Islands in the Desert—Forest Vegetation of Kenya'S Smaller Mountains and Highland Areas (Nyiru, Ndoto, Kulal, Marsabit, Loroghi, Ndare, Mukogodo, Porror, Mathews, Gakoe, Imenti, Ngaia, Nyambeni, Loita, Nguruman, Nairobi) Author(s) :Rainer W. Bussmann Source: Journal of East African Natural History, 91(1):27-79. 2002. Published By: Nature Kenya/East African Natural History Society DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2982/0012-8317(2002)91[27:IITDVO]2.0.CO;2 URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/ full/10.2982/0012-8317%282002%2991%5B27%3AIITDVO%5D2.0.CO%3B2 BioOne (www.bioone.org) is a nonprofit, online aggregation of core research in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences. BioOne provides a sustainable online platform for over 170 journals and books published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses. 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Bussmann Lehrstuhl fUr Pflanzenphysiologie, Universitat Bayreuth D 95440 Bayreuth, Germany! ABSTRACT A syntaxonomic survey of Kenyan montane forests was performed in a field study from 1992-1996. Most forests encountered belong to the Juniperetea procerae floral community (cedar forests), of which the Juniperion procerae Faureo salignae-Ilicetum mitis on the wet mountaintops and the Myrsino africanae-Juniperetum procerae in drier areas, were most commonly encountered. On Mt Marsabit the Coffeo arabicaeRinoreetum convallarioidis was found as a new association of the Cassipourion malosanae. The top of Mt Nyiru is covered with large stands of the Hagenietea abyssinicae and extensive bamboo forests (Sinarundinarietea alpinae). Mathews Range harbours the largest forest tracts remaining in the dry north of Kenya. On the lower slopes of this mountain, a new alliance, assessed as Crotonion megalocarpi is described. Camphor forests (Ocotetea usambarensis) cover altitudes from 1,600-2,400 m in the southern Aberdare Range. In the submontane Imenti and Ngaia forests, and the Nyambeni Hills, between 1,200-1,600 m altitude, a variety of forest types related to the Guineo Congolian rainforest were encountered. These forests are assessed as Lovoion swynnertonii. In the montane zone of Nyambeni dense bamboo forests cover the wetter areas, whereas drier parts are covered by cedar forests. On the drier hill slopes of southern Kenya the Juniperion procerae is the prevalent forest type. On the often mist-covered and cloudy hilltops, associations of the Cassipourion malosanae are growing. The forests around Nairobi clearly belong to the Brachylaenion huillensis. Although some syntaxa had to be newly described, the forests of the study areas clearly fit into the classification system of Bussmann & Beck (1995). INTRODUCTION Although occupying almost 50 % of its land area, the 'Northern Frontier District' of Kenya has always received only marginal attendance, and for long times was mainly visited by adventurers and big game hunters. From 1900-1910 a military outpost was created on Mt Kulal (Kenya Colony and Protectorate, 1917). Consisting of vast alluvial inland plains, declining from altitudes of about 1,200 m north of Mt Kenya, to barely 400 m towards Lake ! Current address: Harold L. Lyon Arboretum, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA, bussmann@hawaii.edu University of Hawaii, 3860 Manoa Road, 28 R.W. Bussmann Turkana, the whole area is still only sparsely populated. Only a few scientific studies have been carried out in the north, mainly focusing on its geological features (Shackleton, 1946; Dixey, 1948; Dodson, 1963; Randel, 1967). The northern forests comprise about 40 % of the whole forested area in Kenya and are of high ecological and economical importance as water catchments (Synott, 1979). Most areas are gazetted as forest reserves. The Ndoto Mts Reserve covers about 93,205 ha, of which only 10,155 ha consist of dense forest. On Mt Nyiru with 45,496 ha (7,890 ha) and Mt Kulal with 45,952 ha (2,240 ha), most forests have been destroyed already (Beentje, 1990). On Mt Marsabit, protected as National Park since 1961 (Mackel & Walter, 1983), still 13,675 ha of the former 15,778 ha of forests are left standing today. On the Huri Hills only some tree islands, mainly with Croton macrostachyus, indicate the former presence of forest. A similar situation occurs on the Mathews Range (97,392 ha gazetted), of which however only 24,000 ha are actually forests, indicating the rapidity of forest destruction in these areas. Out of the 91,794 ha of the Loroghi, Maralal and Porror reserves, only about 29,000 ha are still forested. The situation in Mukogodo (1,800-2,200 m, 29,931 ha gazetted, barely 2,700 ha forested) and Ngare Ndare (2,100-2,200 m, 5,627 ha gazetted, 3,135 ha forested) is not much different. Forests with Brachyiaena huillensis and Croton megaiocarpus probably covered most of the land between Nairobi and Mount Kenya at altitudes between 1,500 and 1,900 m. Now, only tiny patches of these forests are remaining near Mt Kenya and around Nairobi, altogether about 4,500 ha, or less than 1 % of their former extension (Beentje, 1990). Forest Reserve status has not protected these remnants. Barely 70 years ago the Ngong Hills were covered in 3,000 ha of forest, of whiGh only 150 ha are remaining today. Few data on the vegetation of these forests are available however (Kigomo et ai., 1990; Kigomo, 1991; Mungai & Beentje, 1989). In the forest reserves of southern Kenya, namely the Nguruman/Loita Hills area, the situation is even worse. In the study presented here, the forest areas of northern, central and southern Kenya are covered. A detailed description of the vegetation texture of the forests, resulting in their syntaxonomic description according to Barkman et ai. (1986) is provided. Geology and soils The northern Kenyan plains are bordered by a chain of mountains consisting of old cristallinic Precambrian basement rocks, mainly extremely durable gneisses and granites (Nyiru-Ndoto and Mathews Range: Shackleton, 1946). A series of Quarternary volcanic peaks like Mt Kulal (2,285 m), Mt Marsabit (1,707 m), and the Huri Hills (1,479 m) tower over the inland plains. Most regions of central Kenya are covered with tertiary to recent lavas and tuffs (Baker, 1967; Mason, 1963). The soils of the plains consist mainly of Vertisols, Regosols, Lithosols and Cambisols. The mountain slopes are covered with humic Nitisols and Acrisols in case of the basement formations and the lower volcanic areas, and deep humic Andosols above about 2,700 m (Mackel, 1986; Mackel & Schultka, 1988; Mackel & Walter, 1983; Schmitt, 1991; Speck, 1983). Climate According to Jatzold (1977, 1981), the study area is part of the hot, arid tropical climate, with two short, subhumid seasons, with mean monthly daytime temperatures of 26-20°C in the plains, in contrast to 17-19°C in the mountains (Gatab, 1,657 m). The average annual rainfall can be as low as 100-150 rom in the Hedad Plain and Chalbi Desert, rising to 500 rom in the valleys of the Nyiru-Ndoto mountains. In the mountain forest zone, rainfall of Islands in the Desert 29 about 1,200-2,000 mm can be reached (Edwards et al., 1979). The main rainfall is concentrated in two wet seasons, from March-May and October-December; extreme rainfalls occur, e.g. 175 mm within 6 h in Gatab on Mt Kulal (Mackel & Walter, 1983). To depict the climatic conditions of the study area, climatic diagrams (figure 1) were produced from data of the Kenya Meteorological Department (1974, 1984), according to Walter & Lieth (1960-1967). Figure 1. Location and climate of the of the study area. The area shaded indicates the former extension of the Brachylaenionhuillensis. Map provided by G. & S. Miehe. Vegetation Most mountain areas in northern Kenya are covered with evergreen montane forests, owing their existence especially to the humidity received from mist condensation and the frequent cloud formation in the peak areas. A first short description of Kulal, Nyiru and Mathews Range is given by Neumann (1898). Schultka & Hilger (1983) distinguished Olea hochstetteri-Cassipourea malosana and Olea africana-Juniperus procera forest on Kula!. Herlocker (1979) gave some more general remarks on the vegetation, and for Mt Kulal, a checklist for plants collected by Hepper et al. (1981) and Hepper (1983) exists. The importance of the forest cover as erosion barrier and water catchment is described by Synott (1979). Bronner (1990) elaborated on a vegetation description for Mathews as part of a landuse oriented study. He distinguished four main groups of forests and woodland: • Bushland, mainly at altitudes around 1,500 m at the footslopes of the mountain • Croton megalocarpus forest, from 1,500 to 2,000 m • Olea africana-Juniperus procera forest around 1,960 m • Podocarpus forest, divided into Podocarpus gracilior forest (2,000-2,300 m) and Podocarpus latifolius forest (2,300-2,700 m) R. W. Bussmann 30 The tops of the Karissia Hills are still covered with partly extensive montane forests. A first comprehensive phytosociological study of a central Kenyan forest area, mainly concentrating on secondary forests in the Aberdare National Park was published by Schmitt (1991). A comparison of his work to the 'Mount Kenya System' (Bussmann & Beck, 1995) is given in Bussmann (1994). MATERIALS AND METHODS From 1992 to1996, 252 vegetation plots were established and analysed according to the methods of Braun-Blanquet (1964) and Mueller-Dombois & Ellenberg (1974), as slightly modified by Hammen et aI, (1989). The plots were selected with respect to floristic homogeneity and representation of typical forest stands and chosen directly in the field. The plot size was always larger than the minimum areas determined for similar forest types in previous studies (Bussmann, 1994; Bussmann & Beck, 1995). The nomenclature of plant families follows Bamps (1976), and the Flora of Tropical East Africa (FTEA, Turril et aI., 1952-2001). The nomenclature of genera and species of Pteridophytes, Monocotyledones and Dicotyledones follows Upland Kenya Wild Flowers (Agnew & Agnew, 1994). The genus Sinarundinaria is treated according to Chao & Renvoize (1989). Cyperaceae and Juncaceae are named according to Haines & Lye (1983), Gramineae according to Phillips (1995). The nomenclature of trees and shrubs is according to Kenya Trees, Shrubs and Lianas (Beentje, 1995). For each releve a species list was established and the cover/abundances were estimated according to the scale of Hammen et aI. (1989): 5: any number of individuals with cover of 75-100% of the plot; 4: any number of individuals with cover of 50-75 %; 3: any number of individuals with cover of 25-50%; 2: any number of individuals with cover of 5-25 %; 1: any number of individuals with cover of 1-5 %; +: few or many individuals with cover < 1%; r: solitary individuals with cover> 1% Three vegetation strata were differentiated within each releve: T: Tree layer, plants taller than 5 m; S: Shrub layer, woody species between 50 cm and 5 m tall, including some herbaceous plants, when a distinct stratum of small herbaceous species existed or at least is assumed to exist under undisturbed conditions. The herb layer refers to all individuals < 50 cm. All species not labelled T or S in the vegetation tables belong to the herb layer. All plots were sampled at least twice and in different seasons, thus the inventory of species should be more or less complete. The data of the releves were analysed by computeraided hand sorting, whereby cover/abundance and the regular occurrence of species in the vegetation unit are given equal weight. To portray the structure of the associations, standprofile diagrams according to Hammen et aI. (1989) were produced. RESULTS Eighteen associations with ten sub-associations, five facies and five variants, belonging to nine alliances, four orders and four classes (appendices. 1-7 and table 1) were encountered: Table. 8. Constancy table. ~ Mt. Nyiro Marsabit Mathews Range Ndare. Porror. Gakoe. Ngaia, Nyambeni Hills Loita Hills Karura Loroghi Ngong A1 A11aB11A11ClI A11A11A11A11AlI A11A11A11A11A11AlI A11A11A11A11A11011 011011 011 011 011A11C11A11A11A11A11A111 la 12 a b1 a lab a12a1311a111a111b111b211b2 lie lid a b1 la1 la1 b2 a la1 la2 lIa lib Ib a b a1 la1 la1/1a1 la1 11 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 Juniperetea procerae Bussmann 1994 A _ VV C Geranium arabieum V V V V 2 V 33II IV V III V V V III I4 V4IIV IV VV IV V IV V V V V III V V V IV V aspera V C Aehyranthes V V V VV 1I IV IV IV ~ C Braehypodium fJexum V V IV IV o Juniperus procera T III V V V V II II o Juniperus procera S /I V V V o Sanieula elata V V V V 2 V V V o Stipa dregeana S V V V C Paroehetus communis V V V C Isoglossa gregorii C Berberis holstii S Juniperion procerae Bussmann 1994 A.1.1 C Olea europaea ssp. africana T V V V C Olea europaeassp. africanaS II V III ~ C Rubus volkensii S V V V I o Rapanea melanophloeos T I V o Carex peregrina Ehrharto ereetae - Juniperetum proeerae Bussmann 1994 o Ehrharta erecta IV V V V 1 I C Arceuthobiumjuniperi-procerae 4 ~ VI Ehrharto erectae - Juniperetum procerae warburgietosum ugandensis (A.1.1.a.1) o Warburgia ugandensis T o Warburgia ugandensis S o Sehoenoxiphium lehmannii Faureo salignae -llicetum mitis Bussmann 1994 (A.1.I.a ( '" S' If '=' ('D '" ('D :4 I~: : ~I rn m [Y] I~ rn o Faurea saligna TS o lIex mitis T I V V VII IV V I o lIexmitis S Faureo salignae - IIicetum mitis o Xymalos monospora S o Brucea antidysenterica S Clausenamonospora anisata S T o Xymalos V V rvV ~ ~ ..- Marsabit Ndare, Porror, Gakoe, Ngaia, Nyambeni Hills Loita Hills Karura Loroghi Ngong A1 AlIaB11 A11C11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11011 011011 011 011 011A11C11A11A11A11A11A111 la 12 a b1· a lab a12a1311a111a111b111b211b2 lie lid a b1 la1 la1 b2 a la1 la2 lIa lib Ib a b a1 la1 la111a1 la1 11 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 o Clerodendron johnstonii S V V I II 2 o Clematis brachiata III V o Oicliptera kirkii V V III o Ooryopteris concolor IV I 2 o POlystachyaconfusa III V o Polystachya piersii I I o Polystachya spec. III V o pteris quadriaurtia IV Faureo salignae • Jlicetum mitis xymaletosum monosporae • wet variant (A.1.l.a.1.1) Mt. Nyiro o Amauropeltis bergiana o Oichrocephala integrifolia w IV III ~II III Oroguetia iners o Schefflera volkensii T o Stenogramma pozoi o Solanum schumannianum Mathews Range S o Aneilema pedunculosum o Crassula alsinoides o Oracaena spec. S o Pilea johnstonii LJ Faureo salignae • Jlicetum mitis x o Pupalia lappacea o Schoenoxiphium lehmannii I o Stellaria sennii 1 o Plectranthus barbatus S I o Spermacoce princeae maletosum monosporae • dry variant (A.1.I.a.1.2) V V V IV IV IV I lYJ nvl Faureo salignae • Jlicetum mitis xymaletosum monxosprae • Schefflera volkensii facies (A.1.1.a.1.3) o Solanum Pteridium incanum aquilinum 0IJVl o Euclea Schefflera divinorum volkensii ST ~ Myrsino africanae· Juniperetum rocerae Bussmann 1994 (A.l.I.b) o Rhamnus prinoides S I V V V o Myrsine africana S V V V Myrsino africanae· Juniperetum procerae cadietosum purpureae (A.1.1.b.1) o Vangueria Cadia purpurea apiculata S S IfVl V I :;c IV ~I ~ I t:D s:::: en Mt. Nyiro Marsabit Mathews Range Ndare, Porror, Gakoe, Ngaia, Nyambeni Hills Loita Hills Karura Loroghi Ngong A1 A11a811A11C11A11A11A11A11A11A11AlI AlI A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11D11D11D11D11D11D11A11ClI A11A11A11A11A111 la 12 a b1 a lab a12a1311a111a111b111b211b2 lie lid a b1 la1 la1 b2 a la1 la2 lIa lib Ib a b a1 la1 la111a1 la1 11 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 D Cheilanthes multifida V D Cheilanthes hirta IV D Cheilanthes farinosa IV D Asplenium trichomanes III D Cordia monoica T II D PeUaeaalchemilloides II D Cheilanthes bergiana I Myrsino africanae • Juniperetum procerae rhusetosum natalensis (A.1.1.b.1) w D Rhus natalensis S 4II V III V III IV .!... IV D Rhus vulgaris S Y..--Y:L I 4 V w D Sporobolus agrostoides ! I III~ fV D Fumaria abyssinica D Senecio ruwenzoriensis D PeUaeaadianthoides D Romulea fischeri D Fuerstia africana D Leucas tomentosa D Pluchea ovalis S Myrsino africanae - Juniperetum procerae - euclenietosum divinori (A.1.l.b.2) D Euclea divinorum S D Euclearacemosassp.schh1periS D Pistacia aethiopica S D Carissa edulis S D Grewia similis S D Thunbergia alata D Hibiscus fuscus D Monsonia angustifolia D Microcoelia moreauae D Indigofera arrecta S D Solanecio nandensis D Senecio hadiensis D RueUiapatula D Thunbergia gregorii D Androcymbium melanthoides D Crinum macowanii D Hypoxis villosa ~v :1 - [ rn rn S' g o (l) rn (l) ...• ....• Mt. Nyiro Marsabit l.U Mathews Range Ndare, Porror, Gakoe, Ngaia, Nyambeni Hills Loita Hills Karura Loroghi Ngong A1 A11a811A11C11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11AlI A11A11A11A11AlI AlI A11 D11D11D11D11D11D11A11C11A11A11A11A11A111 la 12 a b1 a lab a12a1311a111a111b111b211b2 IIc lid a b1 la1 la1 b2 a la1 la2 lIa lib Ib a b a1 la1 la111a1 la1 11 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 Cassipourion malosanae Bussmann 1994 (A.1.1I) .. C lIex mitis T II V II III IV IV VII III III V C lIex mitis S III II II V VIII III V 4 V D Cassipourea malosana T V V 4 V D Cassipourea malosana S V III 4 V D Olea capensis ssp. hochst. T V 2 V D Olea capensis ssp. hochst. S V ~ D Olea capensis ssp. hochst. 4 V D Hypoestes triflora 2 V D Droguetia iners C Hypoestes aristata S 1111 IV V I Coffeo arabicae· Rinoreetum convallarioidis (A.1.II.a C Oplismenus hirtellus V I C Casearia battiscombei T V C Casearia battiscombei S IV C Flacourtia indica S V C Turraea holstii S V C Celtis africana T III C Celtis africana S V C Strychnos mitis T IV C Strychnos mitis S IV C Justicia Isoglossa betonica laetea C Meyna tetreaphylla S C Celtis gomphophylla T C Celtis gomphophylla S C Ocotea kenyensis T C Ocotea kenyensis S C Cordia monoica S D Strychnos henningsii T D Strychnos henningsii S D Erythrococca bongensis S D Coffea arabica S D Rinorea convallarioides S D Erythrococa fischeri S IV 1111 L!!! IV III IV III II II II II V V V V .j:>. :;:c ~ ~ r:n r:n a ~ Mt. Nyiro Ndare, Porror, Gakoe, Ngaia, Nyambeni Hills Loita Hills Karura Loroghi Ngong Ai A1laB11 Ail C1I Ail Ail Ail Ail Ail Ail Ail Ail Ail Ail Ail A11Ail Ail AlI Ail 011 Oil Oil Oil Oil Oil Ail C1I Ail A11Ail AlI Ail la 12 a b1 a lab a12a1311a111a111b111b211b2 IIc lid a b1 la1 la1 b2 alai la2 lIa lib Ib a b a1 la1 la111a111a1 11 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 o Chionanthus battiscombei T V o Chionanthus battiscombei S IV o Pavetta abyssinica S V o Oxyanthus speciosus S V o Rytigynia neglecta S IV o Monodora grandidieri S IV o Vepris eugeniaefolia S IV o Rhipsalis baccifera III Tecleo nobilis - Tecletum simplicifoliae Bussmann 1994 (A.1.1I.a) V V V V V 431II2341 423 III C Podocarpus falcatus T V V IV III III 1II V III C Podocarpus falcatus S IV IV C Erythrococca bongensis S C Oplismenus compositus C Teclea nobilis T C Teclea nobilis S C Ehretia cymosa S C Solanum schumannianum C Asplenium linckii C Turraea holstii S C Aeschyomene schimperi S C Helinus integrifolius S o Teclea simplicifolia T o Teclea simplicifolia S Tecleo nobilis - Tecletum simplicifoliae o Oicliptera laxata o Acanthopale pubescens o Vepris glomerata S Tecleo nobilis - Tecletum simplicifoliae o Orchidacea gen. o Stolzia repens o Bulbophyllum spec. o o Arisaema Peperomiamildbraedii tetraphylla Marsabit Mathews Range II II - I rn S· g o (1) rn (1) ::l. V V IV V l.!Y-!!J fIVTl diclipteretosum laxatae (A.1.II.a.1) OJ diclipteretosum 4 V 3 III []]v laxatae typicum (A.1.II.a.1.1) I I I UJI 4 4 3 3 W o Isoglossa punctata V o Justicia diclipteroides 1 V o Aneilema pedunculosum Tecleo nobilis - Tecletum simplicifoliae diclipteretosum laxatae -Isoglossa punctata facies (A.1.II~a.1.2V W l.II Mt. Nyiro D Acalypha volkensii I D Panicum maximum C0:YJ Marsabit Mathews Range Ndare, Porror, Gakoe, Ngaia, Nyambeni Hills Loita Hills Karura Loroghi Ngong A1 A11a811A11C11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11AlI A11D11D11D11D11D11D11A11C11A11A11A11A11A11 la 12 a b1 a lab a12a1311a111a111b111b211b2 IIc lid a b1 la1 la1 b2 a la1 la2 lIa lib Ib a b a1 la1 la111a111a1 11 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 VV VII ~ IV fI) fI) i3 s:: ~IB \I \f II III J.!! IV V IIII V V IV V III II 1 V III III III I!L V L!!I V V V V I v lapacea D Puppalia D Leucas grandis Teeleo nobilis - Teeletum simplieifoliae oplismenetosum hirtelli (A.1.II.a.1) D Oplismenus hirtellus D Ochna insculpta T D Ochna insculpta S D Giardinia diversifolia D Pavetta abyssinica S D Peperomia tetraphylla D Tarenna graveolens S D Vernonia auriculifera S D Solanum sessilistellatum D Doryopteris kirkii D Allophyllus abyssinicus T D Allophyllus abyssinicus S Crotonion megaloearpi I Crotonetum megaloearpi typieum (A.1.lIl.a.1 C Croton megalocarpus T V V V ... C Croton megalocarpus S V V V C Croton megalocarpus V V V • Croton ion megaloearpi I Crotonetum megalocarpi (A.1.lIl.a) D Schrebera alata S V V V V V IV D Erythrococca bongensis S V V V D Setaria plicatilis V V V V V D Phyllanthus fischeri S D Panicum monticola V III V V V D Flacourtia indica S IV III III Crotonetum megalocarpi (A.1.lIl.a) D Podocarpus falcatus T V III V V V D Podocarpus falcatus S V I V V III D Encephalartos tegulaneus T V V D Encephalartos tegulaneus S V IV II I D Cheilanthes multifida V D Cyathula polycephala Crotonetum megalocarpi - Cheilanthes multifida variant (A.1.III.a.1.~ V U) 0\ t:J:l Mt. Nyiro Marsabit Mathews Range Ndare, Porror, Gakoe, Ngaia, Nyambeni Hills Loita Hills Karura Loroghi Ngong A1 A11aB11A11C11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11 D11DlI D11D11D11D11AlI C11A11A11A11A11A11 la 12 a b1 a lab a12a1311a1IIa1 IIb1 IIb211b2IIc lid a b1 la1 la1 b2 a la1 la2 IIa lib Ib a b a1 la1 la1 IIa111a1 11 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 D Doryopteris kirkii D Notonia abyssinica Crotono megalocarpi - Tecletum simplicifoliae C Strychnos henningsii S C Strychnos mitis S C Justicia flava C Strychnos usambarensis S C Pentas lanceolata S D Teclea simplicifolia T D Teclea simplicifolia S D Justicia nyassana D Isoglossa laxa D Leucas glabrata D Dracaena laxissima S D Asystasis gangetica Hibiscus lunulariifolius D Psychotria kirkii D Justicia calyculata IlY...[I[JL[] V L[i]IL_ '" ( '" S· go (1) (A.1.III.b) t::l III II II V V V V V V V V V V III V V V V V V V V V V III (1) '" V V V IV IV V V V V V III (1) ~ III III III IV V 111I IV III IV I III III Crotono megalocarpi - Tecletum simplicifoliae acacietosum brevispicatae (A.1.III.'0L-.. D Acacia Isoglossa brevispica laetea S lYJ Crotono megalocarpi - Tecletum simplicifoliae - Argomuellera macrophylla variant (A.1.III.b.2.1) D Aneilema aequinoetiale IillI V D Aneilema leiocaule OS[J[] V D Argomuellera macrophylla S V D Solanecio mannii S V D Dracaena steudneri S IV D Barleria micrantha III D Panicum maximum IV 0~Y:1JLJ Crotono megalocarpi - Tecletum simplicifoliae typicum (A.1.III.b.2.2) D Hibiscus urticifolius V D Hippocratea africana S V D Cadaba farinosa V D Vernonia auriculifera S V D Becium capitatum V D Vernonia lasiopus S IV fVl UL.JJ l.» -...l Mt. Nyiro Marsabit Mathews Range Ndare, Porror, Gakoe, Ngaia, Nyambeni Hills Loita Hills Karura Loroghi Ngong A1 A11aB11A11C11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11D11D11D11D11D11D11A11C11A11A11A11A11A11 la 12 a b1 a lab a12a1311a111a111b111b211b2 IIc lid a b1 la1 la1 b2 a la1 la2 lIa lib Ib a b a1 la1 la1 IIa111a1 11 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 Bauhinietum tomentosae (A.1.1ll.c) C Kigelia africana T C Ocimum gratissimum S C Pterolobium stellatum S C Pellaea longipilosa C Erythrococca fischeri S C Cyperus oblongus ssp. flavus C Commelina africana C Cyperus bulbipes C Commelina latifolia C Craterostigma pumilum C Kyllinga comosipes C Cyperus pinguis C Commelina imberbis D Bauhinia tomentosa S v V D Hypoestes forskahlii IJ[] D Chaetacme aristata S D Psydrax schimperiana S D Cleome schimperi D Craibia laurentii S Phoenicetum reclinatae (A.1.m.d) D Phoenix reclinata T D Phoenix reclinata S ~ [IVVl ~ Brachylaenion huillensis Bussmann 1994 (A.1.111) V VIII C Calodendrum capense T V C Maytenus heterophyllus S VI C Drypetes gerrardii S C Euclea divinorum S D Brachylaena huillensis T D Croton alienus S D Acokanthera schimperi T D Acokanthera schimperi S Crotono megalocarpi - Brachylaenetum huillensis Bussmann 1994 C Pterolobium stellatum S I IV D Croton megalocarpus T V V IV D Croton megalocarpus S D Grewia similis S IV w 00 co ~ :E I g' "" Mt. Nyiro Marsabit Mathews Range Ndare. Porror. Gakoe. Ngaia. Nyambeni Hills Loita Hills Karura Loroghi Ngong Ai A1laB11 Ail C1I Ail Ail Ail Ail Ail Ail Ail Ail Ail Ail Ail Ail Ail Ail Ail Ail Oil 011 Oil Oil 011011 Ail ClI Ail Ail AlI Ail Ail la 12 a b1 a lab a12a1311a111a111b111b211b2 IIc lid a b1 la1 la1 b2 alai la2 lIa lib Ib a b a1 la1 la1l1a1l1a1 11 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 Elaeodendro buchananii - Brachylaenetum huillensis Bussmann 1994 (A.1.m.a) V IV V III C Teclea simplicifolia T V V C Teclea simplicifolia S C Ochna insculpta T C Ochna insculpta S o Elaeodendron buchananii T o Elaeodendron buchananii S o Teclea trichocarpa T o Teclea trichocarpa S o Oplismenus burmannii Elaeodendro buchananii - Brachylaenetum huillensis acokantheretosum longifoliae (A.1.III.a.1) IV IV IV III o Acokanthera longifolia S o Gnidia subcordata S III IV II IV III o Cassipourea rotundifolia T o Cassipourea rotundifolia S o Manilkara discolor T o Turraea mombasana S o Albizzia schimperiana T o Albizzia schimperiana S o Mimusops kumel S Elaeodendro buchananii - Brachylaenetum huillensis acokantheretosum longifoliae - Phyllanthus obovalifolius facies (A.1.lIl.a.1.1) V IV V o Phyllanthus obovalifolius o Schrebera alata S V o Vemonia holstii o Hibiscus corymbosus o Barleria micrantha o Ochna sleumeri S Elaeodendro buchananii - Brachylaenetum huillensis accokantheretosum longifoliae - Chaetacme aristata facies (A.1.III.a.1.2) o Chaetacme aristata S I V o Panicum maximum V o Strychnos usambarensis S I V o Adenia gummifera I III o Teclea hanangensis T IV o Teclea hanangensis S IV o Uvaria scheffleri S I IV o Markhamia lutea T I III o Ochna ovata S II III - [ '" '" S' g o ~ '" ~ ..• ...• W I.C Marsabit Mt. Nyiro Ndare, Porror, Gakoe, Ngaia, Nyambeni Hills Loita Hills Karura Loroghi Ngong A1 A11aB11A11C11AlI A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11D11D11D11D11D11D11A11C11A11A11A11A11A11 la 12 a b1 a lab a12a1311a111a111b111b211b2 lie lid a b1 la1 la1 b2 a la1 la2 lIa lib Ib a b a1 la1 la111a111a1 11 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 Mathews Range o oj::. L!-1!!J I III I D Craibia Zanthoxylum brownei usambarense S T Hagenietea abyssinicae Bussmann 1994 (B) C Hypericum revolutum T S IVl lYJ Gnidietum glaucae Bussmann 1994 (B.1.I.a) D Gnidia glauca T Sinarundinarietea l-etaUa I-ion I-um alpinae Bussmann 1994 (C.1.1.a) [y] D Sinarundinaria alpina S 3 D Sinarundinaria Pseudocarum eminii 3 D alpina T C Cyperus dereilema S C Selaginella kraussiana Sinarundinario alpinae - Podocarpetum latifolii Bussmann 1994 (C.l.I.a) D Podocarpus latifolius T D Podocarpus latifolius S D Rapanea melanophloeos T D Rapanea melanophloeos S Ocotetea usambarensis Bussmann 1994 (D) C Piper capense S C Cypho5la .11 IS kiinandschario.m C Strombosia scheffleri T C Strombosia scheffleri S C Dryopteris kilimensis C Tabemaemontana stapfiana T C Tabemaemontana stapfiana S C Oplismenus hirtellus C Blotiella stipitata S C Ochna insculpta T C Ochna insculpta S C MacarangakilimandscharicaT C MacarangakilimandscharicaS C Plectranthus luteus S C Elaphoglossum lastii C Begonia meyeri-johannis C Trichomanes borbonica o W lUJ V V UYJ [IV] [J]v ~ v V V IV V V V V V IV \II III \II IV V V \II V IV V V V V IV V V V V IV V V V V IV IV 111 V V V II V IV IV V :;c I V V IV V ~ tx' s:: '" '" !3 V V IV II V IV § Mt. Nyiro Marsabit Ndare, Porror, Gakoe, Ngaia, Nyambeni Hills Laita Hills Karura Loroghi Ngong A1 A11aB11AlI C11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11011 011 011 011 011 011A11C11A11AlI A11A11A11 la 12 a b1 a lab a12a1311a111a111b111b211b2 lie lid a b1 la1 la1 b2 a la1 la2 lIa lib Ib a b a1 la1 la111a111a1 11 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 V IV IV V V III III III V III VIVIIIIIIII C Asplenium theciferum C Apodytes dimidiata T C Apoclytes dimidiata S C Peddiea fischeri T C Peddiea fischeri S C Oleandra distenta o Ocotea usambarensis T o Ocotea usambarensis S o Ocotea usambarensis o LasianthuskilimandscharicusT o LasianthuskilimandscharicusS o Asplenium sandersonii o Asplenium elliottii o Panicum calvum o Psyehotria orophila S o Xymalos monospora T o Xymalos monospora S o Pauridiantha holstii S Syzygetalia guineensis Bussmann 1994 (0.1) C Oiospyros abyssinica S C Psydrax sehimperiana S o Syzygium guineense T o Syzygium guineense S o Adenia gummifera o Aningeria adolfi-friederiei T o Aningeria adolfi-friederiei S o Orypetes gerrardii S o Jaundea pinnata S o Allophyllus euneatus S Cyathion mannianae Bussmann 1994 (0.1.1) C Lobelia baumannii o Marattia fraxinea S o Cyathea manniana S Cyatheo mannianae - Afroeranietum volkensii Bussmann 1994 C Afroerania volkensii T C Afroerania volkensii S Mathews Range III II II V V V I V V V V III III III I I V III V V V V V V V V III V V V V V V V V III V V V V V V III V V V III IIII V V III V II ~VI V W V II W V V VV V VV W VW V W WV V IIIV V III VV 11111 m rv V IV IV V - [ en en S' So ~ ~ en ~ ...• tl ...• III V V V V V V V V V V III V V V oj:>. Mt. Nyiro Marsabit Mathews Range Ndare, Porror; ~q~ Gakoe, Ngaia, Nyambeni Hills Loita Hills Karura ~q A1 A11aB11A11C11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11011011011011011011 A11C11A11A11A11A11A11 la 12 a b1 a lab a12a1311a111a111b111b211b2 lie lid a b1 la1 la1 b2 a la1 la2 lIa lib Ib a b a1 la1 la111a111a1 11 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 II III III IV III III L!!U o Moussaenda odorata T III II IVIII IVIII II VII IV V II V IIV V IT] IIVjlV III Cyatheo mannianae - Moussaendetum odoratae typieum Bussmann 1994 VVIIIVIVV em [J[] o Oidymoehlaena truncatula S ~ ~ Albizzietum gummiferae Bussmann 1994 (0.1.I.a) C Albizzia gummifera T C Albizzia gummifera S C Albizzia gummifera Zanthoxyllion gillettii Bussmann 1994 (0.1.11) C Anthoeleista zambesiaca T C Seeamone punctulata D Myrianthetum holstii Bussmann 1994 (D.1.II.a) o Myrianthus holstii T o Myrianthus holstii S Myrianthetum holstii tiliacoretosum funiferae (D.1.1J.a.1) o Tiliaeora funifera Myrianthetum holstii tiliacoretosum funiferae - Alangium chinense variant (D.1.1J.a.1.1) o Alangium ehinense S o Halleria lueida T o Halleria lueida S o pteris dentata ssp. f1abellata o Ensete edule S o Hunteria zeylanica S o Periploca linearifolia o Trimeria grandifolia S o Caesalpinia decapetala o Croton sylvaticus T o Croton sylvaticus S o Senna d. didymobotrya S o Aframomum keniense o Cissus olivieri o Vitex keniensis T o Vitex keniensis S o Tricilia emetica S Myrianthetum holstii mitragynietosum rubrostipulatae (D.1.II.a.2) o Mitragynia rubrostipulata T o Mitragynia rubrostipulata S N """ I [Ii] m m ~ ~ l:l::l = '" '" S § Mt. Nyiro o Ficus surT o Cussonia spicata T o Cussonia spicata S Marsabit Ndare, Porror, Gakoe, Ngaia, Nyambeni Hills Loila Hills Karura Loroghi Ngong A1 A11aB11A11C11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11011011011011011011 A11C11A11A11A11A11A11 la 12 a b1 a lab a12a1311a111a111b111b211b2 lie lid a b1 la1 la1 b2 a la1 la2 lIa lib Ib a b a1 la1 la111a111a1 11 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 I V JY. V III IIIV V IIV III V V ill.. II IV V V ~ Lovoion swynnertonii (0.1.11I) C Rawsonia lucida S C Uvariodendron anisatum T C Uvariodendron anisatum S C Heinsenia diervilleoides S C Rinorea convallarioides S o Lovoa swynnertonii T o Lovoa swynnertonii S Lovoetum swynnertonii (0.1.lIl.a) C Adianthum hispidulum C Uvaria scheffleri S C Rytigynia neglecta S o ChrysophyllumgorgunosanumT o ChrysophyllumgorgunosanumS o Filicium decipiens T o Filicium decipiens S o Erytrococca fischeri S o Premna maxima T o Premna maxima S Argomuelleretum macrophyllae (D.1.III.b) C Teclea trichocarpha S C Hilleria latistifolia S C Meineckia phyllanthoides S C Uvaria lucida S C Pleiocarpa pycnantha S C Orypetes natalensis S o Argomuellera macrophylla S o Erytrococca bongensis S o Ixora scheffleri S o Blighia unijugata T o Blighia unijugata S Newtonio buchananii - Phoenicetum reclinatae (0.1.II.b) C Newtonia buchananii T C Newtonia buchananii S Mathews Range m ~ - i Cll Cll S' ~ t:l (1) Cll (1) ...• ...• .j::.. w Mt. Nyiro Ndare, Porror, Gakoe, Ngaia, Nyambeni Hills Loita Hills Karura Loroghi Ngong A1 A11aB11AlI C11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11A11011 011 011 011011 011A11C11A11A11A11A11A11 la 12 a b1 a lab a12a1311a111a111b111b211b2 lie lid a b1 la1 la1 b2 a la1 la2 lIa lib Ib a b a1 la1 la111a111a1 11 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 C Newtonia buehananii o Phoenix reelinata T o Phoenix reelinala S Marsabit Mathews Range IV IV III V 11111 t V ~IV ?C ~ t:l:l ~ en en :3 ~ Islands in the Desert 45 A./ A.I. Juniperetea/-etalia procerae (Releves 1-48 in appendix 1, 1-14 in appendix 2, 1-51 in appendix 3, 1-32 in appendix 4, 44-49 in appendix 5, 1-33 in appendix 6 & 1-30 in appendix 7). In the dry regions of northern Kenya closed forests are restricted to mountain areas and hilltops where mist condensation leads to more humid conditions. Geranium arabicum, Achyranthes aspera, Sanicula elata, Berberis holstii, Stipa dregeana and Brachypodium flexum are commonly growing in the ground layer. Juniperus procera is common on Nyiru and Kulal, and in most Central Kenyan forests. On Mathews Range however, Juniperus is very rare, growing only in few places at the lower forest limit in the middle and northern part of the mountain, and in some top areas. Bronner (1990) found dense stands of cedar on Uarges Peak, heavily influenced by fire. In the wetter parts of Loroghi, the cedar is found less frequently, as under such conditions broad-leafed species dominate (Bussmann & Beck 1995). In the drier areas of Loroghi, Porror, Maralal and in Ngare Ndare, many old cedar trees encountered are dying, or already dead, with only bare trunks and branches left standing. Only in parts of Mukogodo, Juniperus is found in a more healthy state. On top of the Nyambeni Hills neither Juniperus, nor any olive trees can be observed. In Southern Kenya typical cedar-forests are encountered on top of the Loita Hills and the nearby Nguruman Escarpment and Namanga Hill. A.I.I. Juniperion procerae-evergreen xeromorphic montane forests, (Releves 1-38 in appendix 2,9-14 in appendix 3, 1-11 in appendix 4, 1-10 & 22-32 in appendix 5,44-49 in appendix 6, 1-13 in appendix 7). Many forests of the dry Kenyan North belong to this alliance. The East African olive, Olea europaea ssp. africana is found only in few areas, particularly on southern Mt Nyiru and the top of Mt Marsabit, forming almost exclusively the about 10 m high canopy in the latter location. In contrast, it is almost absent from the other mountains visited. Rubus volkensii and Rapanea melanophloeos are important in some areas. On Mathews Range the pure 'Juniperus-Olea forests' described by Bronner (1990) all belong to the Myrsino africanae-Juniperetum procerae, the typical, fire influenced cedar forests. In the more northern parts of the Range Olea europaea ssp. africana grows only in some dry areas, in transition to the savannah. On the lower slopes of Nguruman, Loita and Namanga Hill Olea is often encountered forming a very dense lower canopy, growing together with a high number of Cassipourea malosana and Podocarpus falcatus trees. In southern Kenya the humidity is highest on top of the hills, which are mostly covered by mist for a good part of the night until the late morning hours. For this reason, the forest zonation is partly reversed, with the drought resistant cedar forests forming the boundary to the savannah areas. In the lowermost parts the closed tree stands are spliced into islands, more and more fragmented in transition to the grassland, indicating the former location of the natural lower forest limit. The burning of the old grass at the beginning of the wet season to enhance new growth destroys parts of the forests, and leads to the tree islands described. Even small tree circles encountered showed almost no difference in species composition to the closed forest areas. A.I.I.a. Faureo salignae-Ilicetum mitis (Releves 1-32 in appendix 2, Releves 1-11 in appendix 4,44-49 in appendix 6). This association dominates many of the mountain areas studied. It is never found in areas with very deep volcanic soils and completely missing from Mt Kulal and Mt Marsabit, growing abundantly on Mt Nyiru, the Ndoto Mountains and Mathews Range. Faurea saligna 46 R.W. Bussmann is very abundant. Most areas of northern Mathews from 2,200-2,700 m are covered with forests whose canopy is dominated by Podocarpus latifolius. P. falcatus, restricted to the drier areas, is only rarely found here. In the very dense shrub stratum, Lepidotrichilia volkensii is a common feature. The 'Podocarpus forest' described by Bronner (1990)-who differentiated between 'Podocarpus gracilior forest' from 2,000-2,300 m and 'Podocarpus latifolius forest' from 2,300-2,700 m-falls under this association. At lower altitudes, a transition zone to the Crotonetum megalocarpi described below occurs. The Faureo-IIicetum is the only association of the cedar forests found in Nyambeni. As on Mt Kenya (Bussmann & Beck, 1995), it is restricted to very steep slopes, and Faurea saligna as well as !lex mitis occur with high cover/abundance. Old stumps of Juniperus procera, and partly Olea europaea ssp. africana indicate that these forests have been disturbed by selective logging. Growing in transition to the bamboo forests found on the uppermost parts of Nyambeni, the ground layer of the Faureo Ilicetum already contains a number of species from these areas, and the high cover/abundance of SelagineUa kraussiana is remarkable. A.I.l.a.I. Faureo salignae-Ilicetum mitis xymaletosum monosporae subass. novo (Releves 132 in appendix 1, Releves 1-11 in appendix 3). The forests of the monosporae are differentiated by the occurrence of Xymalos monospora, often forming a dense shrub layer and contributing to the lower canopy. In the shrub layer, Brucea antidysenterica and the climbing Clerodendrum johnstonii, as well as Clausena anisata are encountered. Pteris quadriaurita, Doryopteris kirkii, Clematis brachiata and Dicliptera colorata, and the epiphytic orchids Polystachya piersii and P. confusa are also characteristic. The most striking feature of these forests is the abundance of very old specimens of Faurea saligna, some of which reach a girth of more than 2 m at breast height, indicating that these forests have never been disturbed by logging. Differences in humidity lead to the distinction of two variants in the xymaletosum: Faureo salignaeIlicetum mitis xymaletosum monosporae-wet variant var. nov. (A. I. I. a.I.I. Releves 1-27 in appendix 1). Growing mainly on higher altitudes, this variant receives more moisture and has a variety of fern species in the undergrowth. The Faureo salignae-Ilicetum mitis xymaletosum monosporae-dry variant var. novo (A. 1.I.a. 1.2. Releves 28-32 in appendix 1) is found at the lower limit of the Faureo-Ilicetum, in transition to the Myrsino-Junipertum cadietosum purpureae described below, where less drought resistant species, especially Pteridophytes, disappear, leaving an often bare ground. These areas are often grazed by livestock at the beginning of the dry season and weed-like species like Solanum incanum, Pupalia lappacea and Pteridium aquilinum, the latter of which indicating also the influence of fire, occur. The floristic composition of the Faureo-Ilicetum on Mathews Range shows clear similarities to Mt Nyiru. The typical subassociation is encountered mainly at altitudes from 2,200-2,500 m (releves 1-6 in appendix 3). At higher altitudes SchejJlera volkensii dominates clearly the canopy, with !lex as well as Faurea becoming much less abundant. In the shrub layer, Euclea divinorum forms dense thickets (Faureo salignae-Ilicetum mitis xymaletosum monosporae-Schefflera volkensii facies fac. novo A.l.I.a.I.3.; releves 7-11 in appendix 3). A.I.l.b. Myrsino africanae-Juniperetum procerae (Releves 34-45 in appendix 1, 9-14 in appendix 2, Releves 7-10 & 22-32 in appendix 4, 7-10 & 22-32 in appendix 6). On the drier lower slopes of Mt Nyiru, the Ndoto Mountains and Mt Kulal this association forms the transition zone to the savannah. Fires, either natural-in long Islands in the Desert 47 intervals-or lit by pastoralists and honey hunters have a high influence. Myrsine africana, particularly indicating the influence of fire, is found with very high cover/abundance in most areas, often forming a second, lower shrub stratum. This species is missing on Mt Marsabit, where its absence indicates a long period without any fire, also shown by the high cover of Olea europaea ssp. africana, which has probably replaced Juniperus procera, as this species requires fire for successful regeneration. On Mt Kulal similar vegetation types are found in an earlier stage of succession. There fires have obviously been much more abundant (Schultka & Hilger 1983). Mainly young Juniperus trees, often growing in island like stands in between heavily grazed pastures occur, and olive, requiring longer absence of fire to grow, is completely missing. In contrast, on Mt Nyiru Juniperus procera occurs with high cover and Nuxia congesta is frequent in the tree stratum, with Justicia striata forming dense groups on the forest floor. The high abundance of Teclea nobilis in the shrub layer and the lower tree stratum is also worth mentioning. In transition to a dense, thorny bushland formed by Commiphora, Grewia and partly Acacia species, the Cadietosum pupureae is encountered on the steep, rocky lower slopes of Mt Nyiru, and also in the Ndoto Mountains. (A.1.l.b.1. Myrsino africanae-Juniperetum procerae cadietosum purpureae subass. novo figure 2; Releves 34-45 in appendix 1). Forests of this type are very open, and in parts with frequent fires even the higher shrub stratum has been destroyed. Many Juniperus trees in these areas are found dead or dying, and young specimens are rarely observed. In the open shrub stratum, Cadia purpurea, Vangueria apiculata and the small tree Cordia monoica occur. The set of characteristic species is completed by a high number of drought-resistant ferns. Pellaea alchemilloides, Cheilanthes bergiana, C. multifida, C. tecta and C. hirta are common, whereas the very rare Asplenium trichomanes occurs only on some high, shady cliffs. The often high cover/abundance of Croton megalocarpus and Teclea simplicifolia show clear links to the Brachylaenion huillensis Bussmann 1994, mainly found in central and southern Kenya. Many parts of Porror Forest and the vicinity of Maralal are found in extremely disturbed conditions. Apart from fires lit by local pastoralists and honey hunters, large areas are also destroyed by fires lit by new farmers when clearing their plots. In line with the much more intensive land use, the populations of livestock, being mainly grazed in the forest, have also increased, leading to the destruction of the ground vegetation. (A.1.l.b.2. Myrsino africanaeJuniperetum procerae rhusetosum natalensis subass. novo (Releves 7-10 in appendix 4). Although Juniperus procera partly still shows a high cover/abundance, many trees are already dead or dying. Rhus natalensis, R. vulgaris and Pluchea ovalis are often forming dense shrub thickets where the larger trees have disappeared. In the herb layer Fumaria al:Jyssinica, Senecio ruwenzoriensis, Pellaea adiantoides, Romulea fischeri, Fuerstia africana and Leucas tomentosa occur, with Sporobolus agrostoides covering large areas. The species composition shows a clear transition from forest to more open and drier savannah and bushland types, with many grassy patches between the tree stands. Large tracts of Ngare Ndare, Mukogodo and lower Loroghi Forest, which are either in less populated areas, or better protected, are found in a very different state of succession, with a very diverse species composition. (A.1.l.b.3. Myrsino africanae-Junipertum procerae euclenietosum divinori subass. novo figure 3, Releves 22-32 in appendix 4). Juniperus procera and Olea europaea ssp. africana often form a dense canopy in these forests, and the many young Juniperus trees encountered indicate that the last larger fires must have occurred a good while ago. Under the tree cover Myrsine africana and Rhamnus prinoides are fairly common, whereas in the more open areas a large set of secondary species is encountered, indicating the transition to a more open forest with many bushes. Pistacia aethiopica is often R.W. Bussmann 48 50 m 40 30 20 10 10 • Croton megalocarpus ~!-i.;'~jNuxia congesta Teclea nobilis m I.· ~ •• ' Faurea sa ligna Olinia rochetiana Tremna guineensis ~ m IB Juniperus procera Prunus africana Trichocladus ellipticus Figure 2. Myrsino africanae - Juniperetum procerae cadietosum purpureae subass. novo (refeve 4S in appendix 2, UTM 37 2S9317E/023246SN; 02°06'06"N/36°S0'10"E, 2400 my. growing to the same height as olive. The most striking feature are dense bush thickets, formed by Euclea divinorum, E. racemosa ssp. schimperi, Carissa edulis, Grewia similis and Indigofera arrecta, all of which show clear links to the typical bushland vegetation growing where former forests have been destroyed. Between the bushes Hibiscus fuscus, Monsonia angustifolia, Microcoelia moreauae, Solanecio nandensis, Senecio hadiensis, and Ruellia ·Islands in the Desert 49 40 m 40 m 30 30 20 20 10 10 10 10 Dodonea viscosa Euclea schimperi o f:-:-:-:-j Olea europaea ssp. africana Rhus natalensis Euclea divinorum 0 Grewia similis Pistacia aethiopicum 4;~ 1 Juniperus procera Figure 3. Myrsino africanae - Junipertum procerae euc/enietosum divinori subass. novo (re/eve 22 in appendix 5, UTM 37 315000E/019000N; 00010'19''N/37"20'16''E; 2300 my. patula occur, together with the climbers Thunbergia alata and T. gregorii. After the start of the wet season, many geophytes e.g. Hypoxis villosa, Androcymbium melanthoides and Crinum macowanii appear in these forests. A.l.I.c. Ehrharto erectae-Juniperetum procerae (figure 4, Releves 1-6 in appendix 5, 1-13 in appendix 6). On the lower slopes of Loroghi, forest stands with still healthy, very old and tall specimens of Juniperus procera occur, often infected by the parasite Arceuthobium juniperiprocerae. Ehrhata erecta grows frequently. The canopy is very dense, allowing a low 50 R. W. Bussmann 50 50 40 40 m m 30 30 20 20 10 10 10 10 Om ~ Juniperus procera [~~f.~j Nuxia r:-:-:-:-l Olea europaea ssp. africana ~ congesta Podocarpus ~ Olea capensis ssp. hochsletteri falcatus Figure 4. Ehrharlo erectae - Juniperetum procerae (re/eve 2 in appendix 5, 2100 m). amount of light to reach the ground. Many trees are often found densely covered with dangling lichens of the genus Usnea. Podocarpus falcatus, otherwise in this type of cedar forests very uncommon, is found as an important canopy tree with high cover/abundance. The species composition of the Ehrharto-Juniperetum communities of southern Kenya shows very distinct differences to the subassociations found e.g. on Mt Kenya (Bussmann & Beck 1995). (A.1.I.c.1. Ehrharto ercectae-Junipertum procerae warburgietosum ugandensis subass. novo figure 5; Releves 1-13 in appendix 6). Schoenoxiphium lehmannii forms a very dense grass layer and many specimens of Warburgia ugandensis as well as the occurrence of often very old and extremely large specimens of Prunus africana are a common feature. Of special interest is the high cover/abundance of Podocarpus falcatus. This drought resistant species replaces P. latifolius in the drier parts of the growth range. 51 Islands in the Desert 50 50 40 40 m m 30 30 20 20 10 10 10 10 ~ Juniperus procera /:-:-:-:'3 Olea europaea ssp. africana ~~\,;:'II Olinia rocheliana ~ Podocarpus falcatus 1m Prunus africana ~ Warburgia ugandensis Figure 5. Ehrf1arto ercectae - Juniperetum procerae warburgietosum ugandensis subass. novo (re/eve 1 in appendix 7, UTM 37 825013E/9791008N; 01°53'18"S/35°55'16"E; 2050 m). A. 1.II. Cassipourion malosanae-evergreen broadleafed montane forests, (Releves 1-8 in appendix 2, 11-21 in appendix 4, 14-23 in appendix 6). On the northern Kenyan mountains the Cassipourion with its two tree strata can be found only on the volcanic cones of Mt Ku1al and Mt Marsabit. /lex mitis, a character species of this alliance, often reaches high up into the uppermost tree layer on Mt Marsabit, but is notfound on Kula!. Cassipourea malosana occurs abundantly on both mountains, also growing in the shrub layer, together with Olea capensis ssp. hochstetteri. The forests on both mountains show many similarities with Teclea nobilis in the lower tree and shrub stratum, 52 R.W. Bussmann where species like Clausena anisata, Dovyalis abyssinica or Brucea antidysenterica are also encountered. In the uppermost forests of Loita and Nguruman !lex mitis, growing very tall in some places, is a conspicuous feature in the tree layer and shrub stratum. Most striking is the very high cover of Cassipourea malosana dominating the canopy. Olea capensis ssp. hochstetteri, though much less common, is also encountered, whereas Juniperus procera and Olea europaea ssp. africana are only rarely found. A.l.II.a. Coffeo arabicae-Rinoreetum convallarioidis ass. novo (figure 6; Releves 1-8 in appendix 2). Completely undisturbed areas covered with this interesting forest type are encountered in large parts of Mt Marsabit and Kula!. The Coffeo-Rinoreetum represents one of the tallest associations of the Cassipourion, with the highest trees forming an about 30-40 m high, closed upper canopy. The most striking feature of these forests is the very dense shrub stratum, which is particularly formed by large bushes of wild coffee (Coffea arabica). Besides Coffea, a high number of other shrubs are encountered, namely Rinorea convallarioides, Chionanthus battiscombei, Pavetta abyssinica, Rytigynia neglecta, Erythrococca fischeri, Monodora grandidieri and Vepris eugeniifolia, making the shrub stratum nearly impenetrable in some places. The fleshy cactacean Rhipsalis baccifera is dangling from many branches. The ,ground is often covered by dense mats of the grass Oplismenus hirtellus and Acanthaceans as Justicia betonica and Isoglossa lactea. Of special interest is the occurrence of Ocotea kenyensis, Casearia battiscombei, Celtis africana and C. gomphophylla, all of them often growing to huge trees, up to 40 m tall, and also regenerating very well in the shrub layer. In the lower canopy and the dense understorey, Strychnos henningsii and S. mitis grow regularly, and are joined by Flacourtia indica, Turraea holstii, Erythrococca bongensis, Meyna tetraphylla and Cordia monoica. Many of these species, indicate links of these forests to the coffee-rich forests of southern Ethiopia, particularly to the Bale region (Bussmann, 1997). Large trees like Strombosia scheffleri, Apodytes dimidiata, Albizzia gummifera, Premna maxima, as well as Croton macrostachyus and especially Aningeria adolfi-friedericii are encountered in the upper canopy and in the shrub layer, together with Ritchiea albersii These companions are otherwise found in the very humid camphor-forests (Ocotetea usambarensis Bussmann 1994) of central Kenya (Bussmann & Beck, 1995). A.!. II. b. Tecleo nobilis- Tecletum simplicifoliae (Releves 11-21 in appendix 4, 14-33 in appendix 6). All Cassipourea forests in northern Kenya and the Loita Hills in the south belong to this association. Teclea simplicifolia grows frequently in the lower tree and the shrub stratum. Most conspicuous is the high cover/abundance of large specimens of Podocarpus falcatus, reaching far up in the upper tree storey. In the often very dense bushy undergrowth Teclea nobilis, Ehretia cymosa, Erythrococca bongensis, Helinus integrifolius, Turraea holstii and Aeschynomene schimperi are found. Among the herbs Solanum schumannianum, Asplenium linckii, and Oplismenus compositus are characteristic. In many parts of these forests, the vegetation is disturbed by a very high elephant population, cutting wide paths through the undergrowth. Islands in the Desert 53 40 40 m m 30 30 20 20 10 10 10 10 ~ Apodytes ~ Casearia Etl D Celtis africana I:TL! Celtis gomphophylla Ekebergia capensis ~ Olea capensis • Strychnos heningsii dimidiata battscombei TecJea nobilis ~ •• Cassipourea malosana Croton megalocarpus Olinia rochetiana ssp, hochstetteri 1ft Trichocladus ellipticus Figure 6. Coffeo arabicae - Rinoreetum convallarioidis ass. novo (releve 1 in appendix 3, UTM 37 385098E/0248735N; 02°15'00"N/37°58'00"E; 1300 my. In contrast to south-western Mt Kenya (Bussmann & Beck, 1995), the Teclea forests of Loroghi often show a herb layer dominated by the Dicliptera laxata, which is covering almost the whole forest floor. Together with Acanthopale pubescens and Vepris glomerata (A. l.II.b. 1. Tecleo nobilis-Tecletum simplicifoliae diclipteretosum laxatae subass. novo figure 7, Releves 11-21 in appendix 5). The typical diclipteretosum laxatae is encountered at the border to the cedar forest, with Juniperus procera and Olea europaea ssp. africana still appearing with high cover/abundance, together with Stipa dregeana. Cassipourea as well as Olea capensis are less dominant or nearly missing, although the first species regenerating very lush in the shrub layer. (A. l.II.b. 1. 1. Tecleo nobilis- Tecletum simplicifoliae diclipteretosum laxatae typicum Releves 11-14 in appendix 4). Dicliptera laxata itself has its R.W. Bussmann 54 60 60 m m 50 50 40 40 30 30 20 20 10 10 10 10 ~ Cassipourea .~... F::::;:::I lIex mitisa ~ Olea capensis malosana ssp. hochstetteri D Ekebergia capensis •• ~ Juniperus procera !:a ~!..y.!i Nuxia Podocarpus falcatus Erythrococca bongensis congesta Teclea nobilis Figure 7. Tee/eo nobilis - Tecletum simplieifoliae dielipteretosum /axatae subass. novo (re/eve 11 in appendix 5, UTM 37 257756E/0119810N; 01°04'59"N/36°49'25"E; 2250 my. by far highest cover/abundance here. Peperomia tetraphylla is a very conspicuous feature together with a high number of orchids like the tiny Stolzia repens. Mainly on top of the Loroghi range, under very humid conditions due to the frequent mist cover, Juniperus and Olea europaea are replaced almost completely by Cassipourea, Olea capensis and Podocarpus falcatus. (A.1.II.b.1.2. Tecleo nobilis-Tecletum simplicifoliae diclipteretosum laxatae-Isoglossa punctata facies fac. novo Releves 15-21 in appendix 4). In Islands in the Desert 55 the undergrowth, the abundance of Acanthopale pubescens increases, whereas Dicliptera laxata is found less frequently, and several other Acanthaceans appear. Of these, Isoglossa punctata grows very abundantly, and Justicia diclipteroides is also often found. Acalypha volkensii, Aneilema pedunculosum, Leucas grandis, and Pupalia lappacea as well as the grass Panicum maximum, growing in tussocks almost 2 m tall are further differential species. The by far largest areas of Cassipourea forests encountered in Loita and Nguruman, are characterized by a dense grassy carpet on the forest floor, formed by the trailing Oplismenus hirtellus. (A. 1.II.b. 3. Tecleo nobilis-Tecletum simplicifoliae oplismenetosum hirtelli subass. novo figure 8; Releves 14-27 in appendix 6). Peperomia tetraphylla, Solanum sessilistellatum, Doryopteris kirkii and Girardinia diversifolia occur in the herbal layer. In the shrub stratum Tarenna graveolens, Vernonia auriculifera as well as Ochna insculpta and Allophyllus abyssinicus are characteristic. In the transition zone to the Ehrharto-Juniperetum warburgietosum ugandensis, the Cassipourea forests resemble more the typical stands described from Mt Kenya (Bussmann & Beck, 1995), with a lower cover/abundance of both, Cassipourea malosana and Podocarpus falcatus, creating an open canopy and a more open shrub stratum, allowing more light to reach the ground. Nuxia congesta, Jasminum abyssinicum, Loxogramme abyssinica or Cyperus dereilema are encountered in such places, where Stipa dregeana covers large tracts of the forest floor completely. (A.1.II.b.2.1. Tecleo nobilis-Tecletum simplicifoliae-Stipa dregeana facies fac. novo Releves 28-33 in appendix 6). A.l.III. Crotonion megalocarpi all. nov.-deciduous broad-leafed montane forests, (Releves 12-51 in appendix 2; type: releve 14, UTM 37 319827E/0165586N; 01°24'58"N/3r22'50"E; 2,100 m). At the lower extensions of Mathews Range, from 1,500 to 2,200 m, forests with the semi-deciduous euphorbiacean Croton megalocarpus, forming an open canopy, are found. Due to the high amount of light reaching the ground, a very diverse herbal flora is encountered in these forests, which also have a dense shrubby undergrowth. The "Croton forest", "Podocarpus gracilior" forest, and parts of the "Olea-Juniperus forest" Bronner (1990), fall within this alliance. Croton megalocarpus is the dominant canopy tree. In the dry season, when Croton sheds its leaves, these forests are flooded with light. Panicum monticola and Setaria plicatilis are then forming dense soft carpets on the forest floor. The shrub layer is dominatedby Erythrococca bongensis, FlacouTtia indica, Schrebera alata and Phyllanthusfischeri. A.l.III.a. Crotonetum megalocarpi ass. novo (figure 9, Releves 12-23 in appendix 3; type: releve 14, UTM 37 319827E/0165586N; 01°24'58"N/37°22'50"E; 2,100 m). In this association, covering the often steep slopes at altitudes of 1,900 to 2,200 m, Podocarpus falcatus, is very common. The most striking species however is Encephalartos tegulaneus. Growing up to 8-10 m tall, the palm-like Encephalartos gives these forests a primeval appearance. The ground layer is often completely dominated by Setaria plicatilis. Trichocladus ellipticus, Pavetta abyssinica, Plectranthus longipes and Rytigynia acuminatissima in the shrub stratum, as well as the herbs Stephania abyssinica, Acalypha fruticosa, Arisaema mildbreadii, Pilea rivularis and the fern Arthopteris orientalis, are indicators for the humid conditions prevailing in these forests. In some rocky places Encephalartos appears much less abundant. In the herbal stratum the drought tolerant ferns Cheilanthes multifida and Doryopteris kirkii are found besides Cyathula polycephala and Notonia abyssinica. (A.l.III.a.l.2. Crotonetum megalocarpi-Cheilanthes multifida variant var. novoReleves 19-23 in appendix 3). 56 R. W. Bussmann 50 m 50 m 40 40 30 30 20 20 10 10 10 10 ~ Cassipourea malosana ~ Podocarpus falcatus §§;J Podocarpus latifolius Teclea nobilis Figure 8. Tee/eo nobilis - Tee/etum simplieifoliae oplismenetosum hirlelli subass. novo (re/eve 14 in appendix 7, UTM 37 825947& 9795004N; 01 °51 '08"S/35°55'46"E; 2150 m). A.UII.b. Crotono megalocarpi-Tecletum simplicifoliae ass. novo (Releves 24-40 in appendix 3; type: releve 37, UTM 37 319054E/0156433N; 011 °24'53"N/ 37°33'25"E; 1,850 m). On the lower slopes, mostly from 1600 to 1900 m, Podocarpus falcatus as well as other species of the Crotonetum megalocarpi disappear due to the drier conditions and more drought tolerant species start growing. Setaria plicatilis is mostly replaced by Panicum monticola. The shrub stratum gets richer in species with Strychnos henningsii, S. mitis and S. usambarensis appearing with high cover/abundance, making the understorey much denser than in the previous association. The high number of different Acanthaceans in the herbal Islands in the Desert 57 20 m 10 10 • Croton megalocarpus t.r:!:.f:!3 Nuxia congesta ~ Podocarpus falcatus ~ Juniperus procera Ol/nia rochet/ana BJ Prunus africana Teclea nobilis Figure 9. Crotonetum mega/ocarpi (Re/eves 12-23 in appendix 319827E/0165586N; 01°24'58"N/37°22'50"E; 2100 m). 1; type: re/eve 14, UTM 37 stratum is the prominent feature in the Crotono-Tec1etum. Teclea simplicifolia, Justicia nyassana, Isoglossa laxa, Justicia calyculata and Asystasia gangetica, Leucas glabrata, Hibiscus lunulanifolius, Psychotria kirkii and Dracaena laxissima are differential species in this association. Where the transition to the lower bushland takes place, Acacia brevispica Harms and Isoglossa lactea occur frequently. (A.1.III.b.1. Crotono megalocarpi-Tec1etum simplicifoliae acacietosum brevispicatae subass. nov., figure 10, Releves24-29 in appendix3).). Many wide paths and dung deposits indicate that these areas are very often visited by big game, especially elephants and buffaloes. In places where Teclea simplicifolia grows with high cover/abundance, the amount of light is diminished considerably and the more light loving species are replaced by more shade-tolerant taxa. (A. 1.III.b.2.1. Crotono megalocarpi-Tec1etum simplicifoliaeArgomuellera macrophylla variant var. novo figure 11, Releves 30-34 in appendix 3). Argomuellera macrophylla, Solanecio mannii and Dracaena steudneri are dominant in the shrub stratum, and Panicum maximum, Barleria micrantha, Aneilema leiocaule and A. aequinoctiale in the herbal layer. 58 R. W. Bussmann ~ Acacia brevispica •• Croton megalocarpus ~ Podocarpus falcatus Strychnos usambarensis I: :: : I Cordia ill africana ~ Calodendrum capense Ficus thonningil ~ Olea capensis ssp. hochstetteri Strychnos mitis • Strychnos heningsii ~ Teclea simplicifolia Teclea nobilis Figure 10. Crotono mega/ocarpi - Tec/etum simplicifoliae acacietosum brevispicatae (Re/eves 24-29 in appendix 1; type: re/eve 25, UTM 31318591E/0156802N; 01°25'05"N/37"22'10"E; 1600m). Hibiscus urticifolius, Cadaba farinosa and Becium capitatum, and the large Vernonia lasiopus and V. auriculifera, as well as the liana Hippocratea africana, differentiate another subassociation (A. 1.III. b.2.2. Crotono megalocarpi- Tecletum simplicifoliae novo Releves 35-40 in appendix 3). typicum subass. A.1.III.c. Bauhinietum tomentosae ass. novo (figure 12, Releves 41-45 in appendix 3; type: releve 41, UTM 37 318837E/0155420N; 01°24'20"N/37°22'18"E; 1,650 m). Directly at the border to the savannah areas, at altitudes around 1,500 m, the Croton forests are more and more open, with the trees growing less tall. In these places, the Camel's Foot, Bauhinia tomentosa, completely dominates the understorey, making it impenetrable in places. Due to the high number of big game using these forests as resting places on their way to their grazing areas, herbs like Hypoestes forskahlii are commonly found. Chaetacme aristata, Craibia laurentii, Psydrax schimperiana and Cleome schimperi are characteristic. The sausage tree, Kigelia africana, marks the transition to the savannah most clearly, 59 Islands in the Desert together with Erythrococca fischeri, Ocimum gratissimum, Pterolobium stellatum, Pellaea longipilosa and Craterostigma pumilum. Many small commelinaceans like Commelina latifolia, C. imberbis and C. africana, are covering the ground together with sedges, e.g. Kyllingia comosipes, Cyperus bulbipes, Cyperus pinguis and Cyperus oblongus ssp. flavus. Myrsine africana, indicates the influence of fire in the Bauhinietum. A.l.III.d. Phoenicetum reclinatae ass. novo (Releves 46-51 in appendix 3; type: releve 46, UTM 37 3l9424E/0155051N; 01024'08''NI37°22'37''E; 2,550 m;). Fires, probably caused by honey hunters, led to the establishment of a very unusual forest type found in some places around the Mathews Peak region, where the wild datepalm Phoenix reclinata is found forming a 6-10 m tall, open canopy of its own, and is also growing in very dense groups in the shrub stratum. The accompanying flora consists mainly of drought resisting savannah species like Vangueria infausta, lndigoferra arrecta, Clutia abyssinica, Rhus vulgaris, Vangueria apiculata, Pavonia urens, Sericocomopsis hildebrandtii, Glycine wightii, Leucas grandis and Pupalia lappacea, Sporobolus agrostoides, Eragrostis superba, Digitaria velutina and Chloris roxburghiana. v •·.·1 Argomuellera macrophylla Strychnos mitis ~ III Croton megalocarpus Strychnos usambarensls • Strychnos heningsii Teclea nobilis Teclea simplicifolia Figure 11. Crotono mega/ocarpi - Tec/etum simplicifoliae - Argomuellera macrophylla (Re/eves 30-34 in appendix 1; type: re/eve 33, UTM 37 319672E/0156033N; 01°24'40"N/37"22'45"E; 1800 mY. variant R.W. Bussmann 60 30 m 30 ~ m 20 20 10 10 10 10 D Acokanthera ~ Juniperus ~ Podocarpus longifolia procera falcatus ~ Bauhinia tomentosa EEfl Kigelia africana ~·:::.lOlea europaea ssp. africana III iii Croton megalocarpus Plerolobium stellatum Sculia myrtina Figure 12. Bauhinietum tomentosae (Re/eves 41-45 in appendix 1; type: re/eve 41, UTM 37 318837E/0155420N; 01°24'20"N/37°22'18"E; 1650 m). A.l.IV. Brachylaenion huillensis-deciduous broadleafed submontane forests (Releves 1-30 in appendix 7). In the first comprehensive syntaxonomic treatment for a forest area in East Africa (Bussmann & Beck 1995), the Brachylaenion huillensis with its single tree stratum, rarely reaching higher up than 20 m, was described from the Nyeri-Kiganjo area on the southwestern footslopes of Mt Kenya. It included two associations, the Crotono megalocarpiBrachylaenetum huillensis and the Elaeodendro buchananii-Brachylaenetum huillensis. Only small remnants of these forests had been found, and based on this material, it was not possible to clarify the syntaxonomic position of the Brachylaenion. The species composition encountered in other areas shows high similarities to those of Mt Kenya. As the climatic and edaphic conditions do not vary much between Nairobi and south-western Mt Kenya, it has to be assumed that this vast area, now used agriculturally, was formerly covered by such forests. The former existence of such forests in this region is already mentioned by Hoehnel, who visited the area in 1885 and wrote: "There is no doubt, that the whole of Kikuyuland... a stretch of land from about eight to eleven miles breath between Ngongo Bagas (Ngong Hills, south of Nairobi) and Kenya (Mt Kenya) is once densely wooded, but the industrious natives have cleared almost every trace of the forest from the interior, leaving only a belt as Islands in the Desert 61 frontier buttress from one to two hours march deep" (Hoehnel 1894). The term "densely wooded" describes the very open Brachylaena forests, with their often open undergrowth very well. The accompanying flora of the Brachylaenion, in particular the scattered occurrence of Olea europaea ssp. africana, May tenus undata, Schoenoxiphium lehmannii, Asparagus setaceus, Scutia myrtina and Stipa dregeana among others, clearly have to be seen as a link of this alliance to the Juniperion procerae. On the other hand, companions like Cassipourea malosana, Ficus thoningii, Clausena anisata, Allophyllus abyssinicus, as well as Ekebergia capensis and Erythrococca bongensis, depict connections to the Cassipourion malosanae. Therefore, it is clear now, that the Brachylaenion huillensis is a very distinct alliance of its own, but shows relations to the other two alliances described for the Juniperetea/ -etalia procerae, and therefore, without any doubt, belongs to this order and class as higher syntaxa. In the Nairobi forests Calodendrum capense as well as the shrubs May tenus heterophyllus, Euclea divinorum and Drypetes gerrardii are found as characteristic species of the alliance. Brachylaena huillensis and Croton alienus appear with the same cover/abundance in the canopy as on Mt Kenya. The tree stratum is partly formed by Acokanthera schimperi, of which many seedlings are also found in the understorey. Crotono megalocarpi-Brachylaenetum huillensis Especially in Karura Forest near Nairobi, Croton megalocarpus is found with high cover/abundance. Together with Grewia similis this species is differential for the CrotonoBrachylaenetum. A comparison with the data from Mt Kenya (Bussmann & Beck, 1995) depicts that this association typically includes more disturbed forests, shown by the occurrence of secondary species such as Ocimum lamiifolium, Leucas martinicensis, Celosia anthelmetica and Pterolobium stellatum. Most Brachylaenion remnants in central Kenya already represent secondary forests. Most undisturbed areas near Nairobi fall within the following association: A.l.IV.a. Elaeodendro buchananii-Brachylaenetum huillensis (Releves 1-30 in appendix 7). In the typical Elaeodendro-Brachylaenetum stands near Nairobi Teclea simplicifolia occurs with a very high cover in the tree stratum, and in some places also forms dense thickets in the shrub layer, however in Karura it is much less dominant than in Ngong. Ochna insculpta is found more scattered everywhere. Elaeodendron buchananii grows very abundantly in all forests investigated. Teclea trichocarpha in contrast is only dominant in the Chaetacme aristata facies described below, which in general show a much denser undergrowth. This is also the case for the herb stratum, which consists to a large extent of dense grassy carpets, in which Oplismenus burmannii appears with high cover, except for Ngong Road Forest. Among the companions, Schoenoxiphium lehmannii has to be mentioned especially, as this species grew often in dense stands in all forest areas. The acokantheretosum longifoliae, with the shrubby Acokanthera longifolia, as well as Gnidia subcordata and Cassipourea rotundifolia in the undergrowth, with the latter species and Manilkara discolor reaching the tree stratum, has to be regarded as the type of Brachylaena forest, which was probably, formerly, most common. (A.l.IV.a.l. Elaeodendro buchananiiBrachylaenetum huillensis acokantheretosum longifoliae subass. novo Releves 1-30 in ~ndix 7). Its accompanying flora shows clear links to other drier forest types in the north of Kenya, in particular on Mt Marsabit and southern Ethiopia (Bussmann 1997). Warburgia ugandens!s, Celtis africana, as well as Strychnos henningsii are important companions in the canopy stratum. In the understorey, Strychnos, together with Suregada procera, R.W. Bussmann 62 Erythrococca bongensis, Chionanthus battiscombei, Albizzia gummifera, Rawsonia Iucida and Diospyros abyssinica are often found. In some places, the liana Hippocratea africana covers large parts of the thickets. In Ngong Road Forest, the ground is often found covered densely by Phyllanthus ovalifolius. Vernonia holstii, Hibiscus corymbosus, and Barleria micrantha grow in dense groups in the herbal stratum. (A.I.IV.a.I.I. Elaeodendro buchananii- Brachylaenetum huillensis acokantheretosum longifoliae- Phyllanthus ovalifolius facies fac. novo figure 13, Releves 1-13 in appendix 7). In the understorey, Ochna ovata is 20 20 m m 10 10 10 10 I<>ul Acokanthera longifolia Croton alienus • Strychnos heningsii t· .....• ·1 Brachylaena III ffi huillensis Croton megalocarpus Teclea simplicifolia B 1';:::1 Calodendrum capense Elaeodendron buchananii Teclea trichocarpa Figure 13. Elaeodendro buchanan;; - Brachylaenetum hui/lens;s acokantheretosum long;foliae Phyf/anthus ovalifolius facies fac. novo (re/eve 13;n table 1, UTM 37 2S9000E/9863000N; 01°14'19"S/36°S0'03"E; 1860 m). found regularly and Schrebera alata adds to the shrub stratum. The ground layer consists mainly of herbs, occasionally interspersed with the prickly Asparagus africanus, and often bare areas covered with dead leaves could be observed. Among the shrubs, Trema orientalis, Mystroxylon aethiopicum, Ehretia cymosa and Fagaropsis angolensis are found and in some places the endemic parasite Viscumfischeri is encountered. Being less shaded from the canopy trees, the ground of the Chaetacme aristata facies, prevailing in Karura, is frequently covered with a deep and dense grass layer of Oplismenus 63 Islands in the Desert burmannii and Panicum maximum. (A.l.IV.a.l.2. Elaeodendro buchananii-Brachylaenetum huillensis acokanther-etosum longifoliae-Chaetacme aristata facies fac. novo figure 14, Releves 14-30 in appendix 7). Adenia gummifera is encountered climbing in the shrub stratum, which consists mainly of Chaetacme aristata and Strychnos usambarensis, although Craibia brownei, Uvaria scheffleri and Teclea hanangensis are also observed. Teclea also contributes to the tree stratum, in which Markhamia lutea and Zanthoxyllum usambarense are frequent. 30 m 20 10 10 ~ Ackoanthera schimperi lUll I Croton alienus II RI Brachylaena huillensis Croton megalocarpus D Chaetacme I:i;?:;jl Elaeodendron aristata buchananii Teclea trichocarpa Figure 14. Elaeodendro buchanan;; - Brachylaenetum huil/ensis acokantheretosum longifoliaeChaetacme aristata facies fac. novo (releve 20 in table 1, UTM 37 255500E/9854500N; 01"18'55"8/36"48'10"E; 1790 my. B.1./ B.l.1. Hagenietea/Hagenietalia abyssinicae/Hagenio abyssinicae-Hypericion revoluti-evergreen subalpine Kosso forests, (Releves 33-38 in appendix 1). Many large grassy clearings are found on top of Mt Nyiru. Small villages, used by Samburu pastoralists during the dry season, indicate that these areas are heavily grazed. At the borders of the grasslands, and partly as islands in between, dense thickets of St John's worth (Hypericum revolutum) are growing together with young specimens of Juniperus procera. The high cover/abundance of Hypericum indicates that these forests belong to the HagenietealHagenietalia abyssinicae/Hagenio abyssinicae-Hypericion revoluti. Whether Hagenia abyssinica has ever grown in these areas itself remains an enigma as no Kosso trees B.I R.W. Bussmann 64 are found any more. The high cover of young Juniperus trees of the same age has to be regarded as sign of a very large fire about 10 years ago, according to their size. Only few dead specimens of old cedars are found. It has to be assumed, that in the successional process, the Hagenio-Hypericion on Nyiru will probably be replaced by the MyrsinoJuniperetum, especially with regard to the more frequent use of the area as dry season pasture, leading to more frequent burning. At present, despite the growing influence of Juniperus, the Thymeleacean Gnidia glauca still dominates the canopy of these forests, often forming closed stands about 8 m tall. Therefore, the topmost forests of Mt Nyiru clearly belong to the Gnidietum glaucae (B.l.La.; figure 15; Releves 33-38 in appendix 1). 30 30 20 20 10 10 10 10 m m !II Faurea saligna ~ ~ Juniperus procera ~+!y~ Nuxia congesta ~ Podocarpus latifolius Gnidia glauca o I·:·:·:.:, Hypericum revolutum Olea europaea ssp, africana Figure 15. Gnidietum glaucae (releve 37 in appendix 2, 2550 mY. C./ C.1./ C.l.I.! C.l.La. Sinarundinarietea/SinarundinarietalialSinarundinarion alpinaePodocarpo latifolii-Sinarundinarietum alpinae-evergreen montane bamboo forests, (Releves 46-48 in appendix 1, 50-54 in appendix 5). The East African bamboo, Sinarundinaria alpina, is known to cover vast areas of the wet southern and south-eastern slopes of Mt Kenya, the Aberdare and Mau Ranges. In other areas of the country however, due to the normally much drier climate, the species occurs only rarely. In northern Kenya, bamboo is nearly absent. In places of Nyiru and Nyambeni with the highest amount of condensing mist, Sinarundinaria alpina is encountered forming dense stands up to 6-8 m tall. These bamboo forests are very similar to the ones described Islands in the Desert 65 from western Mt Kenya (Bussmann & Beck, 1995), with Podocarpus latifolius frequently protruding from the closed bamboo stands (Podocarpo latifolii-Sinarundinarietum alpinae). All stands studied were very dense, with only a small amount of light reaching the ground, often being bare of vegetation. Paths of large game, e.g. elephants and buffaloes, which are very frequent in the main growing areas of bamboo, are not found in the north, making the bamboo forests nearly impenetrable. The presence of Sinarundinaria on Mt Nyiru has to be regarded as of special importance with respect to the biogeography of the species. The Nyiru population can be interpreted as a link of the main growing area of the species to the bamboo stands found on the southern slopes of the Bale mountains in southern Ethiopia, about 500 km further north (Bussmann, 1997). In Nyambeni, the dark forest floor is densely covered with Selaginella kraussiana, with many large tussocks of Cyperus dereilema growing in between. Of special interest is here the high cover/abundance of Schefflera volkensii in the canopy, which until now could not be observed anywhere else. Still many species of the drier cedar-forests, e.g. Stipa dregeana are found in the bamboo forests of Nyambeni, indicating that there the bamboo is probably at the outer limit of its distribution, and its growth is already hindered by the drier conditions. The Sinarundinario- Podocarpetum there seems to be a transition between the very wet bamboo forests on southern Mt Kenya and the Aberdare Range, and the very dry bamboo relicts on northern Mount Kenya. D. Ocotetea usambarensis-evergreen broadleafed submontane Camphor forests, (Releves 143 in appendix 5). Large parts of the Nyambeni Hills, as well as the submontane and lower montane Aberdare Range and the Ngaia area were formerly covered with camphor-forests. Most of the forests show a high degree of similarity to the nearby Ocotetea usambarensis of Mount Kenya (Bussmann & Beck 1995), forming the same two-storied tree layer with a partly dense understorey of shrubs. Especially the Gakoe forest has an almost identical species composition. Strombosia scheffleri, Macaranga kilimandscharica and Apodytes dimidiata are found as tall trees in the upper storey, as well as in the lower tree strata and the undergrowth, whereas other woody species like Tabemaemontana stapfiana, Peddiea fischeri and Ochna insculpta occur only in the lower strata, which are much less dense than on Mt Kenya. In the open herbal layer Piper capense and Begonia meyeri-johannis are found in many areas, whereas Plectranthus luteus and Cyphostemma kilimandscharicum, appear only scattered. Dryopteris kilimensis, Blotiella stipitata, Elaphoglossum lastii, Trichomanes borbonica, Asplenium theciferum and Oleandra distenta are encountered regularly. Oplismenus hinellus often covered nearly the complete forest floor with dense cushions. Ocotea usambarensis is mainly found in Gakoe forest, and appears more scattered in the other areas. In Nyambeni, many rotting stumps of this species indicated heavy logging activities, whereas in Ngaia, Ocotea probably always was a rare species. Lasianthus kilimandscharicus, Psychotria orophila, Xymalos monospora and Pauridiantha holstii form dense thickets in the shrub stratum, the first species also reaching the lower tree layer. Asplenium sandersonii appears as common epiphyte especially on the bent trunks of Ocotea, and A. elliottii, as well as Panicum calvum are found in the herbal layer. 0.1. Syzygetalia guineensis (Releves 1-43 in appendix 5). All Ocotea-forests in the studied areas belong to this order, and the shrubby Diospyros abyssinica and Psydrax schimperiana are commonly encountered. Syzygium guineense and .Aningeria adolfi-friedericii form a partly dense upper tree storey, reaching up more than 40 66 R.W. Bussmann m. Besides these two species, a variety of shrubs, namely Drypetes gerrardii and Allophyllus cuneatus, together with the lianas Adenia gummifera and especially Jaundea pinnata occur. D.1. I. Cyathion mannianae (Releves 1-12 in appendix 5). The camphor-forests encountered in Gakoe clearly belong to the Cyathion mannianae, although in comparison to Mt Kenya, these forests are found in much wider valleys, under more open conditions, and are clearly poorer in species. Lobelia baumannii and the tree ferns Marattia fraxinea, in many areas damaged by elephants feeding on the starch-rich trunk, and particularly Cyathea manniana, often grow in dense clumps and forming an own stratum about 5-7 m tall. D.I.I.a. Albizzietum gummiferae (Releves 1-12 in appendix 5). The syntaxonomic position of this taxon has proven to be difficult in the forests of Mt Kenya (Bussmann & Beck 1995), as it occurs only in a few remote areas. The main area of this association-presumably the lower submontane zone-had long been destroyed for agricultural use, and the remaining forest patches often showed an intermediate position between the Cyathion mannianae and the Zanthoxyllion gillettii. In Gakoe, undisturbed forests at low altitudes, clearly belonging to the Albizzietum gummiferae are encountered, with Albizzia gummifera as character species appearing with a high cover/abundance. In these areas, nearly no species relating to the Zanthoxyllion gillettii are found, depicting even more clearly the intermediate character of the forests studied on Mt Kenya. Based on the new material, especially with Cyathea manniana and Marattia fraxinea often occurring very commonly in these forests, it is now clear without doubt, that the Albizzietum gummiferae is an association belonging to the Cyathion mannianae as higher syntaxonomic unit. Within this alliance, the Albizzietum shows clear relations to the Cyatheo mannianae-Afrocranietum volkensii, with Afrocrania volkensii often growing in its lower tree stratum, and to the Cyatheo mannianae-Moussaendetum odoratae, of which Moussaenda odorata (syn. M. microdonta ssp. odorata) itself also contributes to this layer, with its whitish bracts being visible already from afar. Besides these species, the large ground-fern Didymochlaena truncatula, a character species of the latter association, could also be found in the Albizzietum. D.I.II. Zanthoxyllion gillettii (Releves 13-23 & 38-43 in appendix 5). In contrast to Mt Kenya, where this alliance is found abundantly in the submontane areas (Bussmann & Beck, 1995), the respective zones in Gakoe and the Nyambeni Hills have already been highly disturbed. Forests belonging to this alliance are thus only encountered in a few places, and even there particularly the tall Zanthoxyllum gillettii itself and Anthocieista zambesiaca, are only found rarely. Vitex keniensis occurs sporadically in these forest remnants, which, growing often in very steep and remote areas, show very clear differences to Mt Kenya. D.I.II.a. Myrianthetum holstii (Releves 13-18 in appendix 5). On the steepest slopes of the Nyambeni Hills forests with Myrianthus holstii as a distinct feature of the upper canopy, and only a low amount of light reaching the ground, are encountered. Tiliacora funifera often grows in the herbal layer, indicating that the tiliacoretosum funiferae (D. I.II.a. I.) is the prevalent subassociation of the Myrianthetum in the studied area. The floristic composition of these forests is very diverse, and clearly different from the typical tiliacoretosum described from nearby Mt Kenya (Bussmann & Islands in the Desert 67 Beck, 1995). The tall euphorbiacean Croton sylvaticus, found in the upper and lower tree strata and partly in the shrub layer, together with Halleria lucida. Large old specimens of Meru oak (Vitex keniensis) are found as a sign of low disturbance by human activities. (D.1.Il.a.1.1. Myrianthetum holstii tiliacoretosum funiferae-Alangium chinense variant var. novo Releves 13-18 in appendix 5). This new variant grows in wetter areas than the typical tiliacoretosum. A very special feature of the shrub stratum is Ensete edule, which grows regularly in sometimes dense stands, without any signs of former cultivation. Ceasalpinia decapetala, Hunteria zeylanica, Trimeria grandifolia, as well as Senna didymobotrya and Trichilia emetica have to be seen as species linking the lower East African camphor-forest to the Guineo Congolian rainforests of central Africa. In the herb layer Periploca linearifolia and Cissus olivieri, together with Aframomum keniense and the fern Pteris dentata ssp. flabellata are encountered. Especially along deeply incised rivers, under very humid conditions, remnants of a very different type of forest are found in few regions of Nyambeni, too steep and remote for agricultural use. Large specimens of Mitragynia rubrostipulata, together with giant fig trees (Ficus sur) and the araliacean Cussonia spicata characterise these forests. (D.l.lI.a.2. Myrianthetum holstii-mitragynietosum rubrostipulatae subass. novo Releves 19-23 in appendix 5). D.1.II.b. Newtonio buchananii-Phoenicetum reclinatae ass. novo (figure 16; Releves 38-43 in appendix 5; type: releve 41, UTM 37 369000E/015000N; ooo08'08"N/37°49'22"E; 1,450 m). On the lower slopes of the Nyambeni Hills, forests with only one closed tree layer, dominated by the mimosacean Newtonia buchananii and many, often very tall palms (Phoenix reclinata) are found, giving these areas an appearance like an Andean cloud forest. Newtonia and Phoenix are often almost the only trees found in the canopy. The seeds of Newtonia are often seen covering the whole forest floor, but hardly any germinants or seedlings could be observed. Aningeria adolfi-friedericii, protruding from the closed canopy, is sometimes found with high cover/abundance too. In the shrub stratum, Psychotria orophila is more common, and the herbal stratum consists mainly of dense grass cushions formed by Oplismenus hirtellus, amongst which Phyllanthus fischeri, Triumfetta macrophylla, Cissampelos frieseorum, Solanecio angulatus and Pteris catoptera are growing. In very humid places tall specimens of Dracaena steudneri are encountered. Although nowadays being restricted to few areas in the Nyambeni Range, the Newtonio-Phoenicetum probably covered large tracts of land especially on the eastern slopes of Mt Kenya, forming the lowermost submontane forest belt in transition to the savannah lowlands, but has long ago been cleared for cultivation. Particularly in deep ravines forest patches very similar to those found in Nyambeni can be observed in the respective zone of Mt Kenya. D.1.II1. Lovoion swynnertonii all. novo (Releves 24-37 in appendix 5; type: releve 24, UTM 37 375000E/020000N; ooolO'51"N/37°52'36"E; 1,500 m). In less steep areas a variety of very different forests is found in Imenti, Ngaia and Nyambeni. The composition of the tree and shrub strata clearly link these forests to the Syzygetalia guineensis, with Syzygium guineense and Aningeria adolfi-friedericii occurring commonly in the upper canopy. The strong differences in the floristic composition led to the description of a new alliance. Lovoa swynnertonii, a very tall and dominant canopy tree is the differential species for this unit. Rawsonia lucida is found very prevalent in the shrub layer, together with Heinsenia diervilleoides and Rinorea convallarioides. In many places 68 R. W. Bussmann 60 60 m m 50 50 40 40 30 30 20 20 10 10 o 10 20 30 40 10 10 ~ Apodytes dimidiata • Lasianthus kilimandscharicus ~ Strombosia scheffleri ......... Cussonia l~i~~i:*1 rn • holstii Newtonia buchananii Syzygium guineense ¥ ~~ Dracaena afromontana p",,~;,~.,"" Figure 16. Newtonio buchananii - Phoenicetum rec/inatae ass. novo (re/eve 41 in appendix 6, UTM 37 369000E/015000N; 00008'08''N/37°49'22''E; 1450 m). Islands in the Desert 69 Uvariodendron anisatum grows abundantly in the lower tree stratum and in the shrub layer. Forests of the Lovoion swynnertonii can also be found in the close vicinity of Mt Kenya in Imenti forest, which links the lower forest belt of this huge mountain to the Nyambeni Hills. There, the same syntaxa described below are encountered, indicating that this forest type must have covered also large areas of the eastern and north-eastern Mt Kenya, and also big regions in the Nyambeni Hills. D.1.III.a. Lovoetum swynnertonii ass. novo (figure 17; Releves 24-30 in appendix 5; type: releve 24, UTM 37 375000E/020000N; 00olO'51"N/37°52'36"E; 1,500 m). The Lovoetum swynnertonii is encountered in the Nyambeni Hills and Imenti. The canopy is often very dense, the shrub stratum very open, and the herbal layer often very sparse, safe for the grass Oplismenus hirtellus, forming large carpets. Rytigynia neglecta, Uvaria scheffleri and Adianthum hispidulum are characteristic species. Erythrococca fischeri is often found in the shrub stratum, and the tall trees Chrysophyllum gorgunosanum, Premna maxima and Filicium decipiens are very abundant in the canopy. All these species show distinct links to the Guineo Congolian rainforests, making it clear that the Lovoion can be seen as a far outpost of these forest systems. D.1.II.b. Argomuelleretum macrophyllae ass. novo (figure 18; Releves 38-43 in appendix 5; type: releve 32, UTM 37 391500E/035500N; oooI9'16"N/38°03'23"E; 1,200 m). In more open areas, particularly within Ngaia Forest, this association, which shows a very dense shrub layer, often exclusively dominated by Argomuellera macrophylla is encountered. Erythrococca bongensis, Ixora scheffleri and Blighia unijugata, mainly found in the lower canopy, are differential species of the taxon. Teclea trichocarpa, Hilleria latifolia and Meineckia phyllanthoides have a high cover/abundance in the understorey, whereas Uvaria Lucida and Pleiocarpa pycnantha are found less regularly. In the open higher canopy, a wide variety of trees like Croton macrostachyus, Markhamia lutea, Teclea nobilis, Celtis gomphophylla, and Trichilia dregeana are found. The Argomuelleretum has to be regarded as the more drought-resistant association of the Lovoion, as it is found mainly at the lowermost extensions of Ngaia forest, on the boundary to the savannahs of Meru National Park. DISCUSSION The study presented here provides the first syntaxonomic description of the remote Kenyan Mountain Forest areas. The montane forests of Kenya and southern Ethiopia represent a well-defined phytogeographical area. The classification system of the forests of Mt Kenya (Bussmann & Beck, 1995) proved to be of wide applicability, as new higher vegetation units (classes or orders) could be found on any mountain studied between Simien Mts in northern Ethiopia and Kilimanjaro in the south. Only two new alliances (Lovoion swynnertonii in Nyambeni and Ngaia, Crotonion macrocarpi in Mathews Range) were encountered, both growing at altitudes or in a rainfall regime that doesn't exist on Mt Kenya. The vegetation survey indicated clearly that substrate (granite, gneisses, volcanic rocks) did not account for differences in the vegetation zonation of the investigated mountains, but rather that the zonation of forest types can be related to the respective amounts of rainfall and length of the dry season. In general, all research areas show the same vegetation zonation (table 2). R.W. Bussmann 70 60 m 60 m 50 50 40 40 30 30 20 20 10 10 10 10 Aningeria adolfi-friederici Lovoa swynnertonii Tabemaemontana Chrysophyllum Premna stapfiana gorgunosanum maxima t~~~~::;1 Uvariodendron ~ ~ anisatum mm Filicium Rawsonia Xymalos decipiens lucida monospora Figure 17. Lovoetum swynnertonii ass. novo (re/eve 24 in appendix 6, UTM 37 375000E/020000N; 00010'51''N/37°52'36''E; 1500 m). The submontane and lower montane slopes of the eastern and south-eastern sides of Mt Kenya, Aberdares, receiving 1,500-2,500 mm of annual rainfall and showing perhumid conditions are covered by dense camphor forests (Ocotetea usambarensis) at altitudes ranging 71 Islands in the Desert 40 40 m m 30 30 20 20 10 10 10 10 I!l~!!liilAningeria adolfl-frieder!ci ~ Apodytes dimldiata tt::l Argomuellera Chry80phyllum Itbl Blighia unijugata ~ Casearia battscombei [[]] 1«1 Croton maaostachyus • Lasianlhus ~~ kitimandscharicus <~ Lovoa macrophylla gorgunOllanum swynnertonli l~t:;1Macaranga kilimandscharica ~ OcoIea usambaransis r:;:,.~;::l Psycholria orophila lIS Strombosia schemer! • Syzygium gulneense • • Tedea nobllis ~~~~~ Uvarlodendron ~ anisatum m Teciea lrichocarpa Tabernaemontana e~ stapfiana Trichllia dregeana XymalOll monOllpora Figure 18. Argomuefleretum macrophyflae ass. novo (re/eve 32 in appendix 6, UTM 37 391500E/035500N; Ooo19'16"N/38°03'23"E; 1200 my. from 1,500-2,000 m. A similar feature is observed in the Harenna Forest (southern Bale Mountains, Ethiopia: Bussmann, 1997). The vegetation of lower altitudes (1,000-1,500 m) in small areas of the Nyambeni Hills and Ngaia belongs to the same vegetation formation. However, the abundance of species belonging rather to the Guineo Congolian region required the establishment of the Lovoion swynnertonii as a new alliance, to account for the strong differences in species composition in comparison to the typical camphor forests. All smaller mountain regions investigated did not receive enough rainfall to harbour camphor forests. On the west, east and north of Mt Kenya/Aberdares, and on the entire smaller mountains, the submontane as well as parts of the montane zone are occupied by cedar forests (Juniperetea procerae), always found on Acrisols. 72 R. W. Bussmann Tab. 2. Comparison i: of the vegetation units of the East African forest regions. <II .!!l <II (2150-2950m) 0 (5 Altitude Juniperetea /guineensis -etalia Zanthoxyllion gillettii <II <II c( 0 Juniperion (2950-3350m, west, south Soils Gakoe Forest Ocotion usambarensis Sinarundinarietalia Sinarundinarietea <II /below; -etalia ::> Tecleo -hoistii Tedetum Sinarundinarietea (1500-2550m) Ocotetea (2300-3050m) iii Ocotetea usambarensis "5 1500-2550m) Ocotetea usambarensis Juniperion procerae Hypericion revo/uti and sides) C\lE 13 (2300-050m) (5 C\l1lI usamb. Sinarundinarietalia (2350-2950m) 3400m) Hypericetum revoluti <II (1500-2000m) Cassipourion ma/osanae Cassipourion ma/osanae Juniperetea -etalia Sinarundinarion a/pinae Syzygetalia holstii (2000-2300m) (2500-3000m) -Podocarpo latifolii - alpinae -0 Junipereteal -etalia Hagenietea (3000-3400m) Ngaia Imenti I/OOm) -etalia Forest Hagenio abyssinicae -(3000..•. -Myrianthetum holstii --Myrianthetum Zanthoxylletum gillettii simplicifoliae -Juniperetea Faureo (2300-2500m) IIicetum Albizzietum gummi-ferae Syzygetalia Cyathion guineensis mannianae Zanthoxyllion gillettii (2000-2300m) (see east Cyathion side, mannianae Ocotetalia Sinarundinarietum procerae mitis typicum revo/uti Mt. Kenya (2300-2600m) Juniperion procerae /latifolii -etalia Podocarpo Sinarundinarietum alpinae -Hypericion Hagenietum abyssinicae -Zanthoxyllion Argomuelleretum Albizzietum macrophyllae Lovoetum swynnertonii (1000-1500m) Macarangion ki/imand. (1500-2000m) Lovoion swynnerlonii Sinarundinarion a/pinae procerae guineensis gillettii Ocotetea usambarensis (2000-21 Albizzietum gummiferae Co salignae - alpinae Sinarundinarietum (2600-2700m) Hagenio abyssinicae -&nobilis mitis typicum <II east 0 c( Syzygetalia (Bussmann/Beck Nvambeni 1995) Hills Juniperetea / usambarensis -etalia C\lCI) (2150-2650m) Cassipourion ma/osanae Z MCI) Sinarundinarion a/pinae 13 Cassipourion ma/osanae Juniperion procerae (2650(5 'E oE MllI Hagenio abyssinicae -a/pinae (Aberdares) Olll (2150-2950m) M::> -.tCl) ~ Juniperion procerae -0 C\I=t5 Cyathion mannianae Sinarundinarion oCl) N ll).ll! (see below; east side) 00 2300-2600m) 6:§. 65 3250m, northern side) ~ Brachy/aenion huillensis oE 65 60 EE ..Q (1500-2550m) 2000-2300m) m) sambarensis Sinarundinarietea Juniperetea / -etalia Islands in the Desert Mill => 10'E 0 N MNC MQ) OC OC .•.. .0E 6.965 ;:r;.~ oE C 60 arion a/pinae Q) usambarensis 6c Syzygetalia guineensis Juniperetea / -etalia Sinarundinarietea Ul Crotonetum macrostachyi abyssinicae -Juniperetea Ul "0 Oleetum welwitschii (1900Ul ericetosum excelsae Ul Hagenio Cassipourion ma/osanae Ocoteo kenyensis -(1900(3100-3250m) 0 ~ Faureo -simplicifoliae lIicetum Mathews iii Schefflera volkensii facies -m Phoenicetum Altitude Soils Harenna :f reclinatae Ndoto Mts. /falcati -etalia Podocarpo / ma/osanae -etalia -(2600"0 --Dombeyetum Hagenio abyssinicae - (1500-1600m) Cassipourion "5 procerae Juniperetea -etalia (2500-2700m) Cassipoureo --Faureo -Juniperion salignae procerae IIicetum xymaletosum Hagenietea abyssinicae monosporae /procerea (2300-2700m) Sinarundinarion a/pinae .(2000-2300m) (2300-2600m) Hypericion revo/uti 2300m) monosporae purpureae (2200procerae lIicetum Ul /Crotonetum /--etalia -etalia (1500-2000m) Mt. Nyiro -Hagenio Gnidietum glaucae 2500-2600m) Juniperetum procerea onosporae typicum C "0 C 2500m) rotonion mega/ocarpi mitis xymaletosum megalocarpi Crotono Crotonion Juniperion -cadietosum megalocarpi africanae procerae -(2300- (Nyiro, Tecletum Ul Bauhinietum (1700-2000m) variegatae Juniperion Myrsino procerae purpureae --(2800-3100m) Hypericetum revoluti procerae :!! => a. Juniperetea Scheffleretum Ul 2800m) Syzygetalia guineensis Oleetum welwitschii (Bussmann 1997) Range Z Oooteo kenyensis -2500m) NQ) Hypericion revo/uti (2300-2600m) Coffeetum arabicae (1450"5 "0 torridae Crotonion megalocarpi M=> Erythrino brucei N;:; Il).!!! 'E Cassipourion ma/osanae Sinarundinarietea (2000-2200m) ~ oQ) oQ) -Ervthrino-Crotonetum 1900m) Hagenietea / -etalia Ocotetea usambarensis « « 73 74 R.W. Bussmann Juniperetum procerae I -etalia "0 UI Juniperetea .!I! 0Soils rhusetosum natalensis Altitude UI rhusetosum euclenietosum divinori euclenietosum dMnori UI Juniperion Mt. natalensis Porror J: 'lii rhusetosum natalensis divinori Mt. Kulal Marsabit '5 ::l -simplicifoliae Teeleo (2000-2300m) .•... .0 Mukogodo UI "0 procerae procerae Juniperion procerae Juniperetum 2000-2100m) Cassipourion Ndare Ngare Myrsino Juniperion afrieanae procerae -Juniperetea africanae -- Tecletum (2000-2300m) (Mt. Kulal, 2000-2200m) 1")Juniperetea Inobilis -etalia I ma/osanae -etalia UI -Myrsino-Juniperetum C "C "C ::l procerae Marala oE Il)"0Ca. afrieanae - Mt. rhusetosum natalensis NQ) a. Z I").! .!I! "0 UI I") ON Il)C "0 ~ V .5 Q) NC: Olls (2000-2300m) := Juniperetum I")::l l3 - Myrsino (2300-2500m) 0.0 (2000-2300m) oQ) 0"- Myrsino africanae 'E 65 ~ 6.9Il)llS oQ) oE E ~ 0° ~~ oQ) Juniperetea I -etalia Q) « « Q) 2000m) Juniperion proceraea ma/osanae convallari-oidis 1300procerae (1600-Juniperetum Coffeo arabieae - Rhinoreetum -Cassipourion Myrsino afrieanae -(Marsabit, 1600m) Juniperetea I -etalia Islands in the Desert ~i C') .•.• oE L()'" ON °5l1) L()I:: 0 .•.• •.. OlU := o.c 01:: .•.. .c E C')"O 0 ON ~5 L()lU ~E5 c!,5 c!,~N lU 0"0 c!,E E ~ 75 (J - Tecleo .;: UI <C nobiliserectae -malosanae TecJetum Cassipourion malosanae UI .!/! Altitude - Hills Ehrharto -facies '0 0 J: <C Soils Loita UI hirtelli Forests -Juniperetea Elaeodendro buchananii - Tecleo Ehrharto --simplicifoliae "5 .!!! -simplicifoliae Tecleo nobilis -erectae TecJetum Chaetacme Juniperetum procerae -Cassipourion nobilis -Nairobi TecJetum Nguruman 2200-2300m west side)(1900-2300m) (2300-2350m) malosanae '0 oplismenetosum "0 Loroghi Tecleo nobilis Iaristata -alalia - TecJetum Brachylaenetum hirtelli huillensis Juniperetea I (1900-2300m) -alalia Brachylaenion huil/ensis I:: .•.• Cassipourion malosanae E simplicifoliae I:: UI -facies Phyllanthus obovalifolius acokantheretosum oplismenetosum longifoliae Juniperetum procerae simplicifoliae ::l NlI) Z l:i .-UI <C ~ N C')::l (2000-2300m east side,Cassipourion Juniperion procerae .2 N~ Juniperion procerae a. ::l 1ii 00 2000-2200ml oll) 1/1700-2000m) ~uniperetea I -alalia lI) Juniperetea Juniperetea I -alalia I -alalia 76 R.W. Bussmann In the Aberdares, Mt Kenya, Mt Kulal, Mt Marsabit and Harenna, the lower and middle montane zones are mostly covered by the evergreen-broadleafed Cassipourion malosanae, followed by the Juniperion procerae in the higher montane, and drier, zones. On Loroghi and in Loita, this zonation is reversed: As clouds and mist mainly accumulate on the mountaintops, these are covered by the Cassipourion, requiring more moisture, whereas the drought resistant Juniperion is here found on the lower altitudes. The timberline is formed by cedar forests. The driest mountains of the region (Porror, Maralal, Ndoto, Nyiru) do not harbour associations of the Cassipourion and are only covered by forest types belonging to the Juniperionprocerae. On Mathews Range, the lower forest limit is closely dovetailed with the adjacent savannah area, and receives only low amounts of rainfall. Only under these very specific conditions a deciduous alliance, the Crotonion megalocarpi could be found. The Nairobi forests represent the very last remnants of the Brachylaenion huillensis, which formerly covered large areas between Nairobi and Naro Moru. Under particularly humid conditions in the Aberdare Range, Mt Kenya, Nyambeni and Mt Nyiru, with deep, humic Andosols and only short dry seasons, huge areas are covered with evergreen bamboo forests (Sinarundinarietea alpinae). The main growing areas in central Kenya are separated from the bamboo stands in Ethiopia (Harenna Escarpment) by 1,000 kIn of dry inland plains. Only on top of Mt Nyiru, about in the middle of this distance, small bamboo stands occur. On Mt Kenya and the Aberdares the timberline occurs in the subalpine zone, and is formed by the Kosso forest (Hagenietea abyssinicae}, elfin-like, mossy, evergreen forests, dominated by the Kosso tree. This forest type grows also in Harenna. Mt Nyiru in northern Kenya shows again an isolated position, as on this small range, the top is also covered by a type of Kosso-forests (Gnidietum glaucae), and can thus be seen as a stepping stone between the Kosso populations in central and northern East Africa. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. I gratefully acknowledge the financial support of this work by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). I would also like to thank my Kenyan colleagues, Prof. J.O. Kokwaro, Nairobi and Prof. J.C. Onyango, Maseno for their untiring assistance and especially Mr. S.G. Mathenge, Nairobi University Herbarium, for help with identifying many difficult species in the field and the herbarium. I have also to thank the staff of Kitich Camp for their hospitality, and especially Mathew Ololorua for his help during the fieldwork. Special thanks are due to the leaders of the Ilkerin-Loita Integral Project and all people in Loita, for all their hospitality and assistance during the fieldwork in the Loita Hills. Finally, thanks are due to the National Research Council of Kenya for granting permission for research, to Benny Bytebier, National Museums of Kenya, for the possibility to join a museum-expedition to Mt Nyiru, and to Prof. Georg and Dr. Sabine Miehe for providing the base map for figure 1. Islands in the Desert 77 REFERENCES Agnew, A.D.Q. & S. Agnew (1994). Upland Kenya Wild Flowers. East African Natural History Society, Nairobi. Baker, B.H. (1967). Geology of the Baragoi Area. Geological Survey of Kenya, Nairobi. Bamps, P. (1976). Catalogue of the phanerogamic families dealt with in the main floras of Tropical Africa. Boissiera 24: 667-686. Barkman, J.1., 1. Moravec & S. Rauschert (1986). Code of phytosociological nomenclature. Vegetatio 67: 145-195. Beentje, H.J. (1990). The forests of Kenya. Mitteilungen des lnstituts fUr Allgemeine Botanik Hamburg 23(a): 265-286. Beentje, H.J. (1995). Kenya Trees, Shrubs and Lianas. National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi. Bogdan, A.V. (1957). A Revised List of Kenya Grasses. Government Printer, Nairobi. Braun, H.M.H. (1986). Seasonal distribution of rainfall in Kenya (Misc. paper M 14, revised edition). Kenya Soil Survey, Nairobi. Braun-Blanquet, J. (1964). Pjlanzensoziologie (3rd ed.). Springer, Wien & New York. Bronner, G. (1990). Vegetation and land use in the Mathews Range Area, Samburu-District, Kenya. Dissertationes Botanicae 160: 1-182. Bussmann, R.W. (1994). The forests of Mount Kenya (Kenya)-Vegetation, Ecology, Destruction and Management of a tropical mountain forest ecosystem. Dissertation Universitlit Bayreuth, Bayreuth. Bussmann, R.W. (1997). The forest vegetation of the Harenna Escarpment (Bale Province, Ethiopia)-syntaxonomy and phytogeographical affinities. Phytocoenologia 27(1): 1-23. Bussmann, R.W. & E. Beck (1995). The forests of Mount Kenya-A phytosociological synopsis. Phytocoenologia 25(4): 467-560. Bussmann, R.W. & E. Beck (1996). Regeneration and succession processes in the Cedarforests (Juniperion procerae) of Mount Kenya. Ecotropica 1: 79-84. Chao, C. & S.A. Renvoize (1989). A revision of the species described under Arundinaria (Gramineae) in Southeast Asia and Africa. Kew Bulletin 44: 349-367. Dixey, F. (1948). Geology of Northern Kenya. Geological Survey of Kenya, Report 15. Geological Survey of Kenya, Nairobi. Dodson, R.G. (1963). Geology of the South Horr Area. Geological Report No. 60. Geological Survey of Kenya, Nairobi. Edwards, K.A., C.R. Field, & I.G.G.Hogg (1979). A preliminary analysis of climatological data from the Marsabit District of Northern Kenya. UNEP Integrated Project on Arid Lands (IPAL) Technical Report B-1, UNEP, Nairobi. Haines, R.W. & K.A. Lye (1983): The Sedges and Rushes of East Africa. East Africa Natural History Society, Nairobi. Hammen, T.v.d., D. Mueller-Dombois & M.A. Little (1989). Manual of Methods for Mountain Transect Studies. IUBS, Paris. Hepper, F.N. (1983). The phytogeography of Mt Kulal, Kenya, with special reference to Compositae, Leguminosae and Gramineae. Bothalia 14: 534-551. Hepper, F.N., P.M.L. Jaeger, J.B. Gillett & M.G. Gilbert (1981). Annotated checklist of the plants of Mount Kulal. UNEP Integrated Project on Arid Lands (IPAL) Technical Report D-3. UNEP, Nairobi. Herlocker, D. (1979). Vegetation of southwestern Marsabit district, Kenya. Unep Integrated Project on Arid Lands (IPAL) Technical Report D-l. UNEP, Nairobi. 78 R. W. Bussmann Hoehnel, L. v. (1894). Discovery of Lakes Rudolph and Stefanie, 1887-1888. London. Hutchins, D.E. (1909). Report on the forests of British East Africa. Darling & Son, London. Hitzold, R. (1977). Klimageographie, Serie E, Blatt 5, 1:1000ooo. Borntrager, Berlin, Stuttgart. Jatzold, R. (1981). Klimageographie Ostafrika-Afrika Kartenwerk, Serie E, Beiheft zu Blatt 5. Borntrager, Berlin, Stuttgart. Kenya Colony and Protectorate (1917). NFD Handbook, Jubaland and Northern Frontier District. Government Printer, Nairobi. Kenya Meteorological Department (1974, 1984). Climatological Statistics for Kenya. Kenya Meteorological Department, Nairobi. Kigomo, B.N (1991). Phenological patterns and some aspects of reproductive biology of Brachylaena huillensis O. Hoffm. Proceedings 1st National Tree Seed Workshop Nairobi, 174-191. Kigomo, B.N., P.S. Savill & S.R. Woodell (1990). Forest composition and its regeneration dynamics; a case study of semi-deciduous tropical forests in Kenya. African Journal of Ecology 28: 174-188. Mackel, R. (1986). Oberfliichenformung in den Trockengebieten Nordkenyas. In J. Biidel & D. Busche (eds), Studien zur tropischen Reliejbildung. Borntrager, Berlin. p. 85-225. Mackel, R. & W. Schultka (1988). Vegetationsveriinderungen und Morphodynamik im Ngare Ndare-Gebiet, Kenia. In J. Hagedorn, & H.G. Mensching (eds), Aktuelle Morphodynamik und Morphogenese in den semiariden Randtropen und Subtropen. Abhandlungen der Akademie der Wissenschaften G6ttingen, Mathematisch-Physikalische Klasse 3/41: 253276. Bedeutung der Bergwalder fUr Mackel, R. & D. Walter (1983). Die landschafts6kologische die Trockengebiete Nordkenyas. Die Erde 114: 211-235. Mason, P. (1963). Geology of the Meru-/siolo Area. Government Printer, Nairobi. Mueller-Dombois, D. & H. Ellenberg (1974). Aims and methods of vegetation ecology. Wiley, New York. Mungai, G.M. & H.J. Beentje (1989). Checklist of the plants of Ololua Forest, Nairobi, Kenya. Utafiti 2(1): 11-15. Neumann, A.E. (1898). Elephant-Hunting in East Equatorial Africa. R. Ward, London. Peppler, C. (1988): TAB-Ein Computerprogramm fUr die Pflanzensoziologische Tabellenarbeit. Tuexenia neue Serie 8: 393-406. Phillips, S. (1995). Poaceae (Gramineae). I. Hedberg & S. Edwards (eds). Flora of Ethiopia and Erithrea, Vol. 7. National Herbarium, Addis Ababa. Randel, R.P. (1967). Geology of the Laisamis Area. Government Printer, Nairobi. Schmitt, K. (1991). The vegetation of the Aberdare National Park, Kenya. Hochgebirgsforschung 7: 1-250. Schultka, W. & H.H. Hilger (1983). Epizoochore Verbreitung in der Krautschicht beweideter Bergwlilder des Mt Kulal (Nordkenia). Beitriige zur Biologie der Pflanzen 58: 333-356. Shackleton, R.M. (1946). Geology of the country between Nanyuki and Maralal. Geological Survey of Kenya, publication 11. Survey of Kenya, Nairobi. Speck, H. (1983). Mount Kenya Area. Lang, Bern. Survey of Kenya (1959, 1970). National Atlas of Kenya. Survey of Kenya, Nairobi. Survey of Kenya. (1966). East African mean monthly rainfall in millimeters (North sheet: Kenya and Uganda, Scale 1:2.000.000). Survey of Kenya, Nairobi. Islands in the Desert 79 Turril, W.B., C.E. Milne-Redhead, & E. Polhill (eds). (1952-current). Flora of Tropical East Africa. Crown Agents and Balkema, Rotterdam. Walter, H. & H. Lieth (1960-67). Klimadiagramm-Weltatlas. Gustav Fischer, lena. Walter, D. & D. Herlocker (1981). Wood requirements of the Rendille in the Korr area of Marsabit District, Kenya. UNEP Integrated Project on Arid Lands (IPAL) Technical Report NUMBER. UNEP, Nairobi. Wimbush, S.H. (1937). Natural succession in the Pencil Cedar forests of Kenya Colony. Empire Forestry Journal 16: 49-53. APPENDICES 1-7 The Appendices can be found at: www.naturekenya.org\lournalEANH.htm Table 1: Forest vegetation types of Mt. Nyiro Cl a s s Or de r Al l i a nc e As s oc i a t i on Suba s s oc i a t i on Va r i a nt / Fa c i e s A A. 1 I a 1 B B. 1 I a 1 A A. 1 I b 1 C C. 1 I a 2 Re l e vé - Numbe r 123456789111111111122222222 22333 333333 3444444 444 012345678901234567 89012 345678 9012345 678 Numbe r of Spe c i e s 655777777755645555566666666 66687 544545 7667667 222 344041445410352499322031404 82946 119080 1023730 864 Constancy Juniperetea procerae Bussmann 1994 (A) C C C D D D D Ge r a ni um a r a bi c um Ac hyr a nt he s a s pe r a Br a c hypodi um f l e xum J uni pe r us pr oc e r a T J uni pe r us pr oc e r a S Sa ni c ul a e l a t a St i pa dr e ge a na S +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++. +++. +++. ++++r ++. ++++ ........................... +r r ++r ++++++r . . . +. . . . . . +. r + r . . r . . . r r r +++. . . . . . . . . . . . . . +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ........................... +++++ r +. ++ ..... +21++ +r . ++ +++++ +++++ +++. ++ ++r . ++ r +. ++r 22+122 244334 ++++++ +r ++r r +++++. + +++++++ ....... 3233222 ++. ++++ +++++++ 22+1212 ++. . +. ... ... ... . ++ ... 2+122 +. . r . +++++ ..... ++++r + ++r r . + ++++++ ++r +++ 3222232 ++. . +. . . . +. . . . ....... . . . . V V V V V V V V V V V V V III V II V V V V V V V V V II V V V V V V III I 2 1 2 Juniperion procerae Bussmann 1994 (A.1.I) C C C D Ol e a e ur opa e a s s p. a f r i c a na T Ol e a e ur opa e a s s p. a f r i c a na S Rubus vol ke ns i i S Ra pa ne a me l a nophl oe os T ........... ........... ++++++++++. . . . +. . r . . . . . . . . ... ... ++. ... .... .... ++r . .... . . . . . . . . ...... ...... ++++++ . r. . . . . . . . . . . . V I ++++++++++22++++. 22+++. ++++ 2++22 ++++++ +332+22 +. . V V V V V V V V V II V IV +. + ..2 +r . +. . +. + ... +. r ... ... ... ... ... V V V V V III V IV III I III IV V V V V V V V I V I V II III 2 IV 1 2 II 1 II 2 .. .. +. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . r . . . . . . III III III III II II II II II II I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ehrharto erectae - Juniperetum procerae Bussmann 1994 D Ehr ha r t a e r e c t a 1 Faureo salignae - Ilicetum mitis Bussmann 1994 (A.1.I.a) D Fa ur e a s a l i gna T D Fa ur e a s a l i gna S 2333233222+r 322343322233433 23433 2++2++ +r r +. r + . . . . +r ++. ++++. . +++++++++. +++++ +++++ . . +. +. +. r r . . r . . . Faureo salignae - Ilicetum mitis xymaletosum monosporae (A.1.I.a.1) D D D D D D D D D D D D Xyma l os monos por a T Xyma l os monos por a S Br uc e a a nt i dys e nt e r i c a S Cl a us e na a ni s a t a S Cl e r ode ndr on j ohns t oni i S Cl e ma t i s br a c hi a t a Di c l i pt e r a ki r ki i Dor yopt e r i s c onc ol or Pol ys t a c hya c onf us a Pol ys t a c hya pi e r s i i Pol ys t a c hya s pe c . Pt e r i s qua dr i a ur t i a +21+22+2223+2322+. 222+. 12++ +221+22+224+112222221222212 +2++3+22++. . 2. 3++22++++r ++r +++. 2+++++. . ++22++12+++++2+ +++. ++++++. . +. . +++++r ++++++ . . +. r ++. r +. . . . . +. r . . +. r r ++r 2232+++21234322. ++321+++2++ +. +r +. . ++r . . . ++r . ++r +. . ++++ . . r . r r +. . r . r . r r . +r . . . r r . r +r . . . r . . . . +. . . . . . . . r . . . . . . . r . . ++. . . +r +. . ++. . r r . +. . . r r . . r r r . +r ++r r r +++. . . . +++. +r ++. + +2122 22+22 +++++ +2+22 +++++ +. ++r +++1+ ....+ . r ++r . . . r. . +++r ..... ...... ...... +. . r . . ...... . . . . +. ...... . +r . r . ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... . ++r . . . +. ++. +. ....... . . +. +. . . . . . +. + ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... I III 2 Faureo salignae - Ilicetum mitis xymaletosum monosporae - wet variant (A.1.I.a.1.1) D D D D D D D D D D D Dr ogue t i a i ne r s Dr yma r i a c or da t a Ama ur ope l t i s be r gi a na Sc he f f l e r a vol ke ns i i T St e nogr a mma poz oi Di c hr oc e pha l a i nt e gr i f ol i a Sol a num s c huma nni a num S Ane i l e ma pe dunc ul os um Cr a s s ul a a l s i noi de s Dr a c a e na s pe c . S Pi l e a j ohns t oni i ++. +324. ++. . . . ++. . . . r +. ++r . ++. ++++r r +. . . +++. . r . r . ++. . . . . . +. . . ++. r r r r ++. r . +r r +. . . . . . +. r +. r r +. . +++. +. . . . ++. . . . . r . . r +. . . r r . . r r . . . r . . . . r . . . . +. . . r +. r +. . . . . . . +. r . ++r . . . r . . +r . . . . +. . . . . . +. +++. . . . . . . . r . . . . +r . . . . . . . +. . . r r . . . . . . ++r . +. . r . . . . . . . ++. . . . . . . . . . . . +++. +. . 22. . . . ++r . . . . . . . . . r . . . . r . . +. . +. . . . . +. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. +. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. r r r +r ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... +. . . . ..... ..... V 1 1 I Faureo salignae - Ilicetum mitis xymaletosum monosporae - dry variant (A.1.I.a.1.2) D D D D D D D Pupa l i a l a ppa c e a Sc hoe noxi phi um l e hma nni i St e l l a r i a s e nni i Pl e c t r a nt hus ba r ba t us S Spe r ma c oc e pr i nc e a e Sol a num i nc a num Pt e r i di um a qui l i num . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. r. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . .. .. .. +. .. .. .. ... ... ++. ... ... ... ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. +. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... r. . ... +++ ... ... ... +++++ r +. r r +++r + . . ++r +. r r . . . ++r . . +. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... . +++. r + ++r r r ++ . . . . . . . I I I V V V IV IV IV I IV V Myrsino africanae - Juniperetum procerae Bussmann 1994 (A.1.I.b) D Rha mnus pr i noi de s S D Myr s i ne a f r i c a na S . . +. . r . . . r . . . . . . +. . . . . . . . . . +. r ++ 21++2+ +++r r ++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . r +r r r ++++++ 2333233 . . . I V V V V V V Myrsino africanae - Juniperetum procerae cadietosum purpureae (A.1.I.b.1) D D D D D D D D D Ca di a pur pur e a S Va ngue r i a a pi c ul a t a S Che i l a nt he s mul t i f i da Che i l a nt he s hi r t a Che i l a nt he s f a r i nos a As pl e ni um t r i c homa ne s Cor di a monoi c a T Pe l l a e a a l c he mi l l oi de s Che i l a nt he s be r gi a na . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hagenietea abyssinicae Bussmann 1994 (B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ++++++ +r r . ++r ++. r r ++ +. . ++++ . . +++++ . . r. rrr +. . . +. . . . . . . rr . . . . . r. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V V V IV IV III II II I C Hype r i c um r e vol ut um T C Hype r i c um r e vol ut um S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +1++2+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2+2222 . . . . . . . . . . V V Gnidietum glaucae Bussmann 1994 (B.1.I.a) D Gni di a gl a uc a T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233222 . . . . . . . . . . V Sinarundinarietea /-etalia /-ion /-um alpinae Bussmann 1994 (C.1.I.a) D Si na r undi na r i a a l pi na T D Si na r undi na r i a a l pi na S D Ps e udoc a r um e mi ni i D: Differential Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 554 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +++ C: Character Species T: Tree S: Shrub Companions Mt. Nyiro Juniperion procerae (A.1.I): Impatiens meruensis Ehrharto erectae - Juniperetum procerae: Maytenus undata S, Dovyalis abyssinica S Faureo salignae - Ilicetum mitis 1994 (A.1.I.a): Piper capense S, Cyphostemma maranguense, Arachnoides foliosa, Rubus pinnatus S, Laportea alatipes, Lobelia gibberoa S, Maesa lanceolata S, Psychotria orophila S, Loxogramme abyssinica, Arisaema mildbraedii, Kalanchoe densiflora Faureo salignae - Ilicetum mitis xymaletosum monosporae (A.1.I.a.1): Tarenna graveolens S, Turraea holstii S, Vernonia spec., Asparagus setaceus, Asplenium erectum, Cyperus sesquiflorus ssp. appendiculatus, Panicum calvum, Poa spec., Solanum sessilistellatum, Englerina woodfordioides, Pilea rivularis, Pycnostachys meyeri, Solanum appendiculatum S, Pavetta gardeniaefolia S, Jasminum floribundum S, Chionanthus battiscombei T, Chionanthus battiscombei S, Cassipourea malosana T, Cassipourea malosana S,.Olea capensis ssp.hochstetteri T, Cardamine africana, Cystopteris fragilis Faureo salignae - Ilicetum mitis xymaletosum monosporae - dry variant (A.1.I.a.1.2): Crassocephalum montuosum, Desmodium repandum, Hypoestes forskalii, Leonotis nepetifolia S, Microglossa pyridifolia S, Mikaniopsis bambuseti Myrsino africanae - Juniperetum procerae (A.1.I.b): Justicia striata, Nuxia congesta T, Nuxia congesta S, Jasminum abyssinicum S, Thalictrum rhynchocarpum Myrsino africanae - Juniperetum procerae cadietosum purpureae (A.1.I.b.1): Croton megalocarpus T, Croton megalocarpus S, Teclea simplicifolia T, Teclea simplicifolia S, Ochna insculpta T, Ochna insculpta S, Cyathula polycephala, Dregea schimperi, Osyris abyssinica S, Pavetta spec. S, Trema guineensis S, Celtis africana S, Cussonia spicata S, Scadoxus multiflorus, Heteromorpha trifolia S, Viscum tuberculatum, Indigofera arrecta S, Rhus natalensis S, Vernonia galamensis ssp. afromontana S, Thunbergia alata, Asparagus falcatus Gnidietum glaucae (B.1.I.a): Erica arborea S, Pilloselloides hirsuta, Cynoglossum lanceolatum, Alchemilla spec., Rhamnus staddo S, Hesperis petitiana, Clutia abyssinica S, Parietaria debilis Afromontane forests: Podocarpus latifolius T, Podocarpus latifolius S, Teclea nobilis T, Teclea nobilis S, Asplenium aethiopicum, Clematis simensis, Aerangis thomsonii, Senecio syringifolius, Asplenium loxoscaphoides, Asplenium monanthes, Cyphostemma kilimandscharica, Maytenus heterophyllus S, Scutia myrtina S, Pentas lanceolata, Urera hypselodendra, Asplenium theciferum, Adiantum poirettii, Pleopeltis macrocarpa, Peperomia abyssinica, Zehneria scabra, Oxalis corniculata, Stephania abyssinica, Viola abyssinica, Anthriscus sylvestris, Asparagus africanus, Polystichum fuscopaleacum, Agrocharis incognita, Euphorbia ugandensis, Galium aparinoides, Satureia pseudosimensis, Prunus africana T, Prunus africana S, Pteris dentata ssp. flabellata, Dombeya goetzenii T, Dombeya goetzenii S, Basella alba, Asplenium elliottii, Asplenium friesiorum, Dichondra repens, Allophyllus abyssinicus S 2 3 3 Table 2: Forest vegetation types of Mt. Marsabit Cl a s s Or de r Al l i a nc e As s oc i a t i on A A. 1 II a I b Re l e vé - Numbe r 12345678 911111 01234 Numbe r of Spe c i e s 85566665 333322 13645655 950497 Constancy Cassipourion malosanae Bussmann 1994 (A.1.II) C C D D D D I l e x mi t i s T +. . . . +r . I l e x mi t i s S +. r . . r r . Ca s s i pour e a ma l os a na T 22122212 Ca s s i pour e a ma l os a na S +r ++++++ Ol e a c a pe ns i s s s p. hoc hs t . T +2. +11++ Ol e a c a pe ns i s s s p. hoc hs t . S ++. r ++++ . ++r ++ . r . +. . +. ++r r . r +. r . ...... ...... II III V V V V V II V III Coffeo arabicae - Rinoreetum convallarioidis (A.1.II.a) C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C D D D D D D D D D D D D D D Opl i s me nus hi r t e l l us Ca s e a r i a ba t t i s c ombe i T Ca s e a r i a ba t t i s c ombe i S Fl a c our t i a i ndi c a S Tur r a e a hol s t i i S Ce l t i s a f r i c a na T Ce l t i s a f r i c a na S St r yc hnos mi t i s T St r yc hnos mi t i s S I s ogl os s a l a c t e a J us t i c i a be t oni c a Me yna t e t r e a phyl l a S Ce l t i s gomphophyl l a T Ce l t i s gomphophyl l a S Oc ot e a ke nye ns i s T Oc ot e a ke nye ns i s S Cor di a monoi c a S Er yt hr oc oc c a bonge ns i s S St r yc hnos he nni ngs i i T St r yc hnos he nni ngs i i S Cof f e a a r a bi c a S Ri nor e a c onva l l a r i oi de s S Er yt hr oc oc a f i s c he r i S Chi ona nt hus ba t t i s c ombe i T Chi ona nt hus ba t t i s c ombe i S Pa ve t t a a bys s i ni c a S Oxya nt hus s pe c i os us S Ryt i gyni a ne gl e c t a S Monodor a gr a ndi di e r i S Ve pr i s e uge ni a e f ol i a S Rhi ps a l i s ba c c i f e r a 32243553 +. . . . 23122212 . . . . . +. +++1+. . . . . . r r +. +r ++ +. . . . r ++. r +++ . . . . . r . . 12+. . . . . . . +. r r ++++ . . . . . +. +++. +. . . . . . r . +++++. . . . . . ++. +. . r + +. +. . +++. r ++. . +r r . +. ++r . . . +. . . . r 2+. . +. . . . . . . +1+. ++. . . . . . . +. . r . ++. . . . . . r . r . . +. . . . . . . ++. . . . r . . . . ++. 1++r + . . . . . . . ++. +. . . +r . . . r r . . +. . . . . r . 22331222 . . . . . 21+221++ . . . . . ++r . ++++ . . . . . 1++2+11+ . . . . . +++. +++. . . . . . ++1++1+. . . . . . ++. +++++ . . . . . +. ++++. r . . . . . +. +++r . . . ++. . ++. r +++. +. . . . r r . +. . r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V V IV V V III V IV IV IV IV IV III IV III II II V II II V V V V IV V V IV IV IV III I I III III I I Juniperion procerae Bussmann 1994 (A.1.I) C C D D Ol e a e ur opa e a s s p. a f r i . T Ol e a e ur opa e a s s p. a f r i . S Ra pa ne a me l a nophl oe os T Ra pa ne a me l a nophl oe os S D: Differential Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 455344 ++++++ ++1+++ +. ++r V V V V C: Character Species T: Tree S: Shrub Companions Mt. Marsabit Cassipourion malosanae (A.1.II): Teclea nobilis T, Teclea nobilis S, Ekebergia capensis T, Ekebergia capensis S, Ochna insculpta S, Maytenus heterophyllus S, Drypetes gerrardii S, Brucea antidysenterica S, Diospyros abyssinica S, Abutilon mauritianum, Schkuhria pinnata, Ocimum gratissimum S, Vernonia galamensis ssp. afromomtana S, Clerodendrum johnstonii S, Clausena anisata S, Dovyalis abyssinica S, Rhamnus prinoides S, Achyranthes aspera Coffeo arabicae - Rinoreetum convallarioidis (A.1.II.a): Croton megalocarpus T, Croton megalocarpus S, Setaria plicatilis, Teclea simplicifolia T, Teclea simplicifolia S, Apodytes dimidiata T, Apodytes dimidiata S, Strombosia scheffleri T, Strombosia scheffleri S, Trichilia emetica S, Albizzia gummifera T, Albizzia gummifera S, Albizzia gummifera, Ritchiea albersii S, Croton macrostachyus T, Croton macrostachyus S, Bauhinia tomentosa S, Osyris abyssinica S, Rhamnus staddo S, Aningeria adolfifriederici T, Maesa lanceolata S, Psychotrya kirkii S, Tarenna graveolens S, Cordia africana T, Cordia africana S, Dracaena laxissima S, Premna maxima T Myrsino africanae – Juniperetum procerae (A.1.I.b): Clutia abyssinica S, Nuxia congesta T, Nuxia congesta S, Kalanchoe densiflora, Phyllanthus fischeri, Achyrospermum schimperi, Ruttya fruticosa S, Clematis brachiata, Leucas mollis, Grewia similis S, Bidens pilosa, Setaria pumilis Juniperion procerae (A.1.I), Cassipourion malosanae (A.1.II): Barleria micrantha, Justicia striata, Asparagus racemosus, Peddiea volkensii T, Peddiea volkensii S, Mystroxylon aethiopicum S, Cissamphelos pareira, Justicia diclipteriodes, Crossandra mucronata, Setaria sphacelata, Canthium schimperi S, Bersama abyssinica S, Pavonia patens Table 3: Forest vegetation types of Mathews Range Cl a s s Or de r Al l i a nc e As s oc i a t i on Suba s s oc i a t i on Va r i a nt / Fa c i e s A A. 1 I a 1 III b a 1 2 3 1 1 c d 2 2 1 2 Re l e vé - Numbe r 123456 78911 1111111 12222 222222 33333 333334 44444 444455 01 2345678 90123 456789 01234 567890 12345 678901 Numbe r of Spe c i e s 876687 46656 6556455 43334 655565 55554 666656 66555 322222 648609 95194 5941984 28596 084514 31433 386181 61725 048442 Constancy Juniperetea procerae Bussmann 1994 (A) C C C D D D Pa r oc he t us c ommuni s I s ogl os s a gr e gor i i Ac hyr a nt he s a s pe r a J uni pe r us pr oc e r a T J uni pe r us pr oc e r a S Sa ni c ul a e l a t a ++++++ +222++ ++++++ +r ++r r r. . . r. ++++++ +2+22 ++21+ . ++. + r +. ++ . r. . r 22+++ r ++r . . r ....... +224+++ r . . r r ++ ......r . +. . . . . +r r +. ..... +++++ . . rr+ ....r ..... .... .... +++. .... .... .... .. .. ++ .. .. .. . . . . . . .... .... +++. .... .... .... . . . . . . .... .... +++. .... .... .... . . . . . . ..... ..... . . rr+ ++2++ +r +++ ..... .... .... r ++. .... .... .... .. .. ++ .. .. .. V V V V IV V V V IV IV III V IV V V IV II V V IV V V IV III III V V V Juniperion procerae Bussmann 1994 (A.1.I) C Ol e a e ur opa e a s s p. a f r i . T C Ol e a e ur opa e a s s p. a f r i . S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24434 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +r ++r . . . . . . V V Faureo salignae - Ilicetum mitis Bussmann 1994 (A.1.I.a) D D D D Fa ur e a s a l i gna T Fa ur e a s a l i gna S I l e x mi t i s T I l e x mi t i s S ++2332 ++r . ++ +12212 +r . . +. 2+1+1 r +. ++ +21++ r +. . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V V V III V V V III V V V V V II V V Faureo salignae - Ilicetum mitis xymaletosum monosporae (A.1.I.a.1) D Xyma l os monos por a T D Xyma l os monos por a S D Br uc e a a nt i dys e nt e r i c a S ++. +++ 2+211 +r . ++++ . +++. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221222 22223 ++. ++++ . +r +. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +++++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V V III III V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V II II V V V V V IV V V V V V III V IV V V V III V V I V V V V V IV V Faureo salignae - Ilicetum mitis xymaletosum monxosprae - Schefflera volkensii facies (A.1.I.a.1.3) D Sc he f f l e r a vol ke ns i i T D Euc l e a di vi nor um S . +r . . . 32234 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3222+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crotonion megalocarpi / Crotonetum megalocarpi typicum (A.1.III.a.1) C Cr ot on me ga l oc a r pus T C Cr ot on me ga l oc a r pus S C Cr ot on me ga l oc a r pus . . . . . . . . . . . 2232222 33223 323433 43444 344433 32+++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +++++++ +++++ +r . r +r +r r +. r ++r . + r . r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2+++++ +r r ++ ++21++ ++22+ +22+++ r +. . . . . . . . . Crotonion megalocarpi / Crotonetum megalocarpi (A.1.III.a) D D D D D D Sc hr e be r a a l a t a S Er yt hr oc oc c a bonge ns i s S Se t a r i a pl i c a t i l i s Phyl l a nt hus f i s c he r i S Pa ni c um mont i c ol a Fl a c our t i a i ndi c a S ...... ...... ...... ++++++ +332++ . +. +. . . . . . . . .... .... .... ++++ +. r + . . r. +. r r +. + ++. r +++ 221222+ ++r +. ++ +++r +++ . ++. r ++ . +r r + ++++r 32332 +r +++ +++++ +. . . + +. ++r r +. r r +. +r r +++ +r ++++ 243534 r r . . +. . . . . . . r +++ r r ++ . +. . .... .... r . +. . . . r. + +++. ++ ++r +++ 533+++ 554454 ++++. . +++21 ..... ++r ++ +r +r r ..... r r . +. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1++. .... +. . . .... .... .... V V II V III I III III I Crotonetum megalocarpi (A.1.III.a) D D D D Podoc a r pus f a l c a t us T Podoc a r pus f a l c a t us S Enc e pha l a r t os t e gul a ne us T Enc e pha l a r t os t e gul a ne us S 22++++ ++r . r + ...... ...... . . . . r +. . r. ... ... + . . . 2333232 +++++++ +12++2+ +22+r 1+ 23442 +++++ . +1++ . +. ++ . +r +++ . +. r r . ...... +. . . . . ..... ..... +r . . r ++r ++ . . . . ..... ..... ..... r r +r + ... ... +r . ... .. .. .. +. r +r r + r. . . . r. r. . . +r . + .. .. .. +. . . . . . . . . .... +++. .... .... . r . . ... ++. ... ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ++ .. .. .. .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... +. +. r r +. .... .... . . . . . . . . V V III I V V V V V V V IV V III IV V V V I II III Crotonetum megalocarpi - Cheilanthes multifida variant (A.1.III.a.1.2) D D D D Che i l a nt he s mul t i f i da Cya t hul a pol yc e pha l a Dor yopt e r i s ki r ki i Not oni a a bys s i ni c a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . r ++++ ++r . + r ++r r r +r . r . . . . .. .. .. r. . . . . .. .. .. rr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ++++r + +2++2+ r 1. ++1 2+2++2 242343 r 22++2 2+1122 +2112+ +++++r ++. r r + . r. . r+ . rr. r. ...... ...... . r. . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... +r + ... ... V V V V IV V III IV III V I IV III V V V V V V IV I III III I Crotono megalocarpi - Tecletum simplicifoliae (A.1.III.b) C C C C C D D D D D D D D D D St r yc hnos he nni ngs i i S St r yc hnos mi t i s S J us t i c i a f l a va St r yc hnos us a mba r e ns i s S Pe nt a s l a nc e ol a t a S Te c l e a s i mpl i c i f ol i a T Te c l e a s i mpl i c i f ol i a S J us t i c i a nya s s a na I s ogl os s a l a xa Le uc a s gl a br a t a Dr a c a e na l a xi s s i ma S Hi bi s c us l unul a r i i f ol i us As ys t a s i s ga nge t i c a Ps yc hot r i a ki r ki i J us t i c i a c a l yc ul a t a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. +. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... ... ... . r. rr. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. .. .. .. .. +. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... ... ... ... rr. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +r +++ 22++r 211+r +r r . r 43344 23222 222++ +. +++ +++. + +++. + +. . r r . rr. + . +++. r . +r . . r. r. 22++++ r r 22++ +r r ++1 r r +. . 2 . r . +. + 2+3++2 122+++ . ++111 +. r r r + ++. r ++ . +. r r . r ++++. . ++. +r +r r . . r rr. r. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. +. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. +r .. .. .. III II II V V V V V V V V V V III III I V V V V V V V V V V III III III III III V V V IV IV V V V V V III V IV IV III Crotono megalocarpi - Tecletum simplicifoliae acacietosum brevispicatae (A.1.III.b.1) D Ac a c i a br e vi s pi c a S D I s ogl os s a l a c t e a V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +r +r r r . . . . . . . . . . . ++12+ . . . . +. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2++++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V Crotono megalocarpi - Tecletum simplicifoliae - Argomuellera macrophylla variant (A.1.III.b.2.1) D D D D D D D Ane i l e ma a e qui noc t i a l e Ane i l e ma l e i oc a ul e Ar gomue l l e r a ma c r ophyl l a S Sol a ne c i o ma nni i S Dr a c a e na s t e udne r i S Ba r l e r i a mi c r a nt ha Pa ni c um ma xi mum .... +r r . .... .... .... .... .... .. rr .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... rr. ... ... ... ... ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . ++. ... ... ... ... ... ... +++r r r ++r r ++++r ++++r +. r r + . . . rr +. +r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. +. ... ... ... ... ... ... 1++ ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ++. r . ++++. . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. +. .. .. .. III IV III V V V V IV III IV Crotono megalocarpi - Tecletum simplicifoliae typicum (A.1.III.b.2.2) D D D D D D Hi bi s c us ur t i c i f ol i us Hi ppoc r a t e a a f r i c a na S Ca da ba f a r i nos a Ve r noni a a ur i c ul i f e r a S Be c i um c a pi t a t um Ve r noni a l a s i opus S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . r +. . ... ... ... ... . +. . . . . . . . . . . . . r r +++. +r r +++ ++++r + ++r +++ +r r +r + . ++. +r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . r ++r r +212+ +1211 +r r r + ++r r + r r . +r I I I I V V V V V IV Bauhinietum tomentosae (A.1.III.c) C C C C C C Ki ge l i a a f r i c a na T Oc i mum gr a t i s s i mum S Pt e r ol obi um s t e l l a t um S Pe l l a e a l ongi pi l os a Er yt hr oc oc c a f i s c he r i S Cype r us obl ongus s s p. f l a vus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C C C C C C C D D D D D D Comme l i na a f r i c a na Cype r us bul bi pe s Comme l i na l a t i f ol i a Cr a t e r os t i gma pumi l um Kyl l i nga c omos i pe s Cype r us pi ngui s Comme l i na i mbe r bi s Ba uhi ni a t ome nt os a S Hypoe s t e s f or s ka hl i i Cha e t a c me a r i s t a t a S Ps ydr a x s c hi mpe r i a na S Cl e ome s c hi mpe r i Cr a i bi a l a ur e nt i i S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... 2+222 ..... ..... ..... ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... r +r +. ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... +r r ++r ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... . +. r . +. . +r ++. . r . ++. . rr. . . . r +. . +. . . . 52334 5544. +++++ ++r ++ +. . ++ +r r . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. +. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . V V I V III III III II II II I V V V V IV IV I Phoenicetum reclinatae (A.1.III.d) D Phoe ni x r e c l i na t a T D Phoe ni x r e c l i na t a S D: Differential Species . . . . . . . . . . . r +r r . . r +r r +. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211++1 . . . . . . . . . . . r r . r r . r r r . . + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12+22+ C: Character Species T: Tree IV IV V IV V V S: Shrub Companions Mathews Range Faureo salignae - Ilicetum mitis (A.1.I.a): Nuxia congesta T, Nuxia congesta S, Plectranthus sylvestris S, Jasminum abyssinicum S, Hypoestes triflora, Lepidotrichilia volkensii S, Piper capense S, Cyphostemma maranguense, Peddiea volkensii S, Asplenium friesiorum, Psydrax schimperiana S, Apodytes dimidiata T, Apodytes dimidiata S, Pauridiantha holstii S, Asplenium erectum, Cyperus sesquiflorus ssp. appendiculatus, Erlangea tomentosa, Euphorbia engleri, Impatiens papillonacea, Peucedanum lindneri, Schoenoxiphium lehmannii, Solanum aculeastrum, Aerangis thomsonii, Galium aparinoides, Thalictrum rhynchocarpum, Peperomia abyssinica, Viola abyssinica, Anthriscus sylvestris, Agrocharis incognita, Pteris catoptera, Ehrharta erecta, Droguetia iners Crotonetum megalocarpi (A.1.III.a): Pilea rivularis, Plectranthus longipes S, Cuscuta kilimanjari, Trichocladus ellipticus S, Arisaema mildbraedii, Arthopteris orientalis, Acalypha fruticosa, Pavetta abyssinica S, Rytigynia acuminatissima S, Hypoestes aristata S, Stephania abyssinica Crotono megalocarpi - Tecletum simplicifoliae (A.1.III.b): Tarenna graveolens S, Trema orientalis S, Rinorea convalarioides S, Russonia russida S, Turraea holstii S, Hibiscus macranthus, Ficus thoningii T, Drypetes gerrardii S, Urera hypselodendra, Calodendrum capense T, Celtis africana T, Celtis africana S, Abutilon mauritiana S, Acalypha volkensii, Diospyros abyssinica S, Hibiscus fuscus, Justicia diclipteroides, Landolphia buchananii, Phaulopsis imbricata S, Olea capensis ssp. welwitschii T, Olea capensis ssp. welwitschii S, Oplismenus compositus, Oxyanthus speciosus S, Pentas parkeri S, Olea capensis ssp. hochstetteri T, Olea capensis ssp. hochstetteri S, Olea capensis ssp. hochstetteri Crotono megalocarpi - Tecletum simplicifoliae acacietosum brevispicatae (A.1.III.b.1): Albizzia gummifera T, Albizzia gummifera, Cordia africana T, Cordia africana S, Uvaria scheffleri S, Rubia cordifolia, Psychotria orophila S Crotono megalocarpi - Tecletum simplicifoliae - typical variant (A.1.III.b.2.2): Barleria ventricosa, Periploca linearifolia, Verbascum brevipedicellatum, Leucas martiniciensis, Clausena anisata S, Asparagus falcatus, Acokanthera schimperi S, Asplenium sandersonii, Cassipourea malosana T, Cassipourea malosana S Bauhinietum tomentosae (A.1.III.c): Myrsine africana S Forest-bushland transition zone: Vangueria infausta, Pavonia urens, Sericocomopsis hildebrandtii, Grewia similis S, Glycine wightii, Chloris roxburghiana, Digitaria velutina, Eragrostis superba, Indigofera arrecta S, Leucas grandis, Clutia abyssinica S, Sporobolus agrostoideus, Rhus vulgaris S, Vangueria apiculata S, Pupalia lappacea Afromontane forests: Podocarpus latifolius T, Podocarpus latifolius S, Asplenium aethiopicum, Asplenium monanthes, Teclea nobilis T, Teclea nobilis S, Aneilema pedunculosum, Clerodendrum johnstonii S, Bersama abyssinica T, Bersama abyssinica S, Galiniera coffeoides S, Dicliptera laxata, Scutia myrtina S, Thunbergia alata, Maytenus undata S, Desmodium repandum, Dregea schimperi, Asparagus africanus, Cyathula cylindrica, Ochna insculpta T, Ochna insculpta S, Ochna insculpta, Canthium oligocarpum S, Droguetia debilis, Loranthus ulugurense, Asplenium loxoscophoides, Dombeya goetzii T, Dombeya goetzii S, Ekebergia capensis T, Ekebergia capensis S, Englerina woodfordioides, Chlorophytum sparsiflorum, Prunus africana T, Prunus africana S, Clematis simensis, Drymaria cordata, Polygala sphenoptera, Dahlergia lactea S, Trichomanes borbonica, Vernonia galamensis ssp. afromontana S, Dracaena afromontana S Table 4: Forest vegetation types of Ndare Ngare, Porror and Loroghi Cl a s s Or de r Al l i a nc e As s oc i a t i on Suba s s oc i a t i on Va r i a nt / Fa c i e s A A. 1 II a 1 2 I a b 1 1 I b 2 Re l e vé - Numbe r 123456 7891 1111 1111122 22222222333 0 1234 5678901 23456789012 Numbe r of s pe c i e s 555555 4443 6566 6556578 64454555455 007583 4068 5967 4631590 33869651953 Constancy Juniperetea procerae Bussmann 1994 (A) C C C C C D D D D Ac hyr a nt he s a s pe r a I s ogl os s a gr e gor i i Br a c hypodi um f l e xum Ge r a ni um a r a bi c um Be r be r i s hol s t i i S J uni pe r us pr oc e r a T J uni pe r us pr oc e r a S St i pa dr e ge a na S Sa ni c ul a e l a t a ++++++ r r r +++ .....+ ...... ...... 322333 +r ++. + 324422 ...... ++++ .... .... .... .... 44+2 +r . + +222 .... ++++ +r r + .... .... .... 3223 ++. r +222 .... +++++++ ....... +++++. . ....... ....... r ++r +r r +. . r . r . +++++++ ....... +++++. +++++ ........... +. 12+. +++++ +++++++++++ ++. +++++r ++ 44234334233 +22+++322++ +. ++. ++. . . + +++. +++++++ 2222 ++r + .... ++++ . . . . ++22+22+212 +. ++++r . +++ . +r . . . +. . +. ........... V V I 4 4 4 V V V 4 3 4 4 3 4 V V 4 4 4 4 V V IV V V V III V V V V V IV Juniperion procerae Bussmann 1994 (A.1.I) C C C D Ol e a e ur opa e a s s p. a f r i . T Ol e a e ur opa e a s s p. a f r i . S Rubus vol ke ns i i S Ca r e x pe r e gr i na 33233+ ++++++ ...... ...... 3222 ++++ .... .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V V 4 Ehrharto erectae - Juniperetum procerae Bussmann 1994 (A.1.I.a) C Ar c e ut hobi um j uni pe r i - pr oc e r a e D Ehr ha r t a e r e c t a . . . . ++ . . . . +. r r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ++++++ +. ++ ++++ +r . r r ++ ++. ++r +++++ II V 3 3 4 V V V V V Myrsino africanae - Juniperetum procerae Bussmann 1994 (A.1.I.b) C Rha mnus pr i noi de s S D Myr s i ne a f r i c a na S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +r . ++. . +22+++12+22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ++++++++1++ Myrsino africanae - Juniperetum procerae rhusetosum natalensis (A.1.I.b.1) D D D D D D D D D D Rhus na t a l e ns i s S Rhus vul ga r i s S Spor obol us a gr os t oi de s Fuma r i a a bys s i ni c a Se ne c i o r uwe nz or i e ns i s Pe l l a e a a di a nt hoi de s Romul e a f i s c he r i Fue r s t i a a f r i c a na Le uc a s t ome nt os a Pl uc he a ova l i s S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ++++ r +r r ++++ ++++ r +++ rrrr r. rr ++++ ++++ ++++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ++1. ++. . . ++ . . +++. ++. . + +++++++++++ ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... ........... 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 IV III V Cassipourion malosanae Bussmann 1994 (A.1.II) C C C D D D D D D Hypoe s t e s a r i s t a t a S I l e x mi t i s T I l e x mi t i s S Ol e a c a pe ns i s s s p. hoc hs t . T Ol e a c a pe ns i s s s p. hoc hs t . S Ca s s i pour e a ma l os a na T Ca s s i pour e a ma l os a na S Hypoe s t e s t r i f l or a Dr ogue t i a i ne r s ...... .. . r +. ++ . . r +. . r + ++++++ ++r +++ ...... ...... ...... ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ++++ +++++++ . . +. . + +r . ++1+ . . . r +. . +. . . r ++ . 11++ 232232+ . . ++. +++++++ . 2222 3344342 . 2+22 +++++++ . ++++ +r r . +++ . . . ++ ++++. ++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. V V 4 2 4 4 4 2 V V V V V V 4 1 4 4 3 3 2 3 4 1 V V V V V III V V Tecleo nobilis - Tecletum simplicifoliae Bussmann 1994 (A.1.II.a) C C C C C C C C C C C C D D Podoc a r pus f a l c a t us T Podoc a r pus f a l c a t us S Er yt hr oc oc c a bonge ns i s S Opl i s me nus c ompos i t us Te c l e a nobi l i s T Te c l e a nobi l i s S Ehr e t i a c ymos a S Sol a num s c huma nni a num As pl e ni um l i nc ki i Tur r a e a hol s t i i S Ae s c hyome ne s c hi mpe r i S He l i nus i nt e gr i f ol i us S Te c l e a s i mpl i c i f ol i a T Te c l e a s i mpl i c i f ol i a S 221+21 ++12 212+ 3332234 . +r +. ++ . ++. . +. . +++++++ . ++++++ . . . . 2212 21++r 23 . +++++. ++. . r +++ +++r r +. . . . +. r + . ++. ++. + 221++++ . ++++++ +++. ++++ 11+++++ . . . . +++ . . . . +. . + . . ++. ++ . r . ++++ . . . . ++r . +r r r . ++ . ++. +++ . . . . +r ++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . ++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . r . . ++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . r ++ . r . ++. . . . +. . +. . +++++++ +. ++++ ++++ ++++ +++++++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V V V V III V III V V III V 4 2 2 2 3 1 4 1 4 II III II V V 4 4 3 V V III Tecleo nobilis - Tecletum simplicifoliae diclipteretosum laxatae (A.1.II.a.1) D Di c l i pt e r a l a xa t a D Ac a nt hopa l e pube s c e ns D Ve pr i s gl ome r a t a S . . . . . . . . . . 4233 2331+23 . . . . . . . . . . . . +. . . . . . . . ++++ 22++r 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +++. ++. . . +r . . . . . . . . . . . I Tecleo nobilis - Tecletum simplicifoliae diclipteretosum laxatae typicum (A.1.II.a.1.1) D Pe pe r omi a t e t r a phyl l a D Or c hi da c e a ge n. D St ol z i a r e pe ns +. +. . . . . . . ++r + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +. . . . . . . +r r r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +. . . . . . . r r r r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II I I 4 4 4 D Bul bophyl l um s pe c . D Ar i s a e ma mi l dbr a e di i . . . +. . . . . . r . r r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +. r + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I 3 3 Tecleo nobilis - Tecletum simplicifoliae diclipteretosum laxatae - Isoglossa punctata facies (A.1.II.a.1.2) D D D D D D D I s ogl os s a punc t a t a J us t i c i a di c l i pt e r oi de s Ane i l e ma pe dunc ul os um Ac a l ypha vol ke ns i i Pa ni c um ma xi mum Puppa l i a l a pa c e a Le uc a s gr a ndi s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. +. .. .. .. .. .. +221+++ +++++++ +r ++. ++ +r . ++. + 23+++. . 2++31. . . r r +. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 V V V IV IV IV III Myrsino africanae - Juniperetum procerae - euclenietosum divinori (A.1.I.b.2) D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D Euc l e a di vi nor um S ...... .... .... ..... Euc l e a r a c e mos a s s p. s c hi mpe r i S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pi s t a c i a a e t hi opi c a S ...... .... .... ..... Ca r i s s a e dul i s S ...... .... .... ..... Gr e wi a s i mi l i s S ...... .... .... ..... Thunbe r gi a a l a t a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ++r +. Hi bi s c us f us c us ...... .... .... ..... Mons oni a a ngus t i f ol i a ...... .... .... ..... Mi c r oc oe l i a mor e a ua e ...... .... .... ..... I ndi gof e r a a r r e c t a S ...... .... .... ..... Sol a ne c i o na nde ns i s ...... .... .... ..... Se ne c i o ha di e ns i s ...... .... .... ..... Rue l l i a pa t ul a ...... .... .... ..... Thunbe r gi a gr e gor i i ...... .... .... ..... Andr oc ymbi um me l a nt hoi de s ...... .... .... ..... Cr i num ma c owa ni i ...... .... .... ..... Hypoxi s vi l l os a ...... .... .... ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . . . . . . . . . 21+22++2+22 +r . ++r . ++++ 212+2+++2++ +r +. +++1+++ ++. +2+++r . + ++++. ++++++ +. r r . +r r r r . +. r +++. r r . + +. r r . . . +r r . +++. +. . . ++. . . . . r . ++. +r +. . . . r r +. +. +. . . . r +. r r . . . r r . +. . . . . r. . . . r. . . . . . . . . r r . +. . . . . r r . . r . +. . V V V V V IV IV IV III III III III III II II II II V D: Differential Species C: Character Species T: Tree S: Shrub Companions Ndare Ngare, Porror and Loroghi Ehrharto erectae - Juniperetum procerae (A.1.I.a): Asparagus africanus, Justicia striata, Asplenium abyssinicum, Pavetta oliveriana S Myrsino africanae - Juniperetum procerae (A.1.I.b): Plectranthus sylvestris S, Anthriscus sylvestris, Asparagus racemosus Cassipourion malosanae (A.1.II): Ekebergia capensis T, Ekebergia capensis S, Prunus africana T, Prunus africana S Tecleo nobilis - Tecletum simplicifoliae (A.1.II.a): Pilea rivularis, Pilea johnstonii, Ficus thoningii T, Drypetes gerrardii S, Urera hypselodendra, Psydrax schimperiana S, Elaeodendron buchananii T, Elaeodendron buchananii S Tecleo nobilis - Tecletum simplicifoliae diclipteretosum laxatae (A.1.II.a.1): Vernonia galamensis ssp. afromontana S, Clausena anisata S, Polystachya spec. Tecleo nobilis - Tecletum simplicifoliae diclipteretosum laxatae - Isoglossa punctata facies (A.1.II.a.1.1): Crassocephalum montuosum, Setaria plicatilis, Girardinia diversifolia, Pavonia urens, Brucea antidysenterica S, Dombeya torrida S, Peddiea volkensii S, Pavetta schimperi S, Albizzia gummifera S, Leonotis ocymifolia, Strombosia scheffleri T, Cuscuta kilimanjari, Bersama abyssinica T, Bersama abyssinica S, Urtica massaica S, Desmodium repandum, Discopodium penninervum S, Smilax kraussiana, Abutilon longicuspe S, Clerodendron johnstonii S, Ocimum gratissimum S, Drymaria cordata Myrsino africanae - Juniperetum procerae – euclenietosum divinori (A.1.I.b.2): Ocimum gratissimum, Microglossa pyridifolia S, Phytolacca dodecandra, Cynanchum altiscandens, Clematis simensis, Pentas lanceolata, Pavonia patens, Aerangis thomsonii, Commelina africana, Juncus inflexus, Phyllanthus fischeri S, Pimpinella orophila, Polygala sphenoptera, Ranunculus multifidus, Rhinorea convallarioides S, Salvia merjamie, Schoenoplectus spec., Leucas volkensii, Rubia cordifolia, Clutia abyssinica S Afromontane forests: Asplenium aethiopicum, Senecio syringifolius, Cyperus sesquiflorus ssp. appendiculatus, Geranium kilimandscharicum, Maesa lanceolata S, Cyphostemma maranguense, Cyphostemma kilimandscharica, Maytenus heterophyllus S, Scutia myrtina S, Asplenium theciferum, Pleopeltis macrocarpa, Loxogramme abyssinica, Kalanchoe densiflora, Impatiens meruensis, Maytenus undata S, Dovyalis abyssinica S, Jasminum abyssinicum S, Nuxia congesta T, Nuxia congesta S, Thalictrum rhynchocarpum, Peperomia abyssinica, Zehneria scabra, Plantago palmata, Stephania abyssinica, Agrocharis incognita, Galium aparinoides, Lepisorus excavata, Hypoestes forskahlii, Cissamphelos pareira, Cynanchum abyssinicum, Commelina latifolia, Senecio hadiensis, Toddalia asiatica S, Asparagus falcatus Table 5: Forest types of Gakoe, Ngaia and Nyambeni Hills Cl a s s Or de r Al l i a nc e As s oc i a t i on Suba s s oc i a t i on Va r i a nt / Fa c i e s D D. 1 I a II a 1 1 III a b II b A A. 1 I a C C. 1 I b 2 Re l e vé - Numbe r 123456789111 111111 12222 2222223 3333333 334444 444444 55555 012 345678 90123 4567890 1234567 890123 456789 01234 Numbe r of Spe c i e s 876677766676 756877 66786 8678887 6755555 534544 655565 44444 942611396707 099638 91318 7401016 8300095 076198 132626 53439 Constancy Ocotetea usambarensis Bussmann 1994 (D) C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C D D D D D D D D D D D D Pi pe r c a pe ns e S Cyphos t e mma ki l i ma nds c ha r i c um St r ombos i a s c he f f l e r i T St r ombos i a s c he f f l e r i S Dr yopt e r i s ki l i me ns i s Ta be r na e mont a na s t a pf i a na T Ta be r na e mont a na s t a pf i a na S Opl i s me nus hi r t e l l us Bl ot i e l l a s t i pi t a t a S Oc hna i ns c ul pt a T Oc hna i ns c ul pt a S Ma c a r a nga ki l i ma nds c ha r i c a T Ma c a r a nga ki l i ma nds c ha r i c a S Pl e c t r a nt hus l ut e us S El a phogl os s um l a s t i i Be goni a me ye r i - j oha nni s Tr i c homa ne s bor boni c a As pl e ni um t he c i f e r um Apodyt e s di mi di a t a T Apodyt e s di mi di a t a S Pe ddi e a f i s c he r i T Pe ddi e a f i s c he r i S Ol e a ndr a di s t e nt a Oc ot e a us a mba r e ns i s T Oc ot e a us a mba r e ns i s S Oc ot e a us a mba r e ns i s La s i a nt hus ki l i ma nds c ha r i c us T La s i a nt hus ki l i ma nds c ha r i c us S As pl e ni um s a nde r s oni i As pl e ni um e l l i ot t i i Pa ni c um c a l vum Ps yc hot r i a or ophi l a S Xyma l os monos por a T Xyma l os monos por a S Pa ur i di a nt ha hol s t i i S ............ ............ +++r ++. ++1++ +. . . r +. . ++++ ............ ++1+++++2++1 ++r . ++++12++ ++++++++++++ +++++. ++22+2 . . . . . . . +. ++. ++++++++++++ ++. . +. 23244 r +. . +. . +++++ r r . . r . ++1+11 ++r . r ++++r ++ ++++++++++++ ............ ............ ++++. +++++++ ............ . . . . +. ++. +++ . . . . . . . ++. ++ ++++++++++++ 22+1+222221+ +++++++++. +r r . . . . r ++r . . ............ ............ 1+++1+++++++ +r . . +. . r . . . . ++++++++++++ ++++++++++++ ............ +++. ++++++++ . . . . . . . +++++ ++++++ ...... ++++++ +. r +++ . . ++++ 222232 +22222 ...... +++r +. ...... ...... . . ++. + . . . r. . ...... ...... ...... ++++++ ++++++ . +. . ++ ++++++ . . . ++. +. ++++ ++++++ ++2222 . . ++. + . r. . . . +1++++ ++21++ r. rrr+ ...... +. ++++ ++++++ . . +. r + ++2223 224432 +++++ +. +++ +. . ++ ++r ++ +. +++ 322+2 +222+ ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... . +. ++ +. +++ . +++. . ++++ . ++. + +. +++ . . . +. +++++ . . ++. . . . r. +. +. + +++++ +++++ ..... +222+ +++++ +222+ 23222 23323 +r r ++++ ....... ++r ++++ +++. +++ +++++++ +. +++++ 12+2+++ ....... +. ++++. ....... ....... ++. ++. + +++. +++ ....... ....... ....... . ++. . . . . +r . r r . +. . ++. . . . ++. . . ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ....... ++. ++++ +++++++ ++1+1++ ....... ++. ++++ . +r r +++ ++. ++++ 212+221 +++++++ ++. ++. + ++. +++. ++r +. +. ++. . . r . ....... +++. ++1 +++2+++ 2233423 +++. . . + ....... ....... ++++. ++ +++. . +. ....... ....... ....... ....... ++. +r r + +++. +++ +++. . . + ....... ....... +++++++ . r . +. ++ ....... ....... ++. ++++ ++12+2+ +++++++ ....... ++. +r ++ ++2+12+ +++. +1+ ++++. ++ +++++++ ...... ...... . . ++. + . +++. . ...... ...... ...... 554345 ...... ...... ...... ++. +++ +r r +++ ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... +. +. . + . +. . ++ ++++++ ++. +r + ...... ...... ...... ...... ++. +++ ++++++ ...... . +. . +r ++++++ 1221+2 +. ++r . ++++++ ...... . +. . r . ...... +. +r r + +. ++++ ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... +++r r + ...... ...... ...... ++++++ +122++ ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... r r ++r r r r +. ++ 253354 ...... ...... ...... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ++. ++ ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... +r +++ +++r r ..... ..... ..... V V III V V V V II V IV IV V V V III II V V V III V III V V V III V V IV V V V IV IV V V V V V V V V V V IV IV IV III II III III IV V IV V V III I V V V IV V V II IV III II V V III V V III V II V V V III I V V V IV IV III IV IV IV I V III I III V V V V V V V V V V III V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V III III V V IV V V V III V V III V V IV V V V V V V Syzygetalia guineensis Bussmann 1994 (D.1) C C D D D D D D D D Di os pyr os a bys s i ni c a S Ps ydr a x s c hi mpe r i a na S Syz ygi um gui ne e ns e T Syz ygi um gui ne e ns e S Ade ni a gummi f e r a Ani nge r i a a dol f i - f r i e de r i c i T Ani nge r i a a dol f i - f r i e de r i c i S Dr ype t e s ge r r a r di i S J a unde a pi nna t a S Al l ophyl l us c une a t us S +++++++. . . . ++r . . +. . . . . . ++. +r +++++++ +. . . +r +. r r +. ++. +++++. +++ +++r ++++22+2 ............ ++++++. . . . . . ++r +++++++++ +++. ++++. +++ . +. ++r + ++r ++ +. . ++. . . ++. . +. +++ . . . . . . . r +2212 +. +++ . . +21++ . . . +. r +. . r + . . . . +. . ++r +++ +++. . +. +++++ 1+2+++ ++2++ +122+++ r . . +. . . +r . . . r r . . . . ...... ..... ....... ++++++ . ++++ +. +. ++r +. +++. ++. ++ . . +. . . . . +++++++ +++. ++ . . . . . . . ++. +++ +. +2+12++ +. ++++ . . ++. . . . r +r . . . . . . ++++. ++ ++. +++ . . 1231232 442344 . . . +. . . +. +. ++. + . . . . . . . . . +. +++r . . . +++. ++ . +++++ . . . ++. . . + . . . . . . . . ..... r ++r .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . V III V III V V V II V II IV V III V V IV II V V II III I V II V V II V III V V II V V V V IV V IV IV I IV III V II V V III V V III III III II II II V V IV V III II I V III IV IV IV IV IV V II IV II V III IV Cyathion mannianae Bussmann 1994 (D.1.I) C Lobe l i a ba uma nni i D Ma r a t t i a f r a xi ne a S D Cya t he a ma nni a na S +++++++. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +++++++. . . . . r +. . . . +. +. . ++++r ++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +222++2. . . . . 22+. . . . . . . . +r . ++++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cyatheo mannianae - Afrocranietum volkensii Bussmann 1994 C Af r oc r a ni a vol ke ns i i T C Af r oc r a ni a vol ke ns i i S D Mous s a e nda odor a t a T +1++111. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +++++++. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . r r +++r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II III III Cyatheo mannianae - Moussaendetum odoratae typicum Bussmann 1994 D Di dymoc hl a e na t r unc a t ul a S +++++++. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III Albizzietum gummiferae Bussmann 1994 (D.1.I.a) C Al bi z z i a gummi f e r a T C Al bi z z i a gummi f e r a S C Al bi z z i a gummi f e r a +22+12+r . . ++ +. ++++ +. . r r +. +++++ ++r +. +. +++. ++ . . . . . . . . . . . +++++++. . +r . r . +. ++ . r . . r +. r r +. . ++. . ++. +. +. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ++++. + . . . r . ++. +1++ . . . . . . . +. ++. . . . . . . . . . . . . V IV IV III V II III Zanthoxyllion gillettii Bussmann 1994 (D.1.II) C Ant hoc l e i s t a z a mbe s i a c a T C Se c a mone punc t ul a t a . . . . . . . . . . . . ++. +++ . ++. + ++r . r r + . . . . . . . r . . +. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +. ++r . ++++ . . . . . ++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II D Myrianthetum holstii Bussmann 1994 (D.1.II.a) D Myr i a nt hus hol s t i i T D Myr i a nt hus hol s t i i S . . . . . . . . . . . . r . . +++ ++. ++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +. . r . . r . . r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Myrianthetum holstii tiliacoretosum funiferae (D.1.II.a.1) D Ti l i a c or a f uni f e r a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ++++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IV Myrianthetum holstii tiliacoretosum funiferae - Alangium chinense variant (D.1.II.a.1.1) D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D Al a ngi um c hi ne ns e S Ha l l e r i a l uc i da T Ha l l e r i a l uc i da S Pt e r i s de nt a t a s s p. f l a be l l a t a Ens e t e e dul e S Hunt e r i a z e yl a ni c a S Pe r i pl oc a l i ne a r i f ol i a Tr i me r i a gr a ndi f ol i a S Ca e s a l pi ni a de c a pe t a l a S Cr ot on s yl va t i c us T Cr ot on s yl va t i c us S Se nna c f . di dymobot r ya S Af r a momum ke ni e ns e Ci s s us ol i vi e r i Vi t e x ke ni e ns i s T Vi t e x ke ni e ns i s S Tr i c i l i a e me t i c a S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . rr. r +22+. + ++1. ++ ++. r ++ . +. +++ r. rrr. . ++. ++ rr. . . r +. . r +. . . ++. + . . . +. + . . r. . . . . . r. . . r. r. . . r ++++ . . . ++. . . +. . + ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... . +. . . . . +. . ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ++++. . . ++. r . +r r . . r. . ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. +. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... ..... ..... ++++r ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... III V V V IV IV IV III III III II I I II V II II I V I I IV II IV I Myrianthetum holstii mitragynietosum rubrostipulatae (D.1.II.a.2) D D D D D Mi t r a gyni a r ubr os t i pul a t a T Mi t r a gyni a r ubr os t i pul a t a S Fi c us s ur T Cus s oni a s pi c a t a T Cus s oni a s pi c a t a S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. r. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +22++ +++++ +++. + . ++r . . ++. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. +r .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. r. .. .. +222+++ ....... ++r . . ++ ++. . . ++ ++. ++++ 22+1221 +r . r +. r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V V V IV III +21+1++ +++. r +r ++. r r +. ++. +r ++ +++++++ 2212221 ++. ++++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V r r ++r ++ ++. ++++ . +++. ++ 12+222+ ++22++2 21+2222 +. +++++ +. ++. . r ++. ++++ r . . +r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ++2122+ ++12++2 +++. +++ ++. +r . . ++++. . . ++. . r . . 3554522 +++++++ ++++1++ +2112+2 ++. . r ++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355453 ++++++ ++r r ++ 223232 +. +++. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lovoion swynnertonii (D.1.III) C C C C C D D Ra ws oni a l uc i da S Uva r i ode ndr on a ni s a t um T Uva r i ode ndr on a ni s a t um S He i ns e ni a di e r vi l l e oi de s S Ri nor e a c onva l l a r i oi de s S Lovoa s wynne r t oni i T Lovoa s wynne r t oni i S III III I V V IV IV V IV V V Lovoetum swynnertonii (D.1.III.a) C C C D D D D D D D Adi a nt hum hi s pi dul um Uva r i a s c he f f l e r i S Ryt i gyni a ne gl e c t a S Chr ys ophyl l um gor gunos a num T Chr ys ophyl l um gor gunos a num S Fi l i c i um de c i pi e ns T Fi l i c i um de c i pi e ns S Er yt r oc oc c a f i s c he r i S Pr e mna ma xi ma T Pr e mna ma xi ma S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V V IV V V V V III V III Argomuelleretum macrophyllae (D.1.III.b) C C C C C C D D D D D Te c l e a t r i c hoc a r pha S Hi l l e r i a l a t i s t i f ol i a S Me i ne c ki a phyl l a nt hoi de s S Uva r i a l uc i da S Pl e i oc a r pa pyc na nt ha S Dr ype t e s na t a l e ns i s S Ar gomue l l e r a ma c r ophyl l a S Er yt r oc oc c a bonge ns i s S I xor a s c he f f l e r i S Bl i ghi a uni j uga t a T Bl i ghi a uni j uga t a S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V V V IV IV III V V V V IV Newtonio buchananii - Phoenicetum reclinatae (D.1.II.b) C C C D D Ne wt oni a buc ha na ni i T Ne wt oni a buc ha na ni i S Ne wt oni a buc ha na ni i Phoe ni x r e c l i na t a T Phoe ni x r e c l i na t a S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ++++ . . +. r . . . ++ ++r +. r ++. . 22+++ r . +r r . . . ++ . ++++ . . +. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . III II II IV III V IV II IV V V V V V IV Juniperetea procerae Bussmann 1994 (A) D Sa ni c ul a e l a t a D St i pa dr e ge a na S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ++++++ +. +++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424423 33455 V V V V Faureo salignae - Ilicetum mitis Bussmann 1994 (A.1.I.a) D D D D Fa ur e a s a l i gna T Fa ur e a s a l i gna S I l e x mi t i s T I l e x mi t i s S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +2222+ ++. +r . 332233 ++r . r + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V IV V V Sinarundinarietea/-etalia/-ion alpinae Bussmann 1994 (C.1.I.) C Cype r us de r e i l e ma S C Se l a gi ne l l a kr a us s i a na D Si na r undi na r i a a l pi na S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +++r r + +2222 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252344 332+1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33+1+ V V V V V V V V V V III Sinarundinario alpinae - Podocarpetum latifolii Bussmann 1994 (C.1.I.a) D D D D Podoc a r pus l a t i f ol i us Podoc a r pus l a t i f ol i us Ra pa ne a me l a nophl oe os Ra pa ne a me l a nophl oe os D: Differential Species T S T S rr. ++. ... ... . . . . . . . . +. ++2+2 . ++++++ ....... ....... . . . . C: Character Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T: Tree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323322 ++++++ ...... ...... 44354 ++212 +r r . r +. . . + IV IV S: Shrub Companions vegetation types of Gakoe, Ngaia and Nyambeni Hills Ocotetea usambarensis (D): Neoboutonia macrocalyx, Neoboutonia macrocalyx S, Arisaema mildbraedii, Smilax kraussiana, Setaria megaphylla, Casearia battiscombei T, Casearia battiscombei S, Lobelia gibberoa S, Pavetta hymenophylla S Syzygetalia guineensis (D.1): Hymenophyllum melanotrichum, Thelypteris strigosa, Tectaria gemmifera, Tetradenia riparia S, Macrothelypteris aubertii Cyathion mannianae (D.1.I): Amauropelta bergiana, Cystopteris fragilis, Pteris pteridioides, Elatostemma monticola, Dregea schimperi, Pentas lanceolata, Asplenium abyssinicum, Rhytigynia uhligii S, Pneumatopteris unita, Ritchiea albersii S, Ficus thoningii T, Drymaria cordata, Hydrocotyle mannii, Galiniera coffeoides T, Galiniera coffeoides S, Centella asiatica Cyatheo mannianae - Afrocranietum volkensii: Rubus pinnatus S, Pleopeltis macrocarpa, Euphorbia ugandensis Cyatheo mannianae - Moussaendetum odoratae: Diplazium nemorale, Dahlbergia lactea S Albizzietum gummiferae (D.1.I.a): Peponium vogelii, Psychotria fractinervata T, Psychotria fractinervata S, Hypolepis sparsisora S, Drynaria volkensii, Clerodendrum johnstonii S, Cannaria eminii, Clausena anisata S, Dovyalis abyssinica S, Laportea alatipes, Asparagus racemosus, Impatiens fischeri, Elaphoglossum acrostichoideus, Keetia gueinzii S, Monanthotaxis parviflora S Myrianthetum holstii mitragynietosum rubrostipulatae (D.1.II.a.1): Impatiens elegantissima, Impatiens telekii, Ocimum gratissimum S, Ocotea kenyensis T. Ocotea kenyensis S, Oyxanthus speciosus S, Solanum sessilistellatum, Urera hypselodendra, Scutia myrtina S Lovoetum swynnertonii (D.1.III.a): Cola greenwayii T, Cola greenwayii S, Streptocarpus montanus, Crassocephalum crepidioides, Chaetacme aristata S, Doryopteris kirkii, Cussonia holstii T, Eulopia horsfallii Argomuelleretum macrophyllae (A.1.III.b): Croton macrostachyus T, Croton macrostachyus S, Tricilia dregeana T, Tricilia dregeana S, Markhamia lutea T, Markhamia lutea S, Oxyanthus speciosus S, Teclea nobilis T, Teclea nobilis S, Pavetta abyssinica S, Celtis gomphophylla T, Celtis gomphophylla S Newtonio buchananii - Phoenicetum reclinatae (D.1.II.b): Phyllanthus fischeri S, Triumfetta macrophylla S, Cissamphelos friesiorum, Dracaena steudneri T, Solanecio angulatus, Pteris catoptera Juniperion procerae (A.1.I): Impatiens meruensis, Jasminum abyssinicum S, Nuxia congesta T, Nuxia congesta S, Thalictrum rhynchocarpum, Peperomia abyssinica, Dryopteris manniana, Anthriscus sylvestris, Agrocharis incognita, Pileea usambarensis var. veronicaefolia, Dracaena afromontana S, Rubus keniensis S, Carex chlorosaccus, Loxogramme abyssinica, Asplenium monanthes Faureo salignae - Ilicetum mitis (A.1.I.a): Chlorophytum sparsiflorum, Lepidotrichilia volkensii T, Lepidotrichilia volkensii S, Pycnostachys meyeri, Micrococca holstii S, Cassipourea malosana T, Cassipourea malosana S, Vernonia galamensis ssp. afromontana S Sinarundinarietea/-etalia/-ion/-etum alpinae (C.1.I.a): Parochetus communis, Schefflera volkensii T, Plantago palmata, Zehneria scabra, Stephania abyssinica, Galium aparinoides, Prunus africana T, Prunus africana S, Maytenus heterophyllus S, Myrsine africana S, Plectranthus kamerunensis, Polygala sphenoptera Afromontane forests: Asplenium aethiopicum, Asplenium friesiorum, Asplenium linckii, Achyranthes aspera, Bersama abyssinica T, Bersama abyssinica S, Ekebergia capensis T, Ekebergia capensis S, Arachnoides foliosa, Asparagus africanus, Englerina woodfordioides, Plectranthus sylvestris S Table 6: Forest vegetation types of the Loita Hills Cl a s s Or de r Al l i a nc e As s oc i a t i on Suba s s oc i a t i on Fa c i e s A A. 1 I a 1 II a 1 1 2 Re l e vé - Numbe r 1234567891111 11111122222222 223333 0123 45678901234567 890123 Numbe r of Spe c i e s 7444545433334 85566683566666 545556 0527491568850 14875809328911 930680 Constancy Juniperetea procerae Bussmann 1994 (A) C C D D D I s ogl os s a gr e gor i i Ac hyr a nt he s a s pe r a J uni pe r us pr oc e r a T J uni pe r us pr oc e r a S St i pa dr e ge a na S +++++++++++++ ++++++++++. ++ 2233233332233 +. +++. +++. +++ +344333++222+ +. ++++++. r ++++ ++. +++++. ++++. +r r r . r r . . r r . +r . . . . . . r . . . +r . r r r . +. r +++. ++++ ++. +++ ++++++ r. . rr+ . . . r. r 344355 V V V V V V IV IV II V V V IV II V V V III II III I II I III V II II I IV III IV V IV V III III IV III V V III V III II V V II II V V V IV IV IV IV V IV V V IV I II V II V IV IV IV IV IV III III II III I Juniperion procerae Bussmann 1994 (A.1.I) C Ol e a e ur opa e a s s p. a f r i . T C Ol e a e ur opa e a s s p. a f r i . S +22+122442332 r . +r r . r . r . . . r r r r . . r . +++++++++++++ . . . . . . +. r . . r r . . . . . r . Ehrharto erectae - Juniperetum procerae Bussmann 1994 (A.1.I.a) D Ehr ha r t a e r e c t a ++. ++r r ++++. + . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V Ehrharto erectae - Juniperetum procerae warburgietosum ugandensis (A.1.I.a.1) D Wa r bur gi a uga nde ns i s T D Wa r bur gi a uga nde ns i s S D Sc hoe noxi phi um l e hma nni i 2232333+. ++++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +. ++++++. +++. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +22212+++++++ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V V V Cassipourion malosanae Bussmann 1994 (A.1.II) C C C D D D D D I l e x mi t i s T r . . . r +. . . . . . I l e x mi t i s S . . . . r. . . . . . . Hypoe s t e s a r i s t a t a S r. . rr. r. . r. . Ca s s i pour e a ma l os a na T 221+2++++r +. Ca s s i pour e a ma l os a na S +. . ++. . . . +. . Ol e a c a pe ns i s s s p. hoc hs t . Tr r . . . r . . . . . . Ol e a c a pe ns i s s s p. hoc hs t . S+. . . . +. . . . . . Ol e a c a pe ns i s s s p. hoc hs t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . r + . . . . +. r ++. +. ++. ++r r . . . +. r +. . r r . + 454445+. r ++. r + 32333244434434 ++. +r +++. +++. + ++++++r . +r r . r r +. +++. +. . . r . . . +r r . +r . . +. r . . . +. ++. + +. r r . . ++. +++ 232232 +. . . ++ ++++++ +++. . + . +. . . + Tecleo nobilis - Tecletum simplicifoliae Bussmann 1994 (A.1.II.a) C C C C C D D Podoc a r pus f a l c a t us T Podoc a r pus f a l c a t us S Te c l e a nobi l i s T Te c l e a nobi l i s S Er yt hr oc oc c a bonge ns i s S Te c l e a s i mpl i c i f ol i a T Te c l e a s i mpl i c i f ol i a S 4342232223222 ++r r +r +++r . . r +. r r +. . . . . . . . +. . . ++. . . . . . . ............. .......... ... ............. 43544355435453 ++++++++++++++ ++. +++21+22+12 +1++++222+2++2 +. r ++. r r +. r +. + . +r ++. +. r r +++. +++++++. ++++r + 443222 . +. r r + ++. +++ +++. ++ ++r +. + . +. . . . . . ++. . Tecleo nobilis - Tecletum simplicifoliae oplismenetosum hirtelli (A.1.II.a.1) D D D D D D D D D D D D Opl i s me nus hi r t e l l us Oc hna i ns c ul pt a T Oc hna i ns c ul pt a S Gi a r di ni a di ve r s i f ol i a Pa ve t t a a bys s i ni c a S Pe pe r omi a t e t r a phyl l a Ta r e nna gr a ve ol e ns S Ve r noni a a ur i c ul i f e r a S Sol a num s e s s i l i s t e l l a t um Dor yopt e r i s ki r ki i Al l ophyl l us a bys s i ni c us T Al l ophyl l us a bys s i ni c us S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. +21+22++++5335 +. . r . . r . . . . ++. +. ++r ++. ++++r + +. r r . +. . r . r +. + ++. r +++. ++++. + +r r +++r . ++r . . r +. . +r ++. +++. +. +++. +++. ++++. + . r . . r . ++. . r +. . . . . ++. . . r . +. . +. +. +. . . . . . . . +r . ++. . . . +. . . . ++. D: Differential Species C: Character Species T: Tree . +. . . . ...... ...... ...... +. . +. + +. . . +. . . . . +. . . +. . . +. ++. + ...... ...... . +. . . . III II I I III I S: Shrub Companions Loita Hills Ehrharto erectae - Juniperetum procerae (A.1.I.a): Maytenus undata S, Dovyalys abyssinica S Ehrharto erectae - Juniperetum procerae warburgietosum ugandensis (A.1.I.a.1): Prunus africana T, Prunus africana S, Asparagus falcatus, Chlorophytum sparsisorum, Cyperus dereilema S, Olinia rochetiana T, Olinia rochetiana S, Jasminum abyssinicum S, Nuxia congesta T, Nuxia congesta S, Loxogramme abyssinica, Senecio syringifolius, Clematis simensis Tecleo nobilis - Tecletum simplicifoliae (A.1.II.a): Ficus thoningii T, Urera hypselodendra, Asparagus setaceus Tecleo nobilis - Tecletum simplicifoliae oplismenetosum hirtelli (A.1.II.a.1): Acalypha volkensii S, Aerangis thomsonii, Celosia anthelmetica, Cissamphelos pareira, Clausena anisata S, Cynanchum abyssinicum, Cyrtorchis arcuata, Justicia diclipteroides, Pilea rivularis, Vangueria infausta S, Solanecio mannii S, Solanum acculeastrum, Cuscuta kilimanjari, Pycnostachys meyeri, Halleria lucida T, Halleria lucida S, Thunbergia alata, Pupalia lappacea, Droguetia iners Cassipourion malosanae (A.1.II): Aneilema pedunculosum, Phyllanthus fischeri S, Bersama abyssinica T, Bersama abyssinica S, Urtica massaica S, Panicum calvum, Solanum terminale S Juniperetea procerae (A): Podocarpus latifolius T, Podocarpus latifolius S, Asplenium aethiopicum, Cyathula cylindrica, Leucas volkensii, Rubia cordifolia, Rhamnus prinoides S, Plectranthus sylvestris S, Peperomia abyssinica, Zehneria scabra, Agrocharis incognita, Euphorbia ugandensis, Galium aparinoides, Ekebergia capensis T, Ekebergia capensis S, Cyphostemma maranguensis, Asparagus racemosus, Maytenus heterophyllus S, Asplenium theciferum, Pleopeltis macrocarpa, Basella alba, Canthium schimperi S, Peddiea fischeri S, Psydrax schimperiana S Forest - grassland transition zone: Abutilon longicuspe, Lepisorus excavata, Ocimum gratissimum S, Toddalia asiatica S, Clutia abyssinica S, Albizzia gummifera T, Albizzia gummifera S, Mimulopsis alpina S, Mimulopsis alpina, Achyrospermum schimperi S, Kostelzia adoensis, Osyris lanceolata S, Solanum indicum, Solanum nigrum, Crassocephalum montuosum Table 7: Forest vegetation types of Ngong Road and Karura forests (Nairobi) Cl a s s A Or de r A. 1 Al l i a nc e III As s oc i a t i on a Suba s s oc i a t i on 1 Fa c i e s 1 2 Re l e vé - Numbe r 1234567891111 11111122222222223 0123 45678901234567890 Numbe r of Spe c i e s 4454554454456 56544565555556555 8909309317793 91896538404381874 Constancy Brachylaenion huillensis Bussmann 1994 (A.1.III) C C C C D D D D Ca l ode ndr um c a pe ns e T Ma yt e nus he t e r ophyl l us S Dr ype t e s ge r r a r di i S Euc l e a di vi nor um S Br a c hyl a e na hui l l e ns i s T Cr ot on a l i e nus S Ac oka nt he r a s c hi mpe r i T Ac oka nt he r a s c hi mpe r i S ++++++++++1++ +++++++++++++ +++++++++++++ +++++++++++++ 2323222222232 ............2 ++22+22+1+122 +++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++ +2++2222+++2222+2 +++++++++++++++++ 32222122323222212 22232233332232222 . . 21221. . . . . 21221 +++++++++++++++++ V V V V V I V V V V V V V V III V I V IV IV V Crotono megalocarpi - Brachylaenetum huillensis Bussmann 1994 C D D D Pt e r ol obi um s t e l l a t um S Cr ot on me ga l oc a r pus T Cr ot on me ga l oc a r pus S Gr e wi a s i mi l i s S . . . . . . . . . . . ++ 2323343233222 ++r +. +++. . +. + ............. . +++. +++. . +++++++ 33+++++++++++++++ ................. +. r +. . +r ++. r r ++++ IV Elaeodendro buchananii - Brachylaenetum huillensis Bussmann 1994 (A.1.III.a) C C C C D D D D D Te c l e a s i mpl i c i f ol i a T Te c l e a s i mpl i c i f ol i a S Oc hna i ns c ul pt a T Oc hna i ns c ul pt a S El a e ode ndr on buc ha na ni i T El a e ode ndr on buc ha na ni i S Te c l e a t r i c hoc a r pa T Te c l e a t r i c hoc a r pa S Opl i s me nus bur ma nni i 4342244322344 ++2++22+r ++++ +++++++++++++ +. ++. +++++++. 32++2+232+2+2 +++++++++++++ +++++++++++++ ++r ++++++++++ +r +r r ++++r +++ 22+321++222+++221 1++++1+++++21++++ . . r . . . . +r . ++r r +. . +r . . +r ++++. ++++++ 2222232++2+222232 +++++++++++++++++ ++22222+2222++22+ ++++++++++++. ++++ 22534553342353455 V V V V V V V V V V V III IV V V V V V IV IV III III III II II II II IV IV IV IV IV IV III III III Elaeodendro buchananii - Brachylaenetum huillensis acokantheretosum longifoliae (A.1.III.a.1) D D D D D D D D D Ac oka nt he r a l ongi f ol i a S ++++r . +. . +. +. Gni di a s ubc or da t a S ++. . +r +. +. ++r Ca s s i pour e a r ot undi f ol i a T +. ++. +. +++. . + Ca s s i pour e a r ot undi f ol i a S r +. . . . +. +r . ++ Ma ni l ka r a di s c ol or T . +r . +. . +. . +. + Tur r a e a momba s a na S . r . +++. . . +. . + Al bi z z i a s c hi mpe r i a na T . . ++. . . . +. . ++ Al bi z z i a s c hi mpe r i a na S . r +. . . . ++. . r . Mi mus ops kume l S . . +r +. . . . . +. r +++. +r r +++. . . ++++ r ++. . . r r . . ++++r ++ . +++. ++. +. +++++r + r . . r r +r . +++r r +. ++ +r . . +r r +++. . . ++r . +++ r r +r . . +r ++. . + . ++. r +++. . . . +r +r . ++. . . . ++r . . . r ++. . . r r . . +r . r . . ++r +. . Elaeodendro buchananii - Brachylaenetum huillensis acokantheretosum longifoliae - Phyllanthus obovalifolius facies (A.1.III.a.1.1) D D D D D D Phyl l a nt hus obova l i f ol i us Sc hr e be r a a l a t a S Ve r noni a hol s t i i Hi bi s c us c or ymbos us Ba r l e r i a mi c r a nt ha Oc hna s l e ume r i S 3333344233342 2+21+22+2+++2 2332232223+22 2333222233332 3222331223323 ++. ++++++. +++ +++. . . r ++r +++. . ++ +++. ++++++. . +++ + +++. r ++. . . ++++r ++ ++r ++. . +++++. . . ++ ++. r ++++. r r +++++r ................. V V V V V IV V IV IV V I V V V III IV IV IV III III III III Elaeodendro buchananii - Brachylaenetum huillensis accokantheretosum longifoliae - Chaetacme aristata facies (A.1.III.a.1.2) D D D D D D D D D D D Cha e t a c me a r i s t a t a S Pa ni c um ma xi mum St r yc hnos us a mba r e ns i s S Ade ni a gummi f e r a Te c l e a ha na nge ns i s T Te c l e a ha na nge ns i s S Uva r i a s c he f f l e r i S Ma r kha mi a l ut e a T Oc hna ova t a S Za nt hoxyl um us a mba r e ns e T Cr a i bi a br owne i S D: Differential Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ++ ... ..+ ..+ ... ... ..r . +r ++r ... ..+ 22+222+++2222222+ ++34433233+443332 +2222+22211++2221 +r . . r r +. . ++. . . r +. ++. +. . +++. +. ++r . + r +. r . r r ++. . r . ++r . r . +r ++r ++. r +. . +++ . . r r +. r . . . ++r . . +r r . . . r r . . ++r . . . r +. . r r +. . . . r . ++r . . +. +. r . . . ++r . +. . . r r . C: Character Species T: Tree S: Shrub I I I I II I Companions Ngong Road and Karura forests (Nairobi) Brachylaenion huillensis (A.1.III): Toddalia asiatihca S Crotono megalocarpi - Brachylaenetum huillensis (A.1.III.a): Rhus natalensis S, Cassipourea malosana T, Cassipourea malosana S, Ficus thoningii T Elaeodendro buchananii - Brachylaenetum huillensis (A.1.III.a): Stipa dregeana S, Asparagus setaceus, Scutia myrtina S, Schoenoxiphium lehmannii, Olea europaea ssp. africana T, Olea europaea ssp. africana S, Clausena anisata S, Maytenus undata S, Allophyllus abyssinicus S, Dombeya spec. S, Elaeodendro buchananii - Brachylaenetum huillensis acokantheretosum longifoliae (A.1.III.a.1): Suregada procera S, Erythrococca bongensis S, Warburgia ugandensis T, Chionanthus battiscombei S, Celtis africana T, Hippocratea africana S, Canthium keniense T, Strychnos henningsii T, Strychnos henningsii S, Albizzia gummifera S, Rawsonia lucida S, Diospyros abyssinica S Elaeodendro buchananii - Brachylaenetum huillensis acokantheretosum longifoliae - Phyllanthus amara facies (A.1.III.a.1.1): Pavetta spec. S, Trema orientalis S, Mystroxylon aethiopicum S, Cyphostemma spec. E, Viscum fischeri, Ehretia cymosa S, Fagaropsis angolensis S, Asparagus africanus Elaeodendro buchananii - Brachylaenetum huillensis acokantheretosum longifoliae - Chaetacme aristata facies (A.1.III.a.1.2.): Psydrax schimperiana S, Newtonia buchananii T