Abstract:
BACKGROUND : The distribution of Ficus sur includes most of tropical Africa, but whilst this
species was suspected to occur in Namibia, this has not been verified. Gymnanthemum coloratum
is a tropical African savannah shrub or tree that has been recorded for Botswana, Swaziland
and South Africa, but which has not previously been recorded for Namibia.
OBJECTIVES : To formally document the first records of two plant species from Namibia and
provide habitat details of the localities from which these species were recorded.
METHOD : The data presented have resulted from botanical expeditions to the poorly known
Baynes Mountains in the Koakoveld region of Namibia. Specimens of the two species in the
National Herbarium, Pretoria were examined to verify the identity in the case of G. coloratum,
and to document additional records in Namibia for F. sur.
RESULTS : Ficus sur was recorded from two localities, and a third locality based on a specimen
in the National Herbarium, Pretoria, was verified. Gymnanthemum coloratum, a member of the
Asteraceae, was recorded from a single locality.
CONCLUSION : The fact that F. sur was collected at more than one location in the Kaokoveld
suggests that it is probably more widespread in suitable microhabitats. Ficus sur also occurs
further north in Angola, suggesting that the Kaokoveld plants represent a cross-border outlier of
the much more widespread Angolan population. Gymnanthemum coloratum was only recorded
from the one locality in the Koakoveld. The species also occurs in Angola, which suggests that
the Kaokoveld plant represents a cross-border outlier of the population in that country.
