 plant specimens is a remarkable achievement. The description of
one new species, many new plant distribution records, and the identification of several rare species are indications of the international
botanical importance of the Nyika Plateau. I have no doubt that the Nyika Plateau provided a natural theatre and laboratory where
veteran botanists such as Augustine Salubeni, Hassam Patel, Leonard Mwasumbi, John Burrows, and Patrick Phiri, amongst others,
taught their young colleagues many aspects of field botany and plant taxonomy, including collection techniques, field identifications,
character recognition of major plant groups, Nyika Plateau endemics, and rare plants. The great plant diversity of the Nyika Plateau
must indeed have re-affirmed and demonstrated once again to the expedition members the concept of a “hotspot”. In addition, the
Nyika Plateau must have shown the unique distribution patterns of some plants, such as the pencil cedar, whose disjunct southern
distribution appears to end at the Plateau.
The botanical survey of many developing countries remains poor mainly owing to lack of financial resources for fieldwork. This insuf-
ficient knowledge about the botany of our plants will impede the implementation of international obligations (such as the Convention
on Biological Diversity, Wetland Convention—RAMSAR, and Millennium Development Goals) that aim to assist our governments to
achieve sustainable development. However, for the ten southern African countries, the GEF/UNDP and USAID/IUCN ROSA funding
of the SABONET project has meant enhancement of scientific and technical co-operation on plant diversity. In particular, building a
team of experts from the region to collect, identify, document, and publish Plants of the Nyika Plateau shows that, given adequate
funding, Africa has the human capacity to document every plant in our respective countries. Certainly, the Nyika Plateau team should
not rest, but use the Nyika Plateau experience to penetrate and botanise other important under-collected habitats in our sub-region.
They should form a long-lasting human network on which the region will rely for solving botanical and taxonomic problems at both
the national and regional level.
Professor J.H. Seyani
General Manager & Chief Executive
National Herbarium and Botanic Gardens of Malawi
Kasyaula Forest (Malawi) Manyenjere Forest (Zambia)
Plants of the Nyika Plateau ix
Preface
For in order to care deeply about something important it is first necessary to know about it. So let us resume old-
fashioned expeditions at a quickened pace, solicit money for permanent field stations, and expand the support
of young scientists—call them “naturalists” with pride—who by inclination and the impress of early experience
commit themselves to deep knowledge of particular groups of organisms.
—E.O. Wilson, “On the future of conservation biology”
This book represents our current knowledge and understanding of the diversity of plants found on the Nyika Plateau,
and draws on both published and unpublished information. The checklist was started in 1999, to aid plant collectors
on a SABONET-funded regional plant collecting expedition to the Nyika Plateau in March–April 2000; subsequently,
the list has been refined, based on the collections made during the expedition.
One of our main aims was to make the final publication as useful to as broad an audience as possible. It had to be ac-
cessible, not only to taxonomists and plant diversity specialists, but also to research staff working in the Nyika National
Parks and tourists interested in the Nyika Plateau’s plant diversity. To this end, an illustration of every plant genus in the
list has been included, making the task of identification easier. Where possible, diagnostic characters of specific genera
have been indicated in the drawings. Photographs of landscapes and plants will assist readers in recognising some of the
Nyika Plateau’s diverse landscapes, habitats, and flowering plants.
We believe that this publication will make a significant contribution towards documenting the Nyika Plateau’s diverse
floral heritage. It is a continuation of work done by botanists and plant collectors, some more than a century ago. We
recognise that this checklist may be incomplete, and trust that it will be expanded and improved upon as knowledge
of the Nyika Plateau flora increases. Furthermore, it is our hope that this checklist will be used to assist conservation
authorities and planners in safeguarding the Nyika Plateau’s flora and its associated life forms for both present and
future generations.
John Burrows
Christopher Willis
Nkhonjera Hill
x Plants of the Nyika Plateau
Acknowledgements
This publication would not have been possible without the naceae), Robert Faden (Botany Department, Smithsonian Insti-
tremendous efforts of the SABONET publication and editorial tution, Washington DC, U.S.A.; Commelinaceae), Clare Archer
team—Marthina Mössmer, Lidia Gibson, Hanlie van Heerden, (PRE; Cyperaceae), Robert Archer (PRE; Celastraceae), Marie
and Antoinette Burkhardt. We thank them sincerely for their Jordaan (PRE; Celastraceae), Serena Marner (OXF; Faurea),
patience and professional approach towards the compilation of Kevin Balkwill (Botany Department, University of Witwatersrand;
this book. Acanthaceae), Diane Bridson (Kew; Rubiaceae), Henk Beentje
(Kew; Helichrysum), Tom Cope (Kew; Poaceae), Yvette Harvey
Sandie Burrows prepared the majority of the line drawings. The (Kew; Leonotis), Roger Polhill (Loranthaceae), and Alan Paton
many hours spent illustrating the various Nyika plant genera are (Kew; Lamiaceae). Janice Golding assisted with the compilation
greatly appreciated. We also thank Sandie for her help and support of the section on the endemic plants of the Nyika Plateau.
during the SABONET Nyika Expedition in March–April 2000.
We acknowledge the following people for use of their slides and
Generous financial support and sponsorship from the GEF/UNDP- images: Hubert Kurzweil, Serena Marner, Alan Paton, Mike
funded Southern African Botanical Diversity Network (SAB- Meadows, Hugh Synge, Graham Williamson, Bryan Simon,
ONET) Project made this book possible. We thank the Chairman Bruce Hargreaves, Roger Polhill, Dick Brummitt, William and
(Prof. Brian Huntley) and members of the SABONET Steering Jean Pawek, Gerald Pope, David Goyder, Isobyl la Croix, Audrey
Committee, particularly Patrick Phiri, Dickson Kamundi, and Au- Moriarty, Bob and Françoise Dowsett-Lemaire, Norman Robson,
gustine Chikuni, for their ongoing support of and enthusiasm for and Jim Chapman.
the Nyika expedition and the development of this publication.
Hassam Patel (Malawi) provided determinations for the specimens
Co-funding from the Wildlife Conservation Society in Tanzania collected by Samira Izidine (Mozambique) on the Expedition.
facilitated the participation of Leonard Mwasumbi from the Hassam visited the LMA Herbarium (Maputo, Mozambique)
University of Dar-es-Salaam in the Expedition. from 12–20 November 2001 through an internship supported
by the SABONET Project.
We are grateful to the members of the SABONET Secretariat
for their administrative and logistical support that made both We thank Peter and Marianne Overton of Biosearch Nyika for
the Expedition and the book possible: Stefan Siebert, Yolande their cooperation and the use of their plant checklists compiled
Steenkamp, Nyasha Rukazhanga-Leboho (née Rukazhanga- over several years of collecting expeditions to various parts of the
Noko), Carina Haasbroek, Lorna Davis, and Elsabe Malan. Nyika National Park.
Thank you also to Leanna Els (South African National Biodiversity We are grateful to Dick Brummitt (with Gerald Pope) for providing
Institute, Pretoria) for administrative assistance. the section on Alexander Whyte’s travels, as well as the locality
information of Adiantum reniforme in the Wovwe River, Nyika
Prior to the regional expedition the Royal Geographical Society’s National Park. This enabled the Expedition team to collect the
Expedition Advisory Centre (London, U.K.) provided valuable plant 28 years after it was first discovered and collected by the
advice, literature, and support. Wye College (University of London) Expedition in 1972. Hugh
Synge kindly supplied us with a copy of the final report from the
We would specifically like to thank members of the SABONET Wye College 1972 Malawi Project.
Nyika Expedition for their tremendous enthusiasm and efforts in
the field, and also for processing their specimens after the Expe- The Nyika and Malawi National Parks staff, particularly Gibson
dition. Malawi: Humphrey Chapama (87 specimens), Augustine Mphepo, Muteto Dlamini, Paul Chisambo, and Jonas Luhanga
Chikuni (24), Crispin Kasakula (72), Montfort Mwanyambo offered support, companionship, and advice during the regional
(102), Hassam Patel (72), Augustine Salubeni (91), and Moffat collecting expedition.
Thera (115); Mozambique: Samira Izidine (142); Zambia: Patrick
Phiri (548), Ashed Makukula (136), Annaniah Sakala (101), Thanks to Kit Cottrell (Entomology Department, Kutsaga Re-
and Wilfred Moonga (135); South Africa: Sandie Burrows (214, search Station, Harare, Zimbabwe) for earlier discussions and
with John Burrows), Lyn Fish (204), Marinda Koekemoer (244), enthusiastic support for the SABONET Nyika Expedition.
Solomon Nkoana (110), Hubert Kurzweil (81), Christopher Willis Ian Thomson, of the Nyika Vwaza Conservation Project, northern
(255), Pieter Winter (254), and Steve Johnson (no plant specimens Malawi, gave advice and suggestions prior to the Expedition.
collected); Zimbabwe: Alfred Maroyi (94) and Ratidzayi Takawira
(155); Tanzania: Leonard Mwasumbi (107). Alan Paton (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) obtained addresses and
contact details of artists who contributed to published volumes
Many taxonomic specialists assisted in the identification of speci- of Flora zambesiaca. The Flora zambesiaca Management Com-
mens from the Expedition. The following individuals are thanked mittee generously provided a complete set of Flora zambesiaca
for coordinating the completion of various family treatments listed volumes to the SABONET Secretariat for use as reference mate-
in this checklist. Lyn Fish (PRE) provided the Poaceae, Cyperaceae, rial during the Expedition and for subsequent expeditions and
and Commelinaceae; Marinda Koekemoer (PRE) provided the training courses.
Asteraceae and Bryophyta; Hubert Kurzweil (NBG) and Graham
Williamson provided the Orchidaceae, and Pieter Winter (PRE, Estelle Potgieter and Anne-Lise Fourie of the Mary Gunn Library,
previously at UNIN) provided the treatments of the families National Herbarium, Pretoria, tracked down various publications
Acanthaceae, Apiaceae, Crassulaceae, and Lamiaceae. We also and reference materials used in this book. Emsie du Plessis, of
acknowledge the following taxonomists who provided valuable the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s Publications
taxonomic advice and support in the treatment of various plant Section in Pretoria, edited earlier versions of the References sec-
groups: René Glen (PRE; aquatics), David Goyder (Kew; Apocy- tion.
Plants of the Nyika Plateau xiii
