49-77 - SABONET

20 mm 

Acanthopale confertiflora 

Del. Sandie Burrows 

Blepharis grandis 


20 mm 

Acanthus ueleensis 


Brillantaisia kirungae 


20 mm 

20 mm 

Plants of the Nyika Plateau 

49

Dicliptera maculata 


20 mm 

Hypoestes aristata 


50 Plants of the Nyika Plateau 

20 mm 

Dyschoriste verticillaris 


20 mm 

Isoglossa strigulosa 


20 mm

& Synge 214 (K, MAL). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, Chowo Forest, cf. Dowsett-Lemaire 96 (K?). 

Isoglossa substrobilina C.B.Clarke or aff. 

Trailing herb with ascending stems and ovate-elliptic tapering leaves, flowers 

glandular-hairy in terminal and lateral uninterrupted spike-like racemes, 

bracts spoon-shaped or obovate. It is not known whether Dowsett-Lemaire’s 

plant has been described as a separate taxon since the publication of her 

report and, as such, no detail was available on how it differs from the 

above description. Known from the Nyika Plateau and the Misuku Hills, 

in montane forest undergrowth. 

Source. Dowsett-Lemaire (1985). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, Chowo and Kasoma Forests, cf. Dowsett-Lemaire 

260 (K?). 

Isoglossa strigulosa C.B.Clarke � 

Ascending herb, 1–1.5 m tall; corolla expanded, white with dark red-purple 

marks; in montane forest undergrowth. Known only from the Nyika 

Plateau and the Misuku Hills. 

Source. Brummitt (1973); PRE. 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, Chowo Forest, 2,160 m, Pawek 10027 (MO, PRE, 

UC, K, SRGH, MAL). 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Kawozya, forest E. of summit, 1972, Brummitt 

& Synge 215 (K, MAL, SRGH). 

Justicia linearispica C.B.Clarke 

Herbaceous perennial herb from a woody root; leaves sessile, 25 mm x 

6 mm, glabrescent; floral leaves scarcely 6 mm long, narrowly oblong or 

linear, sepals 4, flowers ca 8 mm long. Eastern and southern tropical Africa. 

Source. UZL; PRE. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, without locality, 1958, Robson 193 (PRE); 

without locality, 2000, Mwanyambo 518 (MAL). 

No country given. 1967, Richards 22451 (UZL). 

Justicia mollugo C.B.Clarke 

Minute scabrous hispid annual herb; leaves oblong, up to 19 mm long; 

flowers axillary, sessile, clustered, corolla scarcely 5 mm long; in ephemeral 

habitats. Eastern tropical Africa. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Domwe Viewpoint parking area, 2000, Winter 

4103 (MAL); Fingira Rock, 2000, Winter 4233 (PRE). 

Justicia nuttii C.B.Clarke 

Justicia goetzei Lindau; Justicia schliebenii Mildbr. 

Small, pubescent herbaceous perennial with clustered stems up to 260 mm 

tall; leaves 20–37 mm x ca 15 mm; flowers ca 12 mm long, white with a 

few red markings on midlobe of lower lip; common in frequently burnt 

high-altitude short grassland. From the Iringa region in S. Tanzania to Dedza 

in central Malawi. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, hill E.S.E. of Dembo Bridge, 2000, Winter 

4046 (MAL, PRE, SRGH, UZL); Mpopoti, 2000, Mwanyambo 553 (MAL); 

2000, Thera 3056 (MAL). 

Justicia phyllostachys C.B.Clarke 

Slender hairy perennial herb up to 0.6 m tall; leaves up to 100 x 41 mm, 

petiole up to 37 mm long; flowers in terminal spikes, floral leaves ca 16 mm 

long, ovate or elliptic, sepals 5, flowers 10–19 mm long, varying from mauvepink 

to red purple with purple nectar guides or with white markings on 

midlobe of lower lip; in scrub or forest margins. D.R.C., Tanzania, Angola, 

Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, 1896, Whyte 118 (K, holo.); North Rukuru Valley, 

2000, Winter 4117 (MAL). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, near Rest House on Chisanga Falls Road, 2000, 

Winter 4014 (UZL). 

Justicia striata (Klotzsch) Bullock � 

Adhatoda striata Klotsch; Justicia melampyrum S.Moore 

Very variable, slender herb of open forest and woodland, supported by 

surrounding shrubs and grasses; leaves mostly elliptic-oblong, short-petioled, 

38–52 mm long, but lower leaves can be broadly ovate with longer petioles; 

flowers axillary, floral leaves usually round or ovate, flowers usually 

white, also pale mauve or magenta, 8.5–10(–13) mm long. Widespread 

throughout tropical Africa. This name may have been misapplied to J. 

phyllostachys C.B.Clarke (above). 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Vitinthiza Hill slope, 2000, Mwanyambo 

575 (MAL). 

Lepidagathis sparsiceps C.B.Clarke � 

Procumbent perennial herb with linear leaves; flowers all at base of stems, 

heads woolly; on sparsely vegetated, gravelly slopes. Eastern Africa. 

Source. Brummitt (1973). 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, S. slopes of Kawozya, 1972, Brummitt & 

Synge 173 (K, MAL, SRGH); N. Rukuru Valley, 2000, Winter 4110 (MAL). 

Mellera submutica C.B.Clarke � 

Onus submuticus (C.B.Clarke) Gilli; Pseudobarleria lindaui Dewevre 

Perennial similar to Mimulopsis, 1 m tall; leaves ovate, 75 x 50 mm, cordate, 

margin toothed; inflorescence pyramidal, glandular, flowers 25 mm 

long, lilac-blue with orange throat, tube gradually dilated upwards, mouth 

very oblique, 2-lipped, anticous lobe twice as broad as the others. Eastern 

Africa. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, S. slopes of Kawozya, 1972, Brummitt & 

Synge 186 (K, MAL, SRGH). 

Metarungia pubinervia (T.Anders.) Baden � 

Anisotes pubinervis (T.Anders.) Heine; Macrorungia pubinervia 

(T.Anders.) C.B.Clarke 

Shrub or rarely small tree similar to Anisotes nyassae, 2–5 m high, sometimes 

with aerial roots; leaves short-stalked, to 200 x 80 mm; spikes axillary, 

one-sided, 60 mm long, hanging, often borne on bare branches below 

the leaves; bracts pinkish, ovate to elliptic, flat, 10–14(19) mm long, with a 

hyaline margin; flowers red or maroon, rarely white, 30 mm long; lower 

lip lobed at tip only; in undergrowth of drier forests. Ethiopia to South 

Africa. Baden’s (1981b) assertion (based on a single character) that 

Macrorungia was not closely related to Anisotes is unconvincing. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, Kasyaula Forest, cf. Dowsett-Lemaire 188 

(K?). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, Kasoma Forest, Dowsett-Lemaire 259 (K?). 

Mimulopsis solmsii Schweinf. � 

Mimulopsis violacea Lindau; Mimulopsis sesamoides S.Moore 

Ascending, scrambling shrub up to 2.5 m tall, often covered with long reddish 

hairs; leaves ovate, to 150 mm, often doubly round- or sharp-toothed; 

inflorescence glandular, flowers trumpet-shaped subequally 5-lobed, 30– 

35 mm long, white to pale blue or lilac with orange markings, or yellowish 

with purple guide lines within. Widespread in tropical Africa. 

Source. Brummitt (1973); Dowsett-Lemaire (1985). 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Kawozya summit, 1972, Brummitt & Synge 

200 (K, MAL). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, Manyenjere and Chowo Forests, cf. Dowsett-Lemaire 

261 (K?). 

Monechma varians C.B.Clarke � 

Stems simple, 300 mm from a woody rootstock; flowers white, similar to 

those of Justicia; seeds solitary in each cell, and smooth (2 per cell and 

rough in Justicia). Endemic to the Nyika Plateau. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, Sawi Valley, 1972, Synge 437 (K, MAL). 

Peristrophe aculeata (C.B.Clarke) R.K.Brummitt � 

Dicliptera aculeata C.B.Clarke 

Similar to P. paniculata, but perennial, and with a 17–27 mm long corolla; 

in woodland. Northern Malawi. This record casts further doubt onto the 

occurrence of P. paniculata on the Nyika Plateau. The placental type is the 

only consistent character for distinguishing Peristrophe from Dicliptera 

(Balkwill 1996a, 1996b). 


51 

ACANTHACEAE

Justicia striata 


10 mm 

20 mm 


20 mm 

20 mm 

Lepidagathis sparsiceps 


Mellera submutica 

Del. Sandie Burrows

Mimulopsis solmsii 


20 mm 

20 mm 

Monechma varians 


Metarungia pubinervia 


20 mm 

Peristrophe aculeata 


20 mm 


53

ACANTHACEAE 


Malawi. Nyika Plateau, 1,220–1,830 m, 1896, Whyte s.n. (K, lecto.), 1,830– 

2,135 m, Whyte s.n. (K). 

Peristrophe paniculata (Forssk.) Brummitt 

Dianthera bicalyculata Retz.; Justicia bicalyculata (Retz.) Vahl; 

?Peristrophe dewewrei De Wild. & Durand 

Usually unbranched erect annual herb to 2 m, stems 6-ridged; leaves shortlystalked, 

60–110 x 30–40 mm; flowers magenta, 10 mm long, in a large 

branched panicle, paired bracts very different in size; in open bush land 

and dry rocky soils up to 1,500 m. Namibia to India. As the dry habitat 

typical for this taxon is not represented in the Nyika National Park, there is 

a possibility that the name is misapplied here. The situation requires investigation 

to assess the occurrence of P. paniculata and the identity of P. 

dewewrei. Similar to Dicliptera maculata. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, without locality or collecting details (Mill 

1979). 

Peristrophe pumila (Lindau) Gilli 

Dicliptera pumila (Lindau) Dandy ex Brenan; Peristrophe usta 

C.B.Clarke 

Creeping or suberect, hairy pyrophyte, with stems 100 mm tall from a woody 

rootstock; leaves elliptic, to 40 mm long; flowers in erect spikes, bracts 

with dense stalked glandular hairs, petals white, mauve-tipped or magenta; 

in short or open and wooded grassland, usually flowering before the leaves 

are fully developed, soon after fire. Sudan to Zimbabwe. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, valley N. of Nganda, 1972, Synge 387 (K, 

MAL). 

Phaulopsis imbricata (Forssk.) Sweet � 

Ruellia imbricata Forssk.; Aetheilema imbricatum (Forssk.) Spreng.; 

Micranthus imbricatus (Forssk.) O.Kuntze 

Glandular-hairy trailing herb with ascending stems and stalked leaves; leaves 

of a pair usually unequal, bases asymmetrical; flowers white with a bent tube, 

small, in clusters with overlapping, pale, ciliate bracts; in shade or semi-shade in 

woodland or forest margins. Widespread in eastern and southern Africa. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Fingira Rock, 2000, Winter 4219 (MAL). 

Thunbergia alata Bojer ex Sims � 

Thunbergia fuscata T.Anders. ex Lindau; Valentiana volubilis Raf. 

Climbing perennial herb up to 3 m, petiole winged; leaves arrow-shaped 

with five veins from the base; flowers yellow or orange, with a black or 

Anisotes nyassae Baden 

Found in the Karonga district of Malawi, S. Tanzania, and N.E. Zambia. 

Dowsett-Lemaire’s record appears to be a sight record, based on material 

in bud, which ‘appeared similar to A. nyassae collected in the nearby forests 

of the N. Viphya.’ Since she recorded the similar Metarungia pubinervia 

as well, it seems possible that both taxa could occur on the Nyika, but 

since there is no specimen to confirm its existence, it is excluded here. 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, eastern escarpment submontane forests (Dowsett- 

Lemaire 1985: 354). 

Blepharis buchneri Lindau 

Large leaf pair in whorls more than (3–)5 times longer than smaller pair. 

Smaller pair rhomboid-triangular, 3(–7)-veined from the base, rarely 

pinnately veined. The correct application of this name is doubted, as B. 

buchneri is not recorded for Malawi in the recent revision, and as this 

name has often been used erroneously for what is actually B. grandis. 

Source. Vollesen (2000). 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Runyina River, 2000, Phiri 3784 (MAL). 

No country given. Verboom s.n. (UZL). 

Dyschoriste albiflora Lindau 

The authenticity of this record could not be confirmed. Known only from 


Excluded species 

deep purple throat; bush land and thicket. Widespread in eastern and W. 

Africa; also on Mauritius. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, Vitinthiza Hill slope, 2000, Mwanyambo 

576 (MAL); Jalawe Viewpoint, 2000, Thera 3074 (MAL); North Rukuru Valley, 

2000, Winter 4116 (MAL, PRE); 8 km E. of Nganda, 1972, Brummitt, 

Munthali & Synge 125 (K, MAL, SRGH). 

Thunbergia kirkiana T.Anders. 

Low semi-procumbent perennial herb; leaf bases sometimes slightly winged, 

giving the leaf an arrow shape; flowers large, translucent white with a yellow 

throat; in miombo woodland, spring-flowering. D.R.C., Tanzania, 

Angola, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, without locality or collecting details (Patel 1999). 

Thunbergia lancifolia T.Anders. 

Herbaceous perennial up to 600 mm tall, with erect annual stems from a 

woody rootstock; leaves narrowly elliptic; flowers ca 50 mm diameter, pale 

to dark blue or tinged with violet, throat yellow, corolla tube slightly inflated, 

calyx covered with minute glistening hairs; in open grassland, or 

along the edge of Brachystegia woodland, spring-flowering. From Ethiopia 

to Zimbabwe. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, without locality or collecting details (Mill 1979). 

Thunbergia mollis Lindau 

Stem with a rusty pubescence or glabrous; leaves ovate, cordate or hastate, 

60 x 36 mm, strigose on both sides, petiole rusty pubescent, 25 mm long; 

bracteoles 5-nerved, the middle one forming a marked keel; corolla large, 

purple above, tube 38 mm long; habitat unknown. Distribution range outside 

of Malawi is unknown. 


1979). 

Thunbergia petersiana Lindau 

Stem-climbing, with scattered hairs; leaves cordate, long acuminate, 75 x 

57 mm, pilose on both sides, petiole more than 50 mm long; bracteoles 3nerved 

and 3-keeled, reticulated; corolla large, violet, tube 25 mm long. As 

this taxon was originally known from the lower Zambezi River basin in 

Mozambique, presumably in a different habitat, there is some doubt as to 

whether the Nyika taxon is the same. 


No country given. Nyika Plateau, cf. Dowsett-Lemaire 263 (K?). 

Tanzania. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, without locality or collecting details (Patel 

1999). 

Justicia kirkiana T.Anders. 

Justicia fasciata Lindau 

Slender erect annual herb; leaves narrowly lanceolate, up to 62 x 5 mm; 

flowers yellow, with a dark stripe on each lobe of the lower lip, bracts and 

calyx with long, cottony hairs. Known only from sandy savanna at low 

altitudes (Flora of southern Africa; PRE specimens from other localities). A 

doubtful record perhaps confused with J. flava (Vahl) Vahl. 


1999). 

Justicia petiolaris (Nees) T.Anders. subsp. bowiei 

(C.B.Clarke) Immelman 

Justicia mutica C.B.Clarke 

This species is known only from the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. 

Confusion with J. linearispica, a species found on Nyika Plateau and 

from the same section, is suspected. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Mpopoti Peak, 2000, Izidine 62 (LMA), det: 

H. Patel.

Phaulopsis imbricata 


20 mm 

10 mm 

Thunbergia alata 


20 mm 

Alangium chinense 



55

ALANGIACEAE 

Alangium chinense (Lour.) Harms � 

Tree 9–30 m tall, leaves simple, base asymmetric, flowers white to yellow, 

?sweetly scented; in lowland and upland forest, next to streams; up to 

2,000 m in this area. Widespread in central Africa, extending through tropical 

Asia to Japan and Indonesia. A very rare tree in the Flora zambesiaca 

Note. It appears that this relatively large family is under-collected on the 

Nyika and many more than the three taxa listed below occur there. 

Achyranthes aspera L. var. pubescens (Moq.) Townsend � 

Erect or straggling perennial herb, stems 4-angled, leaves opposite, broadly 

elliptic, hairy; flowers in a slender terminal spike, minute and enclosed in a 

downward-pointing spiny bract; in many habitats, including evergreen forest, 

scrub, woodland, often as a weed in disturbed areas. Widespread 

throughout the tropics. 


1979). 

Amaranthus hybridus L. subsp. cruentus (L.) Thell. � 

Amaranthus cruentus L.; Amaranthus paniculatus L.; Amaranthus 

chlorostachys auctt. non Willd. 

Robust annual herb to 2 m tall or more, leaves broadly lanceolate to rhomboid, 

more or less hairless; flowers in a dense terminal spike, red, green or 

Lannea discolor (Sond.) Engl. 

livelong; Chichewa: sidyatunga; Yao: chiumbu 

Deciduous tree to 15 m tall, leaves alternate, imparipinnate, leaflets in 4– 

10 pairs, dark green above, whitish below; fruit a red to purple berry 9–15 

x 7–10 mm, fleshy and edible; in open woodland of various types and on 

rocky hillsides. South Africa to D.R.C., Zambia, and Malawi. Bark used 

to cure diarrhoea, the poles used as a ‘live fence’. Fruit edible and relished. 


1979). 

Lannea edulis (Sond.) Engl. � 

Chichewa: ufulukula; Yao: mndyankamba 

Suffrutex shrublet with annual stems arising from a large woody rootstock, 

leaves imparipinnate, leaflets in 1–3 pairs, hairy when young, glabrous 

later; fruit at ground level, in clusters, red, 9–11 x 6–7 mm, fleshy 

and edible; in open woodland, rocky hillsides, grassland, most evident after 

fires when it flowers. South Africa to Angola, D.R.C., and Uganda. A 

root extract is used to treat diarrhoea. Fruit is eaten. 


1979). 

Ozoroa insignis Delile subsp. reticulata (Baker f.) Gillett � 

Much-branched evergreen tree to 15 m tall, leaves simple, alternate or in 

whorls of 3, variable in shape, hairy or not above, densely hairy below, 

veins prominently parallel; in various types of woodland, in savanna, rocky 

hillsides, and grassland. Three varieties of subsp. reticulata are recognized, 

but the identity of the Nyika material is unknown. 

Source. Flora zambesiaca 2(2): 576 (1966). 


1979); Nyika National Park, without locality or collecting details (Patel 

1999). 

Rhus anchietae Ficalho & Hiern ex Hiern 

Dense shrub or small tree to 8 m tall; leaves 3-foliate, leaflets rhombic to 

elliptic, discolorous, hairy or not, veins prominent below; in riverine forest, 

swamps and savannas. Malawi to Zambia, Angola, D.R.C., and Tanzania. 

Source. Flora zambesiaca 2(2): 612 (1966) 


ALANGIACEAE 

AMARANTHACEAE 

ANACARDIACEAE 

area; in Malawi known only from two other areas (Misuku Hills and 

Usumara on the Viphya). 

Source. Dowsett-Lemaire (1990: 75). 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, Kasyaula Forest, Dowsett-Lemaire 335 (FHO). 

yellowish; in disturbed grassland, a weed of cultivation. This subspecies is 

presumed to be of (Central) American origin, but is now widespread in the 

tropical and subtropical regions of the world. However, if collected in the 

remote and almost uninhabited Nyika of 1903 (see specimen), then it seems 

unlikely to have been introduced. 


Malawi. Nyika Plateau, 1903, McClounie 157 (K). 

Cyathula cylindrica Moq. � 

Perennial straggling herb with opposite simple leaves; inflorescence distinctive, 

a congested cylindrical spike of creamy bristle-like bracts, the spikes becoming 

attached to animals’ fur and humans’ clothing. Scrambling in forests margins, 

montane scrub, and Brachystegia woodland; 1,150–2,300 m. Widespread 

in Africa from Cameroon and Sudan S. to South Africa (Cape). 


Malawi. Nyika Plateau, 2,180 m, 1975, Pawek 9968 (K, MAL, MO, SRGH, 

UC). 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, without precise locality, 1960, Chapman 771 

(COI, SRGH). 

Rhus longipes Engl. var. longipes � 

large-leaved rhus; Chichewa: kamwamadzi, mdima; Yao: mpilakuru, 

mtatu 

Shrub or small tree to 8 m, or scandent, leaves 3-foliate, leaflets elliptic or 

obovate, hairy when young, hairless with age, veins obscure above when 

young, but prominent below when older; in forests, thickets and woodlands. 

Zimbabwe to W. Africa and Kenya. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, head of Mondwe Valley, 1972, Brummitt & 

Synge 237 (K, MAL, SRGH, LISC); Mbuzinandi, 2000, Mwanyambo 584 

(MAL); Sangule Peak, 2000, Izidine 95 (LMA). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, on path to N. Rukuru Waterfall, 1958, Robson 393A 

(K, LISC). 

Rhus ochracea Meikle var. ochracea 

Rhus squalida sensu White (1962), non Meikle 

Suffrutex or shrub to 2 m, from a large woody rootstock, leaves 3-foliate, 

leaflets elliptic to obovate, leathery, sparsely to densely hairy on both sides, 

discolorous, yellowish green to russety below; fruit small, to 4 mm in diameter, 

round, shiny; in miombo woodland, in grasslands among rocks, on 

termite mounds. Zambia, Malawi, and Tanzania. This is the first record 

for the Nyika Plateau. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Jalawe Viewpoint, 2000, Thera 3084 (MAL). 

Rhus pyroides Burch. var. pyroides 

Rhus vulgaris Meikle 

Shrub or tree to 9 m tall, leaves 3-foliate, leaflets ovate to obovate, apex 

rounded or obtuse, base tapering, lateral and tertiary nerves sunken above, 

prominently raised below, dark green above, paler and silvery hairy below; 

fruit red or brownish red, round, ca 5 mm diameter; on termite mounds 

and rocky hills, along stream banks, and on forest margins. South Africa to 

Ethiopia. 

Source. Flora zambesiaca 2(2): 604 (1966); Moffett (1993: 43). 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, N. of Mpanda Summit, Lewis 104 (FHO); North 

Rukuru Valley, 2000, Winter 4121 (MAL).

Achyranthes aspera var. pubescens 


20 mm 

20 mm 

Cyathula cylindrica 


10 mm 

125 mm 

Lannea edulis 


Amaranthus hybridus subsp. cruentus 


20 mm 

100 mm 


57

Ozoroa insignis subsp. reticulata 



20 mm 


20 mm 

Anisophyllea boehmii 

20 mm 

Rhus longipes var. longipes 


20 mm 

Annona senegalensis 

Del. Sandie Burrows

Anisophyllea boehmii Engl. � 

Anisophyllea pomifera Engl. & Brehmer 

Tumbuka: mangondo; Tonga: mfungo; Ngoni: mahota 

Small evergreen tree to 10 m, young branchlets crimson, leaves simple, 

ovate to broadly elliptic, leathery dark green, midrib yellowish; flowers 

small on long slender spikes; fruit a round to ellipsoid drupe, ca 35 x 20 mm, 

Annona senegalensis Pers. � 

wild custard-apple; Chichewa: mpoza, mneche, ulembe; Tumbuka: 

mdopa, munyele, mulolo; Yao: chiuta, mponjela, mposa 

Small, often spreading tree 1.5–8 m tall; leaves alternate, 60–185 x 30– 

115 mm, venation sunken above, prominent below; fruit single, 15–30 mm 

long, segmented, yellowish, edible; in various types of woodland or wooded 

grassland; 0–1,900 m. Widespread throughout tropical Africa. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, without locality or collector (Mill 1979). 

Artabotrys monteiroae Oliv. � 

red hook-berry; Chichewa: kana; Yao: mtandaumbiri, ntandandumbili 

Shrub or liane 1.2–6 m tall, bearing small hooks on the branches; leaves 

alternate, oblong to ovate, 30–140 mm long, glossy, hairless above, finely 

hairy below; fruit in few-fruited clusters, small, red when ripe; in evergreen 

forest, riverine forest, woodland, and rocky outcrops; up to 2,200 m. South 

Africa to Uganda and D.R.C. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Kasyaula and Zovochipolo Forests (Dowsett- 

Lemaire 1985: 319). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, Manyenjere, Kasoma, and Chowo Forests (Dowsett- 

Lemaire 1985: 319). 

20 mm 

Artabotrys monteiroae 


ANISOPHYLLACEAE 

ANNONACEAE 

plum-coloured, edible; in miombo woodland on sandy or rocky soils; 600– 

1,600 m. Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, and D.R.C. Fruit much relished; the 

roots are used in Zambia as a snakebite remedy. 

Source. Flora zambesiaca 4: 97 (1978); Lebrun & Stork (1991: 167). 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Thazima Gate, 2000, Burrows & Maroyi 6837 

(MAL, PRE). 

Artabotrys stolzii Diels 

Yao: chisakalawe 

Large woody climber to 15 m tall, very similar to A. monteiroae; in mist 

forest and evergreen forest: 1,500–2,100 m. Confined to the Nyika in 

Malawi and S. Tanzania. Regarded as a synonym of A. monteiroae by 

White et al. (2001). 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, without precise locality, 1955, Lees 66 (K). 

Friesodielsia obovata (Benth.) Verdc. � 

Popowia obovata (Benth.) Engl. & Diels 

northern dwaba-berry; Chichewa: mchinga, kombe, mufulafula (fruits); 

Yao: makatama, mkotamu 

Shrub to small tree 1–5 m tall; leaves alternate, oblong-obovate, 60–140 x 

35–95 mm, finely hairy or hairless, often glaucous below; fruit a cluster of 

3–6 carpels, each 1- to 4-seeded, pinkish to orange-yellow; in open woodland, 

thickets, and along rivers, often on granitic soils. Mainly a species of 

the Flora zambesiaca region. 


Malawi. Nyika Plateau, Mwenembwe, 1903, McClounie 148 (K). 

Friesodielsia obovata 

Del. Pat Halliday 


59 

ANISOPHYLLACEAE

20 mm 

20 mm 

Alepidea peduncularis 



Afrocarum imbricatum 


3,5 mm 

Agrocharis incognita 


4 mm 

Centella asiatica 


20 mm 

20 mm

Afrocarum imbricatum (Schinz) Rauschert � 

Baumiella imbricata (Schinz) H.Wolff.; Carum imbricatum Schinz 

Herb to 1 m high; leaves glabrous, pinnate, leaflets in 16–32(40) pairs, 

overlapping, sharply toothed; bracts commonly trisect or pinnate above; 

flowers cream-coloured; in wetlands, grassland, and woodland. Zimbabwe 

to Angola, C.A.R., and Tanzania. A monotypic genus endemic to highlands 

of the central African plateau. African relatives include Berula, 

Oenanthe, and Sium. 


Malawi. Nyika Plateau, road to Chelinda, Richards 10507 (K); W. foot of 

Nganda, 1972, Brummitt, Munthali & Synge 37 (K, MAL, SRGH, EA); Dembo 

River, 2000, Winter 4034 (MAL, SRGH, LMA, PRE, UZL). 

Agrocharis incognita (Norman) Heyw. & Jury � 

Caucalis incognita Norman; Torilis eminii Engl.; Torilis gracilis Engl. 

forma umbrosa Engl. 

Annual herbs (or short-lived perennial with a slender rootstock) set with 

bristly, tubercle-based hairs; leaves 2(–3)-pinnate, pinnae with broadly oblong-elliptic 

segments, more rarely (when tripinnate) the segments narrowly 

elliptic; umbels compound, involucre present beneath main umbel, petals 

greenish to white or creamy white; fruit with glochidiate spines, secondary 

ribs spinose, primary ribs pilose; in montane grassland, forest margins and 

clearings, or in deep shade in damp places, and as a weed of agriculture, 

900–3,000 m. Tropical eastern Africa to Sudan, D.R.C., Malawi, E. Zimbabwe, 

and adjacent Mozambique. The relationship between Agrocharis 

and Daucus is being investigated. 

Source. Patel (1999). 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, margin of Zovochipolo Forest, 2000, Winter 

4131 (MAL). 

Agrocharis melanantha Hochst. 

Agrocharis pedunculata (Baker f.) Heyw. & Jury; Caucalis melanantha 

(Hochst.) Hiern; Caucalis longisepala H.Wolff; Caucaliopsis stolzii 

H.Wolff.; Gynophyge tansaniensis Gilli 

Perennial pyrophytic herb with a thickened rootstock, 100 mm tall, set 

with bristly, tubercle-based hairs; leaves 3- to 4-pinnate into linear to linear-oblong 

segments, often subverticillate in appearance; umbels compound, 

with distinct and often long rays; involucre present beneath main umbel, 

petals greenish to yellowish or blackish purple; fruit with glochidiate spines, 

secondary ribs spinose, primary ribs pilose; in moist, short, montane grassland 

subject to frequent burning. Widespread in eastern Africa. 

Source. Brummitt (1973); Patel (1999). 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, between Nganda and Muzengapakweru, 

1972, Synge 359 (K, MAL, SRGH, EA); road to Chelinda bridge, near Chosi 

Hill turnoff, 2000, Winter 4052 (MAL, PRE); Nganda Hill crest, 2000, Winter 

4077 (MAL, SRGH, PRE). 

Alepidea peduncularis A.Rich. � 

Alepidea gracilis Dümmer; Alepidea longifolia E.Mey. ex Dümmer; 

Alepidea propinqua Dümmer; Alepidea swynnertonii Dümmer 

Slender to robust herb to 1.2 m tall with a basal rosette of leaves; basal leaf 

margins barely to conspicuously ciliate; flowers in a large panicle of condensed 

simple umbels, involucral bracts prominent, white; in montane grassland 

and open miombo woodland. South Africa to Ethiopia. The huge variation 

in this aggregate species is not well understood and suspiciously simplified. 

Source. Cannon (1978); Townsend (1989); Lebrun & Stork (1992). 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, between Lake Kaulime and Zovochipolo 

Forest, 2000, Winter 4002 (MAL, SRGH, PRE); Nganda Hill, near crest, 

2000, Winter 4080 (MAL, SRGH, PRE, UZL); 2 km upstream of Wovwe 

River Gorge, 2000, Winter 4150 (MAL, PRE); Chisanga Falls footpath, 2000, 

Burrows & Burrows 6752 (MAL, PRE). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, N. of Zambian Rest House, ca 1 km E. of Sonkwe 

stream, 2000, Winter 4019 (UZL, PRE). 

Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. � 

Centella bupleurifolia (A.Rich.) Adamson; Centella coriacea Nannf. 

APIACEAE 

Low creeping perennial herb, stems rooting at nodes; leaves reniform; margins 

regularly crenate all round; umbels simple, axillary, petals greenish to 

purplish red; fruit strongly laterally compressed; often in moist places, grassland 

along rivers, among rocks, forest clearings. Pantropical, extending 

into some subtropical regions. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, without locality or collecting (Patel 1999). 

*Cyclospermum leptophyllum (Pers.) Sprague � 

Apium leptophyllum (Pers.) Benth. 

Weak, glabrous annual herb; leaves tripinnate into filiform segments; petals 

minute, white; fruit almost round, laterally compressed, 1.25–1.75 mm 

long, with strongly protuberant, broad, pale primary ribs; a weed of cultivated 

and disturbed ground, sometimes in damp places, occasionally even 

in very shallow water. Probably Central American in origin, now widespread 

as a weed in the tropical regions of the world. 


1999). 

Diplolophium buchananii (Benth. ex Oliv.) Norman � 

Physotrichia buchananii Benth. ex Oliv. 

A very robust perennial herb 1–2 m high, often glaucous, sometimes sub 

shrubby; leaf sheaths well-developed, leaf segments elliptic to subrotund; 

involucre and involucel very conspicuous, petals greenish white to creamy 

yellow; fruit strongly dorsally compressed, densely bristly pubescent; in 

moist places in rocky montane grassland and in Brachystegia woodland. 

Malawi and N. Mozambique. 


1999). 

Frommia ceratophylloides H.Wolff � 

Perennial herb to 1 m tall; basal leaves forming a rosette above a scaly or 

fibrous collar formed by the decaying sheaths of previous years’ leaves; 

leaves pinnate, long and slender with each pinna very finely divided into 

very thin segments; flowers in much-branched inflorescences, petals yellow; 

fruit ovoid, 2–3 mm long, smooth and black, similar to that of 

Pimpinella; in thin soils associated with rock outcrops in grassland. A 

monotypic genus endemic to N.E. Zambia, N. Malawi, and S.W. Tanzania. 

Source. Mill (1979). 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, Robinson 4499 (K, SRGH); Chelinda Bridge rock 

outcrop, 2000, Winter 4054 (MAL, SRGH, PRE). 

Zambia. Malawi border, Richards 14398 (K); ca 3 km N. of Zambian Rest 

House, 2000, Koekemoer s.n. sub Winter 4017 (MAL, SRGH, PRE, UZL). 

Heracleum abyssinicum (Boiss.) Norman � 

Malabaila kirungae Engl.; Malabaila abyssinica Boiss.; Malabaila rivae 

Engl. 

Perennial or biennial herb to 1 m tall, stems solid, terete or ridged, often 

purplish at base, from woody or somewhat fleshy rootstock; leaves simply 

pinnate, to 300 x 70 mm; leaflets ovate, coarsely dentate; flowers white, in 

a compound umbel; fruits dorsally compressed and winged; along 

streamsides in grassland, 2,000–2,400 m. Widespread in eastern Africa from 

Ethiopia to Malawi. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, Chelinda Bridge, wetland below forest, 2000, 

Winter 4056 (MAL). 

Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham. & Schldtl. var. 

abyssinica (A.Rich.) H.Wolff � 

Heteromorpha abyssinica Hochst. ex A.Rich.; Heteromorpha trifoliata 

(Wendl.) Eckl. & Zeyh. 

Chichewa: kapoloni, khozyo thengo 

Small tree 4(–12) m tall, bark peeling (birch-like) in transverse bands to 

expose smooth, bronze underbark between consecutive persistent encircling 

leaf scars; leaves shortly and softly pilose usually only on midrib above; 

umbel rays ca 25 mm long, flowers greenish yellow; fruit halves hetero- 


61 

APIACEAE

2 mm 

2,5 mm 


Cyclospermum leptophyllum 


20 mm 


20 mm 

Heracleum abyssinicum 

Diplolophium buchananii 


20 mm 

Frommia ceratophylloides 


20 mm

morphic, one with four ribs (two conspicuous) and the other with five 

(three conspicuous); in montane and riverine woodland, forest margins, 

and in secondary growth. South Africa (Cape) to Ethiopia and Yemen; also 

in Angola. 

Source. Brummitt (1973); Winter & Van Wyk (1996). 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, without locality, 1946, Brass 17342 (BM, K, PRE, 

SRGH); 3 km W. of Muzengapakweru, 1972, Synge 379 (K); W. of Vitinthiza 

Hill, 2000, Salubeni & Mwanyambo 6750 (MAL); Jalawe Viewpoint, 2000, 

Thera 3081 (MAL); Juniper Forest, 2000, Burrows & Burrows 6924 (MAL, 

PRE, UNIN). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, Chowo Forest, Phillips 1720 (MO); ca 3 km N. of 

Zambian Rest House, 2000, Winter 4016 (PRE, UZL). 

Heteromorpha involucrata Conrath 

Suffrutex or woody shrub to 1.8 m tall; leaves short-petiolate and trifoliolate, 

with broad-based hairs predominantly on nerves below; terminal umbel 

often much larger than later umbels, rays up to 100 mm; petals creamcoloured 

to greenish yellow; in montane grassland, also open miombo or 

Protea woodland, particularly toward the plateau margins, 1,800–2,600 m. 

S. Tanzania to northern South Africa. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, near Thazima Gate, 2000, Burrows sub Winter 

4051 (MAL, SRGH, PRE, UZL); Vitinthiza Hill slope, 2000, Salubeni & 

Mwanyambo 6811 (MAL); Lake Kaulime, 2000, Willis & Luhanga 106 (MAL). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, N. of Zambian Rest House, ca 1 km E. of Sonkwe 

stream, 2000, Winter 4018 (MAL, SRGH, PRE, UZL, LMA, UNIN, DSM). 

Heteromorpha kassneri H.Wolff 

Suffrutex or woody shrub similar to H. involucrata, to 1.8 m tall; leaves 

subsessile with pinnatifid or decurrent pinnae; in open miombo woodland, 

1,400–1,800 m. D.R.C., Zambia, and Malawi. 

Malawi. Mpora, 2 miles E. of Nyika, Phillips 1295 (MO); 10 km S. of Thazima 

Gate, 2000, Winter 4242 (MAL, UZL). 

Hydrocotyle mannii Hook.f. � 

Low creeping perennial herb, stems rooting at nodes; leaves reniform or 

almost round with 5–9 rounded to acute denticulate lobes, pilose on both 

surfaces; umbels simple, axillary, rounded capitate, petals greenish to white; 

fruit strongly laterally compressed; among grass in wet to somewhat damp 

situations at edges of lakes, swamps, and marshes, as well as disturbed 

places. Widespread in tropical Africa. H. sibthorpioides Lam. is expected 

to occur here, and the two species may have been confused previously. 


1999). 

Lefebvrea abyssinica A.Rich. � 

Lefebvrea stuhlmannii Engl.; Peucedanum lefebvria Drude 

Slender virgate perennial herb to 3 m tall, characteristically overtopping 

surrounding vegetation; stems frequently bowed over with the weight of 

the fruiting umbels; leaves mostly confined to near base of stem, 2-pinnate 

(ternate-pinnate) with linear leaflets, leaflets with two veins parallel to the 

midvein; flowers pale yellowish cream, on long, thin, drooping pedicels; 

fruit strongly dorsally compressed as in Peucedanum, but deeply incised at 

apex with rounded, curved auricles overtopping the elongated, narrowly 

conical stylopodium; in montane grassland and open savanna woodland; 

1,000–2,300 m. Zimbabwe to tropical eastern Africa, D.R.C., and Angola. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, Wovwe River Valley, 2000, Willis 168 (MAL). 

Zambia. Nyika National Park, N. of Zambia Rest House, ca 1 km E. of 

Sonkwe stream, 2000, Winter 4020 (MAL). 

Lefebvrea grantii (Hiern) Droop 

Lefebvrea microcarpa H.Wolff; Lefebvrea angolensis Welw. ex Ficalho; 

Lefebvrea welwitschii Engl.; Peucedanum buchananii Baker 

Robust biennial (? sometimes perennial) herb, glabrous, 0.6–2(3) m tall; 

leaflets with two veins parallel to the midvein in narrow-leaved forms, but 

these veins not noticeably parallel in broader-leaved forms; petals greenish 

yellow or cream; fruit strongly dorsally compressed as in Peucedanum, but 

deeply incised at apex with rounded, curved auricles overtopping the 

stylopodium; stylopodium not or only slightly longer than wide; fruits up 

to 12 mm long. Widespread in tropical Africa. It may be worth considering 

Lefebvrea microcarpa as a subspecies of L. grantii. It is identical in all 

respects, but with smaller fruit up to 8 mm long, leaflets very narrowly 

ovate to linear and a diffuse inflorescence, and seems to occupy a drier and 

warmer habitat at lower altitudes (1,250–1,750 m) in Zambia, Malawi, 

and southern Tanzania. 

Source. Cannon (1978); Patel (1999). 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, 1896, Whyte s.n. (B, holo.†; BM, photo). 

Peucedanum articulatum C.C.Towns. � 

Perennial herb 0.5–0.65 m tall; leaves with hollow petioles and pronounced 

sheaths, ultimate leaf divisions filiform to narrowly linear; flowers white; 

fruit dorsally compressed with lateral wings, stylopodium exceeding the 

wings; in moist grassland, presumably temporarily waterlogged. Endemic 

to the Nyika Plateau. 

Source. Townsend (1987). 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Chosi Hill, 2000, Winter 3988 (MAL, SRGH, 

PRE, UZL, LMA); 2000, Kasakula 199 (MAL, LMA, SRGH); 8 km E. of 

Chelinda on Kasaramba Road, 2,303 m, Pawek 11203 (K, holo.; UC, MO, 

SRGH, MAL, PRE, iso.); above Chelinda Bridge, 2,409 m, Droop 308 (K, 

RNG). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, Chowo Rock, ca 2,195 m, Droop 314 (K, RNG). 

Peucedanum claessensii Norman 

Erect coarse perennial herb 1–3.5 m tall, stem terete, hollow, to 18 mm 

wide at the base; leaves large, up to 0.45–1 m x 0.3–0.75 m; leaves divided 

into broad segments, 23–90 x 17–80 mm, margins scabrid with short hairs; 

flowers white or creamy, suffused with a green centre; fruit with 2 vittae on 

the commissural face; in montane grassland, forest margins, and other scrub 

associations, 1,070–2,300 m. S. Tanzania, D.R.C., E. Zambia, E. Zimbabwe, 

Malawi, and Mozambique. 


Zambia. Nyika Plateau, Richards 10402 (K, SRGH); N. of Zambian Rest 

House, ca 1 km E. of Sonkwe stream, 2000, Winter 4021 (MAL, PRE). 

Peucedanum eylesii Norman 

Erect perennial herb with stout, gnarled, woody rootstock, 0.9–2 m tall, 

stems pithy, angular, and sulcate-striate; lower leaves 190–700 x 80– 

180 mm, lower leaf segments broadly linear to narrowly oblong, upper 

leaves with the leaflets (especially the terminal) long and narrow, regularly 

sharply serrate, somewhat scabrid on midrib below, margins glabrous; flowering 

petals yellow to yellow-green; fruit dorsally compressed with lateral 

wings, obovate, shallowly truncate or notched at the base, the 2(–3) vittae 

on the commissural face superficial, stylopodium exceeding wings; in damp 

or seasonally flooded grassland or scrub near streams, 1,500–1,700 m. S. 

and W. Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique. Can be 

confused with P. nyassicum, as well as Lefebvrea longipedicellata. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, Thazima Gate, 2000, Burrows sub Winter 

4050 (MAL, UZL, PRE); ca 2 km N.W. of Lake Kaulime, 2000, Winter 4128 

(MAL). 

Zambia. Nyika Rest House, Richards 10402 (K). 

Peucedanum linderi Norman 

Peucedanum aberdaricum Chiov. 

Erect perennial herb similar to P. eylesii, 0.9–3 m tall, stem fistular, angular, 

and sulcate-striate; 8–19 mm wide at base; leaves divided into broad 

segments, 12–50 x 7–25 mm, leaflet margins serrate, glabrous; flowers white 

or creamy with a narrow greenish or brownish central streak along the 

single vitta; fruit broadly elliptical to round, deeply incised at the base, the 

2 vittae on the commissural face somewhat concealed by overlying tissue; 

in montane forest margins or clearings, tall grassland, scrub, along streams, 

and in boggy places, 1,860–3,422 m. Mountains of tropical eastern Africa, 

Rwanda, D.R.C., Malawi, Mozambique, and E. Zimbabwe. 

Source. Cannon (1978); Mill (1979). 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, 5 km S. of Chelinda, De Kruif 1325 (PRE); 

Mpopoti Hill, 2000, Salubeni & Mwanyambo 6788 (MAL); Mwanda, between 

road and ridge, 2000, Winter 4178 (MAL). 


63 

APIACEAE

20 mm 

10 mm 

Lefebvrea abyssinica 



Hydrocotyle mannii 


3 mm 

Peucedanum articulatum 


Heteromorpha arborescens 

Del. Victoria Goaman 

20 mm

Peucedanum sp. nov., aff. P. harmsianum H.Wolff 

Glabrous, perennial herb 0.3–0.7 m tall, from rhizomatous rootstock; leaves 

less than five-jugate, segments 1–4(6) mm wide; flowering petals yellow, at 

least when dry, anthers yellow; fruit elliptic or slightly obovate, ca 7–9 x 3– 

5 mm, solitary vittae in valleculae, and two vittae on commissure distinguish 

this from P. harmsianum; in wetlands along streams in montane grassland, 

ca 2,300 m. Known only from the Nyika Plateau. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Dembo Bridge area, 2000, Winter 4049 (MAL, 

SRGH, PRE, UZL)); Chelinda Stream, 7,500’, Pawek 7829 (UC, SRGH, PRE), 

wetland along stream, Pawek 10295 (UC, SRGH, PRE, K, MO, MAL). 

Physotrichia heracleoides H.Wolff � 

Perennial with a tough taproot, ca 0.3–0.9 m tall; lobes of lower leaves not 

separated into pinnae or, if so, then the pinnae not decurrent along the leafrachis; 

involucre and involucel very conspicuous, petals creamy-or greenish 

yellow, calyx teeth well-defined, ovary and young fruit not visibly ribbed, 

terete; fruit strongly dorsally compressed, with vesicular papillae; in rough, 

rather dry grassland, 1,500–2,100 m. From Burundi, S.W. Tanzania, and 

southern D.R.C. to Zambia and the Nyika Plateau. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, ca 3 km N.W. of Lake Kaulime, 2000, Winter 

4123 (MAL); upstream of Wovwe Gorge, 2000, Winter 4149 (MAL). 

Physotrichia muriculata (Hiern) Droop & C.C.Towns. 

Peucedanum heracleoides Baker [Type: Nyika Plateau, Whyte 224 (K)]. 

Perennial herb 0.5–1.5 m tall, with a woody or fleshy taproot, stems ribbed 

or grooved, muriculate; leaves pinnatisect, with the pinnae broadly decurrent 

along the leaf-rachis, roughly hairy, to 250 x 180 mm; umbels compound, 

to 100 mm across; involucre and involucel very conspicuous, flowers 

yellowish, sometimes flushed purplish, calyx teeth well-defined; ovary 

and young fruit deeply sulcate and ribbed; fruit strongly dorsally compressed, 

with a papillate-muriculate surface; in montane grassland or 

wooded grassland up to 2,100 m. From Angola, through northern Zambia 

and southern D.R.C., to the Nyika Plateau and S. and W. Tanzania. 

Source. Cannon (1978). 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, below Rest House, Boughey 1630 (K, SRGH); 

Domwe Viewpoint, 2000, Salubeni & Mwanyambo 6799 (MAL); 

Mbuzinandi, 2000, Salubeni & Mwanyambo 6816 (MAL); Chisanga Falls 

footpath, 2000, Winter 4012 (MAL, PRE, SRGH, UZL, LMA). 

Pimpinella buchananii H.Wolff subsp. buchananii var. 

buchananii 

Pimpinella stolzii H.Wolff; Pimpinella buchananii var. triradiata 

Norman; Pimpinella zernyi Gilli 

Slender to robust biennial to perennial herb, 0.35–1.5 m high; leaves variably 

pinnate, only rarely simple or trilobed; inflorescence much branched 

and rebranched, umbel rays (2)4–8(12); involucre and involucels absent, 

rarely a single bract present, petals white to creamy, univittate, stylopodia 

long-conical; in rocky grassland, miombo woodland. Angola, D.R.C., Zambia, 

Tanzania, Malawi, and Mozambique. The altitudinal limit of 1,880 m, 

reported in F.T.E.A. is extended to over 2,300 m by Nyika gatherings. At 

these altitudes, plants are restricted to rocky habitats, and resemble P. 

mulanjensis C.C.Towns., except for the lack of trivittate petals. An extremely 

variable species with an immense range in habit and leaf morphology, 

even within individual populations. Some of these collections appear 

to have an annual habit, but vary in the presence or absence of a tuberous 

taproot. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, Chosi Hill, W. of summit, 2000, Winter 3990 

(MAL, SRGH, PRE, UZL); Fingira Rock, 2000, Willis & Luhanga 246 (MAL); 

Mwanda, E. of ridge base, 2000, Winter 4177 (MAL, SRGH, PRE, LMA). 

Pimpinella caffra (Eckl. & Zeyh.) D.Dietr. subsp. 

conopodioides C.C.Towns. 

Pimpinella stadensis sensu Cannon, non (Eckl. & Zeyh.) D.Dietr., pro 

parte, excl. Pimpinella nyassica Norman 

Biennial or perhaps perennial herb, 0.22–0.85 m tall from a short and oblong 

to tapering, firm, tuber-like root; basal leaves deeply palmately divided 

into narrow segments which are pinnate or toothed; stem leaves sim- 

ply pinnate or bipinnate with very narrow segments not exceeding 2 mm 

wide and generally less; inflorescence simple or with few branches; umbels 

of 4–12(15) rays; petals white; fruit glabrous; stylopodial disk broad, concave, 

the stylopodia scarcely projecting; on mountain slopes and summits 

in grassland, among rocks, and on rocky outcrops and walls of gullies, 

2,310–2,760 m. Endemic to Nyika Plateau and S.W. Tanzania. 

Source. Patel (1999). 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Nganda Hill, W.N.W. slope, 2,500 m, 2000, 

Winter 4065 (MAL, PRE); S. side of beacon, 2,600 m, 2000, Winter 4072 

(MAL, SRGH, PRE, LMA). 

Pimpinella duridentata C.C.Towns. 

Pyrophytic herbaceous perennial 0.4–0.65 m tall, with fibrous remains of 

petioles at base of stem; leaves coriaceous, simply pinnate with 2–4 pairs of 

sessile, very narrowly ovate pinnae, with firm cartilaginous-tipped teeth, 

lower lateral pinnae of at least the stem leaves deflexed; inflorescence moderately 

branched, umbel rays and pedicels glabrous, petals yellow; in grassland 

and damp, swampy ground, 2,250–2,600(2,800) m. Endemic to Tanzania 

(Southern Highlands) and the Nyika Plateau. Cannon’s (1978) note 

that ‘Pawek 2081 (UC) compares fairly well’ with the type of P. favifolia 

Norman from Lake Mweru seems to have been missed by Townsend (1985, 

1989), and this may yet prove to be the correct name for this species, in 

which case its range will extend to D.R.C. 

Source. Townsend (1985, 1989). 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Chosi Hill, 2000, Winter 3992 (MAL, SRGH, 

PRE, UZL, LMA, DSM); Nganda Peak, Pawek 2081 (K, holo.). 

Pimpinella huillensis Engl. 

Pimpinella welwitschii Engl.; Pimpinella mechowii (Engl.) H.Wolff; 

Pimpinella platyphylla Hiern; Pimpinella gossweileri H.Wolff; Pimpinella 

robusta Norman; Pimpinella kassneri (H.Wolff) Cannon 

Slender to robust biennial or perennial herb, 0.6–2 m tall; basal leaves 

coriaceous, simple (entire) or at most ternate; inflorescence much-branched; 

bracts (from first flowering branch and upward) with reduced lamina shorter 

than firm sheath; flowers white to creamy, pedicels glabrous or with a few 

scattered hairs, involucels absent; fruit with dense silky, bristly or vesicular 

hairs, not much longer than broad; in Brachystegia–Uapaca woodland and 

in shallow boggy soil overlying laterite by streams, up to 1,500 m. Angola, 

Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, S. and W. Tanzania, and N. Mozambique. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, Nchenachena, Pawek 3370 (UC). 

Pimpinella ledermannii H.Wolff subsp. engleriana 

(H.Wolff) C.C.Towns. � 

Pimpinella engleriana H.Wolff; Pimpinella tomentosa sensu Engl., non 

C.B.Clarke; Pimpinella africana Hiroe 

Biennial or short-lived perennial herb, (0.2)0.5–1.8m tall; basal leaves 

coriaceous, entire or at most ternate; inflorescence simple or with few 

branches, bracts (from first flowering branch and upward) with reduced 

lamina shorter than firm sheath, flowers white, pedicels with dense, short, 

spreading hairs, involucels frequently present; fruit densely hairy, conspicuously 

longer than broad; in open or wooded (Brachystegia, Uapaca, Protea) 

grassland of plateaux and hill slopes, (810)1,400–1,900(2,400) m. Burundi, 

D.R.C. (Shaba Province), N. Zambia, S. and W. Tanzania, N. and C. Malawi, 

and N. Mozambique. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, N.W. foot of Nganda, 1972, Synge 379 (K, 

MAL, SRGH); 8 km N.W. of Lake Kaulime, camp near North Rukuru River, 

2,020 m, Brummitt 10822 (PRE, K). 

Pimpinella nyassica Norman 

Pimpinella stadensis sensu Cannon, non (Eckl. & Zeyh.) D.Dietr., pro 

parte 

Slender herb 0.2–0.8 m tall, rhizome with thick side roots; leaves longpetiolate, 

lowermost leaf may be undivided, orbicular and deeply dentate, 

leaflets with long petiolules; inflorescence simple or with few branches; 2– 

3 umbels, rays many, petals creamy white; in wetlands along streams in 

grassland. This species is apparently endemic to wetlands on the Nyika 

Plateau. Its relationship needs to be clarified with plants from Zimbabwe 


65 

APIACEAE

Physotrichia heracleoides 


10 mm 

20 mm 

Sanicula elata 



Pimpinella ledermannii 

Del. Christine Grey-Wilson 

20 mm 

Steganotaenia araliacea 

Del. Sandie Burrows

to South Africa in the P. caffra/stadensis complex that occur in wetland 

habitats, for example, P. hydrophila H.Wolff, particularly concerning the 

rhizomatous habit and long petiolules. 


Malawi. Nyika Mountains, 1932, Sanderson 58 (BM, holo.); Nyika National 

Park, wetland at Zovochipolo forest margin, 2000, Winter 4136 (MAL); 

tributary E. of Dembo Bridge, 2000, Winter 4041 (MAL, PRE, SRGH). 

Sanicula elata D.Don � 

Sanicula europaea L. var. elata (D.Don) Boiss.; Sanicula europaea L. var. 

partita (Kuntze) Hiroe 

Stoloniferous herb up to 0.8 m; leaves long-stalked, rosetted, palmate, 40– 

80 mm wide, leaf segments 3–7, margin serrate with a tooth arista or mucro 

1 mm long; umbels apparently simple; fruit 3–4 mm long, covered with hooked 

bristles; in evergreen forest. Widespread in Old World tropics and subtropics. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, 8 km E. of Nganda, 1972, Brummitt, Munthali 

& Synge 130 (K, MAL, SRGH); Nyika Road, km 56.3, Chapman 181 (BM). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, upper slopes of Kangampande (Chowo Rocks), 

White 2760 (K). 

*Daucus carota L. 

Daucus abyssinicus auctt. Hochst. ex A.Rich., non C.A.Mey. 

carrot 

Unlikely, unless as an escape from cultivation in a disturbed situation. May 

have been confused with Agrocharis incognita. 


1999). 


Steganotaenia araliacea Hochst. � 

Peucedanum fraxinifolium Oliv. 

Chichewa: mporoni; Tumbuka: mnyongoloka 

Tree to 5 m tall, leafless when in flower; leaves imparipinnate with short, 

semi-amplexicaul basal sheath, margin serrate, tooth arista up to 3 mm 

long, apex acute to acuminate; umbels spherical, petals yellow; fruit strongly 

dorsally compressed, obovate, 8–15 x 5–8 mm; in drier woodland types. 

Widespread in the savannas of tropical Africa. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, Sawi Valley, 1972, Synge 442 (K, MAL). 

Torilis arvensis (Huds.) Link � 

Erect annual herb to 1 m; leaves pinnately divided, hairy; involucre absent 

beneath main compound umbel, flowers white, petals setose-hairy; fruit 

with glochidiate spines, both secondary and primary ribs of fruit pilose; at 

high altitudes from the Cape (South Africa) to Europe and Asia; an introduced 

weed elsewhere in the world. 


Malawi. Nyika Plateau, 1896, Whyte 158 (K). 

Peucedanum nyassicum H.Wolff 

The relationship of this sp. to P. eylesii is not clear, but Townsend (1989) 

considered this entity to be more or less confined to Mt. Mulanje, and 

quite different in its shorter habit (0.3–1.2 m) and leaf dissection. 


1999). 

Species that are still expected, but have apparently not yet been 

collected on the Nyika Plateau 

Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham. & Schltdl. var. 

montana P.J.D.Winter 

The type locality of this variety is from Viphya (Vernal Pool Dome); also 

collected at Chikangawa (Viphya) and therefore probably also occurs on 

the Nyika although no specimens thus determined have been found there 

to date. Expected on the eastern slopes, in steep, open, precipitous habitats. 

Source. Winter & Van Wyk (1996). 

Lefebvrea longipedicellata Engl. 

Peucedanum longipedicellatum (Engl.) Drude; Lefebvrea brevipes 

H.Wolff; Lefebvrea naegeleana H.Wolff 

Acokanthera laevigata Kupicha � 

Shrub or tree to 12 m tall, all parts with milky sap, leaves leathery, flowers 

in axillary clusters, white; in mid-stratum of montane forest; in Juniperus 

forest, on Nkhonjera Hill, and at Mbuzinandi. N. Malawi and Tanzania. 

Source. Flora zambesiaca 7(2): 406 (1985); White et al. (2001). 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, in the Juniper Forest, 2,160 m, 1976, Pawek 

11818 (K). 

Ancylobotrys petersiana (Klotzsch) Pierre � 

Landolphia petersiana (Klotzsch) Dyer 

Scandent shrub or woody climber with a milky latex; leaves opposite, 40– 

110 mm long; flowers white or cream-white, corolla tube 6–14 mm long, 

lobes 11–24 mm long; on rocky hillsides in mixed woodland at low altitudes. 

South Africa to Tanzania and Kenya; also on Madagascar. Probably 

not a constituent of the Plateau flora. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Kasewerera, 2001, without collecting details 

(Patel & Overton 2002). 

APOCYNACEAE 

(including Asclepiadaceae and Periplocaceae) 

Distributed from tropical E. Africa to D.R.C., Zambia, Angola, southern 

Malawi, and N. Mozambique. The gap in the known distribution range 

seems to reflect missing data or misidentification of Nyika specimens rather 

than a true disjunction, as the Nyika National Park includes habitats which 

seem suitable for occupation by this species, and it is recorded from as 

close as Chisenga (Misuku Hills). It seems as if there may be difficulty 

distinguishing it from Peucedanum eylesii when mature fruit is not available, 

as both have more or less triplinerved pinnae. The number and length 

of pedicels may prove useful to distinguish them. Only a thorough comparison 

of specimens of both taxa can confirm this. If these species can be 

recognised in the vegetative state, this needs to be reflected in the literature, 

at least in the form of a diagnosis. 

Asclepias amabilis N.E.Br. 

Gomphocarpus amabilis (N.E.Br.) Bullock 

Slender erect single-stemmed tuberous herb with white latex; flowers in 

few-flowered umbels; in damp peaty soil in montane grassland; 2,250 m. 

Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania. 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, Lake Kaulime, 2,250 m, 1959, Richards 10459 (K). 

Asclepias pygmaea N.E.Br. 

Trachycalymma cucullatum sensu Bullock, in part 

Slender erect tuberous herb with white latex, leaves linear; flowers in white 

or purplish umbels; in burnt montane grassland; 2,200–2,500 m. Malawi 

and S. Tanzania. 

Source. Goyder (2001). 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, Chelinda CDC Camp, 2,200 m, 1958, Robson & 

Angus 424 (K). 

Asclepias randii S.Moore � 

Ascending or erect tuberous herb with white latex, linear leaves and erect 


67 

APOCYNACEAE

20 mm 

20 mm 

Ancylobotrys petersiana 



4 mm 

Torilis arvensis 


10 mm 

Acokanthera laevigata 


20 mm 

20 mm 

Asclepias randii 

Del. Sandie Burrows

20 mm 

10 mm 

Aspidoglossum breve 



20 mm 

Ceropegia schliebenii 

Carvalhoa campanulata 


20 mm 

20 mm 

Cryptolepis oblongifolia 



69

APOCYNACEAE 

stellate flowers; in burnt montane grassland; 2,200–2,500 m. Also in Angola, 

Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and southern Tanzania. 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, top of ridge off road to Chelinda, 7,500’, 1967, 

Richards 22553 (K). 

Asclepias sp. [= Richards 57 (K)] 

Ascending or erect tuberous herb with white latex, oblong leaves and erect 

stellate flowers; in burnt montane grassland; 200–2,250 m. Also found in 

southern Tanzania and the Mbala region of northern Zambia. 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, near Chelinda CDC Camp, 2,200 m, 1958, Robson 

& Angus 373 (K). 

Asclepias sp. [= Richards 6689 (K)] 

Ascending or erect tuberous herb with white latex, linear-lanceolate leaves and 

dull green or pinkish flowers; in burnt montane grassland; 2,200–2,500 m. 

Also in S. Tanzania on the Mbeya, Kitulo, and Poroto mountains. 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, 30 km along road to Kasaramba Viewpoint, 1966, 

Pawek 745 (MAL). 

Aspidoglossum angustissimum (K.Schum.) Bullock 

Aspidoglossum whytei (N.E.Br.) Bullock; Schizoglossum angustissimum 

K.Schum.; Schizoglossum elatum K.Schum.; ?Schizoglossum ledermannii 

Schltr.; Schizoglossum whytei N.E.Br.; ?Schizoglossum zernyi Markgr. 

Slender erect single-stemmed tuberous herb to 1.5 m with white latex, clusters 

of brownish pubescent flowers; in montane grassland with Protea; 

2,000 m. Widespread in central and eastern parts of tropical Africa. 

Source. Patel (1999); synonymy from Kupicha (1994). 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, N.E. of Nganda, Patel, Ludlow & David 5116 (K, 

MAL). 

Aspidoglossum breve Kupicha � 

Slender erect single-stemmed tuberous herb to 300 mm tall with white latex 

and clusters of brownish flowers; in montane grassland; 2,000–2,600 m. 

Restricted to the Nyika Plateau of northern Malawi and the Kitulo Plateau 

in southern Tanzania. 

Source. Kupicha (1994). 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, Nganda Peak, 1992, Goyder, Paton & Tawakali 

3557 (BR, K, MAL, PRE). 

Carvalhoa campanulata K.Schum. � 

Carvalhoa macrophylla K.Schum. 

Shrub or small tree to 5 m tall, leaves opposite, thin, with milky latex; 

flowers in loose heads on a long stalk from leaf axils, cream to pale yellow 

with red streaks in throat; fruit of paired dehiscing carpels; in understorey of 

evergreen forest, 800–1,900 m. Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, and Kenya. 


1999). 

Ceropegia claviloba Werderm. 

Slender twiner to 1.5 m from a globose tuber, latex clear, flowers tubular 

with lobes united at tip, small, white with black markings; in evergreen 

forest; 1,700–2,300 m. Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, Chisanga Forest on N. Rukuru River, Brummitt, 

Polhill & Banda 16189 (K, MAL). 

Ceropegia filipendula K.Schum. 

Ceropegia medoensis N.E.Br.; Ceropegia dichroantha K.Schum. 

Erect single-stemmed herb with clear latex and fleshy roots, flower tubular 

with lobes united at tip, large, yellow-green or brown; in Brachystegia 

woodland; 900–1,500 m. Also in Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, 

and Angola. 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau N.E. of Nganda, Patel, Ludlow, Scott & Creegan 

5087 (K, MAL). 

Ceropegia schliebenii Markgr. � 

Slender vine with clear latex, tuberous root, flowers purplish with a deep 

tube and spidery lobes; shallow soil over rock slabs; 2,000–2,250 m. Southern 

Tanzania and northern Malawi. 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, Chelinda Bridge, Brummitt, Polhill & Banda 16148 


(K, MAL); 6.2 km from Lake Kaulime on Zungwara Road, 2000, Burrows & 

Burrows 6880 (Buffelskloof Herbarium). 

Ceropegia sp. [= Goyder, Paton & Tawakali 3579] 

Slender erect herb with clear latex and a globose tuber, flower with narrow 

cylindrical tube and united lobes, yellowish with red streaks; in shallow 

soil over rock slabs; 1,750 m. Known only from the Nyika. 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, escarpment below Jalawe Viewpoint, 1992, Goyder, 

Paton & Tawakali 3579 (K, MAL). 

Cryptolepis oblongifolia (Meisn.) Schltr. � 

Ectadiopsis nigritana Benth.; Ectadiopsis oblongifolia (Meisn.) Schltr.; 

Ectadiopsis welwitschii Baill.; Secamone acutifolia Sond. 

Erect subshrub with white latex, reddish stems and tubular white flowers; 

in Brachystegia woodland; 1,500–2,000 m. Widespread in eastern and 

southern Africa from Sudan to South Africa and Namibia. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, escarpment below Jalawe Viewpoint, 1992, 

Goyder, Paton & Tawakali 3577 (BR, K, MAL, PRE). 

Cynanchum praecox Schltr. ex S.Moore 

Cynanchum pygmaeum Schltr. 

Plant leafless at time of flowering, just an umbel of brownish yellow flowers 

at soil level, latex white; in burnt montane grassland; 2,000–2,300 m. 

Distribution scattered irregularly over W. and E. tropical Africa. 

Source. Liede (1996); Brummitt (1973). 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Nganda, 1972, Synge 370 (K, MAL). 

Cynanchum rungweense Bullock � 

Vine climbing to 12 m with white latex, leaves heart-shaped, glaucous below 

with red veins; on forest fringes; 2,000–2,400 m. Northern Malawi, 

Zambia, and southern Tanzania. 

Source. White et al. (2001) 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, central plateau, Dowsett-Lemaire 236 (K). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau S. of Zambian Rest House, 1989, Goyder, Pope & 

Radcliffe-Smith 3269 (K, MAL, NDO). 

Glossostelma carsonii (N.E.Br.) Bullock � 

Asclepias carsonii (N.E.Br.) Schltr.; Gomphocarpus chlorojodina 

K.Schum.; Schizoglossum carsonii (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br.; Schizoglossum 

chlorojodinum (K.Schum.) N.E.Br.; Schizoglossum kassneri S.Moore; 

Xysmalobium carsonii N.E.Br. 

Erect single-stemmed tuberous herb with white latex, linear fleshy leaves 

and large, yellow-green flowers frequently marked with purple; in montane 

grassland and Brachystegia woodland; 1,700–2,250 m. From Rwanda to 

Angola and Mozambique. 

Source. Goyder (1995); Mill (1979). 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, 5 km S.W. of Rest House, 2,150 m, 1958, Robson 

& Angus 206B (K). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, 2 km S.W. of Chowo Forest, 1992, Goyder, Paton 

& Tawakali 3538 (K, NDO). 

Glossostelma nyikense Goyder 

Low single-stemmed tuberous herb with white latex, linear fleshy leaves 

and small, yellow flowers; burnt montane grassland; 2,100–2,250 m. Endemic 

to the Nyika Plateau—known from just 6 collections. 


Malawi. Nyika Plateau, near Chelinda CDC Camp, 2,200 m, 1958, Robson 

& Angus 452 (K, LISC, PRE, SRGH). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, Williamson 1009 (SRGH). 

Gomphocarpus praticola (S.Moore) Goyder & Nicholas 

Asclepias friesii Schltr.; Asclepias katangensis S.Moore; Asclepias moorei 

De Wild.; Asclepias praticola S.Moore 

Stout herb with 1–3 stems, with white latex, fleshy glaucous leaves and 

large, green and purple flowers; in Brachystegia or Uapaca woodland; 

1,700–2,000 m. Northern Malawi and southern Tanzania to Angola. 

Source. Goyder & Nicholas (2001). 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, track to Rukuru River Falls, 1,800 m, 1959, Richards 

10529 (K).

Cynanchum rungweense 


Gomphocarpus swynnertonii 


20 mm 

20 mm 

20 mm 

Glossostelma carsonii 


20 mm 

Landolphia buchananii 



71


20 mm 

Pentarrhinum abyssinicum 

subsp. angolense 


20 mm 

Margaretta rosea subsp. bidens 


Pachycarpus lineolatus 


20 mm 

20 mm 

Periploca linearifolia 

Del. Sandie Burrows

Gomphocarpus swynnertonii (S.Moore) Goyder & 

Nicholas � 

Asclepias nyikana Schltr.; Asclepias swynnertonii S.Moore 

Multi-stemmed herb with white latex, glaucous leaves, and small, greenish 

yellow flowers; in burnt montane grassland; 2,000–2,250 m. Southern Tanzania, 

Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe westwards to Angola. 

Source. Goyder & Nicholas (2001). 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, Lake Kaulime, 1958, Robson & Angus 336 (K). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, near turn-off to Chelinda Camp, Lees 111 (K). 

Landolphia buchananii (Hall.f.) Stapf � 

Large liane up to 25 m, often with tendrils, leaves opposite, all parts with 

milky sap, flowers white, in terminal clusters; fruit round, to 100 mm diameter; 

in montane evergreen and riverine forest. Zimbabwe to D.R.C. and 

Tanzania. Fruit much loved by monkeys; stems used for making roofs of houses. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Kasyaula Forest (Dowsett-Lemaire 1985). 

Zambia. Nyika National Park, Manyenjere, Kasoma, and Chowo Forests 

(Dowsett-Lemaire 1985). 

Margaretta rosea Oliv. subsp. bidens Bullock � 

Margaretta cornetii Dewèvre; Margaretta decipiens Schltr.; Margaretta 

holstii K.Schum.; Margaretta orbicularis N.E.Br.; Margaretta pulchella 

Schltr.; Margaretta verdickii De Wild. 

Erect tuberous herb with white latex and flowers with a petaloid corona; in 

burnt grassland, usually in peaty soil; ?2,000–2,500 m. Also known from Kenya, 

Tanzania, the Shaba region of D.R.C., Zambia, N.W. Zimbabwe, and Nigeria. 

Source. Mwanyambo (1996). 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, Mwenembwe, 1903, McClounie 63 (K). 

Pachycarpus goetzei (K.Schum.) Bullock 

Schizoglossum goetzei K.Schum.; Schizoglossum simulans N.E.Br. 

Robust erect tuberous herb with white latex, lanceolate leaves, and nodding 

white or cream flowers; in Brachystegia–Uapaca woodland; 1,500– 

2,000 m. Also occurs in southern Tanzania and Zambia. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, 15 km N. of M1, 1977, Pawek 12420 (K). 

Pachycarpus lineolatus (Decne.) Bullock � 

Asclepias browniana S.Moore; Asclepias conspicua N.E.Br.; Asclepias 

inflexa S.Moore; Asclepias schweinfurthii N.E.Br.; Gomphocarpus 

lineolatus Decne.; Pachycarpus mildbraedii Bullock; Pachycarpus 

schweinfurthii (N.E.Br.) Bullock 

Robust erect tuberous herb with white latex, broad leaves, and nodding 

white or pink flowers; in Brachystegia or Uapaca woodland; 1,600–1,800 m. 

Widespread in tropical Africa. 

Source. Goyder (1998); Mill (1979). 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, 12 km N. of M1, 1978, Pawek 13720 (K, 

MO, MAL); Juniper Forest Reserve, 2000, Chikuni 522 (MAL). 

Pachycarpus spurius (N.E.Br.) Bullock 

Schizoglossum debeersianum K.Schum.; ?Schizoglossum dolichoglossum 

(K.Schum.) N.E.Br.; Schizoglossum spurium (N.E.Br.) N.E.Br.; 

?Xysmalobium dolichoglossum K.Schum.; Xysmalobium spurium N.E.Br. 

Robust erect tuberous herb to ca 1 m with white latex, broad leaves, and 

nodding cream or pink flowers; in montane grassland or open disturbed 

woodland; 1,500–2,000 m. Also recorded from southern Tanzania and the 

Shaba plateaux of D.R.C. 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau N.E. of Nganda, Patel, Ludlow & Scott 5127 (K). 

Pentarrhinum abyssinicum Decne. subsp. angolense 

(N.E.Br.) Liede & Nicholas � 

Pentarrhinum abyssinicum Decne. var. angolense N.E.Br. 

Twiner with heart-shaped leaves; climbing over vegetation at forest margins; 

1,700–2,000 m. Scattered distribution from Cameroon, Uganda, and 

Kenya to Namibia, Zambia, and Tanzania. 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, Kafwimba Forest, 1969, Pawek 2235 (K). 

Periploca linearifolia Quart.-Dill. & A.Rich. � 

Periploca linearis Hochst. 

Woody twiner with white latex, linear leaves, and bearded white flowers; 

scrambling over margins of wet forest; 1,900–2,400 m. Widespread on E. 

African mountains from Ethiopia to Malawi. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, 8 km E. of Nganda, 1972, Brummitt, Munthali 

& Synge 147 (K, MAL). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, margins of Chowo Forest, Dowsett-Lemaire 98 (K). 

Raphionacme longituba E.A.Bruce � 

Tuberous plant with more or less decumbent stems, latex milky; leaves 

opposite; fruit a pair of comparatively large horn-like pods; geophyte in 

shallow soils overlying sheetrock in montane grassland. Zimbabwe, Zambia, 

Malawi, and Tanzania. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Mpopoti Peak, 2000, Willis & Luhanga 89 

(MAL, PRE). 

Rauvolfia caffra Sonder � 

Briefly deciduous tree to 30 m tall, leaves clustered towards branch ends, 

flowers white or yellowish in stalked clusters, fruit round or lobed, red when 

ripe; in rainforest and riverine forest. Widespread throughout tropical Africa. 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, near Kasyaula Forest, without collecting details 

(Dowsett-Lemaire 1985: 313). 

Rauvolfia mannii Stapf 

Rauvolfia rosea K.Schum. 

Understorey shrub or small tree to 4 m tall; leaves in whorls of 3–6, flowers 

white or yellowish in stalked clusters, fruit of 1 or 2 ovoid or obovoid 

carpels, red when ripe; in wet situations in rainforest. From the Viphya 

Mountains of Malawi northwards throughout tropical Africa. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Mwenembwe, Chapman 2019 (White et al. 

2001); Eastern escarpment forests (Dowsett-Lemaire 1985: 354). 

Riocreuxia chrysochroma (Huber) A.R.Sm. 

Ceropegia chrysochroma Huber 

Herbaceous vine with clear latex and heart-shaped leaves; flowers orange 

within, lobes not united at tips; in scrub or forest patches; 2,000–2,400 m. 

Known only from the Nyika Plateau and the adjacent Kitulo and Kipengere 

ranges in southern Tanzania. 

Source. White et al. (2000). 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, relic forest patch on E. side of Chelinda Valley, 

1958, Robson & Fanshawe 643 (K). 

Riocreuxia profusa N.E.Br. � 

Ceropegia burchellii (K.Schum.) Huber subsp. profusa (N.E.Br.) Huber; 

Riocreuxia torulosa Schltr. 

Herbaceous vine with clear latex and heart-shaped leaves, flowers pale orange 

or yellow, tubular, with slender lobes united at tips; on margins of 

montane forest; 1,900–2,400 m. Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, 

and Angola. 

Source. White et al. (2001: 165) 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, forest patch near Rest House, Dowsett-Lemaire 97 

(K). 

Secamone alpini Schult. � 

Periploca secamone L.; Secamone thunbergii E.Mey. 

Slender woody twiner with white latex, leathery leaves, and minute velvety 

white flowers; on forest margins; 2,000–2,400 m. Widespread over E. African 

mountains and coastal forests in South Africa. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, without locality or collector (Mill 1979). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, margins of Chowo Forest, Dowsett-Lemaire 99 (K). 

Stathmostelma fornicatum (N.E.Br.) Bullock subsp. 

fornicatum � 

Asclepias fornicata N.E.Br. 

Erect single-stemmed tuberous herb with white latex, linear leaves, and 

green or yellow flowers; in seasonally waterlogged grassland; 2,400 m. 

Found at lower altitude elsewhere in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, 

and Angola. 


73 

APOCYNACEAE

Raphionacme longituba 


Riocreuxia profusa 



20 mm 

20 mm 

55 mm 

Secamone alpini 


Rauvolfia caffra 


20 mm 

20 mm 

20 mm

Source. Goyder (1988) 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, 1903, McClounie 81 (K). 

Tabernaemontana stapfiana Britten � 

Tabernaemontana johnstonii (Stapf) Pichon; Conopharyngia stapfiana 

(Britten) Stapf 

Tree 5–25 m tall, leaves opposite, 120–400 x 30–140 mm, narrowly elliptic, 

glabrous; flowers white, large, sweetly scented; fruit in pairs or single, 

large, 100–200 mm across, green with yellowish dots; in montane forest, 

700–2,500 m. Zimbabwe and Mozambique to D.R.C. and Kenya. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, eastern escarpment forests (Dowsett-Lemaire 

1985: 354). 

Tacazzea conferta N.E.Br. � 

Tacazzea floribunda K.Schum.; Tacazzea galactagoga Bullock 

Robust woody twiner with white latex; scrambling over forest margins; 

2,000–2,200 m. Widely distributed in tropical Africa from Ethiopia to 

Malawi. 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, Zovochipolo Forest patches, Dowsett-Lemaire 251 (K). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, Chowo Forest, 1976, Pawek 11783 (K, MAL, MO). 

Trachycalymma buchwaldii (Schltr. & K.Schum.) Goyder � 

Asclepias affinis De Wild.; Asclepias buchwaldii (Schltr. & K.Schum.) De 

Wild.; Gomphocarpus buchwaldii Schltr. & K.Schum. 

Short, erect, single-stemmed, tuberous herb with white latex and nodding 

purple flowers; in montane grassland or Brachystegia woodland, generally 

on steep rocky hillsides; 900–2,400 m. Also found in Tanzania, Burundi, 

and D.R.C. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, escarpment below Jalawe Viewpoint, 1992, 

Goyder, Paton & Tawakali 3581 (K, MAL). 

Trachycalymma cristatum (Decne.) Bullock 

Asclepias cristata S.Moore; Asclepias palustris (K.Schum.) Schltr.; 

Gomphocarpus cristatus Decne.; Gomphocarpus palustris K.Schum. 

Short, erect, single-stemmed, tuberous herb with white latex and nodding 

white or pink flowers; montane grassland or open woodland; 2,000– 

2,600 m. Widespread in tropical sub-Saharan Africa from Nigeria to An- 

Landolphia kirkii Dyer 

Straggling shrub or liane to 18 m tall. This record is doubtful. Dowsett- 

Lemaire (1985) did not find it in her comprehensive survey of the Nyika 

forests. Both White et al. (2001) and Flora zambesiaca (1985) do not record 

this species from N. Malawi. Since Patel quoted no specimen and we have 

seen no specimens, it is excluded. 


1999). 

Gomphocarpus glaucophyllus Schltr. 

This is almost certainly G. praticola. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, without locality or collecting details (Mill 1979). 

Stathmostelma welwitschii Britt. & Rendle 

Asclepias welwitschii (Britt. & Rendle) Britt. & Rendle; Stathmostelma 

chironoides K.Schum. ex De Wild. & T.Durand; Stathmostelma 

laurentianum Dewevre 

Ilex mitis (L.) Radlk. � 

Cape holly; Chichewa: katenji; Yao: katenji, mulisanyundo 

Evergreen tree to 20 m, leaves simple, margins almost entire with a few 

minute teeth near the apex, fruit (female trees only) a small red berry; along 

streams and rivers in evergreen forest and riverine vegetation. From South 


AQUIFOLIACEAE 

gola and Zimbabwe. 


Malawi. Nyika Plateau, Circular Drive, 1977, Pawek 12271 (K, MO). 

Zambia. Nyika Plateau, Rest House, 2,100m, 1959, Richards 10410 (K). 

Trachycalymma foliosum (K.Schum.) Goyder 

Asclepias foliosa (K.Schum.) Hiern; Asclepias lepida S.Moore; Asclepias 

minuta A.Chev.; Asclepias modesta N.E.Br.; Gomphocarpus foliosus 

K.Schum; Trachycalymma pulchellum sensu Bullock, in part 

Erect, single-stemmed, tuberous herb with white latex and nodding white 

flowers; Brachystegia woodland; 1,100–2,000 m. Widespread in savanna 

regions of S. tropical Africa and W. Africa. 


Malawi. Nyika, 1 mile in Nyika Road [from Rumphi?], 4,900’, 1969, Pawek 

3249 (K). 

Tylophora anomala N.E.Br. 

Slender woody twiner with watery latex, large leathery ovate-lanceolate 

leaves and zig-zag inflorescences with green flowers in clusters; forest margins; 

1,500–2,000 m. Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique. 

Malawi. Nyika Plateau, Kasyaula Forest, Dowsett-Lemaire 243 (K). 

Tylophora erubescens (Liede & Meve) Liede �� 

Tylophoropsis erubescens Liede & Meve 

Slender twiner with clear latex, leaves ovate ca 10 mm long; flowers delicate 

maroon; in wet montane forest; 1,800–2,300 m. Also known from S. 

Tanzania. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Zovochipolo Forest, 2000, Winter & Burrows 

4143 (K, PRE). 

Xysmalobium undulatum (L.) Ait.f. � 

Asclepias undulata L.; Xysmalobium ensifolium Burch. ex Sc.-Elliot; 

Xysmalobium angolense Sc.-Elliot 

Stout erect herb with white latex, triangular leaves, and hairy, reddish purple 

flowers, fruit covered in hairy prickles; in damp hollows in montane 

grassland; 2,000–2,250 m. Widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. 


Malawi. Nyika National Park, W. foot of Nganda, 1972, Brummitt & Synge 

35 (K). 

This species does not occur in the area. The record may come from a 

misidentified specimen of Asclepias randii at K, MO, and SRGH labelled 

S. cf. welwitschii, or is S. fornicatum. 


1979). 

Stenostelma sp. 

This is not Stenostelma; probably refers to Asclepias sp. (= Richards 57(K)). 


1999). 

Trachycalymma pulchellum (Decne.) Bullock 

This is almost certainly T. foliosum. 


1979). 

Africa (Western Cape) to Ethiopia and Guinea. 

Malawi. Nyika National Park, Lake Kaulime, 1958, Robson 277 (BM, K, 

LISC, PRE, SRGH); Dembo Bridge, 2000, Thera 3009 (MAL); near Chelinda 

Compound, 1959, Adlard 312 (FHO, SRGH). 


75 

APOCYNACEAE

Stathmostelma fornicatum subsp. fornicatum 


Tacazzea conferta 



20 mm 

20 mm 

20 mm 

20 mm 

Tabernaemontana stapfiana 


Trachycalymma buchwaldii 


10 mm 

50 mm

20 mm 

Ilex mitis 


Tylophora erubescens 


20 mm 

Xysmalobium undulatum 


Cussonia arborea 


Cussonia spicata 

20 mm 

200 mm 

200 mm 


77

49-77 - SABONET

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?