SABONET Mid-Term Review Living Plant Collections: Malawi And

Newsletter of the Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Volume 6 No. 1 ISSN 1027-4286 March 2001

SABONETSABONET Mid-TermMid-Term ReviewReview LivingLiving PlantPlant Collections:Collections: MalawiMalawi andand ZimbabweZimbabwe GeneticGenetic ResourcesResources andand BenefitBenefit SharingSharing SouthernSouthern AfricanAfrican Herbaria:Herbaria: WindhoekWindhoek

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 1 c o n t e n t s

Features Regulars

14 5th International 3 Editorial ON OUR COVER: Platycerium elephantotis, an epiphytic fern, Chromolaena Workshop 4 Letters to the Editors growing on a riparian tree in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia. 16 Computer Viruses 46 The Paper Chase (Photo: Patrick Phiri) 17 SSC 10 50 Regional News Update 18 Database Management 56 E-mail Addresses Cover Stories Course 5 SABONET Mid-Term 19 Benefits of Data Capturing Review in Herbaria 22 Living Plant Collections: 30 GTI Africa Regional Work- Malawi shop 26 Living Plant Collections: 32 Plant Genetic Resource Zimbabwe Centre 3 Letters 34 Genetic Resources and 37 SABONET’s Students Benefit Sharing 37 SAAB Conference Abstracts 42 Southern African Herbaria: 40 Where Have All the Windhoek Flowers Gone? 44 Obituary: Willi Giess

48 News

14 Chromolaena

21 Plant Collections 25 Plant Collections

2 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 letter from the editors Newsletter of the Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Editors Stefan Siebert Marthina Mössmer EDITORS: STEFAN SIEBERT & MARTHINA MÖSSMER Design and Layout Antoinette Burkhardt ELCOME to the first issue of our new-look SABONET Vanilla Design Studio News! We are starting the new year with a new layout—a (27) 12 809-0318 streamlined design that packs even more information into our W Reproduction and Printing pages. The new SABONET News features a Letters column on page 4, so feel free to air your views, ask questions, or comment on articles. If you Business Print Centre (27) 12 349-2295 want to submit articles for the next issue, you will also find Instructions to Authors on page 4. Subscriptions Nyasha Rukazhanga-Noko In this issue, we include articles on the living plant collections of Malawi [email protected] and Zambia, computer viruses, the National Herbarium of Namibia in Website Windhoek, the triffid weed Chromolaena, and many more. Our regular www.sabonet.org Profile feature has now introduced all the National Coordinators to our readers; this issue does not contain a profile. Starting with the next issue, Submission of Manuscripts we will be featuring other prominent SABONET colleagues. Marthina Mössmer [email protected] The most important SABONET event in recent months was the UNDP/ See Instructions to Authors on page 4 GEF Mid-Term Review of the SABONET Project. The achievements of SABONET News is the official newsletter SABONET during 1996–2000 have been widely recognised, with our sta- of the Southern African Botanical tus as a flagship regional project being acknowledged by similar regional Diversity Network (SABONET). projects across the world. This achievement is due to the tremendous commitment of all ten participating countries of southern Africa. How- ever, UNDP/GEF regulations require more than global approval to determine and evaluate the state of their projects. One of the major appraisals required is the Mid-Term Review of a UNDP/GEF-funded project. The SABONET aim of this assessment is to highlight the lessons learned and to deter- National Botanical Institute mine the way forward. See our article on page 5 for a summary of the Private Bag X101 Mid-Term Review Reportback presented in Windhoek, Namibia. Pretoria 0001 SOUTH AFRICA SABONET News was rated very highly: the evaluation team noted that Tel.: (27) 12 804-3200 Fax: (27) 12 804-5979/3211 SABONET News is widely read and appreciated and is a very valuable project output. It was considered an excellent medium for information SABONET News is published in March, sharing and for staff development. July and November and is distributed free of charge. During the next 20 months, participating institutions will be called upon Current number of subscribers: 1 600 to actively promote and drive our activities towards achieving outputs. Printed on recycled paper. By accomplishing this goal, we will be presenting the donor agencies This newsletter was made possible through with a measure to evaluate the capacity that has been built in the botani- support provided by the GEF/UNDP (SABONET cal institutions of southern Africa. is a GEF Project implemented by the UNDP) and the Regional Centre for Southern Africa, Gaborone, Botswana, US Agency for Interna- tional Development (Plot no. 14818 Lebatlane —Stefan Siebert & Marthina Mössmer Road, Gaborone West, Extension 6 Gaborone), under the terms of the Grant No. 690-0283-A- 00-5950. The opinions expressed in the newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the US Agency for International Development, the GEF/UNDP, the SABONET Steering Committee or the National Working Groups.

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 3 letters to the editors [email protected]

THANK YOU TO SABONET-NAMIBIA AND FLATTERED! single seed is sown, a single har- NBI I would like to take this opportunity vest is realised. When you teach the Prior to my first visit to Namibia to thank my extended southern Af- people, you reap a hundred har- and the Western Cape of South Af- rican botanical “family” for their vests”. So long live SABONET! rica in February and March 2001, I touching comments, compliments —SABONET Student considered the Namibian terrain and best wishes made in the De- and the northern cember 2000 edition of ORBEA IRRORATA sector of the West- SABONET News. I shall cer- In 5(2): 105, under Succulenta 2000, ern Cape to be ex- tainly try to stay as involved you ask about Orbea irrorata. This tensively covered as possible with the many is almost certainly just a variant of by Kalahari sands. dedicated and committed O. verrucosa and of no taxonomic This notion was members of our network significance. I will be dropping the drastically spread across southern Af- name in my forthcoming book changed after visit- rica. Stapeliads of the World, unless ing Namibia and I also wish Stefan Siebert all someone comes up with convinc- participating in a the best in managing the ing proof before then that it is a field trip after at- project for the next two years, valid species. I tried to persuade tending the Global and will endeavour to give Larry Leach to do so when he was Taxonomic Initia- him all the support I possibly revising Orbea—he felt that it might tive in Cape Town Patrick Phiri leaning can. I look forward to helping have been overlooked by recent in February–March against a quiver tree Aloe mobilise the botanical garden collectors, but nothing that has 2001! A visit to the dichotoma, a spectacular component of the SABONET floristic feature in the transpired since leads me to feel National Botanical Project in the months ahead. National Botanical Garden, otherwise. Did anyone come up Gardens of Na- Carpe diem! Windhoek, Namibia. with a sighting? mibia in Wind- (Photo: W. Mziray) —Christopher Willis —Darrel Plowes hoek and a three- National Botanical Institute [email protected] day tour of the Western Cape has South Africa certainly expanded my knowledge of phytogeography in southern Af- TRAINING COURSE rica. Thanks to SABONET-Namibia It was an honour to participate in for facilitating the SABONET Steer- the Herbarium Management Train- ing Committee Meeting in ing Course (11-29 October 1999), as Windhoek and to the National Bo- someone found worthy to be a tanical Institute for organising the steward of the floral treasure in field trip across the Western Cape southern Africa—in my days. I after a successful GTI Workshop. I know I am a debtor but strongly promise to call again! believe that I am going to be use- —P.S.M. Phiri ful; I will try my best to do so. University of Zambia Thanks for investing in me. Kuan- Lusaka, Zambia Tzu said, “If you are planning for a Patrick Phiri being persuaded to get See our article on the GTI Workshop on page year, plant a seed. If you are plan- closer to an ostrich in the Karoo, Western 31 and a summary of the Mid-Term Review ning for five years, plant a tree, if Cape Province, South Africa. Stunted report that was presented in Windhoek on you are planning for 100 years, then plant growth typical of the biome is page 5. Eds. teach or train the people. When a visible in the background. instructions to authors

1) Manuscripts should preferably be in 4) If possible, include colour slides, black-and- 8) SABONET News holds the right to edit any English. white photographs, or line drawings to received copy. 2) If possible, text should be sent in electronic illustrate articles. 9) Manuscripts should be sent to Marthina format via e-mail or on a stiffy disk and 5) Caption all tables, figures and photographs Mössmer. Via e-mail: [email protected] should be in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, clearly on a separate sheet. Include Hard copy: SABONET, National Botanical or Rich Text Format. Otherwise, hard copy photographer credits. Institute, Private Bag X101, Pretoria 0001, can be sent or faxed to the SABONET 6) Each author should provide name, SOUTH AFRICA. Fax: (27) 12 804-5979/ head office. affiliation, postal address, telephone and fax 3211. 3) Tables and charts should be in one of the numbers, and an e-mail address (if 10) Submissions for the next issue should following formats: Microsoft Excel, Quattro applicable). reach the editors before 31 May 2001. Pro, Lotus 1-2-3, or Harvard Graphics. 7) Look at the most recent issue of SABONET Late submissions will not be included. Data must be supplied with charts. News for stylistic conventions.

4 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 SABONETMid-Term Review

he SABONET Mid-Term Review (MTR) was con- potential and to provide outputs that can be used as a Tducted from 22 January to 5 February 2001 by Mr launch pad for further funding. A further issue that Jonathan Timberlake (Biodiversity Foundation of Af- pertains is the project design. A process should be put rica, Zimbabwe) and Dr Alan Paton (Kew, United King- in place to scrutinise the project implementation in dom). Fifteen days were devoted to this task, with all order to redesign the logframe and revise the budget ten participating countries being assessed to a greater allocation. Such an effort will ensure an efficient final or lesser degree. An oral report-back was presented project phase. to the SABONET Steering Committee and interested parties on 5 February 2001 in Windhoek, Namibia. The Evaluation Conclusions aim of the presentation was to discuss the recommendations made by the Mid-Term Review evaluation The review team concluded that SABONET has been team. An official SABONET Mid-Term Review Report a very successful and innovative taxonomy project: has been prepared by the consultants and submitted • National capacity in terms of human skills has been to the UNDP-GEF Regional Bureau for Africa. This ar- built. ticle is not the official report, but a summary of the • National institutions are satisfied with appropriate- presentation made by the consultants in Windhoek. ness and level of training. • Institutions purchased essential equipment on a The main objectives of the evaluation were the follow- needs basis. ing: • The project has been flexible and appropriate in • Evaluate progress regionally. terms of national needs. • Get an indication of benefits to the various institu- • The Coordinator’s Office has been strong, support- tions. ive, and responsive. • Get an indication of benefits to botanical users na- • Many institutions have databased a significant part tionally and regionally. of their collections. • Obtain suggestions for modifications to project ac- • Preparation of national and regional Red Data Lists tivities and/or design over the next 24 months. is advanced. • Develop an “exit strategy” for the existing project. • Regional awareness of botany was created and en- • Determine the strengths and weaknesses of the ex- couraged mutual support among botanists in the isting project, and to learn any lessons. region. • Get indications of structure, topics and activities for any future regional botanical project. However, the evaluation team also noted a few general concerns: The team was required to look at the following aspects: • Insufficient attention has been given to products • How improved capacity of herbaria can be used in derived from this increased capacity and to users plant conservation and sustainable utilisation. of botanical information. • Whether the needs of users of botanical information had been addressed. • How the project can be justified regionally, rather than as the sum of its national parts and what the regional benefits are. • What priorities should be set for the remaining period of the project, given that not all institutions will achieve all the stated outputs.

It was highlighted that the implementation capacity of participating institutions across the region differs greatly. All the countries had a common goal—conservation and sustainable use of plant resources—but each country may not have the same priorities for immediate objectives or activities. The Education Centre in Zimbabwe where the consultants The need to develop an “Exit Strategy” was also em- met with representatives from Malawi, Zambia and phasised. This will allow the project to best realise its Zimbabwe during the MTR. (Photo: C. Willis)

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 5 • Only 12 official months remain, and two or three or national projects. Institutions need to express clearly SABONET Steering Committee (SSC) Meetings, identified and costed priorities, so that the remaining therefore it is important that maximum impact is budget can be used efficiently. gained from the capacity built thus far. Many recommendations concern prioritisation of activities to The evaluation team made the following recommen- focus on outputs from existing strengths. dations: • Due to large differences in size and implementation • Project management training should be provided. capacity between institutions, smaller institutions Countries should be proactive and send their staff have a disproportionate burden placed upon them on local courses. when common activities are undertaken. Not all par- • Fellowships and mentoring should be resourced ticipating institutions have the same mandate. and countries encouraged to submit proposals to • The project is mostly run through only one national the Steering Committee in order to consolidate their institution. This may limit the project’s value to the training and make the best use of the expertise in broader botanical community (providers and users the region. Proposals must be needs-driven and of information) in each country. focussed toward the production of a product which • The vision of the project by most participants has illustrates the relevance of the capacity built, for ex- been national, not regional. This can hinder the best ample, training in identification and validation of use of regional resources and reduces the potential herbarium material of a priority group for Red Data of botanists in the region to influence policy. Is the listing. project truly regional, that is, building on regional • Training in general identification by specialists expertise and strengths, and building regional could be built onto the end of the next regional field knowledge? trip. This may help speed up the naming of mate- • There is not a clear demarcation between the rial collected and thus the delivery of a product from SABONET and SECOSUD projects, particularly in the activity. institutions with a lower implementation capacity • Student progress reports must be submitted to the and in the National Botanical Institute (NBI) PRE- Secretariat in the quarterly report. Reports should CIS support unit. indicate whether the student is making good progress. Training • During regional trips the SABONET Information Technology (IT) unit should involve local service pro- Training has increased the regional capacity to study viders in the national workshops to ensure that they plant diversity. It has been flexible and appropriate to are also trained in the database. Local service pro- institutional needs. A good gender balance of trainees viders should also be encouraged to give after-hours was maintained. Most trainees are, or are likely to be, absorbed into permanent staff, ensuring sustainability. Most training has been utilised, although monitoring has been weak. Training of horticulturists has not yet begun. IUCN NETCAB has already reviewed the training programme; their findings are fair and accurate. A problem exists in the implementation of IT skills, such as in the use of PRECIS. Institutions supported support options that include hosting a fellow, attaching staff to a mentor (remotely or by attachment to another institute), and hosting a national training course. In- stitutions have been hesitant in requesting funding for such activities.

The following priority areas were identified for further training: • Ability to produce maps and labels with PRECIS • General plant identification • Taxonomic validation of herbarium specimens • Production of formal taxonomic revisions and nomenclature

Project management training was identified as a priority for future training. Activities must be prioritised to ensure maximum use of capacity built to produce MTR consultants Jonathan Timberlake products that fulfil the stated objectives. Such training and Alan Paton “inspecting” Roma will ensure that institutions have the capacity to de- University Botanic Garden with Mofalefa velop proposals and lever funding for further regional Tlali. (Photo: S. Siebert)

6 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 courses to SABONET IT staff at the participating in- mutual trust and understanding. stitutions. • A follow-up should be conducted of all course par- SABONET News has been an excellent medium for in- ticipants and post-graduate students. This should be formation sharing and for developing staff. It has also presented as a life-history of the training programme provided an element of peer pressure to further de- and should also look at the impact on the staff du- velop capacity by learning from the activities of oth- ties and efficiency of the project. ers. An important function of SABONET News has been to raise awareness of relevance and capabilities of botanical institutions. Countries have received feed- Field Trips back from broad community of users of botanical information through the wide distribution of SABONET A regional trip to the Nyika Plateau of Malawi/Zambia News. in 2000 provided an excellent opportunity for training in field procedures and identification, and allowed the No recommendations were made as networking was building of personal contacts between participants. The felt to have developed well. publication of a Conservation Checklist of the Plants of the Nyika is well advanced. A trip to southern Mozam- bique is planned, but planning is only in the early stages.

Vehicles and funding through SABONET has allowed increased national field collecting. Trips have focussed on increasing herbarium collections. Countries differed in their capacity to carry out field trips. National field trips have mainly only involved people from the specific country.

The evaluation team made the following recommendations:

• The logframe should be adjusted to provide only for the southern Mozambique regional trip. No other SABONET News was rated very highly by the MTR large regional trip should be planned for the remain- consultants. (Photo: C. Willis) der of this project owing to lack of time. However, if a few countries decide to undertake and organise National Committees the third regional field trip, it will be considered by the SSC. In each country, the National Working Group (NWG) consists of the coordinating institution, representatives • Countries should be encouraged to submit bids to of other botanical institutions, related government de- fund further national field trips. Such trips should partments, representatives of universities, and inter- have a clearly expressed purpose, focussing on un- national organisations (IUCN and UNDP). Some coun- der-collected areas or taxa, and thus feed into out- tries have wildlife societies or WWF on the NWG, but puts such as national checklists or Red Data lists. generally representatives of the broader community Proposals should also consider inviting a participant of users of botanical information (for example, con- from another regional country who has interests and servation NGOs, EIA consultants, ecologists) are not experience appropriate to the goal of the trip. represented. NWGs have generally not initiated requests for activities, but have concentrated on moni- • Field trips must be evaluated in terms of the number toring and advice. Lack of broader user group repre- of specimens collected. It is understood that certain sentation has limited the ability of NWGs to facilitate countries do not see field trips as a priority owing linkages and collaboration with similar activities within to the danger associated with such trips. the country and region. The NWG attendance level varies between countries; poor turnout is due to mem- Networking bers’ perception that the project does not benefit their own institution or interest, lack of time, and high staff A collaborating Southern African Botanical Diversity turnover (especially within UNDP). Network has been established—this is one of the great successes of the project. Network functions were de- The evaluation team made the following recommen- veloped at several levels, from individuals learning from dations: shared experiences to institutions gaining broader • Although National Working Groups fail to monitor understanding of each other’s work. The secretariat and review effectively because they lack the breadth played an important role, building an atmosphere of of users of botanical information in each country,

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 7 no change to their structure during the existing Approximately 200 000 specimens have been project is suggested. The project needs to consider databased as a direct result of the project. The mean outputs as a priority rather than details of opera- rate is 11 specimens per data capturer per working tion. day. However, databasing of national collections will • National Working Groups’ outputs should become not be completed in all institutions before the end of more proactive. Developing a strong national net- the project. The Poaceae was the priority target group, work can encourage proactive participation. but otherwise no clear strategy was designed for prioritising data capture. This is important for institu- Electronic Information Systems tions that will not complete databasing during the project. Databasing of grasses is likely to be completed The SABONET project has provided all participating by all countries by the end of the project. countries with computers, training, and software to allow databasing of herbarium collections. The soft- Production of distribution maps has been identified ware (PRECIS) is appropriate to countries’ needs. South as a priority, but some countries cannot produce these Africa’s NBI has provided considerable support. and will need further assistance. There is also a con- SABONET has also provided resources to check data cern over the quality of geo-referenced data. Some quality. countries only have geo-referenced data for some specimens, others only provide Quarter Degree Grid Initially, data capture was slow owing to the following resolution. There is a need for point data in all the in- reasons: stitutions. There is also no clarity concerning priori- • Lack of resources directed towards IT support at ties: some countries try to database as many speci- beginning. mens as they can; others devote resources to capture • Difficulty in employing a suitable person to support quality information to enable mapping. PRECIS other than in South Africa. • Lack of IT management skills. There is a lack of clarity or understanding of the divi- • Data capturers attending courses. sion of labour between SECOSUD and SABONET, par- • No working relationship between institutions and ticularly for databasing and mapping. There is a dan- local service providers. ger that SECOSUD and SABONET will compete for • Two institutions had to re-enter approximately 5 000 the same resources of time and expertise, particularly specimens as the existing database was not compli- in smaller institutions and in the central PRECIS sup- ant with PRECIS. However, most problems have now port unit at the NBI. been solved. The SABONET project intends to pool the data gath- Databasing works best in the institutions where IT is ered during the project to analyse the information on supported, either by a staff member or local service a regional basis. Such regional data is an important provider (LSP). But LSPs often have a high staff turno- resource. Sharing information highlights other issues ver or are situated some distance from participating such as data ownership and control of use. A draft institutions. bilateral agreement between the NBI and the National Herbarium of Namibia (WIND) has been drawn up. The low implementation capacity of some institutions means staff were unable to develop sufficient IT skills The following recommendations were made: owing to other work pressures. Implementation of • A strategy outlining databasing priorities must be PRECIS is sustainable, but there are concerns whether produced. It is suggested that countries focus on it applies to institutions that lack necessary IT skills. increasing the quality of their data to allow accurate mapping. Latitude and longitude details should be added where possible. Proposals to database additional taxa should demonstrate the importance of the activity to the broader botanical community. Red Data Listed taxa could be given priority. • SABONET should support the ability to produce distribution maps from PRECIS. However, SABONET should not allocate resources to further GIS research, leaving this element to SECOSUD. There needs to be a clear division of resources between the two projects. • A regional databasing strategy is needed. The aim of pooling data from all countries needs to be clarified and a product identified. This will help guide the databasing priorities. This strategy should also The beautiful stone building where the University of include data security and the management of data. Lesotho Herbarium is housed. (Photo: C. Willis) • The draft data-sharing agreement between WIND

8 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 and the NBI should be completed. This document Good progress has been made with the Red Data Lists can then serve as a model to facilitate regional for most countries, even if assessments are not con- projects, which can highlight to the region the use firmed or are based on old or inadequate information. and relevance of information held in the national This product is tangible, applied and requested by a institutes. range of users. • The data-sharing agreement should be used by SABONET to influence governments to ensure that The suggestion that the project assists in carrying out legislation covers access to genetic resources and taxonomic revisions for the FSA and Flora Zambesiaca that information derived from them is practical and (FZ) regions would be another relevant output. does not impede cross-border scientific research. This will assist countries to develop protocols and The evaluation team made the following recommen- memoranda of sharing. dations: • For future projects, it should be ensured that PRE- • Publication of Regional and National Red Data Lists CIS can accept data transferred using international should be given high priority. data standards such as HISPID. This will maximise • The Steering Committee should solicit suggestions data input, allow transfer of data to other regions, for appropriate regional and national publications and facilitate future transfer to GIS. during the remaining part of the project. The project should provide financial and editorial support (if Outputs required) for national as well as regional publications if they can be used to demonstrate increased So far, output of products has focussed on training to capacity. increase institutional capacity. However, in order to • Priority should be given to the production of na- demonstrate this improved capacity, products must be tional species checklists with minimum annotations produced. There has been insufficient attention given by each country under the present project. This to this under the project to date. In order to ensure the should be done using the most suitable means, positive impact of the project, the relevance of any which, in most cases, will not involve the use of PRE- products must also be demonstrated. CIS. • Production of national and regional species distri- Regional publications have been judged as generally bution maps be given low priority, except where useful, especially the Needs assessments, Plant taxo- databasing is almost complete. The Poaceae should nomic expertise and the PRECIS user guide. These pub- receive priority with regards to databasing and dis- lications provide a good regional and international tribution maps. profile for the project. SABONET News is widely read • SABONET News should continue in its present for- and appreciated and is a very valuable project output. mat. • Checklists of specific areas of interest should be pro- National publications have been few and far between. duced where a demonstrated need exists. Produc- The ability to support these publications is a valuable tion of such checklists will demonstrate the value component of the project. The publication of national of project activities and databasing. A completed Red Data Lists is a priority. Only one national species database is not needed to compile a comprehen- checklist—that of Namibia—has been published. Com- sive checklist. pletion of similar checklists is only likely for some coun- • Implemention of GIS and vegetation conservation tries. activities should not be attempted in the remaining part of project, unless they can be contracted out. National and regional species distribution maps are unlikely to be done by most countries, because serious problems with databasing have been experienced (insufficient data input, low capacity, lack of geo-refer- encing). However, regional maps for the Poaceae are possible. Other groups could be mapped for the Flora of southern Africa (FSA) region, through the NBI.

No progress has been made in GIS and it is hoped that SECOSUD will provide the necessary expertise for the region. Utility and relevance of some outputs is not clear, for example the proposed vegetation maps. The production of these maps would involve significant additional investment in capacity building. Analysis of distribution data (hot spots, under-collected areas) can only be carried out once all herbarium collections have been databased. This has been done for Namibia and A view of the building in Windhoek, Namibia, where the could be done for the FSA region, through the NBI. reportback session was held. (Photo: S. Siebert)

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 9 • Analysis of species distribution data at present The evaluation team made the following recommen- should be restricted to those countries with relatively dations: complete specimen databases. A database informa- • Provision must be made for pre-course training in tion strategy should be implemented to include other English for Portuguese-speaking trainees where re- label information with distribution data analysis. quired. This may be carried out in-country at a na- • Project activities should focus on production of re- tional or private institute, or could be done as part alisable outputs within the current project time of an attachment to another botanical institution in frame. These outputs will show improved capacity the region. In the latter case, the trainee would at- and demonstrate the value of botanical information tend a part-time language course while also carry- to the broader society, for example, in conservation ing out research or in-service training. and utilisation. Unrealisable outputs, such as vegetation mapping, should be dropped from the Capital Expenditure logframe of the present project. Most countries have used up their capital allocation; Botanic Gardens further capital allocations have been held up by those who have not. All countries expressed satisfaction with Activities have only recently begun and it is therefore the equipment purchased and the flexibility to do so. too soon to judge progress. A Needs Assessment has Some countries require support for maintenance of been completed and is very useful. A regional plan- infrastructure. Appreciation has been voiced for the ning workshop is planned for March 2001 when pri- provision of four-wheel-drive vehicles and their run- orities will be set. Countries have expressed the desire ning costs—this has resulted in numerous field col- that horticultural training be provided for garden staff. lecting trips.

The evaluation team made the following recommen- The evaluation team made the following recommendations: dations: • Planned activities for the remainder of the project • Participating countries should be given a few should follow the outputs of the March 2001 work- months to utilize their remaining capital budgets. shop. Priorities need to be set. Activities should not After this, whether utilized or not, there should be take implementation capacity away from other a budget call for a new round of capital expendi- project activities aimed at outputs. Planned activi- ture for selected items to be decided by the Steer- ties are dependent on the priorities of the SSC and ing Committee. This may include essential repairs the allocated budget. that cannot readily be done through other channels.

Language Regional Aspects

Portuguese-speaking countries expressed their con- Under a regional project, it is important to demon- cerns regarding data entry in English and the English strate increased regional capacity and/or knowledge, PRECIS manual. Portuguese trainees have an insuffi- not just increased national capacity. Different ques- cient understanding of English and cannot benefit from tions can be asked regarding this issue: university training in South Africa. This also applies to • Why a regional project and not just a series of na- the short training courses. tional projects to support botanical institutions?

Training has increased the regional capacity to study our rich plant diversity in southern Africa; the motto of SABONET is LEARNING BY DOING! SABONET organises both Herbarium Management and Plant Identification courses for the region. (Photos: C. Willis)

10 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 • Has the project increased the voice of botany at a forma proposal could be developed by the Secre- regional level? tariat to ensure that the Steering Committee has all • Is the regional view now stronger at continental or the necessary information to make a decision. international forums? • Has regional expertise been effectively utilised? National User Workshops

Most countries have looked at the national benefits of National User Workshops were not originally seen as project activities, not at regional benefits or possibili- a project activity. However, the need has arisen from ties. The regional potential has not been fully realised. the evaluation process. A series of national workshops Expertise has mostly been used at a bilateral level. of providers and users of botanical information need to be organised to address user needs in future. This Building regional strength could involve the following: should form an integral part of the Exit Strategy. Fol- • Protocols for data exchange between countries and lowing national workshops a regional synthesis should institutions be carried out, which can include a regional workshop. • Production of a regional Red Data List The synthesis would determine the following at a re- • Synthesis of data at a regional level gional level: • Mentoring within the region • Who are major users of botanical information? • What sort of information do they require? Namibia and South Africa are advanced in signing a • In what format do they require this information? bilateral agreement for data exchange. This will allow • How can any future botanical project address this Namibia to access data held at the NBI and vice versa. at either a national or regional level? • Should a future project be regional or national? The following recommendations were made: • Resources must be made available under the present The following recommendations were made: project for mentoring, using expertise available • Funds should be made available under the remain- within the region. This may take the form of der of the present project to carry out a national - A specialist in a particular priority group visit- workshop in each participating country. These ing other herbaria to help with identifications for workshops would comprise, at minimum, repre- periods of a few weeks (roving specialist). sentatives of the following providers and users: - A bilateral arrangement for a particular special- - Herbarium staff ist to visit an institution to support, advise or - National Biodiversity Focal Point carry out informal training on a specified topic. - Ministry of Environment (or similar) - Research or specialist staff at a participating in- - Government/parastatal conservation agencies stitution visiting another regional institution for (National Parks, Forestry) a period of a few weeks to increase their knowl- - University botany/forestry departments (teach- edge or exposure. ing and research) - Regional specialists being funded to provide peer - Persons carrying out vegetation surveys or eco- review, scientific editing, and specialist techni- logical assessments cal advice on request. This would probably in- - International conservation NGOs (WWF, IUCN, clude country visits. etc.) • Strong efforts should be made to produce regional - National conservation NGOs (wildlife societies, outputs, such as the regional Red Data List, check- etc.) lists of trans-boundary areas, regional distribution - Environmental consultants and consulting com- maps, regional inventories of useful plants, and per- panies haps regional checklists. Some of these may be prob- - Traditional plant users lematic given the differing status of progress in na- - Organisations concerned with botany (Tree So- tional databasing. ciety, Botanical Society) • The value of regional cooperation in the botanical - Amateur botanists, visitors to gardens (Friends field, along with the benefits of regional network- of Gardens, etc.) ing, should be publicised. • The output from the workshops should be a brief • Namibia and South Africa should finalise their bi- but clear indication of users, botanical information lateral data-sharing agreement; this should be re- required, the format in which this is required, and garded as a basis for a regional protocol. priorities. These workshops should be carried out • As SABONET has only three or four Steering Com- before the end of the current project so that results mittee meetings left before the planned end of the obtained can be used either to assist in getting fund- project, proposals submitted to these meetings need ing for national botanical projects, or to assist in to be well planned. Peer review of proposals from leveraging regional funding. within the region may also help consolidate project • National workshops must be followed by a synthe- management training. Care must be taken that such sis of information from the national workshops. The a review process is simple to ensure that institutions synthesis (which could be carried out in a work- are not deterred from submitting proposals. A pro shop format, or by a consultant followed by national

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 11 peer review) should be aimed at determining what, at a regional level, the major botanical information requirements are. • This process should be funded by and take place under the auspices of SABONET. It should be directed at leveraging future funding for botanical institutions. Representatives of all participating countries should be encouraged to participate in the process.

Strengths

The project has focussed attention on plant conservation as part of the Convention of Biological Diversity. LMA Herbarium, Mozambique was also visited by the Funding was focused on herbaria as repositories of team. (Photo: C. Willis) scientific information on plants. This has assisted a range of herbaria across this region to begin to get objective. Future projects could consider ensuring that this information into a more useable format by initiat- all secretariat posts are advertised regionally and that ing a process of computerisation. Most of the activi- a representative of the SSC is present at interviews, ties initiated are sustainable. The project increased either as an observer or participant. human capacity within a range of herbaria and in various skills. Many SABONET trainees have been or are A regional project needs to pay particular attention to likely to be absorbed into permanent positions. A suc- language limitations among participants. Additional cessful network process was initiated where a range allocation of resources (for example, for language of botanists across the region have regular interaction training) may be necessary to overcome this problem. with other regional botanists. It provided a forum for communication among a whole range of regional and In order to make maximum use of acquired data, any international botanists and those with an interest in database program used should be compatible with the subject. It also created a functional model for re- similar databases elsewhere. This can be achieved gional scientific collaboration. Activities sensitised through the use of international data standards/ex- herbaria and regional botanists to the use of herbarium change formats. This also includes transfer to GIS for- data in applied conservation. The project enabled her- mats. Another facet of data transfer is to ensure that baria to collect new data through field trips. The NBI’s agreements between collaborating institutions are in capacity to host the project made it a successful one. place. Networking and communication formed a good foundation to maximise regional experience through the Dependence on information technology (IT) for project project. outputs requires that IT is adequately resourced from the beginning of the project and that full technical Weaknesses support is readily available. There is a danger that the tool can become more important than the use and Widely differing implementation capacities are present products derived from the data and can take up a dis- between the participating institutions. Participating proportionate amount of the human resources avail- institutions sometimes have different roles and man- able. dates. Requirements and priorities differ between different participating institutions. High staff turnover In some cases, countries have not been using proper tends to be a problem with regard to training. Uncer- reporting systems, including requests for available tainty exists over the sustainability of computerisation funds. There will be a need for more proactive project in some smaller herbaria. There is a lack of permanent management. Short-term attachments to the secre- positions for some trained staff. Insufficient attention tariat may help. was given to how information obtained can be dissemi- nated to users and capacity produced used most effec- Exit Strategy tively. There is differing quality of computerised data with regards to determination, nomenclature and The evaluation team recommends the development of georeferencing. Project management skills need an Exit Strategy in 2002. An Exit Strategy is neces- strengthening. sary for the following reasons: Lessons Learned • It will allow the project to best realise its potential by its programmed end. The project has greatly benefited from having the sec- • It provides something that can be used as a launch retariat based in a strong institution. There has been pad or leverage for further regional or bilateral some anxiety over a perceived lack of transparency that funding. could possibly have detracted from the networking • It demonstrates the value of capacity built thus far

12 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 through the products delivered. Future Project • It displays the project’s relevance to its stated wider goal of “Contributing to sustainable human devel- If there is to be a future project, the relevance of ca- opment through the effective conservation and uti- pacity gained under SABONET will have to be dem- lisation of natural resources”. onstrated. A new project will need to be more user and product-driven than the current project. It should The recommended Exit Strategy has three elements: build on the networking strength of SABONET and • User Needs Assessment allow people to make the most of their capacity. Na- • Focus on outputs with high relevance to the broader tional User workshops and a regional synthesis will community be part of the process. • Increased capacity focussing on these outputs National Working Groups will have to be more repre- A User Needs Assessment will identify the users of the sentative of users, and have a stronger say in direct- capacity built so far and their requirements. A national ing national outputs. The structure should remain simi- workshop should be carried out in each participating lar to that of SABONET, but there should be broader country before the end of the current project so that participation of user groups in setting objectives and results obtained can be used either to assist in getting broader regional participation in the Secretariat. funding for national botanical projects, or to assist in leveraging regional funding. Outputs from these na- A future project could be either regional or national. tional workshops should give a brief, but clear, indica- National projects will ensure that each country’s needs tion of the following: are appropriately addressed. However, only some • Users countries in the region will get support—mostly those • Botanical information required by user group with bigger institutions. A regional project will allow • Format in which this is required the region to speak with a stronger voice at the level • Priorities of the subcontinent. It will increase the relevance of botanical institutions to broader societal issues These national workshops should be synthesised through synergy and learning from others. It will also regionally to determine build on regional strengths and expertise, and will • Major botanical information requirements provide a model for other regional initiatives world- • How this could usefully be addressed and imple- wide. mented at a regional level There will need to be much flexibility in terms of The project should build on its existing strengths to project activities and outputs given the differing im- produce products with a high impact. Publication of plementation capacity across the region. Activities Regional and National Red Data Lists should be given should be wider than taxonomy and include applied priority. Priority should also be given to the produc- aspects such as vegetation survey, conservation as- tion of national species checklists by each country, with sessments, and production of field guides. There minimum annotations, under the present project. should be a series of regional outputs, such as regional checklists, checklists of trans-frontier conservation The Steering Committee should solicit suggestions for areas, regional distribution maps, and regional inven- appropriate regional and national publications during tories of useful plants. Regional concerns should be the remaining part of the project. Priority should be incorporated as activities, for example, monitoring of given to publications with the broadest impact. Red List species across the region and regional vegetation surveys. Resources should be made available under the present —Mr Jonathan Timberlake project for mentoring, primarily using expertise avail- Biodiversity Foundation for Africa able within the region. The goal of mentoring is to en- Box FM 730 able institutions to produce products that have a high Bulawayo impact, such as national Red Data Lists or National ZIMBABWE Checklists, or regional products such as regional or E-mail: [email protected] cross-border checklists or regional distribution maps. —Dr Alan Paton The Herbarium SABONET has only three or four Steering Committee Royal Botanic Gardens Kew meetings left before the planned end of the project, Surrey, TW9 3AB therefore proposals submitted to these meetings need UNITED KINGDOM to be well planned. Peer review of proposals from E-mail: [email protected] within the region may also help consolidate project management training. A pro forma proposal could be The final document submitted by the Mid-Term Review Team has been developed by the Secretariat to ensure that the Steer- accepted by UNDP-GEF, who have informed us that they are in agree- ing Committee has all the necessary information to ment with the findings and recommendations put up by the MTR process, and look forward to seeing these recommendations being imple- make a decision. mented in work plans.

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 13 Fifth International Workshop on Biological Control and Management of Chromolaena odorata

he fifth international workshop monwealth Institute of Biological contol agents. Several pathogens Ton biological control and man- Control initiated a biological con- have been reported on agement of Chromolaena odorata trol programme for C. odorata in Chromolaena odorata and are be- (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob. (=Eupato- 1966 with the support of the Nige- ing tested for use in control pro- rium L.) was held at Umhlanga, rian Institute for Oil Palm Research grammes (Chromolaena odorata : KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, from (History of Chromolaena odorata biological control using plant 23–25 October 2000, with a post- biological control programmes) . pathogens—a South African per- workshop field trip from 26–28 Oc- An outcome of this project was the spective) . tober. The event was organized by introduction of the moth Pareu- the Plant Protection Research Insti- chaetes pseudoinsulata to Ghana, The post-workshop tour took the tute, Agricultural Research Coun- Nigeria, India, Sri Lanka and Ma- delegates to the northern parts of cil, South Africa. The purpose of laysia during 1970–1978. Based on KwaZulu-Natal where they visited this workshop was to facilitate the the encouraging results of the in- the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Re- dissemination of information on the troduction of P. pseudo-insulata serve and the St Lucia wetland control and management of into the Mariana Islands, the first (Chromolaena odorata infestation chromolaena (triffid weed), to iden- International Workshop on in Hluhluwe Game Reserve—his- tify areas in which new research is Chromolaena odorata was con- tory, impacts management and needed, and to foster global co-op- ducted in Bangkok, Thailand in prospects for the future) . C. eration on managing and control- 1988. odorata forms dense impenetrable ling it. Delegates from six countries thickets hat displace other vegeta- in Africa attended the workshop. Besides P. pseudoinsulata, a gall fly, tion, create fire hazards due to their Procecidochares connexa, is also flammability, and invade subtropi- Of the asteraceous species that used as a biological control agent cal grasslands that are not burnt have become serious invaders (Impact of Procecidochares regularly (Managing Chro- around the world, C. odorata (Fig- connexa (Diptera: Tephritidae) on molaena odorata (chromolaena) ure 1) must be considered to have Chromolaena odorata in different the greatest impact on the tropics Indonesian ecologies) . It is now (Zachariades et al. 1999). The native present at release sites in most In- range of this scrambling perennial donesian islands and is spreading shrub extends from northern Ar- well and giving good control of gentina to the southeastern United Chromolaena odorata four to five States of America. C. odorata has years after release (Chromolaena invaded many parts of the in Asia and the Pacific: spread Palaotropics, including western, continues but control prospects central and southern Africa, India, improve) . A third biological agent southeast Asia and Oceania (The reported on is a butterfly, Actinote distribution of Siam weed, anteas (A new biological agent in Chromolaena odorata , in Papua Indonesia from South America New Guinea; A decade of biologi- for the control of Chromolaena cal control of the Siam weed, odorata (L.) King & Robinson Chromolaena odorata , in Ghana: (Asteraceae): Actinote anteas lessons and future plans) *. The Doubleday & Hewitson (Lepidop- spread of C. odorata in Asia took tera: Nymphalidae: Acraeinae) . place in the early 1800s when it was Until recently, biocontrol pro- introduced as an ornamental plant grammes on the weed have focused to the Botanical Garden in Calcutta, primarily on the use of arthropods, India. In 1937 it was accidentally with little or no consideration of introduced to Nigeria. The Com- fungal pathogens as biological Figure 1. Chromolaena odorata. * Papers used to compile this report on a most informative (Drawing by A. Walters, National and interesting workshop are in bold. Botanical Institute, Pretoria.)

14 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 in subtropical grasslands in fected by biological control agents threatens Nile crocodile breed- KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) . C. as reported by Zacharaides et al. ing in Lake St Lucia, South Af- odorata was introduced into Ghana (1999). In Indonesia it was observed rica) . However, nests were only in the late 1960s. Early attempts to that Actinote anteas, in addition to found in shaded sites in the Mpate control the weed were mainly C. odorata, also fed on Mikania River breeding area and these nests manual. It was either cut to ground micrantha , another aggressive were shaded primarily by the alien level and burnt or the stems and the weed in the country. Eradication of plant Chromolaena odorata. subterranean portions were up- C. odorata by means of biological Shaded site temperatures were well rooted and burnt. Few commercial control is therefore by no means an below the pivotal temperature for and medium-size farmers at- easy task! In South Africa St Lucia’s Nile crocodiles and as a tempted the use of herbicides. Bio- chromolaena is mainly seen as a result nests probably produced a logical control has been introduced threat to conservation, but it also female-biased sex ratio. Shaded site since the 1970s. The activities have has an impact on forestry, pastoral temperatures may also prevent em- since remained in the domain of re- agriculture, and other land uses bryonic development altogether. It search scientists but are now to in- (Spread, impacts and manage- was observed that breeding croco- clude the farming communities. diles in the Mpate River encoun- Extension agents and farmers tered roots from C. odorata while across the country have been digging their egg chambers. Be- trained and will facilitate further ing unable to dig through the fi- releases and monitoring of the brous mat of roots the crocodiles bioagent Pareuchaetes pseudo- then abandoned these sites. In a insulata (Ecologically sustain- mitigation experiment additional able Chromolaena management nesting sites were created; the in Ghana: past, present and fu- percentage of sites utilised in- ture role of farmer field creased, indicating that suitable schools) . nesting sites were in short supply. Chromolaena odorata is thus also Chromolaena odorata was first re- posing a very serious threat to the continued survival of the Nile corded in South Africa in 1947 Figure 2. Distribution of Chromolaena near Ndwedwe, KwaZulu-Natal odorata in southern Africa. crocodile in Lake St Lucia and un- (Hillliard 1977) and also from Mo- less immediate action is taken, a zambique, but there is virtually no ment of Chromolaena odorata in female-biased sex ratio will result information on its occurrence in southern Africa) . Although aware- in eventual extirpation of the spe- Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, and ness of the weed is now high in this cies from this recently acclaimed Angola (Figure 2)—C. odorata is country, its spread has proceeded World Heritage Site. invasive in southern Africa and is largely unchecked. Chromolaena distinct in its morphology from odorata is often the dominant fal- References forms that have invaded other ar- low species in the short fallow-food HILLIARD, O.M. 1977. Compositae eas of the world. Determining the crop systems that form the basis for in Natal. University of Natal Press, exact identity and origin is impor- subsistence and cash crop farming Pietermaritzburg. tant in order to ensure complete along the forest margins of south- ZACHARIADES, C., STRATHIE- compatibility of candidates for bio- ern Cameroon (The role of KORRÛBEL, L.W. & KLUGE, R.L. 1999. The South African pro- logical control. Various attempts to Chromolaena odorata in the short gramme on the biological control solve the problem are currently in fallow-food crop systems of the of Chromolaena odorata (L.) King progress (Genetic fingerprinting forest margins of southern & Robinson (Asteraceae) using of Chromolaena odorata : finding Cameroon) . insects. African Entomology the origin of South Africa’s pest) . Memoir 1: 89–102. Comparing different features of the C. odorata does not only affect hu- Eupatorieae occuring in southern mans, but also crocodiles. In a study —Elizabeth Retief Africa, the genus Mikania, with from 1994–1997, it was observed National Botanical Institute three indigenous members, shows that most of the nesting Nile croco- Pivate Bag X101, Pretoria strong similarity to C. odorata (The diles of Lake St Lucia selected open, 0001, South Africa tribe Eupatorieae (Asteraceae) in sunny, sandy areas in which to de- E-mail: [email protected] southern Africa) and could be af- posit their eggs (Alien plant

IF YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS PLANT IN YOUR AREA IN AFRICA, PLEASE CONTACT Lesley Henderson, Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa, or [email protected]

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 15 Computer Viruses I

hreats to data, including com File/Program viruses affect the Tputer viruses, were discussed at program files that a system must a recent SABONET Database Man- load in order to make the software agers Workshop. At the workshop, function. There are three different Morris Worm, Melissa A., data managers and capturers ex- kinds of File/Program viruses: Explore_zip, and PrettyPark. Al- pressed the need to know more • Companion viruses attach them- though these viruses are so differ- about viruses, how they work, and selves to (or replace) executable ent in their makeup, they all use what to do about them. This article program files (.com and .exe self-mailing as their primary repli- is the first in a three-part series on files). When you run the infected cation technique. These worms viruses and discusses the different program, the virus code executes mail themselves by attaching the types of viruses. first. After the virus has finished worm to outgoing e-mail messages. loading and executing, it loads What Is a Virus? and executes the program it has Multi-partite viruses are a com- infected. bination of boot and file viruses, for A computer virus can be defined in • Logic bomb/time bomb viruses example, Natas. various ways: are pieces of code that are in pro- • A computer program intention- grams or the operating systems Systemic viruses affect DOS sys- ally written to cause some form of computers. They wait for par- tem files, which can prevent the of damage to computer systems ticular dates or events before computer from operating. or networks. they execute, and then cause • A program that alters the way a damage, for example, the Fu Hoaxes are not viruses, but e-mail computer works without the per- Manchu virus. messages that people receive and mission or knowledge of the • Trojan horse viruses are pro- then forward to all their friends and user. To be considered a virus, it grams that are supposed to do colleagues, for example, a message must meet two criteria: self-ex- one thing, but when executed do saying that you will receive US$100 ecution and self-replication. something entirely different, for every copy of the message you • A computer program or pro- usually destructive, for example, send to a friend or colleague. These gram-snippet that replicates it- the Pkzip300 and Calculator vi- messages work like the old-fash- self. ruses. ioned chain letters sent by ordinary • A piece of programming code, mail. Hoaxes can cause large not part of the original code, in- Macro viruses are written in amounts of Internet traffic, jam- serted into an executable pro- macro language and are always ming up servers and preventing le- gram. application-specific—they cannot gitimate e-mail from reaching re- • A computer program that is in- attach themselves to just any pro- cipients. tentionally written to attach itself gram. For instance, the Laroux vi- to other programs or disk boot rus will only infect Microsoft Excel In the next issue of SABONET sectors and replicate whenever files. These viruses attach their News, we will discuss the damage those programs are executed or macros to templates and other files caused by viruses, methods by those infected disks are in such a way that, when an appli- which they spread, and how to de- accessed. cation loads the file and executes tect viruses. the instructions in it, the first in- Virus Types structions to execute are those of the virus. Examples of macro vi- —Hester Steyn There are many different kinds of ruses are Laroux, Green Stripe, Data Management Section computer viruses: Concept, Nuclear, and WM.Cap. National Botanical Institute Private Bag X101 Boot viruses affect the information Network worms are programmes PRETORIA system during the start-up process that spread through network con- E-mail: [email protected] and are written in assembly lan- nections, using usernames as pass- guage. They place their code in the words and commands to copy —Trevor Arnold sector whose code the machine will themselves into the system. They Data Manager: PRECIS automatically execute when boot- can replicate through a network National Botanical Institute ing, so that when the machine mail facility and they need not at- Private Bag X101 boots, they load and run, for exam- tach to particular files or sectors at PRETORIA ple, the Stoned and Michelangelo all, for example, Internet Worm, E-mail: [email protected] viruses.

16 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 SSC 10 Held in Windhoek

he Tenth SABONET Steering Paxton & Ms Linda Vanherck This collaboration led to huge time TCommittee (SSC) meeting was • UNDP-South Africa: Mr Thulani and financial savings for both re- held at the Safari Court Conference Mabaso gional projects. Centre in Windhoek, Namibia, on • Ministry of Agriculture, Na- 6 February 2001. Dr Gillian Maggs- mibia: Mr Hans Venter Apart from the usual matters dis- Kölling, Ms Coleen Mannheimer, • National Botanical Institute, cussed at such regional meetings, and Ms Esmerialda Klaassen of the South Africa: Mr Christopher the SSC approved the implementa- National Botanical Research Insti- Willis tion of the recommendations that tute of Namibia were our hosts. • SADC FSTCU, Malawi: Mr were put forward by the MTR team. Ernest Misomali & Dr Mzoma The SSC indicated that a meeting Prof. Brian Huntley—the SSC Ngulube must be scheduled to revise the Chair—and the National Coordina- • National Herbarium, Tanzania: SABONET logframe and reallocate tors or representatives of all ten Dr William Mziray the budget accordingly. This meet- participating countries, as well as • Biodiversity Foundation for Af- ing is being planned for April 2001. the SABONET Secretariat, at- rica, Zimbabwe: Mr Jonathan To facilitate preparations for this tended the SSC Meeting. The fol- Timberlake meeting, the SSC requested that all lowing 12 individuals also attended • Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, participating countries must pro- the meeting: United Kingdom: Dr Alan Paton vide the Secretariat with their • SABONET IT Centre, South Af- workplan and needs for the remain- rica: Mr Trevor Arnold The SSC Meeting was arranged to ing 20 months of the project. • UNDP/GEF, Tanzania: Dr Alan fall between the SABONET Mid- Rodgers Term Review (MTR) reportback and —Stefan Siebert • UNDP-Namibia: Ms Midori the SECODSUD Board Meeting. Witwatersrand NBG Development Campaign Brochure

Development Campaign bro- • Garden Centre and Shop Emsie du A chure prepared by the staff of (R2 000 000) Plessis (both the Witwatersrand National Bo- • Nursery Development of the NBI, tanical Garden in Roodepoort/ (R2 000 000) P r e t o r i a ) . Krugersdorp, South Africa, was • Conservatory/Display Glass- Similar bro- published in November 2000. Spon- house (R6 000 000) chures are sored by the Bankenveld Branch of • Educational theme gardens: planned for the Botanical Society of South Af- - Magico-Medicinal Garden each of South rica, the brochure introduces spon- (R120 000) Africa’s seven other National Bo- sorship opportunities and outlines - Fragrance Garden (R45 000) tanical Gardens. Those for the Pre- completed projects, ongoing - Succulent Rockery (R120 000) toria and Lowveld NBGs are cur- projects, and proposed projects - Geological Garden (R120 000) rently in preparation. planned for the Witwatersrand - Bushveld Area (R50 000) National Botanical Garden. The - Water Garden, stream and More information on the projects brochure will assist sponsors in water feature (R250 000) and the brochure can be requested identifying potential areas of sup- - Turf Grass Garden (R65 000) directly from the Curator of the port, and garden staff in focussing - Climate Garden (R50 000) Witwatersrand NBG, Ms Sharon their fund-raising efforts towards • Upgrading of bridges (R200 000) Turner, at the following address: specific projects. • Extension to parking area Ms Sharon Turner (R500 000) Witwatersrand NBG The value of the 24 proposed future • Concert stage (R80 000) P.O. Box 2194 projects described in the brochure • Four-wheel-drive vehicle for Wilropark 1731 is R24 million. The projects include fieldwork and estate manage- South Africa the following: ment (R170 000) Tel.: (27) 11 958 1750 • Restaurant and Conference Fa- Fax: (27) 11 958 1752 cility (R3 000 000) The design and layout of the bro- E-mail: [email protected] • New Visitors’ Centre and En- chure was done by Ms Sandra Website: http://www.nbi.ac.za/ trance (R2 000 000) Turck; the text was edited by Ms frames/witsfram.htm

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 17 Database Management Course for Beginners

he week of 5–9 December saw from nine of the ten SABONET source persons with proficiency in Tyet another successful countries attended this regional Windows 98 and the PRECIS data- SABONET course presented at the course. The main focus of the base acted as demonstrators dur- National Herbarium, Pretoria. Mr course was basic computer tech- ing the course. The demonstrators Trevor Arnold and the newly ap- niques, database management, and were from Mozambique, Namibia, pointed SABONET programmer, data backup; these skills are neces- South Africa, Zambia and Zimba- Mr Franco Alberts, presented a Da- sary to ensure rapid computerisa- bwe. Five regional SABONET tabase Management Course for be- tion of plant specimens in the courses are planned for 2001. ginners. Fourteen participants southern African herbaria. Five re- —Stefan Siebert

Samira Izidine from Mozambique acted as Students hard at work: Khotso Sepamo demonstrator for students from Portuguese- from Lesotho and Comfort Nhleko from speaking countries. (Photo: Adela Romanowski) Swaziland. (Photo: Adela Romanowski)

The course participants, demonstrators and SABONET staff. BACK: Comfort Nhleko (Swaziland), Jacob Phiri (Botswana), Cidalio Francisco (Angola), Carlos Zita (Mozambique), Trevor Arnold (NBI Data Management, South Africa), Khotso Sepamo (Lesotho), Hester Steyn (NBI Data Management, South Africa), Franco Alberts (SABONET Programmer), Stefan Siebert (SABONET Regional Coordinator) MIDDLE: Nikaya Govender (Demonstrator, South Africa), Gladys Msekandiana (Malawi), Nonkululeko Swelankomo (South Africa), Ruvimbo Gwenzi (Zimbabwe), Nancy Mugarisanwa (Zimbabwe), Esmerialda Klaassen (Demonstrator, Namibia), Samira Izidine (Demonstrator, Mozambique), Ana Bela Amude (Mozambique), Shaibu Kananji (Malawi) FRONT: John Tloubatla (NBI, South Africa), Monicah Kabelo (Botswana), Clara Chisongo (Zambia), Puleng Matebesi (Lesotho), Nyasha Rukazhanga-Noko (SABONET Administrative Officer), Annaniah Sakala (Demonstrator, Zambia), Anthony Mapaura (Demonstrator, Zimbabwe) (Photo: Adela Romanowski)

18 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 Benefits of Data Capturing in Herbaria

ll the herbaria involved in the ern Africa (Gibbs Russell et al. symbols or illustrations; there is no ASABONET project have been 1990). language barrier and information capturing data in the last couple of can be interpreted quickly. years (Siebert & Willis 2000). Com- Date of Collection Flowering or puterised herbarium specimens of- fruiting times can be deduced from Maps can be drawn on a national fer improved access to large quan- herbarium specimens, because or regional basis, indicating the tities of data as well as expanded good herbarium material should be number of species or specimens analytical potential. In this article, fertile with flowers and/or fruit. per grid square (Figure 1). In addi- we discuss the many ways in which Such information is useful for the tion to showing each herbarium such data can be used. timing of field trips, for example, how their collections are made up, when you need to collect fruit for a such maps indicate areas that are genus under revision. under-collected and are invaluable Available Data in the planning of general collect- In Red Data List work, the collec- ing field trips. The following types of information tion dates can give an indication of on herbarium specimens can be a species that may need to be con- Maps are useful when doing iden- computerised: sidered. Possible habitat changes tifications: if there is no record of can be inferred from large discrep- the particular taxon in or near the Localities Locality information is ancies between collecting dates and locality of the specimen under con- available at a number of different when a species appears no longer sideration, it may mean the identi- levels. to be collected. For example, fication is wrong. One can see this Prionanthium dentata was first col- at a glance when looking at a map. Minor and precise localities, for lected in 1775, next collected 1975, It can also indicate that the locality example, “Nyika Plateau, Lake and thereafter only collected twice given or the label attached is incor- Kaulime, marshy area on eastern in the 1980s, indicating a very rare rect. Points on a map that appear bank”, can be used to map the dis- species. as outliers from the main distribu- tribution of a species or vegetation tion could mean that a particular in small areas such as small nature Through analysis of collection specimen has been incorrectly reserves. dates, the date of introduction and the spread of weeds and other al- When collecting certain species for ien species can be obtained. specific projects, for example, anatomy, revision work, genetic Flowering and fruiting times can resources, Red Data species, or also be included in a publication. pharmacological testing, computerised locality information enables Type Specimens A record of type one to go directly to a locality and specimens in herbarium collections not waste too much time searching give researchers an indication of for the species. which herbarium to apply to for the loan of types when doing research. Habitat Information When used in combination with locality data, habitat information can speed up Database Products the process of finding a specific species in the database; it is also Distribution Maps A grid refer- Figure 1. Distribution map showing useful for locating a rare species ence is necessary for each speci- the number of computerised that needs monitoring. men if the data is to be used for dis- specimens in the National Herbarium, tribution maps. Once precise local- Pretoria. Grey cells represent grid Habitat information from the data- ity information has been databased, squares with 1–24 computerised base can also be incorporated in distribution maps for each taxon specimens; black cells represent grid publications. An example of this can be generated and these have squares with 25+ computerised can be found in Grasses of south- many applications. Maps are like specimens.

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 19 named or encoded; this is useful for a limited number of collections. Lists Lists of species per grid can quality control of the collection be generated on a national or re- and/or information in the data base. Maps can be used as part of the gional basis. Such lists can be used starting point in conservation ac- as the basis of checklists for collect- Maps give invaluable information tions to see which areas may need ing trips; lists can also be generated to researchers involved in research to be conserved. on request for interested members on specific taxa or groups of plants. of the public. Distribution maps are often pub- Weed distribution can be moni- lished in the final paper(s). tored. This helps with control and An indication of the biodiversity of possible prevention of alien plant an area can be obtained by listing When publishing a new species, invasions, as the distribution maps all taxa recorded. Such an area can maps are included to show the ex- alert botanists to areas where par- either be small and local, a National tent of distribution. It therefore in- ticular weeds are found. Park, for example, or regional, like creases the information available the SABONET countries. on the species being described and Gazetteer Because grid references shows possible geographical links are added to the specimen data that Lists can also be used for curato- with similar species. is used for distribution maps, the rial purposes, as problems are of- computerized information can be ten highlighted and can then be Projects such as a Red Data List also used to compile a gazetteer of place rectified. An example of incorrect benefit from maps. A shortlist of names by combining grid refer- encoding at the National Her- possible threatened candidates can ences and locality names. This can barium, Pretoria, is that of Lagarus be drawn up by analysing distribu- be a valuable product of PRECIS in ovatus, a monotypic genus from the tion maps to see which taxa appear countries where a gazetteer is not Mediterranean. It is not likely to to have a restricted distribution or yet available. occur in Namibia, but a number of

Creating Maps Using PRECIS Specimen Database, the button “Mappit Output” (Reports menu) runs a report to generate a list of grid references for a selected family, genus or species (Prentice & Arnold 1998). Grid references (for example, 2123AC) are then written to a file (see Figure 2), which can be converted to the required format and imported into Mappit or ArcView to create a distribution map (Figure 3). Each dot on the map represents a record of a specimen in the database that was collected in a specific quarter degree grid.

*LEGEND =Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf 1713DA 1813BB 1917BC 1917CA 2025BB 2216BD 2216DB 2216DD 2217AD 2217CA 2217CB 2317CA 2329BB 2329CD 2329DD Figure 3. Distribution map of Hyparrhenia hirta based on data Figure 2. Part of the list of grid from participating SABONET herbaria. The map was created references for Hyparrhenia hirta. using MAPPIT.

20 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 Stipagrostis specimens collected in cannot be easily analysed using specimen locality should only be Namibia had been wrongly en- GIS. Within the SABONET Project entered when degrees, minutes and coded as Lagarus (Craven 1999). At the standardizing of the collection seconds, or degrees decimal values the time of encoding these speci- of locality information for her- are not available. mens, the number system was used barium specimens will greatly en- at PRE. These specimens were enhance the usefulness of the result- References coded under 9902600 (Lagarus), in- ing databases. When locality is re- CRAVEN, P. (ed.). 1999. A checklist stead of 9902611 (Stipagrostis), a corded using precise measure- of Namibian plant species. more likely genus for Namibia. ments, a variety of maps can be cre- SABONET Report Series No. 7. Since the specimens were correctly ated and it is possible to overlay the SABONET, Namibia. filed, but the data was incorrect, it distribution data with topographi- GIBBS RUSSELL, G.E., WATSON, L., KOEKEMOER, M., SMOOK, L., took a long time to rectify the mis- cal, geological or other environ- BARKER, N.P., ANDERSON, H.M. take in such a large collection. mental data. However, data gath- & DALLWITZ, M.J. 1990. Grasses ered only at a low level of resolu- of southern Africa. Memoirs of the Using GIS tion (country or region) cannot be Botanical Survey of South Africa used to show a more highly defined 58: 1–356. In a recent issue of SABONET locality (Burrough in Rhoads & PRENTICE, C.A. & ARNOLD, T.H. News, it was stressed that compu- Thompson 1992). To be analysed 1998. PRECIS. Specimen Database terised information will be far more spatially, botanical data must have user guide. SABONET Report valuable in future if the data is suit- locality information that can be re- Series No. 3. SABONET, South able for data manipulation tech- lated to a point on a map (Rhoads Africa. RHOADS, A.F. & THOMPSON, L. niques such as Geographical Infor- & Thompson 1992). 1992. Integrating herbarium data mation Systems (GIS) (Siebert & into a geographic information Willis 2000). GIS technology has the In this regard, georeferencing is of system: requirements for spatial potential to expand the applications the utmost importance (Siebert & analysis. Taxon 41: 43–49. of botanical databases through Willis 2000) and precise distribution SIEBERT, S.J. & WILLIS, C.K. 2000. processes such as overlay of collec- information, for example, decimal Computerisation Update. tion site data with natural resource degrees should be attached to com- SABONET News 5(3): 182–184. and political data. The botanical puterised specimens where possi- GIS could allow spatial queries that ble. Distribution information —Lyn Fish a herbarium database alone cannot, should be in one of the following National Herbarium such as identifying new areas to formats: grid reference; degrees, National Botanical Institute search for rare species based on the minutes and seconds; degrees deci- Private Bag X101 occurrence of habitat characteris- mal. If the specimen label only has PRETORIA tics matching those of known col- a description of the locality but no E-mail: [email protected] lection sites. In this way it could latitude/longitude information, a become an important tool in stud- gazetteer and/or map should be —Hester Steyn ies of endangered species and con- used to find the precise locality. In Data Management Section servation efforts (Rhoads & the PRECIS Specimen Database, National Botanical Institute Thompson 1992). the corresponding quarter degree Private Bag X101 grid reference is automatically in- PRETORIA Because of highly variable locality serted once the longitude and lati- E-mail: [email protected] information, there is much botani- tude values have been entered. The cal data locked into databases that quarter degree grid reference of the

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 21 National Botanic Gardens of Malawi

here are three National Botanic facilities. ceives rainfall of around 2 000 mm TGardens in Malawi: Zomba Bo- • Testing grounds for introduced per year, making it ideal for a large tanic Garden in the south, Lilongwe botanical materials in collabora- number of both indigenous and Botanic Garden in central Malawi, tion with other appropriate in- exotic species such as Pinus patula and Mzuzu Botanic Garden in the stitutions. and Newtonia buchananii. At its es- northern region. Sir Alexander • Areas for the promotion of tablishment between 1891 and Whyte, who worked as a govern- greater knowledge and expertise 1895, the garden covered 20 ha. The ment botanist under the British in horticulture. garden was later handed over to administration, established Zomba • Areas of public amenity and the Forestry Department, which led Botanic Garden between 1891 and promenade. to the loss of many species such as 1895. The garden served as an ex- • Areas for carrying out research Ginkgo biloba, Solandra gattatu, perimental garden for ornamentals on the flora and vegetation of Xeroderris stuhlmaniiand Aleurites and economic plants collected from Malawi. montana. The area occupied by the the British Empire. Lilongwe and garden was increased to 50 ha Mzuzu Botanic Gardens were es- The living collections of the three when its management was handed tablished in 1989, two years after gardens are at different stages of over to National Herbarium and the establishment of the National development. The living collection Botanic Gardens in 1989. Today Herbarium and Botanic Gardens of in Zomba Botanic Garden is di- there are over 500 species in the Malawi as an independent institu- verse, owing to its existence for garden; 200 of these have been in- tion. The Lilongwe and Mzuzu Gar- over 100 years. Mzuzu and troduced during the past ten years. dens were established with the pur- Lilongwe Gardens have concen- pose of conserving regional flora. trated on ex situ conservation of flora specific to the surrounding The gardens serve as areas. Because the living collections • Systematic collections of the rep- in the three gardens are so dissimi- resentatives of the major plant lar, I describe them separately in families, and the vegetation this article. types of Malawi including indigenous and exotic plant species of Zomba Botanic Garden both economic and medicinal value. The garden is located in the Munici- • Conservation areas for threat- pality of Zomba, Malawi’s old capi- ened, endangered, endemic, and tal, which experiences a cool tem- indigenous species of Malawi. perature climate, owing to its prox- Figure 1. Some of the epiphytic orchids • Environmental and educational imity to the Zomba Plateau. It re- grown at Zomba Botanic Garden.

22 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 Fern Collection the garden in the 1970s. Cycas revoluta has also been planted. Approximately 206 fern species have been recorded in Malawi; 25 Succulent Collection of these are cultivated in the garden, especially along the stream This collection can be found on the banks. The species Adiantum rockery areas of the garden. The poirettii, Cheilanthes quadripnnata, family Aloeaceae is represented by Cheilanthes viridis var. glauca, 17 indigenous species, for example, Doryopteris poiretii, Pellaea Aloe arborescens, A buchananii, A angulosa, Pellaea doniana, Pteris buttneri, A cameronii, A canii, A catoptera, and Pteris friesii domi- christianii, A cryptopoda, A duckeri, nate and have adapted well to the A excelsa, A greatheadii, A mawii, cool temperatures of Zomba. A menyharthii, A myrianthii, A mzimbana, A nultii, A swynnertonii, Orchid Collection and A zebrina (Figure 3). More than 50 indigenous and exotic Aloe spe- There are over 400 species of or- cies were collected from the south- chids recorded in Malawi. Twelve ern region and are cultivated, with epiphytic orchids species are most flowering in winter and propagated in wood charcoal and spring; a few species flower in sum- dead wood under a shed (Figure 1), mer. Unfortunately, some species including Ansellia africana, Bulbo- suffer from bacterial and fungal in- Figure 2. Part of the cycad collection in phyllum sandersonii, Angraecopsis fections during the wet season. the Zomba garden. parviflora, Angraecum cochiferum, Succulent and xerophytic species Acampe praemorsa, Calyptrochilum belonging to Euphorbiaceae, obyssinca—and three exotic bam- christyanum, Cytorchis arcuataand Cactaceae, Agavaceae, Amarylli- boo species—Bambusa glau- Bulbophyllum malawiense.In addi- daceae and Crassulaceae are also cescens, Bambusa vulgaris, and tion, four terrestrial orchid species cultivated. Dendrocalamus strictus—are have been introduced to the gar- among the living grass collection. den, especially those with edible Grass Collection Although the grasses do not pro- tubers such as Disa spp., Habenaria duce colourful flowers, this is one walleri and Satyrium spp. Four years ago, 23 grass species of the most attractive areas in the were introduced in the garden. Ex- garden (Figure 4). Cycad Collection otic grass species have also been planted, including Vetiveria Wildflower Collection Encephalartos gratus is the only zizaniodes, Pennistum parpureum cycad indigenous to Malawi and and Hyparrhenia sp. Two indig- Eleven wildflower species have so endemic to Mulanje Mountain (Fig- enous bamboos—Oreobambus far been collected for cultivation. ure 2). This species was planted in buchwaldii and Oxytenanthera These are Crinum macowanii, Dissotis princeps, Helichrysum nitens, Plectranthus pubescens, Costus spectabilis, Vernonia nata- lensis, Erythrocephalum zambezi- anum, Streptcarpus goetzei, Pyrrosia schimperiana, Aneilema johnstonii, and Impatiens eryaleia. These flower all the year round if watered regularly.

Economic Plant Collection

Zomba Botanic Garden has concentrated on the collection and propagation of wild fruits, for example Uapaca kirkiana, Azanza garckeana, Tamarindus indica, and Terminalia catappa. Wild vegeta- bles, such as Bidens pilosa, Gynan- dropsis gynandra, and Amaranthus Figure 3. A view of the Aloe collection at Zomba Botanic Garden sp. are also displayed.

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 23 Herbaceous Collection Aloe Collection Economic Plant Collection

Herbaceous plants include annuals, This is a collection representing in- The Lilongwe Garden includes a perennials, and ornamental plants digenous aloes of Malawi collected large area of orchard crops. Over that are cultivated for their colour- from drier parts of the central re- 20 species are under cultivation ful flowers. This collection is for gion of the country, including Aloe here. Visitors also come to the or- both commercial purposes and chard to see and learn more display and includes herbaceous about the different species and perennials such as Salvia varieties of fruit crops. Both splendens, Chrysanthemumspp. , tropical and temperate fruit spe- Lobelia spp., Bulbine caulescens cies are on display, including and Tulbaghia violacea. mangoes, peaches, avocados, guavas, macadamias, apples, Tree and Shrub Collection papaws, and granadillas. There is also a 0.5 ha vegetable garden This is a representative collection where cabbage, mustard, toma- of Malawian and introduced toes, onions, eggplants, and trees of this part of Africa. Em- green maize are cultivated. The phasis is placed on the ex situ produce is sold to generate in- conservation of plants which are Figure 4. Some of the grasses growing in the come for the botanic garden. threatened and rare, as well as Grass Collection of the Zomba garden. those with horticultural uses and Herbaceous Collection wood products. The garden also cameronii and Aloe chabaudii. has a collection of palms. Regular field trips are undertaken Herbaceous plants include annuals, to increase the aloe collection. perennials, and ornamental plants Other Collections that are cultivated for their colour- Bulb Collection ful flowers. This collection is for The Zomba Botanic Garden nurs- both commercial purposes and dis- ery contains indigenous and exotic Bulbous plants from the central re- play and includes herbaceous per- tree seedlings, ornamentals, and gion are collected and cultivated in ennials such as Salvia splendens, medicinal plants. The tree seedlings the garden. Only four species are Chrysanthemumspp. , Lobelia spp., are sold or supplied to the public under cultivation: Albuca sp., Tacca Bulbine caulescens and Tulbaghia to encourage community participa- sp., Anthericum sp. and Boophane violacea. tion. Ornamental plant species are disticha. These species produce col- sold for landscaping to generate ourful flowers in winter and sum- Tree and Shrub Collection funds for the botanic gardens (Fig- mer. ure 5). This collection represents the indigenous trees of the drier Combre- Lilongwe Botanic Garden

Lilongwe Botanic Garden is the second largest of the three gardens with a total area of 130.68 hectares. It is situated in the heart of Lilongwe City in the central region of Malawi. The garden experiences a warm climate, receiving an annual rainfall of 2 000 mm, and is dominated by Combretum and Aca- cia. The garden was initially planted with Gmelina arborea trees in the 1970s, which are being uprooted in stages to encourage the growth of indigenous trees and shrubs and allow introduction of other species. Over 200 species grow naturally in the garden; some 100 species have been introduced.

Figure 5. The Zomba Botanic Garden nursery contains indigenous and exotic tree seedlings, ornamentals, and medicinal plants.

24 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 a nature reserve and only a small Panicum sp., Tristachya sp., and portion has been landscaped. Sporobolus sp. (Figure 7).

Herbaceous Collection Tree and Shrub Collection

Herbaceous plants include annuals, In situ conservation has made the perennials, and ornamental plants botanic garden rich in evergreen that are cultivated for their colour- trees such as Syzygium, Uapaca, ful flowers. This collection is for and Brachystegia. Newtonia both commercial purposes and dis- buchananii and Khaya anthotheca play and includes herbaceous per- have been introduced along the ennials such as Salvia splendens, river. These plants serve as mate- Chrysanthemumspp. , Lobelia spp., rial for display, research and edu- Bulbine caulescens and Tulbaghia cation. violacea. Maintenance of the Collections Terrestrial Orchid Collection The plant collections in Zomba, Over ten terrestrial orchids grow Lilongwe, and Mzuzu Botanic Gar- naturally in the garden, including dens are a valuable resource. Time Disa sp., Eulophia sp., Platycoryne and money are put into training mediocris, Satyrium buchananii, staff members to maintain these Figure 6. A terrestrial orchid growing and Biophytum sp. (Figure 6). collections. The programme of naturally in the Mzuzu Botanic Garden. work and maintenance cultural Grass Collection practices are documented, so that these are accessible to others who tum-Acacia woodlands of the cen- Many indigenous grass species may want to use them. Our gardens tral region. The collection serves as grow naturally in Mzuzu Botanic are for posterity. material for display, research, and Garden. Some of the species are education. In addition, 100 tree spe- used in construction work in the —Lloyd Nkoloma cies have been introduced to garden, for example, thatching. The Zomba Botanic Garden Lilongwe, including representa- surrounding communities are al- MALAWI tives of the Combretaceae, Cae- lowed to cut the grass for personal Fax: (265) 524 108 salpiniaceae, Euphorbiaceae, use. Some dominant grass species Ebenaceae, Mimosaceae, Papilio- are Andropogon eucomus, Cym- naceae, and Rhamnaceae. bopogon densiflorus, Eragrotis racemosa, Imperata cylindrica, Other Collections

The Lilongwe Garden nursery contains indigenous and exotic tree seedlings, ornamentals, and medicinal plants, which are sold or given free to communities. Orna- mental plant species are sold for landscaping and decoration purposes.

Mzuzu Botanic Garden

Mzuzu Botanic Garden covers a total area of 478 ha. It is situated in the city of Mzuzu in the northern region. The garden experiences cool temperatures and receives an annual rainfall of 3 000 mm. It is dominated by evergreen tree species such as Syzygium sp., Uapaca kirkiana,and Brachystegia taxifolia. Most of the garden is managed as Figure 7. At Mzuzu Botanic Garden, the surrounding communities are allowed to utilise the grass for thatching.

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 25 The National Botanic Garden of Zimbabwe

he National Botanic Garden of ranged according to ecological • The Ornamental Collection sur- TZimbabwe is the main ex situ in- zones. rounds the Herbarium building. digenous plant conservation centre • The Systematic Collections com- in the country. The botanic garden prise selected taxa from the con- Zimbabwean Section falls under the National Herbarium tinent. and Botanic Garden, an institute of • The Exotic Sections of the gar- The Zimbabwean Section com- the Department of Research and den hold tropical plant collec- prises collections of plants ar- Extension Services, Ministry of tions arranged according to their ranged to depict the main vegeta- Lands, Agriculture and Rural Re- areas of origin. tion types of Zimbabwe. settlement. The 67 ha garden is lo- • The African Savanna Woodland cated about 4 km north of the Section is a collection of plants Natural Miombo Woodland Harare City Centre within the sub- from the African savanna areas urb of Alexandra Park. It receives (with the exclusion of Zimbab- This collection consists of the natu- a wide spectrum of visitors that in- we). ral vegetation of the area as it was cludes student groups, tourists, and • Collections of succulents from prior to the development of the gar- researchers. Africa and the New World com- den. Mature specimens of musasa prise the Succulent Sections. Brachystegia spiciformis and The Botanic Garden’s layout (Fig- Plants from arid zones of south- munhondo Julbernardia globiflora, ure 1) makes it conveniently suited ern Africa constitute the Desert the dominant species of the Zimba- for educational, research, and rec- House Collection. bwean Miombo grow in this sec- reational purposes, while at the • The Economic Section is a col- tion of the garden. same time serving the purpose of lection of plants economic im- conserving the indigenous flora of portance from the world over. Open Miombo Woodland/ Zimbabwe. The greater part of the • A collection of herbs used by Highveld Savanna garden is dedicated to the Zimba- people for various purposes bwean flora, housing approxi- makes up the Herb Garden. This is a collection of trees com- mately 80% of the indigenous • Forest plants from the African monly occurring in the highveld woody plant species of the country. continent make up the African area. The common genera in this Forest Section, and forest plants type of woodland are Brachystegia The garden is divided into the fol- from South Africa comprise the and Julbernardia. Prominent spe- lowing sections: South African Rainforest Collec- cies in this collection are musasa • The Zimbabwean Section is ar- tion. Brachystegia spiciformis, mountain

26 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 High Altitude Rainforest

This rainforest is modelled to depict the montane vegetation of the Eastern Highlands. An artificial mountain stream cascades through a small valley flanked with forest ferns. Some of the trees in this area are the emergent forest albizia Albizia schimperana, the parasol tree Polyscias fulva, and yellow- wood Podocarpus latifolia.

Forest Margins

This collection comprises plants from the margins of forests in the Eastern Highlands area. Prominent species in this area include muranga Warburgia salutaris, bivinia Bivinia jalbertii, pink Figure 1. Map of the National Botanical Garden of Zimbabwe. dombeya Dombeya burgessiae, and the rare northern mountain bam- acacia B. glaucescens, munhondo vegetation is very similar to that of boo Oreombambos buchwaldii. Julbernardia globiflora, and the Zambezi Valley area. Of note muwanga Pericopsis angolensis here is a fine specimen of the The Lake (Figure 2). baobab Adansonia digitata (Figure 4), as well as tamboti Spirostachys Aquatic and marginal plants grow Highveld Riverine africana and mopane Colophos- in and around this artificial lake, in- permum mopane. cluding water lilies Nymphaea This is a collection of plants from nouchali, bulrushes Typha capensis, the riverine areas in the highveld. Lowveld Riverine and the Okavango water fig Ficus Growing in this collection are wil- verruculosa (Figure 5). low rhus Rhus lancea, Natal milk This collection is of plants from the plum Englerophytum magalis- riverine areas of the lowveld. Trees Systematic Section montanum, wild olive Olea europea growing in this collection include subp. africana, and river com- ilala palm Hyphaene petersiana, Combretaceae bretum Combretum erythro-phyl- natal mahogany Trichilia emetica, lum. and ebony Diospyros mespiliformis. This section is devoted to all the Combretaceae genera from south- Lowveld Zambezi Valley Low Altitude Rainforest ern tropical Africa: Combretum, Terminalia, Pteleopsis, and Meiste- Contained in this collection are This forest is modelled on the mon. Included are some Zimba- plants from the hot, semi-arid Zam- Haron-Makurupini Forest in the bwean species, such as mususu bezi Valley area in the north of the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe. Terminalia sericea, soft-leaved country. Zambezi teak Baikiaea Striking species in this section in- combretum Combretum molle, and plurijuga, manketti-nut Schin- clude giant red mahogany Khaya lead-wood Combretum imberbe. ziophyton rautanenii, tick tree Ster- anthotheca, forest ordeal tree culia africana, jesse bush Erythrophleum suaveolens, and Acacia (Combretaceae-dominated thick- mujajaira Newtonia buchananii. ets), false mopanes Guibortia This collection contains Acacia spe- coleosperma and G. conjugata, and Medium Altitude Rainforest cies from Zimbabwe and adjacent torch-wood Balanites maughamii countries. Plants growing in this grow here. Modelled on the Chirinda Forest, section and occurring in Zimbabwe this collection contains almost all include fever acacia Acacia Lowveld Save-Limpopo Valley the tree species from that area. The xanthophloea, Nyanga flat-top Aca- forest fever tree Anthocleista cia abyssinica, and camel thorn This is a collection of plants from grandiflora, brown-berry fluted milk Acacia erioloba. the hot semi-arid Save-Limpopo wood Chrysophylum gorungosum, Valley area in the south of the coun- and the massive strangler fig Ficus try. The species composition of this roko are grown here.

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 27 Caesalpinia ferea, Tabebua (Figure 4). The main collection is impetiginosa, Erythrina fulculta, from Namibia and the winter rain- and monkey-puzzle Araucaria fall areas of South Africa, as well angustifolia. as some specimens from the Karoo. Plants from the arid areas of Zim- African Savanna Woodland babwe are also grown here. Plants include stone plants Lithops spp., Growing in this section is a collec- welwitschia Welwitschia mirabilis, tion of trees and shrubs from East, halfmens Pachypodium nama- West, and southern Africa, exclud- quanum, and various species of ing Zimbabwe. The section fea- Aloe, Euphorbia, and Commiphora. Figure 2. The Highveld Savanna. tures pink jacaranda Stereo- (Photo: A. Mapaura) spermum kunthianum and Zam- Economic Section bian albizia Albizia coriaria. Ficus This collection comprises plants of African Rainforest commercial value, including tea Growing in this section is a collec- Camelia sinensis, coffee Coffea tion of fig species from the African This is a collection of forest plants arabica, and the Brazilian rubber continent. The following figs that from the African continent. Occur- tree Havea brasiliensis. occur in Zimbabwe are also in- ring in this section are burttdavya cluded: Zambezi rapids fig Ficus Burttdavya nyassica, feverberry Herb Garden cyathistipula, strangler fig Ficus Croton megalocarpus, and the Af- thonningii, and lowveld fig Ficus rican flame tree Spathodea cam- Culinary, medicinal, cosmetic, and stuhlmanii. panulata. insect-repellent herbs feature in this collection. The majority are of Brachystegia South African Rainforest exotic origin, including aloe vera Aloe barbadensis, ginger Zingiber This section is devoted to the Zim- Growing in this area are bastard officinale, and thyme Thymus spp. babwean Brachystegia species, in- umzimbeet Milletia sutherlandii The herb garden also contains a cluding Brachystegia spiciformis, B. mountain cedar Widdringtonia growing collection of indigenous boehmii, and B. glaucescens. nodiflora, Natal strelitzia Strelitzia herbs. nicolai, and wild pear Harpephyl- Exotic Section lum caffrum.

This section contains collections of Succulent Section trees from tropical areas with cli- matic conditions that are similar to African Succulent Collection our own. This is a collection of succulents Asian Collection from the African continent. Strik- ing species grown in this collec- Of note amongst the plants grow- tion include the Sabi star Adenium ing in this collection are Burma teak multiflorum, milk-woods Euphor- Tectonia grandiis, Indian terminalia bia spp., and the Madagascan Terminalia bellerica, and yellow alluaudia Alluaudia procera. flame tree Peltophorum ptero- carpum. New World Succulents

Australian Collection This collection comprises mainly cacti from central and South Species to be found in this collec- America, including prickly pears tion include the cajeput tree Opuntia spp., golden barrel Echi- Melaleuca quinquenervia, the euca- nocactus grusonii, and peruvian lypt Eucalyptus toreliana, and the apple Cereus peruvianus. Australian flame tree Brachychiton aceriformis. Desert House

South American Collection This unique stone-walled green- house with a louvered north-fac- Figure 3. A baobab specimen in the Lowveld South American trees in this sec- ing glass roof holds plants from Save-Limpopo Valley area. (Photo: A. tion include the leopard tree the arid areas of southern Africa Mapaura)

28 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 The Ornamental Collection

The ornamental collection graces our herbarium surrounds, garden entrances, and car park. This collection contains garden ornamentals from around the world, for example, flamboyant Delonix regia, purple glory-bush Tibouchina granulosa, royal palm Roystonea oleracea, the silk-cotton tree Chorisia speciosa, pandanus palm Pandanus utilis, and the dragon tree Draceana draco.

Garden Maintenance

An intensive maintenance plan has been established for all the garden collections, with staff being as- signed to the various sections to Figure 4. Inside the Desert House. (Photo: A. Mapaura) carry out routine maintenance activities. Three horticulturists who are responsible for the different sections, manage the garden. Allen Micho is responsible for the nursery area and propagates plants for maintaining and expanding the garden collection, and for selling to the public. Esther Makombe is in charge of the ornamental sections around the restaurant, education centre, herbarium, car park, and garden entrances. Andrew Mang- warara is in charge of general garden maintenance activities like mowing the lawns and pruning the trees.

—Soul Shava National Herbarium & Botanic Garden Harare Zimbabwe Email: [email protected]

Figure 5. The Botanic Garden Lake. (Photo: S. Siebert)

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 29 GTI Africa Regional Workshop

he Global Taxonomy Initiative The workshop was attended by 43 co-funders. T(GTI) Africa Regional Work- delegates, representing 32 coun- • Strategy, workplan and net- shop was held at the Kirstenbosch tries (23 African) and 36 institutions works. National Botanical Garden, Cape or organisations. Of these, 21 del- • Genetic resources and benefit Town, South Africa, from 27 Feb- egates from African countries were sharing. ruary to 1 March 2001. The work- sponsored by SIDA. No less than • Taxonomic needs assessments: shop was hosted by the National 13 delegates from Northern insti- what do we know? Botanical Institute of South Africa tutions attended the workshop. • African GTI projects—possible and the National Herbarium and This provided an excellent oppor- topics and how to proceed. Botanic Gardens of Malawi, under tunity to forge and strengthen links • Responsibilities of countries ea- the auspices of the Convention on for North-South collaboration. ger to participate in the GTI. Biological Diversity (CBD), with Many existing links amongst Afri- funding from the Swedish Interna- can delegates were renewed and Several important decisions were tional Development Co-operation others initiated during the work- made during the workshop and this Agency (SIDA). Following the shop. led to the compilation of the workshop some delegates em- Kirstenbosch Declaration. The fol- barked on a four-day field trip to Important aspects discussed during lowing is an extract from this docu- places of interest in the Cape Flo- the workshop included ment: ral Kingdom and adjacent arid ar- • What is the GTI? Provisions, op- eas of the southern and western erational strategies, Plan of The participants at the African Re- Cape. Work, principles and potential gional meeting held at Kirsten-

The Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI) Africa Regional Workshop was held at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town, South Africa, and was attended by 43 delegates representing 32 countries.

30 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 bosch National Botanical Garden, Cape Town, South Africa, 27 February to 1 March 2001, (representing twenty- three African and nine other countries) recommend that

• The COP assures core funding exists for a GTI Programme Officer at the CBD Secretariat. • Parties designate GTI National Focal Points and participate in the development of regional networks as rapidly as possible, in accordance with COP decision V/9. • Parties establish and strengthen national and regional centres of excellence in taxonomy as rapidly as possible, in accordance with COP decision IV/1/D. • Parties support and expand the taxonomic needs assessment initiated as part of this workshop. • Parties support and expand current national and regional taxonomic capacity building initiatives. • Parties support existing African national and regional networks that promote the implementation of the GTI, for example, SABONET, AETFAT, BOZONET, and WAFRINET, SAFRINET and EAFRINET of BioNET-INTERNATIONAL. • Parties promote and support South-South and North-South partnerships where these contribute to GTI objectives for Africa. • The CBD Secretariat disseminates GTI information in appropriate media and languages, bearing in mind that many countries lack adequate access to the World Wide Web. • Parties and donors facilitate and provide funds for GTI activities, as acknowledged by COP decision IV/1/D. • The Executive Secretary of the CBD and the GEF together provide clear instructions on the relationship between GEF and GTI, including ways and means of simplifying the funding of GTI activities.

A final report summarising the discussions and decisions from the GTI Africa Regional workshop is currently being compiled and will be distributed to all interested parties.

—Gideon F. Smith Office of the Research Director National Botanical Institute Private Bag X101 Pretoria, 0001 South Africa

—Ronell R. Klopper GTI Africa Regional Workshop Co-ordinator National Botanical Institute Private Bag X101 Pretoria, 0001 South Africa

“What is lacking and needed now is a concerted effort, comparable to the Human Genome Project (HGP), to complete a global biodiversity survey—pole to pole, whales to bacteria, and in a reasonably short period of time.”

(E.O. Wilson in Science 289, 29 September 2000)

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 31 Plant Genetic Resource Centre

uring a recent visit to tion and utilisation of regional plant lines, but more specifically for lo- D SABONET-Zambia (10–13 De- germplasm. cality and usage information. Field cember 2000) SABONET repre- genebanks are also established to sentatives travelled to the head- Technical Procedures conserve collections by planting quarters of the SADC Plant Genetic clones of economically important Resource Centre (SPGRC) at the Representative seed samples of food crops in small plots. Chalimbana Research Station, ap- populations of indigenous and in- In situ conservation promotes proximately 25 km east of Lusaka. troduced economically important the preservation of genetic re- The SPGRC was set up to promote food plant species are collected sources of wild crops and wild rela- and coordinate the regional net- throughout the SADC region. The tives of successful domestic crops work that manages plant genetic seed is cleaned and any broken or that are of importance in agricul- resources in the SADC region. The foreign seeds are removed from the tural food production. This is 86 ha SPGRC complex houses Ad- sample before the drying process. achieved through improved man- ministrative and Financial Sections, Samples are maintained as active agement of these resources in pro- a Technical Section, the Genebank collections at National Plant Ge- tected areas and on farmers’ fields. for long and short-term seed stor- netic Resource Centres, base collec- On-farm conservation aims to con- age, and facilities for seed drying, tions at the SPGRC and a safety tribute to plant genetic resource packaging and handling. A her- base collection outside the region. conservation while improving the barium is also planned. Land has Collections are conserved by stor- livelihood of smallholder farmers. been set aside for regeneration and ing the genebank samples at low multiplication of germplasm. temperatures of about -20oC. Dupli- Action Plan cate samples are kept under perma- The SPGRC was established in frost outside the region as a backup Certain major functions have been 1988, and a board consisting of against unforeseen circumstances. identified within the SPGRC to members from each participating Herbarium specimens are made of meet its objectives: country governs it. The SPGRC is the parent material of the seed col- • Hold, maintain and manage the an autonomous regional organisa- lection for future identification and long-term Base Collection of the tion under the aegis of the South- comparison of different genetic SADC Member States. ern African Centre for Co-operation in Agricultural Research and Training (SACCAR), the Sector Coordinating Unit for Agricultural Research and Training in SADC. As a SADC initiative, the SPGRC board comprises members from the following participating SADC countries: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mo- zambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The goal of the SPGRC is to promote and coordinate a regional network of plant genetic resources. In the long run these activities will contribute to raising the standard of living and welfare of people in the SADC region. The activities of Mr Brian Chirwa (SPGRC Senior Programmes Officer) in front of the SPGRC the network are the collection, con- Institutional Complex at Chalimbana Research Station, Zambia. servation, documentation, evalua- (Photo: Stefan Siebert)

32 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 • Arrange and provide for the collection of germplasm to be safely duplicated in a Safety-Base Col- lection. • Develop, maintain and manage the regional central accession and inventory databases for ex situ and in situ indigenous plant genetic resources of the region. • Coordinate the inventorying, collection, characterisation, evaluation, rejuvenation and multiplication of indigenous plant genetic resources of the SADC countries. • Coordinate the introduction, evaluation and documentation of introduced exotic plant genetic resource materials in the SADC countries. • Maintain and manage a medium and long-term storage of exotic Mr Trevor Arnold (SABONET IT), Mr Mnyenyembe (SPGRC Senior Programmes plant genetic resource materials Officer), and Dr Patrick Phiri (University of Zambia) discuss the databasing of as deemed of common interest to results obtained from the SPGRC’s field genebank at Chalimbana Research SADC Member States. Station. (Photo: Stefan Siebert) • Keep records in a regional central database of introduced ex- netic resource management pro- samples evaluated. All relevant in- otic material for SADC coun- grammes, and to prevent loss of formation is documented in the tries. plant genetic resources of the re- SPGRC Documentation and Infor- • Issue catalogues of plant genetic gion through collection and conser- mation System (SDIS) that has been resource material available at the vation efforts. The SPGRC has con- installed at all NPGRCs to enhance SPGRC. tributed significantly to capacity the use and exchange of informa- • Publish a SADC Plant Genetic building in plant genetic resources tion. Resources Newsletter with par- in the SADC region through long- ticular attention to the role of term (MSc) and short hands-on —Stefan Siebert plant genetic resource manage- courses. This capacity will enable ment in the solving of relevant National Plant Genetic Resource —Brian Chirwa problems in plant breeding and Centres (NPGRCs) to multiply and Senior Programmes Officer: in seed and crop production. regenerate the desired quantity of Documentation & Information seed for storage in genebanks and SADC Plant Genetic Resource Outputs use in the improvement of crops. Centre Samples of these collections will be Chalimbana Research Station The SPGRC aims to train a team of available for small plot multiplica- Private Bag CH6 highly skilled regional specialists in tion to record their agronomic and ZA-153 02 Lusaka, ZAMBIA plant genetic resource manage- morphological characters. Plants in E-mail: [email protected] ment, to develop national plant ge- each plot are characterised and the Home page: http://www.ngb.se

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 33 Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing

he Convention on Biological The CBD tries to strike a balance Implications for Curators TDiversity (CBD), which entered between the authority of the state into force on 29 December 1993, is to regulate access to genetic re- Preserved plant specimens may be an international treaty and an in- sources on the one hand, and its acquired from other institutions— stitutional framework for the con- obligation to facilitate access to receipt of specimens from ex situ tinual development of legal, policy genetic resources for environmen- conditions (for example, from other and scientific initiatives on biologi- tally sound reasons and not to im- collections) does not involve access cal diversity. pose restrictions that run counter to genetic resources. This reduces to the CBD, on the other. the curatorial burden to get prior The scope is global and covers all informed consent from the country the components of biological diver- Preserved Specimens of origin for each transaction, but sity, from ecosystems and habitats, assurance should be obtained from species and communities to Genetic resources may be consid- the provider that the material was genomes and genes. The Conven- ered to refer to any materials of both acquired and supplied legally. tion deals with in situ and ex situ plant, animal, fungal, microbial or The terms of acquisition should also conservation of biological diversity, other origin containing functional be clarified. sustainable use of biodiversity and units of heredity of actual or poten- benefit sharing. tial value. This can be both living When plant material is collected for and preserved materials such as the preparation of specimens for Up to December 2000, 179 govern- herbarium specimens. use in herbaria, such collected ments and the European Union specimens contain ‘functional units have ratified the Convention. To National legislation is free to deter- of heredity’ and therefore an in situ help these parties to fulfil their ob- mine the precise scope of regulated collection involves access to genetic ligations to conserve biodiversity genetic resources. However, her- resources. and use components in a sustain- barium specimens should be man- able way, the CBD sets out respon- aged as genetic resources for the Loan specimens are likely to be sent sibilities for following reasons: out under cover of documents con- • Monitoring and identification of • Some access laws and draft laws taining terms and conditions that biodiversity. appear to cover preserved speci- require the recipient not to damage • Environmental impact assess- mens such as herbarium speci- or destroy specimens, whereas gifts ments. mens, for example, the Andean are mostly accompanied by a letter. • National strategies, plans or pro- Pact and the Philippines Execu- When herbarium specimens are grammes to conserve and use tive Order. sent or received on loan or as gifts, the components of biological di- • What constitutes a ‘functional a clause explicitly requiring the re- versity. unit of heredity’ is a matter of cipient not to commercialise the • Integrating biodiversity policy interpretation and may change specimens plus any other require- into relevant sectoral or cross- as science and technologies de- ments should be added to the rel- sectoral programmes and poli- velop. evant documentation. cies. • The CBD definition of genetic resources covers ‘potential’ as Benefit Sharing The obligations introduced by the well as ‘actual’ value. Many pre- CBD, in terms of access and ben- served specimens do contain Laws and agreements in several efit sharing are the following: functional units of heredity so countries mean that obligations to • States have sovereign rights access to genetic resources ap- share benefits often extend to de- over biological resources and plies. rivatives of genetic resources— consequent authority of national • From a practical curatorial point progeny or chemical extracts. governments to determine ac- of view, it is likely to be simpler cess to genetic resources. to transfer all preserved speci- Article 8(j) encourages equitable • Such access is subject to Parties’ mens in the same manner as sharing of benefits arising from the prior informed consent on mutu- other specimens. utilisation of knowledge, innova- ally agreed terms that promote fair tions, and practices of indigenous and equitable sharing of benefits. and local communities embodying

34 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 traditional lifestyles that are rel- information associated with genetic when collecting and publishing evant to the conservation and sus- resources. However, if prior in- ethnobotanical information that tainable use of biological diversity. formed consent should be obtained does not involve access to actual The CBD seeks to encourage tradi- from indigenous and local commu- genetic material. tional use of biodiversity and rec- nities, landowners, and farmers, ognises the value of knowledge and sharing benefits could be relevant The following regions, states, and provinces already regulate access to genetic resources to ensure benefit sharing: Summary of Provisions in the CBD • Andean Pact (Bolivia, Colombia, Genetic resources, local and indigenous communities, and Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela) benefit-sharing • Australia (States of Western Australia and Queensland) • Brazil (States of Acre and Ama- Art. 8 (j) Promote the wider application of the knowledge, innova- pa) tions and practices of indigenous and local communities • Cameroon with their approval and involvement and encourage the • Costa Rica equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilisation • Republic of Korea of the knowledge, innovation. • Malaysia (State of Sarawak) Art. 15.1 Sovereign rights of States over their natural resources; the • Mexico authority of national governments to determine access to • Philippines genetic resources. Elements for mutually agreed terms Art. 15.2 Endeavour to create conditions to facilitate access to for effective participation and co- genetic resources for environmentally sound uses by other operation in scientific research and Contracting Parties and not to impose restrictions that run development and benefit sharing counter to the objectives of the CBD. could include the following: Art. 15.3 Articles 15, 16 and 19 only apply to genetic resources • Access to ex situ facilities of ge- acquired “in accordance with this Convention”, i.e. not to netic resources and databases. those obtained prior to its entry into force or from non- • Access to taxonomic, ecological, parties. horticultural and other information and data. Art. 15.4 Access, where granted, to be on mutually agreed terms and • Co-authorship of publications. subject to the provisions of Article 15. • Collaboration in education and Art. 15.5 Access to genetic resources to be subject to prior informed training. consent of the Contracting Party providing such resources, • Collaboration in scientific re- unless otherwise determined by that Party. search and development programmes. Art. 15.6 Endeavour to develop and carry out scientific research • Fee per sample collected or oth- based on genetic resources provided by other Contracting erwise acquired. Parties with the full participation of, and where possible in, • Joint ownership of patents and such Contracting Parties. other relevant forms of IPR. Art. 15.7 Take legislative, administrative, or policy measures, as • Joint ventures. appropriate,...with the aim of sharing in a fair and equita- • Licence fee in case of commer- ble way the results of research and development and the cialisation. benefits arising from the commercial and other utilisation • Participation in product develop- of genetic resources with the Contracting Party providing ment. such resources. Such sharing to be upon mutually agreed • Providing means for a fund at the terms. local, national, regional, or mul- tilateral level. Art. 16.3 Access to and transfer of technology using genetic re- • Regular reporting on the state of sources to countries providing the genetic resources. relevant scientific research and Art. 19.1 Effective participation by providers of genetic resources in development on genetic re- biotechnological research on the genetic resources they sources. provide. • Transfer of knowledge and technology, in particular relating to Art. 19.2 Priority access on a fair and equitable basis by countries use of genetic resources includ- (especially developing countries) providing genetic resources ing biotechnology, or relevant to to the results and benefits arising from biotechnologies conservation and sustainable uti- based on them. Such access to be on mutually agreed lisation of biological diversity. terms.

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 35 Working within the CBD vided. When genetic resources are Benefits that arise from the use of acquired from in situ conditions, genetic resources and their deriva- If collections are to be of value to prior informed consent from the tives should be shared fairly and science and conservation, institu- government of the country of ori- equitably with the country of ori- tions must be able to maintain and gin and any other relevant gin and other stakeholders. The improve them. Institutions may find stakeholders must be obtained and benefits include non-monetary, themselves disadvantaged if they should be in accordance to appli- and, in the case of commercialisa- do not implement access and ben- cable law and best practice. How- tion, also monetary benefits. Ben- efit sharing. ever, if genetic resources are ac- efits arising from the use of genetic quired from ex situ collections, such resources acquired prior to the en- Many institutions collect genetic as botanic gardens or genebanks, try into force of the CBD should be resources worldwide and supply prior informed consent should be shared, as far as possible, in the them to research institutions, gov- obtained from the body governing same manner as for those acquired ernment departments, and univer- the ex situ collection and any addi- thereafter. sities, as well as seed, pharmaceu- tional consents required by that tical, and biotechnology compa- body. Available documentation on Curation of genetic resources is of nies, for the development of new acquired ex situ sources, such as utmost importance. This enables medicines, crops and other prod- collections, commercial sources, or institutions to comply with the prin- ucts. individuals must be evaluated and, ciples of a policy. All records and where necessary, appropriate steps mechanisms used for the following The CBD provides institutions with should be taken to ensure that the should be maintained: the legal framework within which genetic resources were acquired in • Terms and conditions under they can obtain, exchange, and sup- accordance with applicable law and which genetic resources are ac- ply specimens; it also gives them best practice. quired. the opportunity to raise their pro- • Use in the participating institu- file and attract funding. A clear and Genetic resources and their deriva- tion and benefits arising from transparent policy can help institu- tives should be used and supplied that use. tions maintain their reputation. according to terms and conditions • Supply to third parties, including that are consistent with those un- the terms and conditions of sup- der which they were acquired. A ply. Drawing up a Policy transparent policy must be prepared on the commercialisation (in- Institutions must prepare, adopt Policies should honour the letter cluding plant sales) of genetic re- and communicate an institutional and spirit of the CBD, the Conven- sources and their derivatives ac- policy that sets out how they will tion on International Trade in En- quired before or since the CBD en- implement the above mentioned dangered Species of Wild Flora and tered into force. principles. Fauna (CITES), and laws relating to access and benefit sharing, includ- Written agreements need to be —Dr Maureen Wolfson ing those relating to traditional used when genetic resources and Deputy Director: Research and knowledge. derivatives are acquired and sup- Education plied. The terms and conditions National Botanical Institute Prior informed consent needs to be under which the genetic resources Private Bag X101 obtained when genetic resources may be acquired, used, and sup- Pretoria 0001 are acquired; a full explanation of plied, and the resulting shared ben- SOUTH AFRICA how the genetic resources will be efits should be stated clearly. E-mail: [email protected] acquired and used should be pro-

36 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 SABONET’s Students

o build southern Africa’s botanical capacity, SABONET provides support to postgraduate students who Tshow commitment to SABONET goals and objectives. Thirteen individuals hold SABONET scholarships for the 2001 academic year.

SABONET Students Individuals who hold SABONET scholarships for 2001 Ms Georgina Neto Angola M.Sc. Lisbon, Portugal Mr Mbaki Muzila Botswana B.Sc. Hons. University of the Free State Ms Bokang Theko Lesotho B.Sc. Hons. University of the Free State Ms Lerato Kose Lesotho M.Sc. University of Stellenbosch Ms Elizabeth Mwafongo Malawi M.Sc. University of Cape Town Mr Mphamba Kumwenda Malawi B.Sc. Hons. University of Stellenbosch Mr Dickson Kamundi Malawi B.Sc. Hons. University of the Witwatersrand Ms Esmerialda Claassen Namibia B.Tech. (Part-time) Cape Town Technikon Ms Patricia Craven Namibia M.Sc. (Part-time) University of Stellenbosch Mr Solomon Nkoana South Africa M.Sc. University of Pretoria Ms Angela Gono Zambia B.Sc. Hons. University of the Witwatersrand Mr Kunda Changwe Zambia M.Sc. University of the Witwatersrand Mr Phelex Manyanga Zimbabwe M.Sc. University of Cape Town

SAAB Conference Abstracts

he 27th Annual Conference of the South African chemotaxonomy—this approach has proved fruitful in TAssociation of Botanists was held at the Rand the study of the chemistry and taxonomy of Aloe and Afrikaans University, Johannesburg, in January 2001. related genera. We publish the abstracts of the keynote address and presentations by SABONET-affiliated researchers In the course of his research work, he has taken part in here. several plant collection expeditions and has deposited numerous plant voucher specimens at national her- Plenary Speaker baria. He grows several hundred species of plants in an arboretum developed at the Faculty of Science. He At the SAAB conference we were fortunate enough has also established a medicinal plant garden, where to be addressed by one of the world leaders in over 100 indigenous aromatic and medicinal plant spe- ethnobotany and phytochemistry, Prof. Dr Ermias cies are grown. Dagne from Ethiopia. Not only was his presentation inspiring to young African botanists, it also empha- Prof. Dr Dagne heads an active research group com- sized Africa’s rich botanical treasures. prising several research associates, MSc, and PhD students. He has published over 75 scientific papers in Prof. Dr Dagne is an organic chemist by training. His peer-reviewed journals. He has participated in many main research is in the area of natural products chem- prestigious local and international conferences, and has istry, in particular the isolation and characterisation delivered several plenary lectures. of bioactive compounds. He is also interested in

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 37 Ethnobotany and Phytochemistry of Some Unique that are continuously being collected (new specimens) will Plants of Ethiopia enable easy access of this knowledge especially to Ermias Dagne researchers and conservationists. Department of Chemistry, Addis Ababa University, PO Box 30270, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, [email protected] Systematics of Merxmuellera: the Key to Resolving Our research group has for several years been engaged in the Relationships of the Danthonieae (Poaceae) the study of the chemistry and biology of higher plants Paseka Mafa*1, H.P. Linder1 & N.P. Barker2 and fungi of Ethiopia. Ethiopia’s diverse topography * Former SABONET Research Officer, Lesotho, studied with a SABONET provides habitats for approximately 7 000 higher plant Fellowship in 2000 species with a rich endemic flora possessing diverse 1Department of Botany, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, therapeutic and other uses. Medicinal plants are readily Rondebosch, 7700, South Africa available at local markets, where they are customarily sold 2Department of Botany, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140, South side by side with spices and other food items. At the top of Africa the list of unique plants of Ethiopia one finds the leaves of The tribe Danthonieae, soon to become a formal subfamily, the stimulant khat Catha edulis (Celastraceae), berries of has been the subject of many investigations at both the the molluscicide endod Phytolacca dodecandra molecular and morphological level. DNA sequence data (Phytolaccaceae), flowers of the anthelmintic kosso Hagenia sets have contributed towards our understanding of both abyssinica (Rosaceae), stem bark of the anti-tumour bissana the generic compositions of the tribe, and relationships Croton macrostachys (Euphorbiaceae), roots of the within and between the tribe and other grasses. All analgesic dingetegna Taverniera abyssinica (Leguminosae), molecular studies have indicated that the African genus rhizomes of the fumigant kebericho Echinops kebericho Merxmuellera is highly polyphyletic, and that this genus (Compositae), aerial parts of the cough medicine tossign needs urgent taxonomic attention. Morphological and leaf Thymus schimperi (Labiatae), leaves of the anti-dysenteric anatomical data also corroborate these molecular results. attuch Verbena officinalis (Verbenaceae), the seeds of the Merxmuellera comprises 17 African and two Madagascan staple food teff Eragrostis teff, the rhizomes of the species. This study expands on existing molecular (rbcL, fermented food kocho Ensete ventricosum, and the leaves rpoC2 and ITS) and morphological data sets and attempts of the beverage additive gesho Rhamnus prinoides. One to resolve the relationships of the African species of the should also add to this list other widely known plants and genus. Results of analyses of the data sets, both separately plant products that originate from Ethiopia such as coffee and in combination, indicate that M. papposa and M. rangei Coffea arabica, frankincense Boswellia sp., and myrrh are more closely related to Centropodia and the subfamily Commiphora myrrha. Chloridoideae than to the Danthonieae. The remaining species of the genus are either part of a paraphyletic grade Documenting Diversity: Computerisation at Natal at the base of the Danthonieae, or included in a clade Herbarium previously termed the “Rytidosperma clade”, which Nontuthuko Ntuli*1 & Nikaya Govender**1 includes Australasian genera such as Rytidosperma, * SABONET Data Entry Clerk, South Africa Austrodanthonia, Thonandia and Joycea, as well as the ** SABONET Research Officer, South Africa African Karroochloa, Schismus, and Tribolium. 1National Botanical Institute, Natal Herbarium, PO Box 52099, Berea Road, 4007, South Africa Floristics of the Dunbar Serpentine Site and Natal Herbarium is a regional herbarium focusing on Phytogeographic Affinities of Serpentine Endemics KwaZulu-Natal and the eastern region of southern Africa, Kunda Changwe*1 & K. Balkwill1 including Mozambique, Swaziland, Malawi, and Zambia. *Former SABONET Research Officer, Zambia, studied with a SABONET This region has extreme vegetation types, ranging from Fellowship in 2000 coastal to alpine vegetation. In addition, many species are 1C.E. Moss Herbarium, Botany Department, University of the endemic to the region. The duo W.T. Gerrard (?–ca 1866) Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, 2050, South Africa and M.J. Mcken (1823–72) started collecting in KwaZulu- The Dunbar serpentine outcrop has a flora comprising 254 Natal areas in the 1860s. Their specimens represent the taxa (species and below) in 172 genera and 63 families. beginnings of the Natal Herbarium. The herbarium Dunbar has more species than other studied serpentine specimens at Natal Herbarium are being computerized to sites in the Barberton Greenstone Belt (BGB). The genus ensure that the herbarium’s rich botanical knowledge is Senecio is the most speciose genus in the BGB. The level not lost. Computerisation started in the early 1990s when of species endemism at Dunbar is 2.0%. Most of the A field guide to wild flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the serpentine endemics in the BGB show phytogeographic eastern region by Elsa Pooley was being compiled. This affinities with the Sudano-Zambezian Region. Six modified- project was initially funded by the Natal Flora Publications Whittaker plots, three on serpentine and three on non- Trust. Subsequently, Natal Herbarium was used as a guinea serpentine soils, were sampled. Sorenson’s index was 0.312, pig for the SABONET-sponsored computerisation of indicating low similarity in species between serpentine and herbaria within southern Africa. The first SABONET officer non-serpentine sites (beta diversity) at Dunbar, as at other was appointed at Natal Herbarium in 1998 and the second sites in the BGB. Alpha diversity (using the Shannon- in 1999. A large part of their time is spent computerising Wiener index) for the serpentine was 2.631 ± 0.130 and for herbarium collections. Computerisation of specimens the non-serpentine was 2.886 ± 0.130. However, Student’s already in the herbarium (existing specimens) and those t-test showed no significant difference in alpha diversity

38 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 between the two habitats. There was also no significant endemism and phytogeography of the area. Assessments difference in species richness between serpentine and non- made of the endemic and near-endemic plants using the serpentine sites. Total species showed negative new IUCN Red Data Categories (1994) are also presented. correlations with total nickel, altitude and serpentine Opportunities for further collaborative research on the outcrop size (area) for six sites in the BGB. Endemic taxa Nyika are proposed. showed no correlation with environmental variables. Threatened Plant Realities in the Southern African Developing a Greater Understanding of the Flora of Region: Some New Preliminary Findings the Nyika Plateau, Malawi/Zambia Janice Golding Christopher Willis*1, J.E. Burrows2, P.J.D. Winter3, M. Red Data List Regional Coordinator Koekemoer1 & S.D. Johnson4 SABONET, c/o National Botanical Institute, Private Bag X101, Pretoria, *Former SABONET Regional Coordinator 0001, South Africa 1National Botanical Institute, Private Bag X101, Pretoria, 0001, South National plant Red Data Lists are nearing completion for Africa ten southern African countries under the auspices of 2Buffelskloof Herbarium, Buffelskloof Private Nature Reserve, P.O. Box SABONET. The countries are Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, 710, Lydenburg, 1120, South Africa Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, 3University of the North Herbarium (UNIN), Department of Botany, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Red List species numbers in South University of the North, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa Africa remain the highest recorded for the region. However, 4School of Zoology and Botany, University of Natal (Pietermaritzburg), figures have substantially increased more than three-fold Private Bag X01, Scotsville, South Africa in Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe, bringing Collaborative plant collecting expeditions under-collected the proportion of each country’s threatened flora to similar areas of southern Africa are one of SABONET’s project levels as those of South Africa, namely ca 10.5%. This is activities. The first such regional collaborative expedition partially a result of modified Red List methodologies and was to the Nyika Plateau (Malawi/Zambia)—the largest the impacts of human-induced threatening processes montane complex in south-central Africa—in March–April driving species losses. Revised comparative statistics are 2000. This paper presents a brief history of botanical presented, as well as new, tentative data of endemic species exploration of the Nyika, and discusses the progress that for the countries north of the Kunene, Okavango and has been made through the SABONET Project towards Limpopo river systems. Top-priority supra-specific taxa that developing an inventory of the Nyika flora, as well as require urgent conservation efforts are identified, and the highlighting aspects relating to the plant diversity, scope to secure their protection is discussed.

Edwin Kathumba, NHBG, Malawi

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 39 Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

hikanda, the tubers of terres- lect information from local sources, never subjected to more than su- Ctrial orchids, are a traditional and during 2001 we hope to expand perficial flooding. In such areas a food of the Bemba and related the work of surveying the harvest- dozen or more species of orchids tribes of northeastern Zambia, ing and trade of chikanda. Links may be flowering simultaneously. northern Malawi, and Katanga have also been established with Yet the harvesters can recognise Province of the DRC. The pounded counterparts working on the prob- the chikanda species. Tubers of in- tubers are mixed with pounded lem in Tanzania and Malawi. ferior quality, known as mbwelenge groundnuts and cooked to make a to the traders and marketeers, are cake, known as “African polony”. Identifying the chikanda species is difficult to distinguish from the bet- With the decline of the economies fraught with problems. The taxo- ter quality, and inexperienced trad- of Zambia and neighbouring coun- nomic identification of orchids is ers may be tricked into buying the tries, people can no longer afford based on the flowers, and little at- inferior tubers at a price which they to buy chicken or eggs, and have tention has been given to the tubers cannot recover. increasingly turned to cheaper and other vegetative parts. The har- foods. The impoverished rural com- vesters, on the other hand, identify The best quality chikanda undoubt- munities have responded by sup- the plants by the dried above- edly belongs to the genera Disa and plying the ever growing urban de- ground material that remains at the Satyrium, but we know that species mand for traditional foods and end of the growing season before of Brachycorythis and Habenaria medicines. The demand for the fires sweep through the dambos are also used. Originally harvesting chikanda has now expanded to in- or, in a few species, by the new was confined to the wetlands, but clude Zambia’s Southern Province sprouts at the start of the growing increasingly people are using the and towns such as Livingstone, season. Thus, showing photo- upland species as well, although where previously it was not used. graphs of the flowers to the har- these are never as abundant and Moreover, the urban Zambian mid- vesters mostly drew blanks, and we more difficult to find. dle class has developed a taste for realised that we would need to African polony. know much more about the biology By the end of 2001 we hope to be and morphology of the plants if we able to list the chikanda species with Recently we toured the source ar- were going to succeed in identify- reasonable certainty, and to put for- eas of chikanda in northeastern ing the tubers. ward plans for their conservation Zambia. We also questioned the and possible domestication. traders at Lusaka’s Soweto Market What we found during our survey about the various types of chikanda was that while species formerly —Mike Bingham tubers and their source areas. We harvested are now depleted, other Private Bag 31 found, to our surprise, that much species are increasing used, and we Woodlands, Lusaka of the chikanda is now coming from suspect that about 30 species are ZAMBIA the southern highlands of Tanzania, now being harvested. For these we E-mail: [email protected] since the preferred species are now have about 80 vernacular names in scarce in the traditional source ar- several languages. —Gun Mickels Kokwe eas. IUCN-ROSA The most important habitats of PO Box 745 One of us (GMK) obtained a grant chikanda are the seeps of the higher Harare from SARIPS (Southern African altitudes, and the areas of annual ZIMBABWE Institute for Policy Studies, based rainfall in excess of 1 200mm. E-mail: in Harare) to carry out the prelimi- Within the dambo grasslands they [email protected] nary survey. A network of collabo- are mostly found in peat bogs, rators has been established to col- which are permanently wet, but

40 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 The Fynbos Forum will be holding its annual conference at Calitzdorp Spa, Calitzdorp, Southern Cape from 1–3 August 2001. The theme of the conference will be “Celebrating our Successes”. Two field trips are planned: • Animal management in dry fynbos: Gamkaberg Nature Reserve • Gouritz Megareserve: “Flora and cooperative conservation”

For further information, please contact Wendy Paisley Cape Conservation Unit Botanical Society Tel.: (27) 21 797-2284 Fax: (27) 21 761-5983 E-mail: [email protected]

Edwin Kathumba, NHBG, Malawi

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 41 The National Herbarium of Namibia (WIND)

History tribution to Namibian botany; his benevolent spirit still pervades uesday 28 April 1953 was the WIND as we work with his im- Tday that saw Namibia move maculate specimens, labels and from botanical outer darkness to notes. the enlightenment that (as we all know) only a National Herbarium In 1957 Giess was permanently can bring. It was on that red-letter employed as the curator of the her- day that discussions between Prof. barium, until he retired in 1975 and Dr H. Walter of the Hohenheim Mike Müller became the new cura- University, Germany, and Dr J.S. tor. At this time WIND occupied the Watt, director of Agriculture of meanest of its many past premises: South West Africa, resulted in the the “camel stables”—a lowly local- establishment of what was to be- ity close to where our new build- come WIND, the National Her- ing now stands. It was during this Distribution map showing the barium of Namibia. time that Prodromus einer Flora number of computerised specimens von Südwestafrika, our bible and in WIND. Grey cells represent grid A donation of over 1 000 sheets shelter in the taxonomic storm, was squares with 1–24 computerised from Prof. Dr Walter provided an published. specimens; black cells represent grid embryonic collection, which the squares with 25+ computerised late Willi Giess worked on once a The period from 1985 to 1987 were specimens. WIND staff members have already computerised more than 88% week, travelling to Windhoek from unsettled ones for WIND. Mike of their collection: 65 017 specimens his farm 50 km away. His pioneer- Müller spent 1985 and 1986 at out of total holdings of 73 278 ing work made an enormous con- Stellenbosch University, working specimens. on his Ph.D. In addition to bringing back his doctorate to WIND, he also brought Gillian age through the walls, damaging Maggs, who succeeded him as part of the collection, including al- curator. WIND was closed most all the Zygophyllaceae. from 1986 to 1988 and the staff was spread far and wide in 1989 saw the staff and the collec- temporary premises in tion settled into somewhat rough- Windhoek. The entire collec- and-ready prefab buildings sited tion was packed up and sent to where the National Botanical Re- the hell of the old State Hospi- search Institute (NBRI) is now. This Hard at work identifying specimens at tal cellars, where over-zealous was a vast improvement, but it did WIND. From left to right: Sonja Loots, watering of the nearby ever-to- not last long. In 1993 the staff was Sabine Austaller, and Esmerialda Klaassen. be-cursed lawns caused seep- scattered again and the collection

42 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 packed up once more, this time to make way for the construction activities that gave us the NBRI as it is today. For those of us who have only worked in the wonderful new building, the whole history of the herbarium seems like one’s worst nightmares come true. The fact that most of the collection survived is a tribute to the dedication and per- sistence of both the professional and the technical staff involved.

WIND Today

Today WIND houses over 73 000 sheets. The present collection consists largely of Namibian material. The National Botanical Research Institute building in Windhoek (right). WIND is one of four sections at the NBRI—the others are the National Plant Genetic Space constraints and the fact that Resources Centre, the Ecology section and the National Botanic Garden. The large tracts of Namibia are very NBRI falls under the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development. undercollected restrict us to the (Photo: C.K. Willis) flora of Namibia and just beyond our borders. Collectors such as Giess, Volk, Bleissner, De Winter identifications keeps us pretty busy, Coleen Mannheimer, Curator and Müller are all well represented. with precious little time left for re- - Mesembryanthemaceae What we perhaps lack is a greater search. Curation of the collection Silke Bartsch, Researcher representation of the older historic takes up a large proportion of staff - Crassulaceae Namibian material collected by the time as well. Nevertheless we feel - Malvaceae likes of Dinter, Range, Story, Fleck, that we have made excellent Esmerialda Klaassen, Senior Tech- Rautanen and Schinz. Any dona- progress since we moved into the nician tions/exchanges would be grate- new building in May 1996. - Database Manager fully received. SABONET has played an important - Asteraceae At present the WIND staff con- role, assisting us with training and - Aquatic plants sists of three researchers, two tech- equipment, and we would certainly Marianne Uiras, Technician nicians, and two technical assist- not be where we are today without - Fabaceae ants. As WIND is the only func- the help of this programme. Belinda Polster, Senior Technical tional herbarium in the country, Assistant fieldwork and the demand for plant Staff Members Helvi Haufiku, Technical Assistant

Patricia Craven, Senior Researcher —Coleen Mannheimer - Plant inventory of Namibia WIND, Namibia - Namibian phytogeography E-mail: [email protected] - Petalidium See also the obituary of Willi Giess on page 44 of this issue.

A close-up of the National Herbarium The section of the NBRI building that houses the National Herbarium. section. (Photo: C.K. Willis) (Photo: C.K. Willis)

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 43 Obituary

Heinrich Johann Wilhelm Giess (1910–2000)

Karakul Breeding and was able to present-day collection, 18 570 apply this new skill as manager on specimens were collected by him a local karakul farm upon his return personally, often with other scien- to South West Africa. tists like Volk, Van Vuuren, De Win- ter, and in collaboration with After four successful years, he was Merxmüller. These specimens were able to purchase his own farm, all collected in triplicate, often even Dornfontein Süd. This development in quadruplicate. Anybody who has work was interrupted when he was ever collected seriously for a her- interned for six years during World barium will appreciate the amount War II. He used the time to study of work involved in such a collec- botany, a long-time interest, at the tion. Even today, the Giess speci- “Andalusia Camp University” un- mens, with their carefully typed or der Prof. Otto Volk, who was also hand-written data labels, are often at the camp. After his release, he the best and neatest to be found in started working at the University of the collection of the National Her- Stellenbosch, collecting plant speci- barium of Namibia. Willi Giess at work in the SWA mens within the Cape Floristic Re- Herbarium. (Photo: SA Panorama, gion, until he was allowed to return In honour of Prof. Dr Kurt Dinter, September 1969) to his own farm in December 1946. Willi Giess published the first issue of the journal Dinteria on the 100th Encouraged by Prof. Dr Heinrich anniversary of Dinter’s birthday in einrich Johann Wilhelm (or as Walter of the Hohenheim Techni- November 1968 under the auspices H he was known to most, Willi) cal University, Giess started the of the South West Africa Scientific Giess was born on 21 Febru- State Herbarium on a part-time Society. This journal was under his ary 1910 in Frankfurt-am-Main, basis in 1953, parallel to his farm- editorship until 1991 (Number 21); Germany, the elder of two broth- ing activities. After four years, the after retiring, he continued to give ers. His parents were Wilhelm and herbarium was taken over by the Lilly Giess; his father was a banker Division of Agriculture of the South in Frankfurt. West African Administration, and Willi Giess was employed as full- When he was six years old, Willi time curator. In this capacity, he started his ten years of schooling taught plant sciences at Neudamm at the Adlerflucht Realschule. A Agricultural College, including the year after completing school, the presentation of practicals. He held family immigrated to South West the post of curator until his retire- Africa (present Namibia), where the ment in 1975, but continued to work 16-year-old Willi started doing vol- at the herbarium until February unteer work on farms. He later 1980. He again assisted with studied at the Agricultural College curation from April 1985 to Janu- of Neudamm from 1928 to 1929. ary 1986, in order to give his suc- cessor, Dr M.A.N. Müller, the op- In 1931, Willi Giess fell ill with Malta portunity to complete his Ph.D. de- Fever and was sent to Germany to gree. recuperate; he stayed until 1933. During this time, he studied at the Willi Giess made an enormous con- Karakul sheep breeding division of tribution to the collection of her- Willi Giess with the third edition of the Animal Breeding Institute of the barium material in the S.W.A. Her- his Preliminary Vegetation Map of University of Halle under Prof. Dr barium (now the National Her- Namibia, 19 March 2000. R. Fröhlich. He completed his train- barium of Namibia). Of the approxi- (Photo: Namibia Scientific Society) ing as Technical Advisor for mately 73 000 specimens in the

44 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 support in an advisory capacity. wealth of knowledge. He received a corresponding member of the One edition of Dinteria achieved the the following acknowledgements Academy. rather unusual feat of being re- and honours: • In 1998 the Windhoek Munici- printed three times: because of the • On 1 July 1964 he became Cor- pality honoured Willi Giess by great public demand for Dinteria 4, respondent of the Natur- naming a street in Klein featuring the Preliminary Vegeta- historisches Museum of Vienna. Windhoek after him. tion Map of South West Africa (also • In 1968 the Royal Academy of compiled by Willi Giess), this vol- Sciences in Stockholm honoured Various scientists also honoured ume was reprinted in 1978 and him with the great Lineé Medal him by naming plants after him: 1998. in silver. - Isoetes giessii Launert • During the 200th anniversary - Aizoon giessii Friedrich Forty-five publications originated year of the birth of Alexander - Salsola giessii Botsch. from his pen. He also contributed von Humboldt, he was given a - Crassula ausensis Hutchinson to numerous other publications. commemorative volume on the subsp. giessii (Friedrich) Toelken The crowning glory of his work was life of Humboldt by the consul of - Indigofera giessii A. Schreib. the publication of the Bibliography the Federal Republic of Germany - Zygophyllum giessii (Merxm.) A. of South West African Botany in in honour of his achievements in Schreib. 1989. Amongst his publications are the field of botany. - Euphorbia giessii L.C. Leach several new taxon descriptions: • During the stay of Prof. Dr - Commiphora giessii J.J.A. van - Zygophyllum schreiberianum Merxmüller, Director of the In- der Walt Merxm. & Giess stitute for Systematic Botany and - Heliotropium giessii FrieDr- - Sphaeranthus wattii Giess ex the Botanic Garden of Munich, Holzh. Merxm. to collect material for his Prodro- - Jamesbrittenia giessii Hilliard - Aloe argenticauda Merxm. & mus einer Flora von Südwest- - Petalidium giessii P.G. Mey. Giess afrika, Giess assisted him to such - Eriocephalus giessii M.A.N. - Aloe dewinteri Giess an extent, that the Bavarian Müller (ined.) - Aloe namibensis Giess Academy of Science honoured - Senecio giessii Merxm. - Aristida dewinteri Giess him with the Bene Merenti - Lachenalia giessii W.F. Barker - Tridentea marientalensis (Nel) Medal. - Stipagrostis giessii Kers L.C. Leach subsp. albipilosa • In 1980 he received the Academy (Giess) L.C. Leach Medal in gold from the South As a farmer in Andalusia, he learnt African Academy of Sciences that knowledge of grasses and He became well known across the and Arts for his extraordinary herbs enables one to evaluate the borders of the country for his achievements, and he was made condition of pastures and in this way maintain and improve them. Through his work at the State Herbarium, he opened the way for many farmers to get to know and evaluate their own grazing. What a service he provided to the country and its people! Willi Giess died on 28 Sep- tember 2000 in Swakopmund. It is with sadness that we have to say farewell to our friend, colleague and mentor.

—Herta Kolberg & Ben Strohbach National Botanical Research Institute Private Bag 13184 Windhoek

This obituary was reprinted with permis- sion from the authors. It was first published in Dinteria No. 26:147–150, No- vember 2000. A sketch by Willi Giess of Harpagophytum procumbens, drawn during internship in Andalusia in 1942.

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 45 ThePaper Chase

he object of this column is to keep an eye open for literature which SABONET users may find useful. This Twill mostly be new publications, but may well include older information in answer to questions such as “what’s the best key to …”. It is neither possible nor desirable that the flow of such information should be one- way, from Pretoria outwards, so would readers please feel free to submit notes and useful information to the address at the end of this column.

The citation of an item here does not imply any guarantee of its contents or even its existence; very often the compiler has not seen the documents referred to.

New Books Received in the Mary Gunn ❚ Pharmacognosy: phytochemistry: medicinal plants. J. Library Bruneton. Intercept, Hampshire, 1999.

❚ A checklist of the algal flora of the east African Great ❚ The new Oxford book of food plants. J.C. Vaughan. Lakes. C. Cocquyt. National Botanic Garden of Belgium, Oxford University Press, Oxford. 1997. Meise, 1993. ❚ The world of Haworthias. Volume 2. Breuer, I. 2000. ❚ A taxonomic revision of Lachnaea L. (Thymelaeacea). Breuer, Niederzier. J.B.P. Beyers. Ph.D. thesis, University of Pretoria, 2000. ❚ Toxic plants: dangerous to humans and animals. J. ❚ African Plants: biodiversity, taxonomy and uses: Bruneton. Intercept, Hampshire, 1999. proceedings of the 1997 AETFAT Congress, Harare, Zimbabwe. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 1999. ❚ Transkei forest survey. K.H. Cooper. Wildlife Society of southern Africa, Durban, 1992. ❚ America’s vanishing flora. M. Yurlina (ed). Center for Plant Conservation, St. Louis, 2000. ❚ Wetland plants of Oregon and Washington. Guard, B.J. 1995. Lone Pine Publishing, Canada. ❚ Biogeography: an ecological and evolutionary approach. 6th edition. C.B. Cox. Blackwell Science, London, 1998. ❚ Wildflowers of Saudi Arabia. Collenette, S. 1999. National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development, ❚ Describing species: practical taxonomic procedure for Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. biologists. J.E. Winston. Columbia University Press, New York, 1999. ❚ Wildflowers of southern Western Australia. M.G. Corrick & B.A. Fuhrer. The Five Mile Press, Australia, 1996. ❚ Field guide to the Proteas of the West Coast. T. Rebelo. National Botanical Institute, Cape Town, 1999. Recently Published Papers

❚ Flora Neotropica Monograph 79. Bactris (Palmae). A. Aloe 37(2&3) (2000) Henderson. New York Botanical Garden, New York, 2000. ❚ Rare succulents of the Western and Eastern Cape ❚ Flora Neotropica Monograph 81. Buddlejaceae. E. Provinces of South Africa. G. Marx. Pages 24-25. Norman. New York Botanical Garden, New York, 2000. ❚ The succulent flora of pebble fields, with emphasis on the ❚ Flora Neotropica Monograph 82. Opiliaceae. P. Hiepko. Little Karoo and the Knersvlakte. R. Frandsen. Pages 26-27. New York Botanical Garden, New York, 2000. ❚ A unique desert garden in the winter rainfall area of ❚ Guidelines for management of orthodox seeds. G.D. South Africa. I. Oliver. Pages 28-30. Wieland. Center for Plant Conservation, St. Louis, 1995. ❚ Exploring Africa for succulent plants. L.E. Newton. Page ❚ Invasive species in the Pacific: A technical review and 31. draft regional strategy. G. Sherley (ed). South Pacific Regional Environment Program, Samoa, 2000. ❚ The succulents of Northern Bushmanland: their distribution and implications for conservation. P. Desmet. Pages 32-35.

46 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 ❚ The aloes of Malawi. S. Lane. Austral Ecology 25 (2000) Pages 36-37. ❚ Conservation biology of the succulent shrub, Euphorbia ❚ Frithia - up close and personal. barnardii, a serpentine endemic of the Northern Province, P.M. Burgoyne, S. Krynauw & South Africa. L. Knowles & E.T.F. Witkowski. Pages 241– G.F. Smith. Pages 38-42. 252.

❚ Time to take stock. D. Court. ❚ Climbing asparagus, Asparagus scandens Thunb.: a South Pages 43-45. African in your forest patch. S.M. Timmins & V. Reid. Pages 533-538. ❚ Systematic and evolutionary Climbing asparagus, endemic to the Western Cape of significance of morphology in South Africa, is invading the understorey of lowland the Mesembryanthemaceae: broad-leaved and secondary forest remnants in the interactive database and northern half of New Zealand and in the last decade has illustrated atlas for identification. P. Chesselet, G.F. Smith & been recognised as a weed of conservation concern. A.E. Van Wyk. Pages 46-51. BioScience 50(7) (2000) ❚ Very ‘vary-ability’ in Haworthia. M.B. Bayer. Pages 52-53. ❚ Conserving wildlife in Africa: integrated conservation ❚ Zambian Euphorbias. G. Williamson. Pages 54-55. and development projects and beyond. W.D. Newmark & J.L. Hough. Pages 585–592. ❚ Crassula perfoliata and its garden hybrids. G.D. Rowley. Pages 56-57. BioScience 50(10) (2000)

❚ The Agavaceae. B. Kemble. Pages 58-59. ❚ Quantifying Biodiversity: Experience with parataxonomists and digital photography in Papua New Aloe 37(4) (2000) Guinea and Guyana. Y. Basset, V. Novotny, S.E. Miller & R. Pyle. Pages 899–908. ❚ New combinations in the genus Orbea. P.V. Bruyns. Pages 72-76. Biodiversity and Conservation 9 (2000) ❚ South African and Namibian succulents on the edge: the cliff face home. E. van Jaarsveld & A.E. van Wyk. Pages 77- ❚ Postmodernism and 79. African conservation science. C.A.M. Attwell & ❚ Notes on important plant localities in the Richtersveld F.P.D. Cotterill. Pages 559– National Park. G. Williamson. Pages 80-82. 577.

❚ Notes on the vegetation and climate of the Richtersveld ❚ The use of specimen-label National Park. G. Williamson. Pages 83-87. databases for conservation purposes. J.M. Soberon, ❚ The habit and peculiar inflorescence of Ottosonderia J.B. Llorente & L. Onate. monticola (Sond.) L.Bolus, Mesembryanthemaceae. P. Pages 1441–1466. Chesselet, G.F. Smith & A.E. Van Wyk. Pages 88-90. ❚ A simple system for ❚ Aloe chabaudii var. mlanjeana. S. Lane. Page 91. monitoring biodiversity in protected areas of a developing country. F. Danielsen, D.S. Balete, M.K. Poulsen, M. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 87(4) Enghoff, C.M. Nozawa & A.E. Jensen. Pages 1671–1705. (2000) Biological Conservation 96 (2000) ❚ A phylogenetic analysis of Dicoma Cass. and related genera (Asteraceae: Cichorioideae: Mustisieae) based on ❚ A simple population viability analysis of the Critically morphological and anatomic characters. S. Ortiz. Pages 459- Endangered Euphorbia clivicola R.A. Dyer under four 481. management scenarios. M.F. Pfab & E.T.F. Witkowski. Pages 263-270. ❚ Adaptive radiation of pollination mechanisms in Ixia (Iridaceae: Crocoideae). P. Goldblatt, P. Bernhardt and J.C. ❚ Effectiveness of using vascular plants to select reserves Manning. Pages 564-577. for bryophytes and lichens. E.J. Pharo, A.J. Beattie, R.L. Pressey. Pages 371-378.

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 47 Bulletin of the Natural Ecological Applications 10(6) (2000) History Museum of London (Botany) 30(2) ❚ Using a dynamic landscape model for planning the (November 2000) management of alien plant invasions. S.I. Higgins, D.M. Richardson & R.M. Cowling. Pages 1833-1848. ❚ The genus Polystichum (Dryopteridaceae) in Africa. ❚ Remote sensing of vegetation, plant species richness and J.P. Roux. Pages 33-79. regional biodiversity hotspots. W. Gould. Pages 1861-1870.

Cimbebasia 9 (2000) Economic Botany 54(3) (2000) ❚ The flora of the Brandberg, Namibia. P. Craven & D. ❚ Differential utilization and Craven. Pages 49-67. ethnobotany of trees in Kitulanghalo Forest Reserve Conservation Biology 14(3) (August 2000) and surrounding communal lands, Eastern Tanzania. E.J. ❚ Creating academically and practically trained graduate Luoga, E.T.F. Witkowski & K. students. D.W. Inouye & J.M. Dietz. Pages 858–875. Balkwill. Pages 328-343.

Conservation Environmental Biology 14(5) Management 26 (2000) (October 2000) ❚ Developing multiple species ❚ Should we use conservation reserves and pesticides to conserve habitat conservation plans. D.C. Pearson. Pages S1. rare plants? P. Lesica & H.E. Atthowe. Pages Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 127(4) 1549-1550. (2000)

❚ Exclusion of natural ❚ ITS sequence evidence for the disjunct distribution enemies as a tool in between Virginia and Missouri of the narrow endemic managing rare plant Helenium virginicum (Asteraceae). M.C. Simurda & J.S. species. S.M. Louda & Knox. Pages 316-323. R.L. Bevill. Pages 1551- 1552. Journal of Zoology 251 (2000)

Conservation Biology 14(6) (December 2000) ❚ Climate, vegetation and predictable gradients in mammal species richness in southern Africa. P. Andrews & E.M. ❚ Roads, development and conservation in the Congo O’Brien. Pages 205–231. Basin. D. Wilkie, E. Shaw, F. Rotberg, G. Morelli & P. Auzel. Pages 1614-1622. Nature 405(6785) (2000)

❚ Conservation in a region of political instability: Bwindi ❚ Following Africa’s lead in setting priorities. G.A.B. da Impenetrable Forest, Uganda. A. Hamilton, A. Fonseca, A. Balmford, C. Bibby, L. Boitani et al. Pages 393– Cunningham, D. Byarugaba & F. Kayanja. Pages 1722-1725. 394.

❚ Indicator taxa, rapid biodiversity assessment, and Nordic Journal of Botany 20(3) (2000) nestedness in an endangered ecosystem. J.T. Kerr, A. Sugar & L. Packer. Pages 1726-1734. ❚ Revision of the genus Genlisea (Lentibulariaceae) in Africa and Madagascar with notes on ecology and ❚ Application of conservation biology research to phytogeography. E. Fischer, S. Porembski & W. Barthlott. management. D.J. Flaspohler, B.R. Bub & B.A. Kaplin. Pages 291-318. Pages 1898-1902. ❚ A new species of Dicoma (Asteraceae-Mutisieae) from Curtis’s Botanical Magazine 18(1) (2001) Swaziland. S. Ortiz & I. Pulgar. Pages 347-351.

❚ Lachenalia elegans var. flava. G. Duncan. Pages 18-22.

❚ Crassula tetragona subsp. acutifolia. G.F. Smith, E.M.A. Steyn & A.E. van Wyk. Pages 23-27.

48 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 Oikos 91 (2000) ❚ An empirical formula for estimating the water use of ❚ Plant diversity increases resistance to invasion in the Scaevola plumieri. C.I. Peter absence of covarying extrinsic factors. S. Naeem, J.M.H. & B.S. Ripley. Pages 593-596. Knops, D. Tilman, K.M. Howe, T. Kennedy & S. Gale. Pages 97-108. South African Journal of Science 97 (January/ Oryx 34(2) (2000) February 2001)

❚ Business and biodiversity – a mutually profitable ❚ Rethinking ecological partnership. M. Rose. Pages 83–84. rehabilitation in arid and Phytochemistry 55(6) (2000) winter rainfall regions of southern Africa. S.J. Milton. ❚ Biodiversity: modelling angiosperms as networks. O.R. Pages 47-48. Gottlieb & M.R.D.B. Borin. Pages 559-565. ❚ Origin of the enigmatic Proceedings of the California Academy of circular barren patches Sciences 52(12) (2000) (‘Fairy Rings’) of the pro-Namib. C.F. Albrecht, J.J. Joubert & P.H. De Rycke. Pages 23-27. ❚ Chromosome numbers of South African Acanthaceae. T.F. Daniel, K. Balkwill & M-J. Balkwill. Pages 143-158. ❚ Nutritional value of wild, leafy plants consumed by the Vhavenda. C. Nesamvuni, N.P. Steyn & M.J. Potgieter. South Africa Journal of Science 96 (July/August Pages 51-54. 2000) Systematic Botany 25(4) (2000) ❚ Biodiversity research in South Africa: comments on current trends and methods. R. Slotow & M. Hamer. Pages ❚ Phylogenetic relationships in the Commelinaceae: I. A 222–224. cladistic analysis of morphological data. T.M. Evans, R.B. Faden, M.G. Simpson & K.J. Sytsma. Pages 668-691. South African Journal of Science 96 (September/October 2000) ❚ Congruence and complementarity of morphological and trnL-trnF sequence data and the phylogeny of the African ❚ Patterns of research collaboration in academic science in Restionaceae. P.K. Eldenas & H.P. Linder. Pages 692-707. South Africa. J. Mouton. Pages 458-462. Transactions of the Royal Society of South ❚ The medicinal use of some weeds, problem and alien Africa 54(1) (1999) plants in the Grahamstown and Peddie districts of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. A.P. Dold & M.L. Cocks. Pages ❚ Plant systematics in South Africa: A brief historical 467-473. overview, 1753–1953. J.P. Rourke. Pages 179–190.

❚ Further developments in the Species Plantarum: Flora of The Sonoran Quarterly 54(4) (2000) the World project. G.F. Smith. Pages 482-483. ❚ The joy of aloes. C. Babcock. Pages 10-11. ❚ A national vegetation database for South Africa. L. Mucina, G.J. Bredenkamp, D.B. Hoare & D.J. McDonald. Wildlife Society Bulletin 28(2) (2000) Pages 497-498. ❚ Impacts and future directions of youth conservation ❚ Assessing the potential for biological invasion - the case organizations: wildlife clubs in Africa. M. McDuff & S. of Ammophila arenaria in South Africa. U.M. Hertling & Jacobson. Pages 414–425. R.A. Lubke. Pages 520-527. —Christopher Willis, Stefan Siebert South African Journal of Science 96 & Marthina Mössmer (November/December 2000)

❚ Palaeovegetation at the last glacial maximum in the western Cape, South Africa: wood charcoal and pollen evidence from Elands Bay Cave. J. Parkington, C. Cartwright, R.M. Cowling, A. Baxter & M. Meadows. Pages 543-546.

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 49 der the supervision of Prof. J. the 24 November 2000, which was News from Midgely. It was important to do this presented in front of external exam- study because this species suffers iners and the whole department. I Malawi extensive damage from veld fires enjoyed this particular seminar, as and baboons. The simulation I knew it was the last one, and I had Honours Course at the showed that this species would go gained confidence from previous University of Cape Town extinct if these two factors are not departmental seminars. checked. he Honours course started on It was a tough year with a lot of T24 January 2000 with taught My second project was a morpho- work, making sleep a luxury. Nev- courses such as Biostatistics, Phi- logical study of Schizaea pectinata ertheless, I gained a lot from my losophy of Science, computer pack- (Schizaeceae). This study was postgraduate studies. I am very ages, and photography courses. In aimed at finding out whether plants grateful to all lecturers and staff of addition to these general courses, from winter and summer rainfall the Botany Department at UCT for each student had to choose two areas consisted of two distinct their support, my supervisors Dr modules. My first module dealt with groups, as apparent morphological Koos Roux and Prof. Jeremy plant ecology, which consisted of differences are visible between the Midgely, and Prof. Peter Linder for essays, mini-seminars and discus- groups. This project was carried his criticism and help during the sion groups. In the second module, out under the supervision of Dr J.P. entire course. Many thanks to the we dealt with plant systematics, Roux of Compton Herbarium. The SABONET project supporting me which also consisted of assign- results showed that the species financially. ments, discussion groups, mini- could not be further split into the seminars, and essays. Both mod- two groups; it should rather be —Elizabeth Mwafongo ules were concluded with a semi- grouped as one species that prob- Current address: nar. At the same time I had to do ably shows continuous variation in Botany Department two projects. response to environmental condi- University of Cape Town tions. Rondebosch 7700 In the first project I looked at the Cape Town population ecology of Aloe plicatilis At the end of the year, we wrote Tel.: (27) 21 650-4041 (Liliaceae) in relation to baboon and three exam papers and wrapped up E-mail: fire damage. It was conducted un- the course with a final seminar on [email protected]

News from Mozambique

e are pleased to announce Wthat the NETCAB programme has awarded a fellowship to Samira Izidine, SABONET Re- search Officer, to attend a two- month course at the Centro de Botânica, Instituto de Investigação Cientifica Tropical, Lisbon, Portu- gal.

Samira Izidine, at the Grass Identification Course held in Zimbabwe in 1999. (Photo: M. Mössmer)

50 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 SABONET activities over the last It was our pleasure to host the News from few months have been concen- SABONET Steering Committee trated around data cleaning and Meeting and the Mid-Term Review Namibia batch-checking. With our trainee in Windhoek during February. This back from UCT, the workload has gave us an opportunity to share our been spread and good progress is pleasure in the progress we have being made. We spent quite a while made with the help of what we con- ime has flown since the last edi- rearranging the monocot hall after sider to be the most successful col- Ttion of SABONET News. We receiving ten new herbarium cabi- laborative project ever for WIND. have not been into the field yet this nets. Although we ordered from the We hope that all our visitors en- year, as rains have been very late, same firm as last time, the cabinets joyed their time in Namibia. but we will be doing some short were slightly higher than the pre- A few very busy months lie trips targeting specific taxa soon. vious batch! The difference was ahead, with the Red Data List and In May we will be doing compre- small, but sufficient to prevent us several other publications nearing hensive collecting in several quar- from putting them under a counter completion, and the Poaceae ter-degree squares of the Omaheke that was supposed to go over them. Checklist getting started. We will be region in the central eastern region Lesson Learned: specify if you want hard at work on these in the hope of Namibia. This area is severely something with certain dimen- that SABONET will receive recog- undercollected, a situation that we sions. Obviously a herbarium cabi- nition for its achievements and find hope to reverse this year. net is not a herbarium cabinet is not funding for another phase. a herbarium cabinet…. —Coleen Mannheimer

Rare Plants Rediscovered in the Northern Cape

mainly from the family ened in the wild. It has not been Mesembryanthemaceae. The sec- seen near Komaggas since 1954. ondary goal was to collect any good Using rough directions provided by seeding species endemic to the re- Johan Hurter (NBI, Lowveld Na- gion. Mesembs were targeted, as tional Botanical Garden), our team the area is well known for the nu- spent a whole day searching for this merous endemic mesembs, which elusive species, with no success. were in full seed at that time of the Finally, on the point of giving up, year. As an expert on these taxa, we asked a local shepherd, who Priscilla was co-opted for this purpose. The field trip was a great success in terms of numbers of species and seed collected, despite the unu- sually hot weather (45ºC in the shade on the shadeless Kners- vlakte!). Seed of 72 species was collected, including 46 mesembs.

Of greater botanical interest was the rediscovery of two long-lost Erich van Wyk and Paul Smith plant populations. The first was (foreground) enjoying lunch. Dioscorea elephantipes (L’Hérit.) Engl. (Dioscoreaceae), a spectacu- recent trip was made to the lar shrubby climber up to 1.5 m A Northern Cape by Erich van high with a huge caudex reaching Wyk (NBI, Pretoria), Paul Smith a diameter of up to 0.75 m, mainly (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) and exposed above ground. Its reticu- Priscilla Burgoyne (NBI, Pretoria) lated skin resembles that of an el- as part of the NBI/Millennium Seed ephant, hence the specific name. Bank (MSB) collaboration. The pri- Owing to its unusual appearance, Dioscorea plants found near mary objective of the expedition this attractive plant has been Komaggas showing the unusual was to collect seeds for the MSB, overcollected and is now threat- caudex surface texture.

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 51 immediately recognised the plant of this single known population. be available for its reintroduction. we were looking for, and directed The population has not been docu- us to a very healthy population. On mented or collected since 1960, and Other exciting finds include flow- a steep mountainside, we found ap- we were very excited to find it. Only ering specimens of Haemanthus proximately 1 000 plants concen- about 219 (see box) living plants unifoliatus found together with the trated on a scree slope. Although were left, with clear signs of pre- Dioscorea near Komaggas. Ruschia there was no seed, we were able to dation. We saw many dead plants, sandbergensis was found at the thoroughly document the location, possibly victims of drought or uti- Messelpad Pass, southwest of size and ecology of the population. lisation by animals. Fortunately, Springbok. Seed collections were seed was in ample supply and we made of two Namaqualand Our second interesting find was were able to collect capsules from endemics, namely Psilocaulon Cylindrophyllum hallii L. Bolus some 85 plants very safely, taking foliosum and Enarganthe octonaria. (Mesembryanthemaceae) on a pla- less than 5% of what was available. The latter is a monotypic genus teau near Loeriesfontein. This plant This is exactly the kind of species found only in the Richtersveld and is of great interest as its sister spe- that needs ex situ conservation— northern Namaqualand. cies all come from the Little Karoo. down to only one known wild In notes accomanying the original population, severely threatened at Paul Smith would like to thank the description, the collector H. Hall the site and a candidate for Red British Airways Assisting Conserva- stated that only about 200 plants Data listing. The germination pro- tion Programme, which enabled him to were seen. We followed telephoned tocol for this species will now be participate in this expedition. instructions from Johan du Toit, an worked out to ensure that if the re- amateur succulent enthusiast from maining population should die out, —Paul Smith, Priscilla Burgoyne George, who directed us to the site seed and the methodology would & Erich van Wyk

Cylindrophyllum hallii

Total number of plants: ca 374

Juveniles: 31 (8%)

Adults: 188 (50%)

Dead: 155 (42%)

Percentage of plants flowering in the last flowering season: 2–3%

Predated or damaged plants: 98% Cylindrophyllum hallii in habitat.

Threats to habitat: Soil erosion due to natural weathering. Possible trampling if area is overgrazed.

Threats to taxon: Eaten and trampled by animals—not clear which species, but possibilities include Aethomys namaquensis (Namaqualand Rock Mouse), which has a colony close by; armoured ground crickets (subfamily Hetrodinae of the Tettigonidae), the remains of which were found in the area; and Papio ursinus (baboons), the dung of which was found in the area. Drought.

Associated vegetation: Stomatium sp., Ruschia centrocapsula, Barleria sp., Hereroa hesperantha, and Zygophyllum retrofractum. Armoured ground cricket. (From: Skaife, Red Data List Status : Not included in the List. African Insect Life)

52 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 book consignment kindly donated given us any serious problems. by SABONET, which includes a se- Computerisation of herbarium News from lection of NBI publications and all specimens is progressing well. volumes of Bothalia published to Swaziland date. Compared to twelve months ago, the Swaziland National Herbarium or the first time our small li- The three computers at SDNH are has become a better working place. Fbrary has been arranged ac- now linked, thanks to the tireless Staffing levels have improved dras- cording to a recognised system— efforts of Trevor Arnold and Franco tically with the official return of the we have adopted the Dewey Deci- Alberts. This means the SABONET National Herbarium Curator, mal Classification System. From specimen database and plant use Gideon Dlamini, and recruitment of our small collection of less than 300 database designed for SECOSUD a SABONET Research Officer, books, we hope the library will can be accessed from three Christopher Tshabalala. Our lim- grow in the coming years. We are workstations. Contrary to prior ited working space has been filled eagerly awaiting the delivery of a speculations, the network has not to capacity.

—Titus S. Dlamini

sion String (CAS) numbers. How- Backing up was also a problem de- News from ever, maps will be bought to help spite having the equipment for sort out the grid reference problem making backups. However, my par- Zambia for a number of localities. ticipation in the recent Database Management course held in Preto- Dr Phiri has suggested that I em- ria and the subsequent visit to Computerisation bark on a mopping-up operation Lusaka made by Trevor Arnold, involving insertion of the CAS Stefan Siebert, and Franco Alberts The University of Zambia Her- numbers on specimen sheets and in December 2000, has led to the barium has already encoded 3 100 inclusion of grid references in the end of the backup blues. We are specimens, mainly species of the Database. The other members of now able to make daily backups Poaceae and a few species of gen- staff will forge ahead to encode new using the Iomega Zip Drive. We era in the Fabaceae. Currently the specimens taking into account the have enough diskettes for each day data is not well refined, as most of inclusion of grid references and of work. Besides the Zip Drive the specimen records did not have CAS numbers as advised by Trevor backup, we also make weekly back- grid references, enhanced by the Arnold. ups on Colorado tapes. problem of the Computer Acces- We were experiencing serious hardware problems at the Univer- sity Herbarium (UZL) until Trevor and Franco came to our rescue and sorted them out. These problems ranged from wrong hardware set- tings by suppliers to lack of appropriate hardware support software, compounded by incompatible main boards. We managed to get re- placements of main boards accompanied with appropriate support software from our Lusaka service provider. Everything was repaired, including the installation of a network for a set of three computers using Windows 98. Our computers are now running perfectly. In order to consolidate the smooth operation of our computer network, I have also attended a short course The University of Zambia fourth-year Botany class at the Chirundu Fossil in Networking. Monument Site, Siavonga District, Zambezi Valley, Zambia. Standing third from left is Angela Gono, SABONET Herbarium Research Officer—on hand to The speed of computerisation has guide the students on the field trip. (Photo: Patrick Phiri) been hampered by lack of person-

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 53 nel specifically recruited for data touched. The two institutions do base on the Mount Makulu Her- capturing. The current staff mem- not have computers for data encod- barium computer. This will be fol- bers doing the work have other ing. lowed by arrangements to provide primary duties. From our experi- in-service training to new ap- ence, if one person can do 1 000 Despite the problems that have not proaches devised and introduced specimens per month, two will be yet been solved, we are trying to by the Database Management Sec- encoding 6% of our current speci- utilise every minute and all our new tion of the National Botanical Insti- mens (30 000) in the herbarium in knowledge to have our data com- tute, Pretoria. a month. This means that by Feb- puterised and preserved. With ruary 2002 all the current existing computerisation as a priority, the —Annaniah Sakala specimens will have been compu- first thing we will embark on is data Herbarium Technical & IT Officer terised, and with three computers sharing. We want to collaborate UZL Herbarium the process may be enhanced. with the other herbaria that have Lusaka, Zambia However, the Kitwe and Mfuwe not yet started computerisation. We herbarium specimens are still un- have managed to install the data-

Conservation Education oped a tangible wildlife conserva- Centre tion management nucleus—a model that can later be extended to he Luangwa Integrated Rural other National Parks in the coun- TDevelopment Project (LIRDP) try. has initiated a number of multipur- pose developments in the Lupande A British couple, Stephen and Anna Game Management Area (GMA). Tolan, have introduced another di- This NORAD-supported project mension to conservation pro- has assisted in the building or reno- grammes in the Luangwa Valley. vation of schools, clinics, and roads, Under the Chipembele Education as well as developing agricultural Trust, the Tolans have built the Con- and forestry programmes. The ob- servation Education Centre in the jective has been to instil a sense of Luapande GMA located at their pride and ownership of wildlife in new residence (13o12’S, 37o42’E) the local people. LIRDP has recently midway between Chinzombo and been transformed into a Unit of the Nyamaluma Wildlife Training Insti- Zambia Wildlife Authority called tute. The Centre will provide such South Luangwa Area Management facilities as a library, illustrations Unit (SLAMU) to provide continu- embracing topography, geology ity in the realisation of sustainable and wildlife of the Luangwa Valley. conservation of wildlife. SLAMU They plan to run education pro- has constructed a complex of of- grammes for the children to be Ashed Makukula, Patrick Phiri, and the fices for the Project’s Headquarters drawn from the Lupande GMA. JICA volunteer examine a living at Chinzombo Wildlife Research Their aim is to sensitize the chil- specimen of the epiphytic fern Platycerium elephantotis on the bank Station, where the Mfuwe Her- dren, at their tender ages, to appre- of Chowo River, Luangwa Valley, barium is located. NORAD should ciate the importance of wildlife to Zambia. (Photo: Stephen Tolan) be commended for having devel- Zambia’a tourism industry. Such goals are similar to programmes Luangwa National Park. The Tolans that are run by the Education have initiated a noble programme Unit of the National Botanical for the people of the Luangwa Val- Institute at Kirstenbosch Botani- ley. The Centre needs local and in- cal Garden, where children from ternational support to help develop various residential areas of the infrastructure (electricity, water, Cape Town are brought to the educational aids, equipment, Gardens using the Institute’s books, etc.) essential in the manage- fleet of buses. If children of the ment of Environmental Education. Lupande GMA grow up to love their wildlife, it is hoped that future generations will constitute Rare Epiphytic Fern formidable vanguards that will The conservation school recently built by effectively reinforce the conser- Towards the end of December 2000 Stephen and Anna Tolan. (Photo: Patrick Phiri) vation of wildlife in the South I spent a few days working in the

54 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 ers’ track that winds along the Chowo River. The vehicle was parked after driving through the wild terrain for about 4 km. The last stretch of about 3 km, heading towards the Chindeni Hills, was covered by walking through a mosaic of mopane, riparian and miombo woodlands. Although this area is lion-infested, the JICA Volunteer Lathe-turned wooden containers Biologist and I felt very secure in made from the heartwood of the company of the alert, experi- Colophospermum mopane, a dominant species of the modern enced, and capable hands of vegetation at the Chirundu Fossil Stephen and Ashed, both of whom Monument Site. (Photo: Patrick Phiri) carried guns for our personal protection. Mfuwe Herbarium at Chinzombo Wildlife Research Station, outside It was a tiring walk. The path tra- the South Luangwa National Park. versed thicket formations fringing At about the same time, Stephen the Chowo banks as the river me- Tolan of the Chipembele Education anders through the steep slopes of A close-up of Platycerium elephantotis sharing a niche with a Trust told Ashed Makukula that he the Chindeni Hills. A yellow-flow- liane on a riparian tree, Luangwa had seen a rare plant along the ered shrub, Bauhinia tomentosa L. Valley, Zambia. (Photo: Patrick Phiri) Chowo River, a tributary of the appeared to be a co-dominant spe- Luangwa River. When Ashed asked cies in this thicket. (Incidentally, B. plant—it was an epiphyte fern me to help identify the plant, I sug- tomentosa, which is a plant of po- clothing the barks of the riparian gested that we go and see the plant tential horticultural value, has also trees along the Chowo River in situ. been recorded on the Zambian sec- (13o15’18”S, 31o42’53”E). On closer tor of the middle Zambezi Valley. It examination, I could identify the On 27 December 2000, a search is a low altitude species; the distri- plant as Platycerium elephantotis team for the rare plant was ar- bution range extends to KwaZulu- Schweinf., belonging to the ranged; it comprised Stephen Natal in South Africa, Mozam- pteridophyte family Polypodiaceae. Tolan, a Japanese (JICA) Volunteer bique, Zimbabwe and East Africa.) This fern, also known to grow on Biologist attached to Chinzombo rock surfaces (lithophytic), is char- Wildlife Research Station, Ashed When we had almost lost hope of acterized by possession of dimor- Makukula and myself. The JICA ever finding the plant, Stephen phic leaves (fronds). In Zambia P. Officer provided the four-wheel- breathed a sigh of relief. He an- elephantotis has been recorded in drive vehicle. The search for the nounced that we had arrived at the Solwezi (North-Western Province) rare plant followed the Lion Hunt- site where he found the strange and Nchelenge near Lake Mweru (Luapula Province). In the Luangwa Valley the late Prof. Jan Kornas recorded the species at Chibembe, further upstream of the Luangwa. This finding is the first record in the Lupande Game Management Area near Mfuwe. Herbarium specimens were collected (Phiri 4370) and Mr. Makukula has reported that a living specimen planted at Chinzombo Research Station is doing fine. A revisit to the Chindeni Hills, which forms a remnant topo- graphic range featuring within the floor of the central Luangwa Val- ley, could certainly yield more new records for the Luangwa Valley.

—Dr P.S.M. Phiri Curator Two gymnospermous fossil tree trunks at the Chirundu Fossil Monument UZL Herbarium Site, maintained by the National Heritage and Monument Commission, Lusaka, Zambia Zambia. (Photo: Patrick Phiri)

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 55 Southern African Botanists’ E-mail Addresses

he following list includes the e- Dr Moffat Setshogo: Medicinal plants: Tmail addresses of staff working [email protected] [email protected] in some of the national/university herbaria, botany departments, bo- National Botanic Gardens of tanical gardens, and biodiversity LESOTHO Malawi Mr Mphamba Kumwenda: programmes of southern Africa. [email protected] (currently Thanks to all those who have sent Herbarium: National University of Lesotho (ROML) studying for a B.Sc. Honours their e-mail addresses to the editors Degree at the University of for inclusion in this list. Mr Paseka Mafa: [email protected] (currently Stellenbosch) studying for a MSc at the University PLEASE NOTE that this list gets of Cape Town) updated every issue of our news- Ms Annah Moteetee: [email protected] MOZAMBIQUE letter. In order to avoid frustration (currently studying for a PhD at the and possible disappointment, our Rand Afrikaans University) LMA Herbarium readers are advised to use the most University Botanic Garden Mr Mario da Silva: recent list available. Some of the Mr Moretloa Polaki: [email protected] [email protected] addresses listed in previous edi- Ms Samira Izidine: tions of the newsletter may no [email protected] OR longer be relevant. MALAWI [email protected] Ms Marta Manjate: [email protected] OR SPECIAL APPEAL: Should you be National Herbarium (MAL) and [email protected] aware of any changes to one or more Botanic Gardens of the addresses listed below, or Prof. J.H. Seyani: [email protected] LMU Herbarium: Eduardo would like to be added to the list, (currently on leave of absence at the Mondlane University please notify Stefan Siebert, at Commonwealth Secretariat, Mr Salomão Bandeira: [email protected] so that the London) [email protected] list can be updated on a regular Dr Augustine Chikuni: Ms Filomena Barbosa: basis. [email protected] Mr Dickson Kamundi: [email protected] [email protected] Ms Carlota Quilambo: [email protected] ANGOLA (currently studying for a B.Sc. Honours Degree at the University of the Witwatersrand) Department of Biological Sciences: Agostinho Neto University Mr Bintony Kutsaira: Eduardo Mondlane University Dr Esperança Costa: [email protected] John Hatton: [email protected] [email protected] OR Mr Zacharia Magombo: [email protected] OR [email protected] [email protected] (currently on study leave at Mis- NAMIBIA Dr Elissaveta Loutchanska: souri) [email protected] Ms Cecilia Nyirenda (nee Maliwichi): National Botanical Research Ms Liz Matos: [email protected] [email protected] Institute Ms Elizabeth Mwafongo (nee Ms Patricia Craven: Mayaka): [email protected] BOTSWANA [email protected] Dr Gillian Maggs-Kölling: (currently studying for a M.Sc. [email protected] National Herbarium (GAB) Degree at the University of Cape General NBRI address: E-mail not yet available Town) [email protected] Mr Montfort Mwanyambo: Peter Smith Herbarium (PSUB) [email protected] National Herbarium (WIND) Dr Elmar Veenendaal: Ms Gladys Msekandiana: Ms Esmerialda Klaassen: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] General address: [email protected] Mr Jameston Kamwendo: Ms Coleen Mannheimer: [email protected] [email protected] University of Botswana Herbarium General NHBG address: (UCBG) [email protected] National Botanic Garden Mr Mbaki Muzila: Mr Henk Dauth: [email protected] [email protected]

56 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 Vegetation Survey Ms Pascale Chesselet: Kimberley South African National Mr Ben Strohbach: [email protected] Parks Herbarium (KSAN) [email protected] Mr Christopher Cupido: Dr Hugo Bezuidenhout: [email protected] [email protected] National Plant Genetic Resources Dr Peter Goldblatt: Ms Michelle Harck: Centre [email protected] [email protected] Ms Herta Kolberg: Dr Hubert Kurzweil: [email protected] [email protected] Kirstenbosch National Botanical Dr John Manning: Garden Namibian Tree Atlas Project [email protected] Mr Graham Duncan: Ms Barbara Curtis/Coleen Dr Ted Oliver: [email protected] [email protected] Mannheimer: Dr John Rourke: Mr Philip le Roux (Curator): [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Dr Koos Roux: [email protected] Mr Ernst van Jaarsveld: Polytechnic of Namibia Dr Dee Snijman: [email protected] OR Mr Dave Joubert: [email protected] [email protected] (home) [email protected] Donald Killick Herbarium, Kirstenbosch Research Centre KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conserva- Dr Neville Brown: SOUTH AFRICA tion Service [email protected] Mr Rob Scott-Shaw: [email protected] Dr George Davis: Bolus Herbarium (BOL): University [email protected] of Cape Town (includes Associated Durban Botanic Gardens Mr J de Wet Bosenberg: Staff) Mr Christopher Dalzell (Curator): [email protected] Mrs Anne Bean: [email protected] [email protected] Dr John Donaldson: Dr Peter Bruyns: Mr Barry Lang (Senior Horticulturist): [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Dr Timm Hoffman: Prof. Tony Hall: [email protected] Mr Richard Symmonds (Education [email protected] Ms Cornelia Klak: Officer/Horticulturist): Ms Boniswa Madikane: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Prof. Peter Linder: Dr Guy Midgley: [email protected] Free State National Botanical [email protected] Ms Sioban Munro: Garden Dr Charles Musil: [email protected] Mr Martin Lumley: [email protected] Terry Trinder-Smith: [email protected] Ms Ingrid Nänni: [email protected] Mr Amadeus Mogale (Curator): [email protected] Mr George Verboom: [email protected] Dr Mike O’Callaghan: [email protected] When sending mail to a staff member at the [email protected] Bolus Library: Free State National Botanical Garden, insert Mr Les Powrie: [email protected] the name of the person in the subject line [email protected] Dr Tony Rebelo: [email protected] Buffeslkloof Private Nature Reserve Harold Porter National Botanical Dr Mike Rutherford: & Herbarium Garden [email protected] Mr John Burrows: Ms Karin Behr (Curator): Ms Stephanie Wand: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

C.E. Moss Herbarium (J): Univer- Herbarium Soutpansbergensis Lowveld National Botanical Garden sity of the Witwatersrand Mr Norbert Hahn: [email protected] Mr Rudi Britz (Curator): Prof. Kevin Balkwill: [email protected] [email protected] Jonkershoek Herbarium Mr Johan Hurter: [email protected] Dr Mandy-Jane Balkwill: Ms Melanie Simpson: Mr Willem Froneman: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ms Glynis Cron: When sending mail to a staff member at the [email protected] Karoo Desert National Botanical Lowveld National Botanical Garden, insert the Mr Donald McCallum: Garden name of the person in the subject line [email protected] Mr Ian Oliver (Curator): Mrs Reneé Reddy: [email protected] OR Mpumalanga Parks Board: [email protected] [email protected] Lydenburg Mr Ramagwai Sebola: Ms Sonnette Krynauw: [email protected] Kimberley McGregor (KMG) [email protected] Museum Herbarium Mr Mervyn Lotter: Coastal & Environmental Services Ms Tania Anderson (Curator): [email protected] Dr Ted Avis: [email protected] [email protected] Ms Kate Johnson: [email protected] Ms Annemarie van Heerden (assistant Natal Herbarium (NH) curator): [email protected] Dr Neil Crouch: [email protected] Compton Herbarium (NBG & SAM) Mr Jeff Govender: Ms Jo Beyers: [email protected] [email protected]

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 57 Ms Nikaya Govender: Ms Millissa Heymann: Dr Sue Milton: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Mr Alfred Ngwenya: Ms Marie Jordaan: [email protected] [email protected] Plant Genetic Resources Unit, Ms Nontuthuko Ntuli: Ms Marinda Koekemoer (Curator): Agricultural Research Council [email protected] [email protected] Dr Roger Ellis: [email protected] Ms Yashica Singh: Ms Louisa Liebenberg: [email protected] [email protected] Potchefstroom University Ms Rosemary Williams (Curator): Mr Cuthbert Makgakga: Dr Matt Buys: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Mr Mactavish Makwarela: Dr Sarel Cilliers: Natal National Botanical Garden [email protected] [email protected] Mr Brian Tarr (Curator): Ms Alice Masombuka: Prof. Braam Pieterse: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Mr David Mbedzi: National Botanical Institute [email protected] PRECIS Prof. Brian J Huntley: Mr Jean Meyer: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (CEO) Ms Nicole Meyer: Prof. Gideon Smith: [email protected] Pretoria National Botanical Garden [email protected] (Director: Ms Beverly Momberg: Mr Hans Heilgendorff (Curator): Research & Scientific Services) [email protected] OR [email protected] Mr Christopher K Willis: [email protected] General: [email protected] [email protected] (Director: Ms Caroline Netnou: Gardens & Horticultural Services) [email protected] Qwa Qwa Herbarium: University of Mr John Winter: Mr Solomon Nkoana: the North (Qwa Qwa campus) [email protected] (Deputy- [email protected] Prof. Rodney Moffett: Director: Gardens & Horticultural Dr Sarie Perold: [email protected] [email protected] Services) Ms Cathy Prentice: Dr Maureen Wolfson: [email protected] Qwa Qwa Herbarium: University of [email protected] (Deputy- Ms Julie Ready: [email protected] the North (School of Life Sciences) Director: Research and Education) Ms Elizabeth Retief: Prof. Laco Mucina: [email protected] [email protected] National Herbarium (PRE) Mr Paulus Sebothoma: Dr Heidi Anderson: [email protected] Rand Afrikaans University: Botany [email protected] Ms Shirley Smithies: Department Dr John Anderson: [email protected] Dr Patricia Tilney: [email protected] [email protected] Ms Hannelie Snyman: Prof. Herman van der Bank: Ms Clare Archer: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ms Christina Steyn: Prof. Ben-Erik van Wyk: Dr Robert Archer: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Dr Elsie Steyn: [email protected] Mr Trevor Arnold: Mr Jacques van Rooy: Range and Forage Institute, Agri- [email protected] [email protected] cultural Research Council Ms Antoinette Botha: Ms Helen van Rooyen: Dr Kathy Immelman: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ms Christien Bredenkamp: Ms Janine Victor: [email protected] [email protected] Rhodes University: Botany Depart- Ms Priscilla Burgoyne: Ms Mienkie Welman: ment [email protected] [email protected] Dr Nigel Barker: Ms Maud Cloete: [email protected] [email protected] Ms Carole de Wet: NBI Libraries: Prof. CEJ Botha: [email protected] Mary Gunn Library: [email protected] Dr Bernard de Winter: [email protected] Prof. Roy Lubke: [email protected] [email protected] Librarian, Mary Gunn Library (Ms Mr Pete Phillipson: Ms Emsie du Plessis: Estelle Potgieter), National Her- [email protected] OR [email protected] barium: [email protected] [email protected] Ms Lyn Fish: [email protected] Librarian, Kirstenbosch (Ms Yvonne Mr BS Ripley: [email protected] Mr Gerrit Germishuizen: Reynolds): [email protected] [email protected] Rondevlei Scientific Services Dr Hugh Glen: [email protected] Peninsula Technikon: Department Herbarium, Wilderness National Ms René Glen: [email protected] of Biological Sciences Park, Sedgefield Ms Beverley Harris: Mr JC Coetzee: Dr Nick Hanekom: nickh@parks- [email protected] [email protected] sa.co.za Ms Lesley Henderson: Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ms Francine Rubin: franciner@parks- [email protected] Ornithology: Tierberg Karoo sa.co.za Mr Paul Herman: Research Centre field station Dr Ian Russell: [email protected] [email protected] Ms Beate Sachse: beates@parks- sa.co.za

58 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 Saasveld Herbarium (SAAS): Port University of Durban-Westville: University of the Orange Free Elizabeth Technikon Botany Department State: Department of Botany and Mr Mike Cameron: Prof. Snowy Baijnath: Genetics [email protected] [email protected] Dr Andor Venter: Mr Peet Peens (Curator): Dr Ashley Nicholas: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Prof. Johan Venter: Mr Pravin Poorun: [email protected] H.G.W.J Schweickerdt Herbarium [email protected] Prof. RL Verhoeven: (PRU): University of Pretoria [email protected] Prof. Braam van Wyk: University of Natal-Durban: Bio- [email protected] logical Sciences Department University of Port Elizabeth: Botany Prof. Alan Amory: Department Scientific Services Herbarium, [email protected] Dr JB Adams: [email protected] Department of Water Affairs and Prof. Patricia Berjak: (Estuarine vegetation) Forestry, Knysna [email protected] Prof. Guy C Bate: [email protected] Mr Johan Baard (Curator): Dr Glen Campbell: (Estuarine micro-algae) [email protected] [email protected] Dr EE Campbell: [email protected] Mr Rynhard Kok: kokr@dwaf- Prof. John Cooke: (Terrestrial vegetation) wcp.wcape.gov.za [email protected] Dr DR du Preez: [email protected] Mr Bruce Page: (Surf zone algae) Selmar Schonland Herbarium, [email protected] Mr PT Gama: [email protected] Grahamstown Prof. Norman Pammenter: (Microalgae) Ms Estelle Brink: [email protected] [email protected] Mr Herbert Sibiya: University of Pretoria: Botany Mr Tony Dold: [email protected] [email protected] Department Mr Dehn von Ahlefeldt: Prof. George Bredenkamp: Skukuza Herbarium (KNP), Kruger [email protected] [email protected] National Park Dr Paula Watt: Prof. Albert Eicker: Ms Guin Zambatis (Curator): [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Dr Brigitte Hamman: Mr Nick Zambatis: nickz@parks- University of Natal-Durban: Elec- [email protected] sa.co.za tron Microscope Unit, George Dr Gwen Koning: Campbell Building [email protected] Southern Cape Herbarium Mr James Wesley-Smith (plant Dr Veldie van Greuning: Yvette van Wijk: [email protected] scientist): [email protected] OR [email protected] [email protected] University of Pretoria: Pharmacol- Technikon Pretoria Herbarium University of Natal- ogy Department Cecilia de Ridder: Pietermaritzburg: School of Botany Prof. JN Eloff: [email protected] [email protected] & Zoology Dawid du Plessis (Curator): Ms Angela Beaumont: University of Stellenbosch: Botany [email protected] [email protected] Department Dr RP Beckett: [email protected] Prof. Frikkie Botha: Umtamvuna Herbarium, Mr Clinton Carbutt: [email protected] Umtamvuna Nature Reserve [email protected] Dr Charlie Boucher: Mr Tony Abbott: Dr TJ Edwards: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ms CW Fennell: [email protected] Dr Leanne Dreyer: [email protected] Dr JF Finnie: [email protected] Dr Karen Esler: [email protected] University of Cape Town: Botany Dr JE Granger: [email protected] Ms Lynn Hoffmann: Department Prof. EF Hennessy: [email protected] Prof. John Bolton: [email protected] Dr Bettie Marais: [email protected] [email protected] Dr Steven D Johnson: Prof. Valdon Smith: Prof. William Bond: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ms NP Makunga: [email protected] Dr Piet Vorster: [email protected] Dr Jill Farrant: Ms Christina Potgieter: [email protected] [email protected] University of Stellenbosch: Botanic Dr Jeremy Midgley: Dr MT Smith: [email protected] garden [email protected] Prof. Hannes van Staden: Piet van der Merwe: Prof. Willie Stock: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] University of the North: Botany University of the Transkei: Botany University of Cape Town: Institute Department Department for Plant Conservation Mr Martin Potgieter: Prof. R Bhat: [email protected] Dr Dave Richardson: [email protected] Dr Sizwe Cawe: [email protected] Mr Pieter Winter: [email protected] [email protected] RV Nikolova: [email protected]

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 59 University of North-West: Biologi- ZAMBIA cal Sciences Department University of Zimbabwe: Institute of Mr David Phalatse: Forestry Herbarium (NDO) Environmental Studies [email protected] Mrs EN Chupa: [email protected] Prof. Bruce Campbell: Noah Zimba: [email protected] [email protected] OR University of Venda: Botany De- [email protected] partment Herbarium (UZL): University of Prof. Peter Frost: [email protected] Mr Maanda Ligavha: ligavham/ Zambia [email protected] Ms Tasila Banda-Sakala (presently Independent Ms Colleen Todd: todd_colleen/ studying at the Arizona State Mr Michael Kimberley: [email protected] University, Phoenix, USA): [email protected] (cycads, orchids Mr Robert Tshivhandekano: robie/ [email protected] OR and succulents) [email protected] [email protected] OR Ms Meg Coates Palgrave: Prof. Pablo Weisser: pablo/ [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Mr David Chuba: Mr Darrel CH Plowes: [email protected] (currently [email protected] University of the Western Cape: studying for a MSc at the University Dr Fay Robertson: Botany Department of Cape Town) [email protected] (ecology of Dr Derek Keats: [email protected] Ms Florence Nyirenda: miombo and other dry tropical Dr Richard Knight: [email protected] [email protected] woodlands) Lincoln M Raitt: [email protected] Dr Patrick Phiri: Ms Cathy Sharp: [email protected] Mr Frans Weitz: [email protected] [email protected] OR (ecology of macrofungi, especially [email protected] in miombo woodlands) University of the Witwatersrand: Mrs Mary Wilkins/Ellert: Department of Animal, Plant and Munda Wanga Trust (Botanical [email protected] Environmental Sciences Garden) Prof. Ed Witkowski: Mr Douglas Gibbs: [email protected] biopark.zamnet.zm Independent Botanists Working on University of the Witwatersrand: Mr Mike Bingham: Southern African Department of Pharmacy [email protected] Plant Taxa Dr Alvaro Viljoen: [email protected] This section lists e-mail addresses of ZIMBABWE a few of the botanists living outside Witwatersrand National Botanical southern Africa that are working Garden with southern African plant taxa. If Biodiversity Foundation for Africa Ms Sharon Turner (Curator): you would like to be included in this Mr Jonathan Timberlake: [email protected] list, please notify one of the editors [email protected] (work) OR Mr Andrew Hankey: together with the names of the [email protected] (home) [email protected] families/taxa you are working on. When sending mail to a staff member at the National Herbarium (SRGH) & Witwatersrand National Botanical Garden, Botanic Garden insert the name of the person in the subject Mr Ezekeil Kwembeya: AUSTRALIA line [email protected] Mr Claid Mujaju: [email protected] Queensland Herbarium, Toowong, NOTE: Additional South African Queensland botanists’ e-mail addresses can be National Herbarium (SRGH): Bryan Simon: accessed on the internet at the [email protected] [email protected] (work) following address: Ms Nozipo Nobanda (Curator): OR [email protected] http://www.ru.ac.za/departments/ [email protected] (home) herbarium/SAHWG/address.html Ms Ratidzayi (Rattie) Takawira: (Tropical grasses) [email protected] (also The web page entitled “Southern available through SRGH) African Botanists’ addresses” was TEAM VUMBA: The Environmental prepared by Peter Phillipson, Rhodes ENGLAND Association for Management of University and the Selmar Schonland Vumba’s Unique Mountain Herbarium, Grahamstown, with IUCN: World Conservation Union Biodiversity Areas thanks to Nigel Barker and Les Craig Hilton-Taylor: Dr Colin Saunders: Powrie. [email protected] [email protected] SWAZILAND Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew University of Zimbabwe: Depart- Diane Bridson: National Herbarium (SDNH) ment of Biological Sciences [email protected] Mr Titus Dlamini (Curator): Dr Shakkie Kativu: (Rubiaceae, Vahliaceae) [email protected] [email protected] Dr Dick Brummitt: This address can be used to contact Titus Mr I Mapaure: [email protected] [email protected] Dlamini, Gideon Dlamini or Bongani Dlamini Dr Clemence Zimudzi: Dr Thomas Cope: at the National Herbarium. Insert the name [email protected] [email protected] of the person in the subject line.

60 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 (Poaceae) NETHERLANDS SWITZERLAND Dr Phillip Cribb: [email protected] Agricultural University, Institute for Systematic Botany, (Orchidaceae) Wageningen University of Zürich Dr David Goyder: Ir Ben Groen: [email protected] Prof. Christopher Cook: [email protected] (Asphodelaceae, [email protected] OR (Asclepiadaceae, Fabaceae) Mesembryanthemaceae) [email protected] Ms Yvette Harvey: Prof. Dr LJG van der Maesen: (Hydrocharitaceae, [email protected] [email protected] Limnocharitaceae, Lythraceae, (Capparaceae, Lamiaceae, (Fabaceae, Mesembryanthemaceae) Podostemaceae, Pontederiaceae) Sapotaceae) Dr Ir Jan Wieringa: Herbarium Juerg Schoenenberger: Dr Michael Lock: Vadense (WAG): [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (Penaeceae, Oliniaceae, (Fabaceae, Xyridaceae, (Fabaceae, Aphanocalyx, Bikinia, Rhynchocalycaceae) Zingiberaceae) Icuria, Monopetalanthus and Dr Alan Paton: Tetraberlinia) [email protected] USA (Lamiaceae, Verbenaceae) Dr Sylvia Phillips: NEW ZEALAND Bishop Museum (Department of [email protected] Natural Sciences): Hawaii (Eriocaulaceae, Poaceae) Victoria University, Wellington Dr George Staples: Dr Gerald Pope: Mr Fanie Venter: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (Convolvulaceae) (Asteraceae) Dr Brian Schrire: Iowa State University: Department [email protected] NORWAY of Botany (Ada Hayden Herbarium) (Fabaceae, Rhamnaceae) Prof. Robert Wallace: Dr Kaj Vollesen: Agricultural University of Norway: [email protected] [email protected] Department of Biology and Nature (Molecular systematics and phylogeny (Acanthaceae: Blepharis, Duosperma) Conservation Prof. Kåre Lye: [email protected] of Aizoaceae s.l. (including (Cyperaceae) Mesembryanthemaceae), Aloaceae/ Asphodelaceae, GERMANY Dr Brita Stedje: [email protected] Cactaceae,Didiereaceae, (Anthericaceae, Asphodelaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Friedrich-Schiller University, Jena Hyacinthaceae) Phytolaccaceae,Portulacaceae) Dr Norbert Zimmermann: [email protected] Botanical Institute, The Norwegian University of California: Jepson (Euphorbiaceae, Arboretum, University of Bergen, Herbarium Mesembryanthemaceae) Hjellestad Bruce Baldwin: Dr Cornelis Berg: [email protected] University of Bayreuth [email protected] (Asteraceae: Blepharispermum, Prof. Sigrid Liede: sigrid.liede@uni- (Moraceae, Ulmaceae) Welwitschiella) bayreuth.de (Asclepiadaceae, University of Missouri-Columbia: Mesembryanthemaceae) Dunn-Palmer Herbarium (UMO) Dr Ulrich Meve: ulrich.meve@uni- SWEDEN Dr Leszek Vincent: bayreuth.de [email protected] (Asclepiadaceae) Swedish Museum of Natural (Asteraceae: Senecio, Iridaceae: University of Cologne: Botanical History Aristea) Institute Dr Mari Kallersjo: Dr Joachim Thiede: [email protected] [email protected] (Asteraceae, Myrsinaceae, WALES (Aizoaceae, Crassulaceae) Primulaceae) Prof. Bertil Nordenstam: National Botanic Garden of Wales University of Hamburg: Institut [email protected] Dr Charles Stirton: fuer Allgemeine Botanik (Compositae, especially [email protected] Prof. Dr HEK Hartmann: Senecioneae and Calenduleae, (Fabaceae, Hyacinthaceae, Rosaceae, [email protected] Syncarpha, Colchicaceae: Verbenaceae) (Aizoaceae, Mesembryanthema) Anticharis) Dr Pia Parolin: [email protected] hamburg.de (desert ecology, Uppsala University Last updated 19 March 2001 ecophysiology) Prof. Kåre Bremer: [email protected] (Asteraceae) Mr Mattias Iwarsson: [email protected] (Lamiaceae, Leonotis)

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 61 We thank the following people and organisations for help with preparing this issue of SABONET News:

Alan Paton Emsie du Plessis Mike Bingham Annaniah Sakala Erich van Wyk Nyasha Rukazhanga-Noko Antoinette Burkhardt Estelle Potgieter Patrick Phiri Ben Strohbach Gideon Smith Paul Smith Brian Chirwa Gun Mickels Kokwe Priscilla Burgoyne Brian Huntley Hester Steyn Ronell Klopper Carina Haasbroek Herta Kolberg Sandra Turck Christopher Willis Jonathan Timberlake Sharon Turner Coleen Mannheimer Lloyd Nkoloma Soul Shava Darrel Plowes Lyn Fish Titus Dlamini Elizabeth Mwafongo MacImage Trevor Arnold Elizabeth Retief Maureen Wolfson Vanilla! Design Studio

In the July 2001 edition of SABONET News...

Profiles Southern African Herbaria: National Herbarium, Zimbabwe Living Collections: Witwatersrand National Botanical Garden, South Africa, and Botswana National Botanical Garden Computer viruses

62 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 About SABONET

his publication is a product of the Southern African Botanical Diversity Network (SABONET), a programme aimed at strengthening Tthe level of botanical expertise, expanding and improving herbarium and botanic garden collections, and fostering closer collaborative links among botanists in the southern African subcontinent. The main objective of SABONET is to develop a strong core of professional botanists, taxonomists, horticulturists and plant diversity specialists within the ten countries of southern Africa (Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe). This core group will be competent to inventory, monitor, evaluate, and conserve the botanical diversity of the region in the face of specific development challenges, and to respond to the technical and scientific needs of the Convention on Biological Diversity. To enhance the human resource capacity and infrastructure available in the region, SABONET offers training courses, workshops and collaborative expeditions in undercollected areas. The programme also produces a series of occasional publications, the Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report Series.

SABONET is cofunded by: • The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/World Conservation Union— Regional Office for southern Africa (IUCN-ROSA) • The Global Environment Facility (GEF)/United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

For more information contact one of the following addresses:

General enquiries about SABONET MALAWI SWAZILAND SABONET Coordinator National Herbarium and Botanic Gardens National Herbarium c/o National Botanical Institute of Malawi Malkerns Agricultural Research Station Private Bag X101 P.O. Box 528 P.O. Box 4 Pretoria 0001 Zomba Malkerns South Africa Tel.: (265) 523388/118/145 Tel.: (268) 52 83017 Tel.: (27) 12 804 3200 Fax: (265) 522108 Fax: (268) 52 83360/83490 Fax: (27) 12 804 3211/5979 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] MOZAMBIQUE ANGOLA LMA Herbarium ZAMBIA Luanda Herbarium Instituto Nacional de Investigaçáo Herbarium Universidade Agostinho Neto Agronómica Department of Biological Sciences Caixa Postal 3244 Caixa Postal 3658 University of Zambia Luanda Mavalane P.O. Box 32379 Tel.: (244) 2 320486 Maputo Lusaka Fax: (244) 2 335225 Tel.: (258) 1 460097 Tel.: (260) 1 293653 E-mail: [email protected] OR Fax: (258) 1 460074 Fax: (260) 1 253952 [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

BOTSWANA NAMIBIA ZIMBABWE University of Botswana Herbarium National Herbarium National Herbarium and Botanic Garden Department of Biological Sciences National Botanical Research Institute P.O. Box CY550 Faculty of Science Private Bag 13184 Causeway Private Bag 0022 Windhoek Harare Gaborone Tel.: (264) 61 2022020 Tel.: (263) 4 708938 Tel.: (267) 3552587 Fax: (264) 61 258153 Fax: (263) 4 728317 or 708938 Fax: (267) 585097 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] SOUTH AFRICA LESOTHO National Herbarium National Environment Secretariat National Botanical Institute Development House Private Bag X101 Private Bag A23 Pretoria 0001 Maseru 100 Tel.: (27) 12 804 3200 Tel.: (266) 311 767 Fax: (27) 12 804 3211 Fax: (266) 310 506 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001 63 64 SABONET News Vol. 6 No. 1 March 2001