First record of the North African Launaea arborescens in southern Africa

Authors

  • Antje Burke EnviroScience, P.O. Box 90230, Klein Windhoek, Namibia.
  • Coleen Mannheimer P.O. Box 193, Windhoek, Namibia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38201/btha.abc.v53.i1.7

Keywords:

Kuiseb Delta, Namib Desert, forestry, exotic plant, invasive alien

Abstract

The first record of the non-native, naturalised Launaea arborescens (Batt.) Murb. in the Namib Desert raised  questions of its origin and whether or not it could pose a threat to the indigenous vegetation. The North African plant was introduced in a forestry nursery in the Kuiseb Delta and some individuals were also planted outside the nursery in the early 1970s. They have maintained a likely viable population for nearly 50 years, but have so far not been observed elsewhere and thus appear not to be spreading.

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Published

2023-04-11

How to Cite

Antje Burke, & Mannheimer, C. (2023). First record of the North African Launaea arborescens in southern Africa. Bothalia, African Biodiversity & Conservation, 53(1). https://doi.org/10.38201/btha.abc.v53.i1.7