NOTES ON THE VEGETATION OF INSELBERGS IN MALAWI

Authors
Citation
S. Porembski, NOTES ON THE VEGETATION OF INSELBERGS IN MALAWI, Flora, 191(1), 1996, pp. 1-8
Citations number
29
Categorie Soggetti
Plant Sciences
Journal title
Flora
ISSN journal
03672530 → ACNP
Volume
191
Issue
1
Year of publication
1996
Pages
1 - 8
Database
ISI
SICI code
0367-2530(1996)191:1<1:NOTVOI>2.0.ZU;2-I
Abstract
Flora and vegetation of Malawian inselbergs are briefly described. Hab itat types which are known from other parts of Africa also occur here. Inselbergs in Malawi are floristically richer with many succulents an d poikilohydric species and harbour more endemics than those in West A frica. Of major importance for the higher species richness is the isol ated massif of Mt. Mulanje. Outstanding examples of endemics are the t ree-like Velloziaceae Xerophyta splendens and the Orchidaceae Polystac hya johnstonii epiphytic on stems of the preceding species. Apart from widespread species (e.g. Cyanotis lanata) which are shared with West African inselbergs there is a high degree of floristic divergence with vicariant taxa replacing each other, e.g. the mat-forming. Cyperaceae Coleochloa setifera as ecological counterpart of the West African Afr otrilepis pilosa. The inselberg flora of Malawi is largely Zambezian w ith links to Madagascar.