111 Roadside Plants A Tribute to Namibia's Fascinating Plant Life

About this book

111 Roadside Plants is different, not only in look, but also in content, and is so much more than simply a flower guide. Having written a series of flower guides for the Namib and the central part of the country to introduce some of Namibia's fascinating flora, the author has now taken a countrywide perspective. The focus of 111 Roadside Plants is on Namibia's vegetation, the distribution of plants and to providing an explanation for these patterns and associations. In doing so, I also introduce a selection of 111 plants that are commonly seen while travelling through Namibia, so 'roadside' does not necessarily refer to plants growing in the road reserve only.

Many of these plants have not been covered in my previous field guides and recently produced distribution maps help to pinpoint where they can be found in the country. Thorough searches of the literature and databases on individual plants enabled me to incorporate a wealth of new information, which I hope will be of interest to readers and help provide a more global perspective. Text boxes throughout 111 Roadside Plants introduce some recent research findings relevant to Namibia's plant life. It is my wish that all of this will provide plant lovers with ample more reasons to get excited about Namibia's flora.

Contents

Acknowledgements
Author's note

Plants in Namibia
- What determines plant diversity in Namibia?
- How do plants survive in Namibia?
- Namibia's biomes and vegetation
- Here, but nowhere else on Earth - Namibia's endemics
- Managing Namibia's plant life
- Invasive aliens - a curse or blessing?
- Plant economics
- Repairing the damage
- And the future? Thoughts on the effects of climate change

How to use this book
Some common (roadside) plants in Namibia
- Trees and stem succulents
- Shrubs and dwarf shrubs
- Short-lived plants: Bulbs, herbs and rootstock perennials
Grasses

Glossary
Selected reading
Cited references
Index

Customer Reviews

Biography

German Antje Burke came to Namibia in 1988 and has, as a researcher, lecturer and environmental consultant continued to feed her passion and knows the Namibian flora extremely well.