Marc Fradera-Soler, Rosalia Tshikesho, Leevi Nanyeni, Olwen M. Grace
Cactus and Succulent Journal 96 (1), 21-40, (11 March 2024) https://doi.org/10.2985/015.096.0104
KEYWORDS: aridity, Gariep Centre, Namib Desert, Namibia, plant diversity, southern Africa, Succulent Karoo, succulent plants
Namibia is home to a diverse and unique arid-adapted flora that spans various arid biomes, notably the Namib Desert, the Succulent Karoo and the Nama-Karoo. These biomes support a wide array of drought-resistant plants, including drought-avoiding succulents, drought-tolerant xerophytes and drought-escaping annuals. Succulent plants are relatively abundant on inselbergs and ridges along the coastal Namib Desert, where humidity from frequent fog and dew is efficiently intercepted. However, the succulent flora achieves remarkable values of richness and endemism in the geologically and topographically complex Gariep Centre, which encompasses the ecotone between the Namib Desert, the Succulent Karoo and the Nama-Karoo. In this article, we report on the diverse succulent and xerophytic flora observed during a field trip in June 2022 to the central Namib Desert and the Gariep Centre, including Aloidendron dichotomum, Welwitschia mirabilis and numerous mesemb and Crassula species. Despite Namibia's rich arid-adapted plant diversity, knowledge gaps, particularly in remote and inaccessible areas, can hinder conservation efforts. Additional fieldwork and taxonomic research are needed for a more comprehensive understanding of the arid-adapted flora of Namibia and the threats it faces, such as increasing drought severity and illegal poaching.