The Mafinga Mountains, Zambia:: Report of A Reconnaissance Trip, March 2018

THE MAFINGA MOUNTAINS, ZAMBIA:
Report of a reconnaissance trip, March 2018
October 2018
Jonathan Timberlake, Paul Smith, Lari Merrett, Mike Merrett, William Van
Niekirk, Mpande Sichamba, Gift Mwandila & Kaj Vollesen
Occasional Publications in Biodiversity No. 24

Mafinga Mountains, Zambia: a preliminary account, page 2 of 41
SUMMARY
A brief trip was made in May 2018 to the high-altitude grasslands (2000–2300 m) on the
Zambian side of the Mafinga Mountains in NE Zambia. The major objective was to look at
plants, although other taxonomic groups were also investigated. This report gives an outline
of the area's physical features and previous work done there, especially on vegetation, as well
as an account of our findings. It was done at the request of and with support from the Wildlife
and Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia under a grant from the Critical
Ecosystem Partnership Fund.
Over 200 plant collections were made representing over 100 species. Based on these
collections, along with earlier, unconfirmed records from Fanshawe's 1973 vegetation study,
a preliminary checklist of 430 taxa is given. Species of particular interest are highlighted,
including four known endemic species and five near-endemics that are shared with the Nyika
Plateau in Malawi. There were eight new Zambian records.
Based on earlier studies a bird checklist is presented, followed by a brief discussion on
mammals and herps. More detailed accounts are given on Orthoptera and some other
arthropod groups.
A discussion on the ecology and range of habitats is presented, with particular focus on
the quartzite areas that are rather similar to those on the Chimanimani Mountains in
Zimbabwe/ Mozambique. The role of fire is also discussed.
Five conservation recommendations are given ranging from reducing the incidence of
wildfires and development of the ecotourism potential to the neccessity for further basic
biodiversity survey work.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to thank the Mafinga District Agricultural Officer, Mr Elias Kunda, who
accompanied us. Alan Gardiner and Colin Congdon provided information on butterflies, while
Bob Dowsett provided comments on the bird section and additional references. Kaj Vollesen
(RBG Kew) carried out most of the plant identifications, while Nicholas Wightman identified
the orchids.
Photo credits: JT - Jonathan Timberlake; WN - William Van Niekirk; LM - Lari Merritt
Occasional Publications in Biodiversity No. 24

Biodiversity Foundation for Africa, P.O. Box FM 730 Famona, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
1. INTRODUCTION
The Mafinga Mountains (sometimes termed the Mafinga Hills) are a relatively small montane
massif in north-eastern Zambia lying between 9o55' and 10o00' S and 33o15' and 33o25'E along
the border with Malawi (White 1962, Fanshawe 1973). Its total extent above 1500 m is here
estmated at around 120 km2. Perhaps 30% of the massif above this altitude is in Malawi
(although Fanshawe suggests only 10%), but the greater part lies in Zambia (Figure 1). Falling
within the newly-created Mafinga District in Muchinga Province of Zambia (formerly in
Northern Province), and in Chitipa District in Malawi, the nearest towns or larger settlements
are Isoka in Zambia some 75 km away to the south west, while Chitipa is 26 km away to the
north west in Malawi.
Montane habitats such as those found on the Mafingas are of limited extent in Zambia, being
confined to a small part of the Nyika Plateau some 80 km to the south-east and to the Makutu
mountains 50 km to the south. They are thus of particular interest from a biodiversity viewpoint.
Although a significant amount of information exists on the birds found there (see section on
birds and Leonard 2005), and an unpublished but detailed account on the plants and vegetation
was written almost 50 years ago (Fanshawe 1973), much less is known on other groups of
organisms or on the conservation significance and threats on the plateau.
Because of its importance as a watershed, and having being provisionally designated a priority
Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF 2012a, see
also https://www.cepf.net/our-work/biodiversity-hotspots/eastern-afromontane/) under its
Eastern Afromontane Hotspot initiative, the Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Society
of Zambia (WECSZ) developed a Conservation Action Plan for the area involving riparian
forest rehabilitation, species inventory, alternative livelihood promotion and other activities to
help with conservation (WECSZ 2015). Particular focus is being given to ensuring the integrity
of the upper Luangwa river catchment. In order to assist this project, and with the support of
WESCZ, a small group of biologists and interested individuals planned a 5-day trip to the
Zambian side of the Mafingas from 10 to 14 March 2018 in order to make a preliminary
collection of plants, to add to the bird list, to look at arthropod groups (especially Orthoptera),
and to assess the current habitat condition and any conservation issues. Team members were:
Lari and Mike Merrett (Mutinondo Wilderness Area, Mpika, Zambia), Gift Mwandila
(WESCZ), Elias Kunda (Muchinga Agricultural Officer, Chifungwe), Mpande Sichamba
(Forest Research Division, Kitwe), Paul Smith (Botanic Gardens Conservation International,
UK), Jonathan Timberlake (independent botanist, UK) and William Van Niekirk (Lusaka).
The starting point for this trip was the small town of Chifungwe (Thendele) from where we
drove on what was often a very bad road to the small village of Maliko at 1530 m altitude. From
there the team walked through miombo woodland on the steep southern slopes following the
Insinza River up to the plateau at 2000 m. The full route taken, and subsequent trek across the
plateau, is shown in red on the Google Earth image (Figure 2). The team camped close to a
small patch of Afromontane forest at 10o00'10.0"S, 33o19'49.2", alt. 2213 m, which was used
as a base for the following three field days.
This report gives an account of this fieldtrip and its findings, along with a discussion of earlier
studies, particularly on plants and vegetation. Some preliminary conclusions are also given
regarding the conservation status and importance of the Mafingas, and some recommendations
to WESCZ and others on conservation actions that could be taken.
Figure 1. Map sheets of Zambia (1:250,000 scale) showing the Mafinga Mountains.
2. PHYSICAL FEATURES
Lying 25–30 km south-southwest of the Misuku Hills in northern Malawi, the Mafinga
Mountains appear as a massif, albeit not as large as those of the Nyika and Mt Mulanje, and
rise abruptly some 500–700 m above the surrounding plains of the Mid-Tertiary erosion surface.
The metamorphosed rocks belong to the Mafinga System and are composed of quartzites,
phyllites and feldspathic sandstones of sedimentary origin
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mafinga_Hills). Owing to the steep dips of the quartzite that
forms the upper parts, the slopes here are very steep and frequently precipitous. About 32 km
in length and running north-north-west and south-south-east, the relatively narrow plateau is
dissected by deep ravines. Towards the south the massif splits into several parallel ridges, with
transverse ridges at each end (White 1962). The international boundary between Malawi and
Zambia follows the watershed on the eastern side, with drainage into the Upper Lufira River on
the Malawi side and into the Luangwa River on the Zambian side.
Figure 2. Google Earth image of the Mafinga Mountains showing the international
border (yellow line) and tracks taken by the 2018 trip (red lines).
Above c.1500 m the plateau is around 120 km2 in extent (calculated from Google Earth), while
Dowsett-Lemaire (2006) suggests 42 km2 in Malawi and Leonard (2005) gives 130 km2 for
Zambia. The CEPF description of the Mafingas Key Biodiversity Area (CEPF 2012a, KBA no.
144) shows the area as being 187.2 km2 in extent, but the boundary appears to be rather
simplistically defined, possibly incorporating just the Forest Reserves in Zambia and Malawi.
For unknown reasons, the actual Eastern Afromontane Hotspot boundary (CEPF 2012b) differs
significantly from that of the KBA, presumably in error.
The flat and undulating plateau is mostly at an altitude of 2100 to 2200 m, with peaks along the
international border reaching 2330 m. The highest point indicated on published maps appears
to be just over 7600 ft (2316 m) on the Zambia 1: 50,000 scale map series, or 7750 ft, (2362 m)
on the 1: 250,000 series, but a GPS reading taken at what appears to be one of the highest points
was 2330 m. Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mafinga_Hills) gives the highest point
as Mafinga Central at 2339 m altitude.
No rainfall or other climatic data appear to be available for the Mafingas, although records for
11 years are noted by White (1962) from Chisenga in Malawi, not far from the eastern
footslopes (altitude 1525 m). Here main annual rainfall, presumably recorded in the 1950s, was
972 mm with four months receiving more than 100 mm of rain, and only 11 mm (1.09%) falling
in the six months May–October. But, as he notes, the mountains are frequently enveloped in
cloud at higher altitudes and rainfall is likely to be significantly higher than this. White suggests
that rainfall is less than it is in the Misuku Hills, and the dry season more pronounced.
3. PLANTS AND VEGETATION
Past Studies and Vegetation

The main account on the vegetation and plants of the Mafinga Mountains is the comprehensive
listing by Denys Fanshawe (Fanshawe 1973) as part of his series of district vegetation accounts
of Zambia. This account only covers the larger Zambian portion, but it appears he visited both
sides of the border. The detailed book on the evergreen forest flora of Malawi (White, Dowsett-
Lemaire & Chapman (2001), although mentioning the Mafingas, contains no further detail,
although they are mapped as an area with Afromontane forest. Likewise, White's earlier book
(White 1962) on the forest flora of Zambia also mentions the mountains, but with no botanical
detail. More significant are the publications by Jim Chapman & Frank White (1970) on the
evergreen forests of Malawi, and the series of papers by Françoise Dowsett-Lemaire on forest
vegetation in Malawi (Dowsett-Lemaire 1989). Both these contain detail on vegetation and
plant species composition from the Malawi side that are probably equally valid for the Zambian
side.
Regarding the vegetation of the Mafingas as a whole, it may be best to use Fanshawe's own
words (Fanshawe 1973):
"The highest parts of the mountains are predominantly covered by montane grassland,
smooth in a few places but rocky in most. Hill miombo woodland covers most slopes,
sometimes up to the crests. Some ridges are almost completely bare or with a sparse cover
of montane scrub. Where the valleys begin to flatten out riparian forest is bordered by a
narrow fringe of secondary chipya, reduced almost to a very luxuriant scrub of shrubs and
tall herbs. Montane forest can be vaguely differentiated into a moister submontane forest
along the streams and a drier montane forest as a fringe. Some of the submontane and
most of the montane forest is secondary, the latter varying from low forest to scrub.
The vegetation in general compares well with that of the much better preserved Makutu
Mountain forests, but not so well to that of the Nyika plateau. The total woody flora –
forest, woodland, scrub and grassland – is of the order of 400-450 species, of which 360
are so far known."
Chapman & White (1970) describe well the miombo woodland and riverine forests:
"Except in the gorges, Brachystegia woodland ascends to about 1830 m (6000 ft),
consisting chiefly of Brachystegia microphylla [now B. tamarindoides subsp.
microphylla] above and Brachystegia taxifolia and Uapaca kirkiana below. Above 1830
m the rocky slopes are occupied by an open shrubland with Protea, Vellozia [Xerophyta],
Aeschynomene nyikensis and Helichrysum densiflorum.
Below the gorges, Adina microcephala [Breonadia salicina] is the most conspicuous
streambank tree. With it may be found Bridelia micrantha, Cyathea dregei, Ficus
capensis and Syzygium cordatum. At the entrance to the gorges the streambank forest
becomes much more luxuriant and the species begin to change. Ficalhoa laurifolia is
particularly abundant, associated with Macaranga kilimandscharica [M. capensis],
Parinari excelsa and Polyscias fulva; Cephaelis peduncularis [Psychotria peduncularis]
is common in the understorey. Further back in the depths of the gorges, where the streams
come cascading down between rocks thickly covered with moss and ferns, and the fronds
of Marattia fraxinea [Ptisana fraxinea] arch out over the water, the forest reaches its best
development. Here Entandrophragma and Chrysophyllum can be found with

Tabernaemontana johnstonii [T. stapfiana] and Myrianthus holstii common in the
understorey. Higher up, above the waterfalls, the forest becomes increasingly stunted
though it persists in the ravines almost to the lip of the plateau. Here Cassipourea
congoensis [C. malosana], Olinia usambarensis [O. rochetiana], Podocarpus
milanjianus and Rothmannia fischeri are all common species."
The actual Afromontane forests are described in some detail by Dowsett-Lemaire (1989),
although this refers primarily to the Malawi side:
"The forests have a somewhat broken canopy and no emergents. The dominant large trees
(in the north) are Albizia gummifera, Ficus capensis, Macaranga capensis, Parinari
excelsa and Prunus africana. At the bottom of Chisenga Gorge (1600 m), Harungana
madagascariensis reaches the 25 m high canopy and Syzygium guineense subsp.
afromontanum is dominant. Macaranga kilimandscharica [now also M. capensis]
appears higher up (1700 m) and overlaps with M. capensis. At that altitude, Canthium sp.
(10-12 m tall) is not uncommon in the understorey. The one Malawi record of Teclea
simplicifolia [Vepris simplicifolia] comes from shrubby growth near the crest of the
northern range, near 2000 m. The fern flora is rather poor, especially in epiphytes; but the
epiphytic orchid Aerangis carnea occurs in numbers....."
In Fanshawe's account (Fanshawe 1973) he described the vegetation under seven 'national'
categories, with lower altitude and upper altitude forests, riparian forest along watercourses,
just one type of miombo woodland, and up on the plateau two montane vegetation types,
grassland and scrub. Rather than describing these again based on our limited observations,
Fanshawe's account, greatly simplified here, is given below. Nomenclature has been updated
where certain and the main focus is on the principal trees and shrubs.
1. Closed Forest
A. Climatic
1. Chipya scrub
2. Submontane forest
(a) Secondary submontane forest
3. Montane forest
(a) Secondary montane forest
B. Edaphic
4. Riparian forest
2. Open Forest
1. Hill miombo woodland
3. Grasslands
1. Montane grassland
2. Montane scrub
Secondary Chipya Scrub: A tangle of shrubs and tall herbs to 2-3 m with occasional emergent
tree to 6 m on deep valley soils; probably only an extension of secondary montane forest with
Piliostigma thonningii and Azanza garckeana. Characteristic is Acacia abyssinica, along with
Harungana madagascariensis and the shrubs Dissotis princeps, Bothriocline longipes,
Platostoma rotundifolium, Heteromorpha arborescens, Leonotis equisetiformis[?], Tecoma
capensis and Baccharoides adoensis. There are few climbers but Clematis brachiata,
Microglossa pyrifolia, Mikania natalensis and Tragia benthamii are frequent.
Figures 3 & 4. Miombo woodland, middle slopes of Mafingas [JT]; Uapaca robynsii [JT].
Submontane Forest: A typical 3-storey evergreen forest with canopy dominants at c.24 m,
especially Parinari excelsa and Syzygium guineense subsp. afromontanum along streamsides,
and Ficalhoa laurifolia, Macaranga capensis, Podocarpus milanjianus and Polyscias fulva.
Smaller trees include Aphloia theiformis, Cassipourea malosana, Diospyros whyteana,
Garcinia smeathmannii, G. volkensii, Olea capensis and Tricalysia pallens. Common shrubs
include Chassalia cristata, Mellera nyassana, Mostuea brunonis, Peddiea fischeri and
Psychotria succulenta. Climbers are Artabotrys stolzii, Landolphia buchananii, Opilia
amentacea and Tiliacora funifera. The ground layer is bare or with a sparse cover of
Acanthaceae or Oplismenus grass. In this area the forest is mostly secondary, occurring in gaps,
the main trees being Bersama abyssinica, Neoboutonia melleri and the climbing fern
Dicranopteris linearis.
Montane Forest: Forming a drier fringe to the moister submontane forest, the evergreen
canopy is c.15 m high, with dominants of Aphloia theiformis, Faurea saligna, Nuxia floribunda
and Rapanea melanophloeos. The main shrub is Psychotria djumaensis, while climbers include
Landolphia buchananii, Smilax kraussiana and Tiliacora funifera. On the fringes the vegetation
is secondary, similar to chipya scrub found lower down, and trees are absent. Common shrubs
include Aeschynomene schliebenii, Dissotis princeps, Dodonaea viscosa, Harungana
madagascariensis, Erica benguelensis, Protea madiensis, Pycnostachys sphaerocephala,
Tecomaria capensis and Xerophyta equisetoides. On the fire-induced ecotone stands of Bracken
fern Pteridium aquilinum occur.
Riparian Forest: A comparatively low forest, 12 m high, on lower reaches of streams. Apart
from Cyathea and Osmunda most common species are lowland. Common trees are Breonadia
salicina, Bridelia micrantha, Englerophytum magalismontanum, Faurea saligna, Gardenia
imperialis and Syzygium cordatum. Shrubs include Psychotria peduncularis, Craterispermum
laurinum, Cyathea dregei, Dodonaea viscosa, Maesa lanceolata, Pycnostachys
sphaerocephala and Raphia farinifera. Osmunda regalis is the only common plant at shrub
level, while Dalbergia arbutifolia is the only common climber.
Hill Miombo Woodland: A variable open woodland on the slopes occasionally right up to the
crests. It becomes more open with a more restricted composition with altitude. At lower levels
Brachystegia bussei, B. longifolia, B. manga and Julbernardia paniculata are dominant,
frequently with Anisophyllea boehmii. At mid-levels B. manga and B. bussei disappear to be
replaced by Brachystegia spiciformis and Julbernardia globiflora, while at the highest level
Brachystegia tamarindoides appears. Near the crest the woodland becomes open with just
Monotes africanus, Uapaca robynsii and Protea petiolaris. Smaller trees throughout include
Protea petiolaris, P. rupestris, Syzygium guineense subsp. macrocarpum and Uapaca kirkii,
with the tree heather Erica pallidiflora and Uapaca robynsii on the upper slopes. Common
shrubs include Haumaniastrum rupestre, Xerophyta equisetoides and Vernonia bellinghamii.
Climbers are virtually absent.
Figure 5. View north over Mafingas grasslands [JT].
Montane Scrub and Grassland: The highest parts of the mountains support a suffrutex
grassland, with grass cover directly related to the amount of outcropping rock and depth of soil.
With outcropping rock, a relatively smooth tussock grass/suffrutex sward is seen, but as
outcropping rock increases, rock crevice suffrutexes, shrubs and small trees become dominant.
The grass/sedge sward contains small clumps of Protea heckmanniana while rocky sites are
dominated by the shrubs Aeschynomene rubrofarinacea, A. schliebenii, Dissotis lanata, Erica
benguelensis, Protea madiensis, P. petiolaris and locally P. wentzeliana, Tephrosia interrupta
and Xerophyta equisetoides. Subshrubs in the scrub grassland include Haumaniastrum
rupestre, Aloe duckeri, Diplolophium zambesianum, bracken Pteridium aquilinum and
Vernonia poskeana.
Fanshawe also says that, from his viewpoint, the best-preserved forest is at Mulangale on the
mid-western slopes. He is rather dismissive of other forest patches – "... Mulangale Forest is
too small to make protection worthwhile even if protection could be enforced so far from
civilization. There will always be fires in the montane grasslands and the forest has almost
reached the stage when it is no longer worthwhile protecting. It is rapidly being degraded and
encroached upon, oddly enough by miombo dominants, e.g. Brachystegia spiciformis, along its
upper edge" – and also, surprisingly, of the 'frequently burnt' montane grasslands.
Our observations in 2018 supported this earlier work. Miombo woodland, with clear signs of
disturbance and past cutting and regeneration in places, was seen going up to the lip of the
plateau at around 2100 m (Figure 3). Brachystegia tamarindoides subsp. microphylla was most
common, or even restricted to, outcrops of quartzite of fine-grained sandstone at above 1900
m, and the Uapaca kirkiana found lower down was replaced by U. robynsii at around 1800 m
(Figure 4). There was a noticeable lack of epiphytes, which are often seen in such situations.
We did not pass through any patches of evergreen or riparian forest (other than very thin fringes
flanking the Insinza stream) on our ascent.
Figures 6 & 7. Upland grassland (L) and shallow quartzite outcrops on ridge [JT].
Once on the plateau, we visited only few and very small Afromontane forest patches (Figure
5). These relatively small patches consist of larger trees (to 15 m high), mostly Agarista
salicifolia with Myrica serrata on the margins. At the forest edge, a shrubby fringe is seen,
often with bracken fern Pteridium aquilinum, small shrubs and woody herbs.
Our main focus was on the grassland vegetation (Figures 6 & 7), and any of the endemic or
restricted-range species found there. A major finding in that regard, elaborated upon later in
Section 5, was the difference in geomorphology and soils between the quartzite/fine-grained
sandstone substrates and those on medium-textured sandstone or schists. The vegetation also
differed in its structure and in the proportions of some species, but whether certain species are
confined to just one substrate and not found on the other was not determined. It would be
interesting to investigate further whether any of the known Mafinga endemics are confined to
the more nutrient-impoverished quartzite soils, as is the case in the Chimanimani Mountains
along the Zimbabwe-Mozambique border.
Plant Species
The total number of plant specimens collected in 2018 was 217 (numbers from Lari Merrett,
Mpande Sichamba, Paul Smith, Jonathan Timberlake and two others), representing 109
different species. Unfortunately, many of them became mouldy after inadequate drying, hence
some identifications are uncertain and many were too poor to accession into the Kew herbarium.
Identifications were done by Kaj Vollesen at RBG Kew, Nicholas Wightman (Lusaka) looked
at the orchids, and Elena Phiri (NDO) did some preliminary identifications. A complete set of
specimens was deposited at the Forest Herbarium in Kitwe (NDO).
From these collections, sight records, and records cited in Fanshawe (1973) with updated
nomenclature, a preliminary checklist was compiled (Annex 1). Unfortunately, nearly all
Fanshawe's records do not cite a specimen so it has not been possible to get confirmation. The
checklist contains a total of 430 confirmed taxa from 110 families, comprising 10
Pteridophytes, 2 gymnosperms, 379 dicotyledons and 39 monocotyledons. The main families
are shown in Table 1.
With more complete plant collecting, including in the forests and miombo woodlands on the
upper slopes and carried out at different times of year, we estimate a complete checklist would
be expected to cover around 550 to 600 species.
Figure 8. Interesting species from the Mafinga grasslands [all JT]. Top L, Protea kibarensis subsp.
cuspidata; top R, Xerophyta equisetoides or X. nutans; middle, Dissotidendron lanatum (endemic);
bottom L, Ochna cf. confusa; middle, Lapeirousia erythrantha; bottom R, Moraea schimperi.
Figure 9. Further interesting species from the Mafinga Mountains [all LM]. Top L, Helichrysum
tillandsiifolium; top R, Eriosema lebrunii; bottom, Streptopcarpus sp. nov? from quartzite rock
crevices at high altitude.
Table 1. The main six families in terms of species number

recorded from the Mafinga Mountains.
Family no. species

Rubiaceae 46
Leg.: Papilionoideae 45
Asteraceae 41
Lamiaceae 20
Leg.: Caesalpinioideae 17
Proteaceae 11
Plants listed by CEPF (2012a) as being priority species within the KBA are shown in Table 2,
essentially because they were believed to be endemic. Endemic is here defined as a taxon that
is only known from the Mafinga Mountains in either Zambia or Malawi, whilst near-endemic
is a taxon that is also known to occur on the Nyika and/or Makutu hills. As can be seen, three
of the 11 taxa (species or subspecies) listed were included in error as they are moderately
widespread, being found also in southern Tanzania on as well as on the Nyika (Ocimum
obovatum subsp. crystallinum and Rytigynia adenodonta) or are not known to occur on the
Mafingas at all (Cyphostemma vollesenii). It is not clear how these species got incorporated
into the CEPF list. Another important taxon, Protea heckmanniana subsp. heckmanniana,
known just from the Mafingas and the Nyika Plateau (see Chisumpa & Brummitt 2006: 81),
should also be included.
All nine restricted-range taxa, endemic or near-endemic, occur in montane grassland above
2100 m altitude, and only two of these also occur in high-altitude miombo woodland. However,
one, the shrub Dissotidendron lanatum (previously known as Dissotis lanata), seemed to us to
occur primarily on rocky outcrops, not in woodland. Taxa from montane grassland can often
be restricted to just one or two mountains, whilst miombo woodland species can be widespread
over large areas, as are Afromontane forest species. In part this reflects the limited extent and
great separation of montane grasslands across south-central Africa. The Nyika, for example,
has 33 endemic species (1.7% of its flora) while Mt Mulanje has 71 (5.4%), and most of these
are found in the grassland or montane scrub areas (Wursten, Timberlake & Darbyshire 2017).
Of the four Mafinga endemics and five near-endemics shown in Table 2, we found only three
on the 2018 trip – Cyphia mafingensis, Dissotidendron lanatum (Figure 8c) and Protea
kibarensis subsp. cuspidata (Figure 8a). Given the frequency of quartzite outcrops at high
altitude, and the nutrient-deficient soils that result, it is possible there are more endemics to be
found. A similar quartzite crag and grassland environment on the Chimanimani Mountains on
the Zimbabwe–Mozambique border, for example, has 74 known endemic plant species
(Wursten et al. 2017), although from a significantly larger area (530 km2).
One interesting find was of a species of prostrate herb Streptocarpus (LM 2397), growing in
quartzite crevices under a Podocarpus tree at c.2300 m altitude (Figure 9d). This was
unmatched in the Kew Herbarium and appears to be potentially new. Other collections of
interest were of very range-restricted species (Aframni longiradiatum, Spermacoce samfya) or
represent new records for Zambia (Pimpinella mulanjiensis, Impatiens eryaleia, Crassula alba,
Eriosema lebrunii (figure 9b) Kotschya uguenensis, Lotus goetzei, Cyphia mafingensis and
Lippia baumii var. nyassensis), although in nearly all cases the species is known from not far
over the Malawi border on the Nyika Plateau. There would appear to be eight new records for
Zambia, according to available records at Kew.
Although Cyphia mafingensis is a Mafinga endemic, it was previously only known from one
specimen in the northern part of the range on the Malawi side; it is likely to be more common
than the few records suggest. Pimpinella mulanjiensis was believed to be endemic to Mt
Mulanje in southern Malawi, but was later found on Mt Namuli in northern Mozambique; this
is now the most northerly record.
Spermacoce samfya appears to have a very strange distribution. This is only the second record,
the first being from seasonally flooded grassland around Lake Bangweulu in northern Zambia,
a quite different habitat and at a much lower altitude (1200 m rather than 2200 m). It is possible,
of course, that these represent two different taxa, but with the existing material they are not
convincingly separable. Within the Apiaceae family, Aframni longiradiatum also has a strange
distribution. It is otherwise only known from Kalambo Falls in far north-eastern Zambia and
just over the border in Katanga in the D.R. Congo, again in a quite different habitat.
Table 2. Listed 'priority' plant species for the Mafinga KBA (from CEPF consultancy
database).
Family Species Notes

Lamiaceae Ocimum obovatum Benth. in error?: also Nyika & S Tanzania,
subsp. crystallinum (A.J.Paton) Brachystegia woodland above 2000 m
A.J.Paton
Lobeliaceae Cyphia mafingensis Thulin Mafinga endemic, montane grassland at
2300 m
Melastomataceae Dissotidendron lanatum (A.& R. Mafinga endemic, upper Brachystegia
Fern.) Ver.-Lib. & Kadereit woodland. Also exposed quartzite
(previously Dissotis lanata A.& outcrops
R.Fern.)
Orchidaceae Polystachya mafingensis Mafinga endemic, epiphyte in montane
P.J.Cribb grassland/woodland above 2200 m
Orobanchaceae Buchnera crassifolia Engl. Mafinga near-endemic (also Nyika),
montane grassland
Orobanchaceae Buchnera nitida Skan Mafinga near-endemic (also Nyika),
montane grassland to 2400 m
Phyllanthaceae Phyllanthus mafingensis Radcl.- Mafinga endemic, montane grassland at
Sm. 2300 m
Proteacaeae Protea mafingensis (Chisumpa Mafinga near-endemic (also Nyika),
& Brummitt) Beard montane grassland above 2000 m
Proteaceae Protea kibarensis Hauman Mafinga near-endemic (Zam + Mal, also
subsp. cuspidata (Beard) Makutus), montane grassland above 2100
Chisumpa & Brummitt m
Rubiaceae Rytigynia adenodonta in error: also Nyika & S Tanzania,
(K.Schum.) Robyns var. montane forest above 2100 m
adenodonta
Vitaceae Cyphostemma vollesenii Verdc. in error: only known from Tanzania
Species to be added
Proteaceae Protea heckmanniana Engl. Mafinga near-endemic (also Nyika),
subsp. heckmanniana montane grassland above 2100 m
One interesting species is Podocarpus elongatus (Figure 10). This has previously been recorded
from the Mafinga Mountains (Chapman 58 (K) and Angus 828 (K), both collected in 1952) and
from the Chimanimani Mountains at a similar altitude (Timberlake et al. 2016: 48), but
otherwise appears to be only recorded from the Cape Region of South Africa (Farjon 2010,
Farjon & Filer 2013). In both the Mafingas and Chimanimanis the trees are stunted, but do not
look out of place, growing in similar situations on exposed quartzite outcrops, and also (in
Chimanimani) at lower altitudes (± 1000 m) on bare rocks at the edge of riverbeds. Although
very similar morphologically, to the point where it is difficult to separate them (the leaves of P.
elongatus are significantly shorter, despite its specific name!), this species is quite different in
form and habitat from Podocarpus milanjianus, which is a fairly large montane forest tree.
There appears to be confusion with the taxonomy, which may only get resolved with genetic
studies. Ecologically P. elongatus is a clearly separate entity from the forest P. milanjianus,
although they do occur on the same mountains.
Figure 10. Podocarpus elongatus, tree and fruits, summit ridge of Mafingas [JT].
4. FAUNA
Birds
There have been two published studies of the avifauna of the Mafingas in Zambia (Dowsett &
Stjernstedt 1973 and Leonard et al. 2001), while from the Malawi side a brief account is found
in Dowsett-Lemaire (2006) with more detail available in Dowsett-Lemaire (1989). Additional
information on the birds is given in Aspinwall (1976) and Dowsett, Berry & Foot (2003). These
accounts resulted in the area – upland grassland and the surrounding miombo woodlands,
totalling c.1300 ha – being designated as a Zambian Important Bird Area (no.39, Leonard
2005). The IBA was not mentioned in the initial book on African IBAs (Fishpool & Evans
2001) either under Zambia or Malawi but was added in later with the advent of increased
knowledge. Recently, an ornithological study of the whole montane and woodland area was
carried out by BirdWatch Zambia, funded by CEPF, resulting in a list of 207 species (Reynolds
& Willems 2018).
Leonard mentions a total of 144 bird species recorded from the Zambian portion of the
Mafingas, an area that includes miombo woodland, montane grassland, Afromontane and
riparian forest. The species that help define the IBA are the restricted range species Sharpe's
Akalat (very localised resident), Black-lored Cisticola (scarce resident) and Chestnut-headed
Apalis (common resident). In addition, there are 38 biome-restricted species – 18 Afromontane
endemics, 12 Afromontane near-endemics, 1 sub-Afromontane endemic, 1 Eastern near-
endemic, 3 Zambezian endemics and 5 Zambezian near-endemics.
A preliminary checklist is given as Appendix 2 based solely on Dowsett & Stjernstedt (1973),
the IBA account and our own observations. More species could be added from the bird atlases
for Malawi and Zambia (Dowsett-Lemaire & Dowsett 2006 (updated by Dowsett-Lemaire
2006) and Dowsett et al. 2008, respectively) and the other studies mentioned earlier, but this is
not done here.
Mammals
The mammal fauna is said to be not well known (Leonard 2005), although the area is included
in publications by Ansell and others (Ansell & Ansell 1973, Ansell 1974, Ansell 1978, Ansell
& Dowsett 1988).
The most comprehensive account of mammals in the Mafinga Mountains is that of Ansell &
Ansell (1973). Recorded species (abbreviations in brackets indicate IUCN conservation
assessments) include Chequered Elephant Shrew Rhynchocyon cirnei subsp. reichardei (LC),
Common Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia (LC), Common Mole Rat Cryptomys hottentotus (LC),
Red-legged Sun Squirrel Heliosciurus rufobrachium subsp. mutabilis (LC), Mozambique
Thicket Rat Grammomys cometes (LC), Red Rock Rat Aethomys chrysophilus (LC), Delectable
Soft-furred Mouse Praomys delectorum (LC), Yellow-spotted Brush-furred Rat Lophuromys
flavopunctatus (LC), Grey-bellied Mouse Mus triton subsp. murillus and Giant Mastiff Bat
Otomops martiensseni (NT). Species occurring in the Mafingas with limited distribution in
Zambia include Welwitsch's bat Myotis welwitschii (LC), Smith's Red Rock Hare Pronolagus
rupestris (LC), Lesser Pouched Rat Beamys hindei and the Nyika Bush-rat Aethomys nyikae.
In the past, occasional lion (Panthera leo) were reported to occur on the Mafingas, and
Burchell's Zebra (Equus burchelli), Wild Pig (Potamochoerus porcus), Roan Antelope
(Hippotragus equinus) and Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) were all recorded during earlier
scientific expeditions (see Ansell & Ansell 1973 pp. 64-65).
On the present trip we surprisingly did not note any sign of rock rabbit, hyrax or small buck in
the form of droppings, although a small troop of Yellow Baboons Papio cynocephalus were
seen. It is possible that there never were any significant herds of larger herbivores present in
the past, owing probably to the relatively small size of the grasslands and also to its poor forage
quality compared to the far more extensive grasslands on the Nyika Plateau and the high
frequency there of the palatable grass Themeda triandra, which we did not see at all up on the
Mafinga plateau. Indeed, the grasslands mostly comprise sourveld grasses, which are not
particularly good or able to support larger numbers of grazers. Given the lack of raptors seen
by us, this may indicate that there are also few small mammals in the grasslands.
Reptiles & Amphibians

No records appear to exist on the herpetofauna of the Mafingas, although a checklist is available
for the rather similar Nyika Plateau (Broadley 2013) and there is an earlier checklist for Zambia
as a whole (Broadley 1971). Jeffery (1993) records that the Mafinga Hills are home to an near-
endemic reptile, the Nyika Dwarf Chameleon (Chamaeleo goetzei nyikae), and also the Nyika
Dwarf Toad (Bufo loennbergi).
On the present trip a small puff adder (Bitis arietans) was seen, and numerous frogs were heard
calling including Nutt's river frog Amietia nutti (Boulenger, 1896) and the sharp-nosed grass-
frog Ptychadena oxyrhynchus (Smith, 1849); there is a previous photographic record of a
puddle frog, which may be Phrynobatrachus mababiensis FitzSimons, 1932. Descriptions of a
second snake seen by a guide are consistent with a bush-snake, Philothamnus sp., of which
several species are likely present in the area. Being very overcast, cold and wet, the period there
was not the most suitable for seeing cold-blooded animals.
Lepidoptera
According to Leonard (2005) there is a possibly endemic butterfly Iolaus stewarti on the
Mafingas. However, this species is also recorded from the Nyika (Alan Gardiner, pers. comm.
June 2018, Congdon n.d.). Populations of the restricted-range Pilodeudorix zelomina are found
on both the Mafingas and the nearby Makutu mountains, while Iolaus pamelae, which breeds
on Phragmanthera and Erianthemum (Loranthaceae) and which Leonard says is very local, is
actually quite widespread across north-eastern Zambia (Alan Gardiner, pers. comm.). There is
a species of Lepidochrysops taken from the Mafingas by Ivan Bampton which may be
undescribed, although similar specimens have been recorded near Mutinondo some 350 km to
the southwest (Alan Gardiner, pers. comm.).
A full butterfly checklist is available for the Nyika Plateau nearby (Congdon n.d.), and many
of these species can be expected to occur on the Mafingas.
Orthoptera
Although both Nyika and Mbala have been reasonably well surveyed previously, there do not
appear to be existing records of Orthoptera from the Mafingas. A total of 19 species of the order
were recorded from the various levels of the mountain on the present trip, of which three cannot
be identified from material seen or collected (immatures). Five widespread, fully flighted
species were recorded in upland areas, of which the grass-mimic Acrida coronata Steinmann
1963, Dnopherula cruciata (Bolivar 1912), Heteropternis couloniana (Saussure 1884) and the
Nigerian Locust Oedaleus nigeriensis Uvarov 1926 (all true grasshoppers, family Acrididae)
were abundant in montane grasslands and scrub, while the Giant Leaf Katydid Arantia fasciata
(Walker, 1869) (family Tettigoniidae) was present only in wooded areas around streams; of
these, A. coronata, D. cruciata and A. fasciata are essentially restricted to eastern and southern
Africa, while H. couloniana and O. nigeriensis are present over much of sub-Saharan Africa.
All of these species, with the possible exception of A. coronata, can be found in a wide range
of habitats, including relatively disturbed areas. Some of therse are shown in Figure 11.
Seven flightless, range-restricted species were also recorded from Mafinga's montane
grasslands:
Chokwea bredoi Uvarov, 1953 (Acrididae), a grasshopper so far known only from the types
from Mbala;
Acrophymus veseyi Dirsh, 1963 (Acrididae), which is recorded across the eastern portion of
Zambia and into southern Tanzania;
Lophothericles carinatus Descamps, 1977 (Thericleidae), recorded from Nyika and other
plateaux within Malawi, but not previously confirmed from Zambia;
Stenoscepa obscura (Kevan, 1962) (Pyrgomorphidae), a blubber locust described from Mbala
which is also recorded from southern Tanzania (with some Mbala specimens mistakenly
referred to as Zimbabwean by subsequent authors);
Ruspolia near R. lemairii (Griffini, 1909) (Tettigoniidae). If conspecific with R. lemairii, this
flightless conehead katydid is also known from types collected from an unspecified site
in what is now Tanganyika Province of the D.R. Congo, but specimens seen and collected
show distinct differences from Griffini's types so may prove to represent a new species;
An undescribed species provisionally referred to Chortoscirtes Hemp 2010 (Tettigoniidae)
but appearing to me to be intermediate between Chortoscirtes and the related
Melanoscirtes Hemp 2010. A specimen will be forwarded to Dr. Hemp for confirmation
and description as most described species of the East African subtribe Karniellina are
extremely narrow-range endemics thus it is likely to be endemic to the Mafinga Hills;
The armoured cricket Enyaliopsis nyika Glenn, 1991 (Tettigoniidae) previously only recorded
from Nyika.
Of these, only Enyaliopsis nyika was not abundantly recorded, and only Acrophymus veseyi
was detected on the wooded slopes, where it remained fairly conspicuous. Chokwea bredoi,
Ruspolia nr. R. lemairii and the 'Chortoscirtes' were primarily found on grass and continued to
feed on these in captivity, while Lophothericles carinatus was typically found on the legume
Rhynchosia, which it continues to feed on in captivity. No foodplant was identified for the
remaining species but other Enyaliopsis are typically omnivorous.
Figure 6. Orthoptera, Diptera and arachnids from the Mafinga uplands [all WN]. Top L, Ruspolia sp. nr.
R. lemairii; top R, Chokwea bredoi; upper middle L, Stenoscepa obscura; upper middle R,
Lophothericles carinatus; lower middle L, Enyaliopsis nyikae; lower middle R, Chortoscirtes sp. male;
bottom L, Peltacanthina mythoides; bottom R, Nephila senegalensis nyikae.
A further bush-hopper, Lophothericles burri Descamps, 1977 (Thericleidae), was present in

riparian thicket at the headwaters of the Luangwa. Although flightless, this species is distributed
from northern Zimbabwe through the eastern portion of Zambia, likely entering Mozambique
and Malawi. No specimens were taken and the foodplant remains unknown.
Three further species were identified from open woodland on the mountain slopes. Of these,
the armoured cricket Enyaliopsis parduspes Glenn, 1991 (Tettigoniidae) and the painted
grasshopper Poecilocerastis striata Ramme, 1929 are widespread in woodland and distributed
areas across Katanga and much of Zambia, while the bush hopper, Litothericles marginatus
Descamps, 1977, is known previously from type material collected at Mbala.
The three species that could not be satisfactorily identified include:- a singing grasshopper
(Acrididae subfamily Gomphocerinae) of which nymphs were very common in the upper
grasslands (from the small wing-scales of these nymphs, adults of this species may be flightless
and could prove to be another endemic); a leaf katydid (Tettigoniidae subfamily
Phaneropterinae) which appears close in structure to the flightless Brinckiella of South Africa,
of which a single female nymph was found in seepage vegetation; and a true cricket (Gryllidae,
probably subfamily Gryllinae) of which nymphs were relatively common on the wooded slopes,
although no adult males usually necessary for identification of members of this family were
seen or heard.
Other Invertebrates
Excluding caterpillars, nymphs, and largely unidentifiable alates of ants and termites, a further
76 species of non-orthopterans insects (25 Coleoptera, 19 Lepidoptera, 14 Diptera, 8
Hymenoptera, 7 Hemiptera, 1 Odonata and 1 Dictyoptera) were recorded on the current trip, as
well as 7 spiders (Araneae), 1 non-parasitic mite (Trombidiformes), 1 harvestman (Opiliones),
2 tropical millipedes (Spirostreptida), 1 woodlouse (Isopoda) and 2 snails (Gastropoda). A full
list of these is in progress. Species of note include:
Cymatura nyassica Breuning, 1935 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) – seemingly not previously

recorded in Zambia, this species found on the wooded slopes is known from Tanzania
and Malawi.
Catamerus revoili Fairmaire, 1887 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) – likely to belong to
subspecies intermedius Gahan, 1893. Adults and larvae of this darkling beetle were
common and conspicuous on rocks and termite mounds. The species is widespread in
southern and eastern Africa while the subspecies intermedius seems to be largely
restricted to Zimbabwe, Eastern Zambia and Malawi. This likely hyper-parasitic species
was recorded on the wooded slopes of the hills.
Exoprosopa sigmoidea Bezzi, 1912 (Diptera: Bombyliidae) – although widely recorded in
Southern Africa, this bee-fly does not appear to have been previously recorded from
Zambia.
Peltacanthina mythodes Hendel, 1914 (Diptera: Platystomatidae) – although widely, if
patchily, recorded from sub-Saharan Africa, this species was described from Malawi,
including the Nyika Plateau, so its presence at the source of the Luangwa is not
unexpected, but does seem to be the first Zambian record.
Nephila senegalensis nyikae Pocock, 1898 (Araneae: Nephilidae) – although the species
Nephila senegalensis is almost ubiquitous in sub-Saharan Africa, the subspecies nyikae
has apparently not been recorded since its description from the Nyika Plateau in 1898.
Females were fairly common on the wooded slopes, including disturbed areas.
Guruia africana (Karsch, 1878) (Opiliones; Phalangiidae) – the most widespread species of
Guruia, this species is distributed across much of East Africa, but is not previously
recorded from Zambia, where only one other member of the order is known. It was fairly
common, if usually inconspicuous, in montane grassland and scrub.
5. BOTANICAL AND CONSERVATION FINDINGS
Below some of the main botanical, ecological and conservation findings are discussed in more
detail.
Ecology & Substrate

One of the most significant, and previously unreported, findings is that there are two types of
grassland on the plateau at above 2000 m altitude – those on quartzite and metamorphosed fine-
grained sandstone, and those on less-resistant medium- to coarse-textured sandstones or schists.
The former generally consists of hard whitish rock and the terrain is gravelly with many small
low rock outcrops, while the sandstone areas have a much more reddish soil, less gravel and
rock outcrops are rare. This difference can also be seen on Google Earth imagery where the
sandstone areas have a brownish or reddish tinge and smooth texture compared to the rougher
texture and higher reflectance from the quartzite. It can also be seen at a landscape level on the
ground where these sandstone areas have a more gentle, undulating relief, rather than the more
jagged, rocky relief seen in quartzite areas. As in the Chimanimani Mountains, it is suspected
that the quartzite soils are particularly nutrient-impoverished.
On preliminary investigation, there did not appear to be a great difference in vegetation

composition between the two types of grassland, although Xerophyta nutans is far more
common on quartzite, while the endemic Dissotidendron lanatum is more common on reddish
sandstone-derived soils. There are also far more wet flushes as the quartzite substrate is far less
permeable to rain. And any stands of bracken fern Pteridium aquilinum and its associated large-
leaved Vigna kirkii are generally only found on sandstone soils. Lower down, from 1800–2000
m in the miombo woodland, Brachystegia tamarindoides subsp. microphylla seems to be
associated primarily with quartzite.
Interestingly, this is a similar situation to that found in the Chimanimani Mountains on the
Zimbabwe/Mozambique border, where the exceptionally high levels of plant endemism are
associated almost entirely with the quartzite substrates (Wild 1964, Timberlake et al. 2016).
What would be interesting to follow up on is (a) in an analogous situation with that on the
Chimanimanis, once more comprehensive plant collecting has been undertaken are there found
to be more endemic species on the Mafingas, and (b) whether the known endemics are primarily
or only found on nutrient-poor quartzite substrates.
Vegetation Condition
Vegetation above 2000 m is in good condition, although fires are apparently not infrequent.
The woodland from 1500–2000 m, however, has been much disturbed, at least on the southern
slopes, but is still relatively intact and able to regenerate well.
The small patches of Afromontane forest above 2000 m appear to have been affected by
frequent fires, often having 'hard' margins. Continued frequent fire will slowly destroy the
scrubby and regenerating margins and may well lead to a diminution of forest extent.
It was not possible to determine whether the windward and wetter Malawi side of the massif
had better-developed Afromontane forest, or whether grassland on the drier western side
differed from that in the east. The prevailing moisture-bearing clouds come mostly from the
east, from the Indian Ocean coast some 700 km away and across Lake Malawi about 80 km
away. The eastern slopes of the Mafingas should be significantly wetter than the drier western
slopes.
Plant Species
A significant aspect of conservation interest is the range-restricted and endemic species, mostly
plants, that are primarily found up on the grassland plateau above 2000 m altitude. Our
collections did not cover all of these species (see Section 3), but certainly the near-endemic
suffrutex Protea kibarensis subsp. cuspidata (also found on the Nyika Plateau but here seen
only in grassland on reddish sandstone soils) and the endemic Dissotidendron lanatum were
noted to be common, albeit localised.
Interestingly, there was little sign of miombo woodland or typical miombo species occurring
on the plateau itself or above 2000 m. Whether it is just too cold, or whether this is due to poorer
drainage conditions, is not known. Google Earth imagery shows that most miombo occurs up
to 1900 m altitude, but small patches can be seen on the plateau margin up to 2150 m.
On some of the quartzite outcrops small, stunted, small-leaved Podocarpus elongatus trees are
seen, which appear similar to those seen in similar situations on the Chimanimani Mountains.
This is possibly a new taxon, but Podocarpus taxonomy remains unclear. What is new is a
species of Streptocarpus, a herb found in quartzite crevices. This is unmatched with other
species, but more material is required.
Effects of Fire
Fire seems to be the most significant threat to biodiversity and provision of ecosystem services
up on the plateau. Although many grassland and scrub species can withstand it, a high frequency
(say, any particular area burning more often than once every three or four years) is likely to
shift composition towards fire-tolerant and fire-resistant species, hence some interesting but
fire-sensitive species (possibly including some of the endemics) could be lost. It was interesting
to note that nearly all plants of Xerophyta nutans had clear fire scars; the species itself is fire-
tolerant.
Frequent fires seem to have reduced available standing plant biomass across the grasslands
which may have caused, especially in the quartzite areas, a loss of humus and soil leading to
more exposed rock and much more rapid runoff. It was notable that in heavy rains runoff from
the quartzite areas was significantly higher than that from grassland on sandstone/gneiss. This
reduces the integrity and value of the area as a catchment for the upper Luangwa River, as there
is more rapid run-off and lesser storage capacity.
Where there is a forest patch, the soils are significantly more humus-rich and far better drained.
Loss of extent of such patches will also reduce the moisture storage capacity of the plateau.
Conservation Issues
As stated above, high fire frequency is probably the biggest single threat to both biodiversity
and provision of ecosystem services on the Mafinga plateau. Fire itself is undoubtedly natural,
and plants and vegetation have evolved with it, but the present high frequency is man-made.
The cause of fires is probably local people setting fire to the grass in order to provide a green
flush for grazing cattle, or possibly to flush out mammals for hunting.
Cattle were seen to be grazing in the miombo woodland on the slopes, and some dung was seen
across the grasslands. However, the grazing pressure does not seem high; not surprising as the
quality of grasses is quite poor. The presence of cattle up in the open grasslands and without
herders (they are rounded up and brought down to the village only every two or three weeks,
Mwandila, pers. comm.) also suggests a lack of any large predators.
Of particular note is the lack of large mammals up on the top. Given the sourveld grasses that
dominate up there, the plateau probably never had great carrying capacity, or perhaps grass
composition has been altered by repeated fire, but it would be interesting to look more closely
at animal-plant interactions, particularly seed dispersal, to better understand any long-term
impacts on the woody vegetation and general ecology.
Up on the plateau no evidence was seen of harvesting of plants, such as tree cutting, but this
practice was not uncommon in miombo woodland lower down (at least on the southern slopes).
Small patches of coppice were noted, obviously after clearance many years previously, and the
occasional tree of Pericopsis angolensis had been cut to make bee-hives.
6. CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS
1. As a high fire frequency is probably the main conservation issue on the Mafingas, efforts
should be made to try and reduce fire frequency across the plateau grasslands, probably in
the form of awareness-raising and education among the surrounding villages. It is not
suggested that firebreaks are cut or any early-burning measures taken.
2. The ecotourism potential of the massif should be built upon. On both sides there are
gazetted Forest Reserves, so the two Forest Departments are probably a good place to start.
Access is realistically easier and quicker from the Malawi side, so perhaps some form of
cross-border or joint-management between the Zambian and Malawi authorities is
required. Access from the Zambian side would be much easier if the road being built from
Isoka was resumed. If this happened, it would be useful to have a tourism presence from
both the local livelihoods and biodiversity conservation perspectives.
3. Thought could be given to the construction and maintenance of one or two small wooden
rest-huts at suitable locations on the plateau, similar to those seen on Mt Mulanje. These
would not necessarily need to be manned or furnished. Such provision would encourage
more national and international visitors as camping is not easy in the area, with not many
sheltered places. It would also help facilitate formal and informal monitoring of illegal
offtake activities.
4. A more comprehensive survey should be done of the plants of the area with particular
reference to (a) range-restricted species and those of conservation concern, (b)
Afromontane forest patches, and (c) riparian forests coming off the plateau. This is likely
to turn up some new and endemic species, and may also identify species vulnerable to
other threats (e.g. loss of pollinators or seed dispersers). The upper reaches of Mulangale
Forest on the western flanks should also be of interest.
5. A comprehensive bird checklist has recently become available, but surveys looking at other
species groups are now required, particularly reptiles and amphibians, butterflies and small
mammals. For larger mammals a suitable survey time might be just before the rains when
animals are concentrated near water sources. Once complete these surveys should be
published and made more widely available, perhaps a special part of the Journal of Science
& Technology (Zambia) or some other local or regional journal such as Kirkia.
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Tauraco Press & Aves, Liège, Belgium.
Fanshawe, D.B. (1971). The vegetation of Zambia. Forest Research Bulletin No. 7. Division of
Forest Research, Kitwe, Zambia.
Fanshawe, D.B. (1973). Vegetation of the Mafinga Mountains. Forest Research Pamphlet No. 48.
Division of Forest Research, Kitwe, Zambia. 14 pp.
Farjon, A. (2010). A Handbook of the World's Conifers, Vol. 2. Brill, Leiden, Netherlands.
Farjon, A. & Filer, D. (2013). An Atlas of the World's Conifers: An Analysis of their
Distribution, Biogeography, Diversity and Conservation Status. Brill, Leiden, Netherlands.
Fishpool, L.D.C. & Evans, M.I [editors] (2001). Important Bird Areas in Africa and associated
islands: Priority sites for conservation. Pisces Publications & BirdLife International,
Newbury & Cambridge.
Jeffery, R. [editor] (1993). A Guide to Reptiles, Amphibians and Fishes of Zambia. Wildlife
Conservation Society of Zambia, Lusaka.
Johnson, S.A. (2017). Nyika: A Guide to Nyika National Park, Malawi, second edition. Nyika
Vwaza Trust, UK.
Leonard, P.M., Van Daele, P. & Beel, C. (2001). Birds of the Mafinga Mountains. Zambia Bird
Report 1999: 6–15.
Leonard, P. (2005). 39. Mafinga Mountains. In: Important Bird Areas in Zambia, pp.163–165.
Zambian Ornithological Society, Lusaka, Zambia.
Reynolds, L. & Willems, F. (2018). BWZ Mafinga Mountains Survey 2018. The Wattled Crane
48(5): 12–22. BirdWatch Zambia, Lusaka.
Timberlake, J.R., Darbyshire, I., Wursten, B., Hadj-Hammou, J., Ballings, P., Mapaura, A.,
Matimele, H., Banze, A., Chipanga, H., Muassinar, D., Massunde, M., Chelene, I., Osborne,
J. & Shah, T. (2016). Chimanimani Mountains: Botany and Conservation. Report produced
under CEPF Grant 63512. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK.
WECSZ (2015). Conservation Action Plan for Mafinga Hills, 2016–2025. Wildlife and
Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia, Lusaka.
White, F. (1962). Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
White, F. (1983). The Vegetation of Africa. Natural Resources Research No.20. UNESCO, Paris,
France.
White, F., Dowsett-Lemaire, F. & Chapman, J.D. (2001). Evergreen Forest Flora of Malawi.
Kew Publications, Kew, UK.
Wild, H. (1964). The endemic species of the Chimanimani mountains and their significance.
Kirkia 4: 125‒157.
Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated
checklist. Kirkia 19: 70–100.
ANNEX 1. PRELIMINARY PLANT CHECKLIST FOR THE MAFINGA

MOUNTAINS
Records are taken from Fanshawe (1973) – although no specimen citations are available – and
collections made on the present trip. All specimens from 2018 identified by Kaj Vollesen, with
the assistance of Nicholas Wightman (orchids). Nomenclature follows the African Plants
Database and current usage at RBG Kew.
Species / Family Fanshawe types WESZ NOTES
study
PTERIDOPHYTES 1.A1 1.A2 1.A3 1.B 2.1 3.1 3.2
Blechnaceae
Blechnum tabulare (Thunb.) Kuhn X LM2361
Cyatheaceae
Cyathea dregei Kunze (=C. dregeana) X
Cyathea manniana Hook. X
Dennstaedtiaceae
Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn subsp. centrali-africanum X X X s.r.
Hieron (=P. aquilinum)
Gleicheniaceae
Dicranopteris linearis (Burm.f.) Underw. X
Marattiaceae
Ptisana fraxinea (Sm.) Murdock (=Marattia fraxinea) X
Osmundaceae
Osmunda regalis L. X
Polypodiaceae
Pleopeltis macrocarpa (Willd.) Kaulf. LM2409
Pteridaceae
Cheilanthes inaequalis (Kunze) Mett. LM2342
Cheilanthes multifida (Sw.) Sw. LM2388
GYMNOSPERMS
Podocarpaceae
Podocarpus milanjianus Rendle X
Podocarpus elongatus (Aiton) Pers. JT6225,
PS2075
DICOTYLEDONS
Acanthaceae
Blepharis buchneri S.Moore X
Dicliptera maculata Nees subsp. maculata (=D. lingulata) X
Hypoestes aristata (Vahl) Roem.& Schult. X
Hypoestes forskaolii (Vahl) Roem.& Schult. (=H. X X
verticillaris)
Isoglossa strigosula C.B.Clarke X
Justicia nuttii C.B.Clarke LM2389
Justicia nyassana Lindau X
Mellera nyassana S.Moore X
Monechma sp. (DF 11,966) X
Achariaceae
Rawsonia lucida Harv.& Sond. X
Amaranthaceae
Achyranthes aspera L. X
Cyathula cylindrica Moq. X

Anacardiaceae
Lannea discolor (Sond.) Engl. X
Searsia kirkii (Oliv.) Moffett (=Rhus kirkii) PS2086
Searsia longipes (Engl.) Moffett var. longipes X
Searsia magalismontana (Sond.) Moffett subsp. X
magalismontana (=Rhus fanshawei)
Anisophyllaceae
Anisophyllea boehmii Engl. (=A. pomifera) X
Annonaceae
Artabotrys stolzii Diels X X
Monanthotaxis schweinfurthii (Engl.& Diels) Verdc. X
Uvaria angolensis Oliv. X
Aphloiaceae
Aphloia theiformis (Vahl) Benn. X X
Apiacaeae
Aframmi longiradiatum (H.Wolff) Cannon LM2381 v. rare
Diplolophium zambesianum Hiern X X X s.r.
Heteromorpha arborescens (Thunb.) Cham.& Schldtl. X
var. abyssinica (A.Rich.) H.Wolff (=H. trifoliata)
Pimpinella mulanjensis C.C.Townsend LM2380a 1st Zam record
Stegonotaenia araliacea Hochst. X
Apocynaceae
Cryptolepis oblongifolia (Meisn.) Schltr. (=Ectadiopsis X
oblongifolia)
Landolphia buchananii (Hallier f.) Stapf X X
Tabernaemontana stapfiana Britten (=T. johnstonii) X
Aquifoliaceae
Ilex mitis (L.) Radlk. X
Araliaceae
Cussonia arborea A.Rich. (=C. kirkii) X
Cussonia spicata Thunb. X X
Schefflera abyssinica (A.Rich.) Harms X
Asteraceae
Aspilia mossambicensis (Oliv.) Wild X
Baccharoides adoensis (Sch.Bip.) H.Rob. (=Vernonia X
adoensis var. kotschyana)
Berkheya polyacantha Baker LM2405
Berkheya zeyheri (Sond.& Harv.) Oliv.& Hiern X
Bidens crocea O.Hoffm. X LM2335
Bidens pinnatipartita (O.Hoffm.) Wild X X PS2104
Bothriocline longipes (Oliv.& Hiern) N.E.Br. (=Erlangea X X
eupatorioides)
Bothriocline muschleriana Wild & Pope PS2073,
LM2363
Bothriocline trifoliata (De Wild.& Muschl.) Wild & Pope LM2365,
LM2413
Dicoma anomala Sond. X
Distephanus divaricatus (Steetz) H.Rob.& B.Kahn X
(=Vernonia aurantiaca)
Erythrocephalum longifolium Oliv. LM2412
Guizotia scabra (Vis.) Chiov. X
Gymnanthemum myrianthum (Hook.f.) H.Rob. X

(=Vernonia myriantha, V. ampla)
Helichrysum cymosum (L.) Less. X X
Helichrysum densiflorum Oliv. X MP28a
Helichrysum kirkii Oliv.& Hiern var. kirkii X X
Helichrysum mechowianum Klatt var. ceres (S.Moore) X
Beentje (=H. ceres)
Helichrysum milne-redheadii Brenan X
Helichrysum nitens Oliv.& Hiern PS2098
Helichrysum odoratissimum (L.) Sweet X X X
Helichrysum tillandsiifolium O.Hoffm. JT6228,
LM2393
Helinus mystacinus (Aiton) Steud. X
Inula glomerata Oliv.& Hiern X
Laggera brevipes Oliv.& Hiern (=Blumea brevipes) X
Microglossa pyrifolia (Lam.) Kuntze X X
Mikania carteri Baker (=M. cordata) X X
Mikaniopsis tanganyikensis (R.E.Fr.) Milne-Redh. X
Nidorella spartioides (O.Hoffm.) Cronq. X LM2371
Oocephala stenocephala (Oliv.) H.Rob. (=Vernonia X
stenocephala)
Pleiotaxis pulcherrima Steetz X
Polydora bainesii (Oliv.& Hiern) H.Rob. (=Vernonia X
bainesii)
Polydora chloropappa (Baker) H.Rob. (=Vernonia X
chloropappa)
Polydora poskeana (Vatke & Hildebr.) H.Rob. X
(=Vernonia poskeana subsp. poskeana)
Schistostephium artemisifolium Baker X X
Senecio angulatus (Vahl) C.Jeffrey (=S. bojeri) X
Senecio proprior S.Moore LM2347
Solanecio mannii (Hook.f.) C.Jeffrey (=Senecio mannii) X X X
Stomatanthes africanus (Oliv.& Hiern) R.M.King & X LM2338
H.Rob. (=Eupatorium africanum)
Vernonia bellinghamii S.Moore X X
Vernonia polysphaera Baker X
Balsamaceae
Impatiens assurgens Baker PS2087,
LM2356
Impatiens eryaleia Launert PS2068 1st Zam record
Bignoniaceae
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. X
Tecomaria capensis (Thunb.) Spach subsp. nyassae X X PS2083
(Oliv.) Brummitt
Cannabaceae
Celtis africana Burm.f. X
Caryophyllaceae
Silene burchellii Otth PS2085
Celastraceae
Mystroxylon aethiopicum (Thunb.) Loes. (=Cassine X
aethiopica)
Chrysobalanaceae
Parinari curatellifolia Benth. X
Parinari excelsa Sabine X MS535
Clusiaceae
Garcinia huillensis Oliv. X
Garcinia kingaensis Engl. (=G. mlanjiensis) X
Garcinia smeathmannii (Planch.& Triana) Oliv. X
Garcinia volkensii K.Schum. subsp. spathulifolia (Stapf X
& Hutch.) Verdc. (=G. volkensii)
Harungana madagascarensis Poir. X X
Psorospermum febrifugum Spach X
Combretaceae
Combretum molle G.Don X
Connaraceae
Agelaea pentagyna (Lam.) Baill. (=A. ugandensis) X
Convolvulaceae
Ipomoea alpina Rendle LM2408
Crassulaceae
Crassula alba Forssk. PS2105, 1st Zam record
LM2389
Crassula vaginata Eckl.& Zeyh. JT6214
Dipterocarpaceae
Monotes africanus (Welw.) A.DC. X
Ebenaceae
Diospyros abyssinica (Hiern) F.White subsp. abyssinica X
Diospyros hoyleana F.White X
Diospyros whyteana (Hiern) F.White X X
Euclea crispa (Thunb.) Gürke (=E. dekintii) X
Euclea racemosa Murray subsp. schimperi (A.DC.) X
F.White (=E. schimperi)
Ericaceae
Agarista salicifolia (Lam.) G.Don X JT6209,
PS2076
Erica benguelensis (Engl.) E.G.H.Oliv. (=Philippia X X JT6218,
benguelensis) PS2081
Erica mannii (Hook.f.) Beentje subsp. pallidiflora (Engl.) X
E.G.H.Oliv. (=Philippia pallidiflora)
Erica silvatica (Engl.) Beentje (=Blaeria patula) X MS555
Ericinella microdonta (C.H.Wright) Alm & T.C.E.Fr. X
Euphorbiaceae
Acalypha psilostachya A.Rich. X X X X
Euphorbia sp., possibly E. depauperata A.Rich. JT6202
Macaranga capensis (Baill.) Sim var. kilimandscharica X s.r.
(Pax) Friis & M.G.Gilbert (=M. kilimandscharica)
Shirakiopsis elliptica (Hochst.) Esser (=Sapium X
ellipticum)
Tragia benthamii Baker X
Gelsemiaceae
Mostuea brunonis Didr. X
Geraniaceae
Pelargonium luridum (Andr.) Sweet LM2367
Gesneriaceae
Streptocarpus sp. nov.? LM2397
Hypericaceae
Hypericum quartinianum A.Rich. X X
Icacinaceae
Apodytes dimidiata E.Mey. X X
Ixonanthaceae
Phyllocosmus lemaireanus (De Wild.& T.Durand) T.& X
H.Durand
Lamiaceae
Achyrospermum serratum E.A.Bruce X
Aeollanthus buchnerianus Briq. (=A. njassae) X
Aeollanthus engleri Briq. X
Aeollanthus subacaulis (Baker) Hua & Briq. var. linearis LM2406
(Burkill) Ryding
Endostemon dissitifolius (Baker) Ashby X X
Haumaniastrum rupestre (R.E.Fr.) A.J.Paton X X
(=Acrocephalus rupestris)
Leonotis leonurus (L.) R.Br. X X
Leonotis ocymifolia (Burm.f.) Iwarsson var. raineriana X
(Vis.) Iwarsson (=L. mollissima)
Leonotis myrothamnifolia Iwarsson & Y.B.Harvey PS2095
Leonotis pole-evansii Hutch. X X
Ocimum obovatum Benth. subsp. obovatum (=Becium X or ssp.
obovatum) crystallinum
Platostoma rotundifolium (Briq.) A.J.Paton X
(=Geniosporum angolense)
Plectranthus alboviolaceus Gürke X
Plectranthus equisetiformis (E.A.Bruce) Launert X X
Plectranthus esculentus N.E.Br. X
Plectranthus shirensis (Gürke) A.J. Paton X
(=Solenostemon zambesiacus)
Pycnostachys de-wildemaniana Robyns & Lebrun X
Pycnostachys schliebenii Mildbr. X
Pycnostachys sphaerocephala Baker (=P. perkinsii) X X
Stachys pseudonigricans Gürke LM2370
Lauraceae
Cassytha filiformis L. X
Leg.: Caesalpinioideae
Brachystegia bussei Harms X
Brachystegia floribunda Benth. X
Brachystegia longifolia Benth. X
Brachystegia manga De Wild. X
Brachystegia spiciformis Benth. X JT sn
Brachystegia tamarindoides Benth. subsp. microphylla X s.r.
(Harms) Chikuni (=B. microphylla)
Brachystegia taxifolia Harms X
Burkea africana Hook. X
Chamaecrista mimosoides (L.) Green (=Cassia X JT6216,
mimosoides) LM2354
Cryptosepalum exfoliatum De Wild. subsp. pseudotaxus X
(Baker f.) P.A.Duvign.& Brenan
Cryptosepalum maraviense Oliv. X
Dialium angolense Oliv. X
Julbernardia globiflora (Benth.) Troupin X
Julbernardia paniculata (Benth.) Troupin X
Peltophorum africanum Sond. X
Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. X
Pterolobium stellatum (Forssk.) Brenan X

Leg.: Mimosoideae
Acacia abyssinica Benth. X s.r.
Albizia antunesiana Harms X
Albizia gummifera (J.F.Gmel.) C.A.Sm. X X
Dichrostachys cinerea (DC.) Wight & Arn. X
Entada abyssinica A.Rich. X
Newtonia buchananii (Baker f.) G.C.C.Gilbert & X
Boutique
Parkia filicoidea Oliv. X
Leg.: Papilionoideae
Aeschynomene bracteosa Baker X
Aeschynomene oligophylla Harms X
Aeschynomene rubrofarinacea (Taub.) F.White X X
Aeschynomene schliebenii Harms X X X MS sn
Aeschynomene semilunaris Hutch. X
Aeschynomene sparsiflora Baker (=DF 11,970) X
Argyrolobium rupestre (E.Mey.) Walp. subsp. LM2387
aberdaricum (Harms) Polhill
Crotalaria grandistipulata Harms X X
Crotalaria subcapitata De Wild. X
Dalbergia arbutifolia Baker X
Dalbergia lactea Vatke X
Dalbergia nitudula Baker X
Desmodium barbatum (L.) Benth. X
Desmodium repandum (Vahl) DC. X
Dolichos kilimandscharicus Taub. X
Dolichos pseudocomplanatus R.Wilczek X X
Dumasia villosa DC. X
Eriosema buchananii Baker f. PS2094,
LM2373
Eriosema ellipticum Baker (=E. ellipticus) X
Eriosema flexuosum Staner JT6227,
LM2392
Eriosema lebrunii Staner LM2374 1st Zam record
Eriosema nutans Schinz X
Erythrina abyssinica DC. X
Humularia bequaertii (De Wild.) Duvign. X
Indigofera arrecta A.Rich. X
Indigofera emarginelloides J.B.Gillett X
Indigofera patula Baker JT6223,
LM2380
Indigofera podocarpa Baker f.& Martin X
Indigofera rumphiensis Schrire MS567
Indigofera schliebenii Harms (=I. sp. DF 11,938) X
Indigofera subcorymbosa Baker X X
Indigofera sutherlandioides Baker X
Kotschya uguenensis (Taub.) F.White X JT6204 1st Zam record
Lotus discolor E.Mey. X
Lotus goetzei Harms LM2340 1st Zam record
Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. var. pruriens X
Mucuna stans Baker X
Neoboutonia melleri (Müll.Arg.) Prain (=N. africana) X

Pseudarthria hookeri Wight & Arn. MS569
Neorautanenia mitis (A.Rich.) Verdc. X X
Rhynchosia clivorum S.Moore X X
Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. var. nubica Chiov. X
Tephrosia aequilata Baker subsp. aequilata X JT6201,
PS2080,
PS2097
Tephrosia interrupta Engl. X
Vigna kirkii (Baker) Gillett JT6226,
LM2383
Lobeliaceae
Cyphia mafingensis Thulin PS2070 1st Zam record
Lobelia giberroa Hemsl. X X
Loganiaceae
Polyscias fulva (Hiern) Harms X X
Strychnos cocculoides Baker X
Strychnos innocua Delile X
Strychnos lucens Baker X
Strychnos pungens Solered. X
Malvaceae
Abutilon englerianum Ulbr. X
Abutilon longicuspe A.Rich. X
Azanza garckeana (F.Hoffm.) Exell & Hillc. X
Hibiscus mechowii Garcke X
Hibiscus shirensis Sprague & Hutch. X
Urena lobata L. X
Melastomataceae
Dissotidendron lanatum (A.& R.Fern.) Ver.-Lib. & X JT6211,
Kadereit (=Dissotis lanata) PS2062
Dissotis princeps (Kunth) Triana X X MS549
Memecylon flavovirens Baker X
Meliaceae
Ekebergia benguelensis C.DC. X
Ekebergia capensis Sparmm. X
Entandrophragma excelsum (Dawe & Sprague) Sprague X
Lepidotrichilia volkensii (Gürke) Leroy X
Melianthaceae
Bersama abyssinica Fresen. X
Menispermaceae
Cissampelos torulosa Harv. X
Stephania abyssinica (Quart.-Dill.& A.Rich.) Walp. var. X X
abyssinica
Tiliacora funifera (Miers) Oliv. X X
Moraceae
Ficus sur Forssk. (=F. capensis) X s.r.
Myricaceae
Morella salicifolia (A.Rich.) Verdc. & Polhill subsp. X X PS2078
kilimandscharica (Engl.) Verdc.& Polhill (=Myrica
salicifolia)
Myrtaceae
Syzygium cordatum C.Krauss X
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. subsp. afromontanum X

F.White
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. subsp. macrocarpum X
(Engl.) F.White
Ochnaceae
Ochna confusa Burtt Davy & Greenway X ?JT6217
Ochna holstii Engl. X
Ochna puberula N.Robson X
Ochna schweinfurthiana F.Hoffm. X
Olacaceae
Olax obtusifolia De Wild. X
Oleaceae
Jasminum abyssinicum DC. X
Jasminum streptopus E.Mey. X
Olea capensis L. subsp. macrocarpa (C.H.Wright) I.Verd. X
(=O. capensis)
Schrebera alata (Hochst.) Welw. X
Opiliaceae
Opilia amentacea Roxb. (=O. celtidifolia) X
Orobanchaceae
Buchnera crassifolia Engl.
Buchnera nitida Skan FZ record
Buchnera speciosa Skan X FZ record
Oxalidaceae
Oxalis semiloba Sond. LM2396
Pedaliaceae
Sesamum angolense Welw. X
Penaeaceae
Olinia rochetiana Juss. (=O. usambarensis) X
Peraceae
Clutia abyssinica Jaub.& Spach X X
Phyllanthaceae
Bridelia duvigneaudii J.Léonard X
Bridelia micrantha (Hochst.) Baill. X
Phyllanthus mafingensis Radcl.-Sm. FZ record
Phyllanthus parvus Hutch. LM2358
Pseudolachnostylis maprouneifolia Pax X
Uapaca kirkiana Müll.Arg. X s.r.
Uapaca nitida Müll.Arg. var. nitida X
Uapaca robynsii De Wild. X X s.r.
Piperaceae
Piper capense L.f. var. brachyrhachis (C.H.Wright) X
Verdc. (=P. brachyrhachis)
Polygalaceae
Polygala nyikensis Exell PS2093,
LM2394
Polygala virgata Thunb. X
Securidaca longepedunculata Fresen. X
Polygonaceae
Rumex abyssinicus Jacq. LM2403
Primulaceae
Embelia schiperi Vatke X
Maesa lanceolata Forssk. X

Myrsine africana L. X
Rapanea melanophloeos (L.) Mez. X
Proteaceae
Faurea intermedia Engl.& Gilg X
Faurea rochetiana (A.Rich.) Pic.-Serm. (=F. speciosa) X
Faurea saligna Harv. X X X MP40
Protea angolensis Welw. var. divaricata (Engl.& Gilg) X JT6208,
Beard PS2100
Protea heckmanniana Engl. subsp. heckmanniana X FZ record
Protea kibarensis Hauman subsp. cuspidata (Beard) JT6232,
Chisumpa & Brummitt PS2099
Protea madiensis Oliv. X X
Protea mafingensis (Chisumpa & Brummitt) Beard FZ record
Protea petiolaris (Hiern) Baker & C.H.Wright X X
Protea rupestris R.E.Fr. X X
Protea welwitschii Engl. X
Protea wentzeliana Engl. X
Ranunculaceae
Clematis brachiata Thunb. X
Clematis villosa DC. subsp. villosa (=Clematopsis X LM2377
scabiosifolia)
Thalictrum rhynchocarpum A.Rich. X
Rhamnaceae
Gouania longispicata Engl. X
Scutia myrtina (Burm.f.) Kurz X
Rhizophoraceae
Cassipourea gummiflua Tul. X
Cassipourea malosana (Baker) Alston (=C. congensis) X
Cassipourea mollis (R.E.Fr.) Alston X
Rosaceae
Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman X
Rubus apetalus Poir. var. apetalus X X X
Rubiaceae
Anthospermum ternatum Hiern subsp. randii (S.Moore) X
Puff (=A. erectum)
Anthospermum welwitschii Hiern X
Anthospermum whyteanum Britten LM2362
Breonadia salicina (Vahl) Hepper & J.R.I. Wood X
(=Adina microcephala)
Chassalia cristata (Hiern) Bremek. X
Craterispermum schweinfurthii Hiern (=C. laurinum) X
Fadogia arenicola K.Schum.& K.Krause X
Fadogia homblei De Wild. (=F. monticola) X
Fadogia stenophylla Hiern var. odorata (K.Krause) X
Verdc. (=E. odorata)
Fadogia triphylla Baker var. giorgi (De Wild.) Verdc. X
(=F. giorgii)
Fadogiella stigmatoloba (K.Schum.) Robyns X
Galium stenophyllum Baker PS2103,
LM2401
Gardenia imperialis K.Schum. subsp. imperialis X
Gardenia subacaulis Stapf & Hutch. X
Hedythyrsus spermacocinus (K.Schum.) Bremek. X

Hedythyrsus thamnoides (K.Schum.) Bremek. PS2065,
LM2364
Hymenodictyon floribundum (Hochst.& Steud.) X
B.L.Rob.
Keetia venosa (Oliv.) Bridson (=Canthium venosum) X
Leptactina benguelensis (Hook.f.) R.D.Good X
Mussaenda arcuata Poir. X
Mutidentia crassa Bridson & Verdc. (=Canthium X
crassum)
Oldenlandia sp. LM2348
Otiophora parviflora Verdc. LM2334
Otiophora scabra Zucc. subsp. diffusa (Verdc.) Puff X
Pachystigma pygmaeum (Schltr.) Robyns X X
Pavetta crassipes K.Schum. X
Pavetta schumanniana K.Schum. X
Pentas herbacea (Hiern) K.Schum. X
Pentas schimperi (Hochst.) Wieringa subsp. schimperi X
(=P. schimperiana)
Phyllopentas schimperiana (A.Rich.) Kårehed & PS2102,
B.Bremer LM2400
Psychotria djumaensis De Wild. var. zambesiaca X
E.M.A.Petit
Psychotria eminiana (Kuntze) Petit var. eminiana X
Psychotria kirkii Hiern X X
Psychotria peduncularis (Salisb.) Steyerm. (=Cephaelis X
peduncularis)
Psychotria succulenta (Hiern) Petit X
Psydrax kraussioides (Hiern) Bridson (=Canthium X
henriquesianum)
Psydrax livida (Hiern) Bridson (=Canthium huillense) X
Rothmannia engleriana (K.Schum.) Keay X
Rothmannia fischeri (K.Schum.) Bullock subsp. fischeri X
Rutidea fuscescens Hiern X
Rytigynia adenodonta (K.Schum.) Robyns var. FZ record
adenodonta
Rytigynia monantha (K.Schum.) Robyns PS2079
Spermacoce dibrachiata Oliv. PS2106,
LM2379
Spermacoce samfya Verdc. PS2088 2nd record
Tarenna pavettoides (Harv.) Sim subsp. gillmanii X
Bridson
Tricalysia pallens Hiern (=T. myrtifolia) X
Rutaceae
Clausena anisata (Willd.) Benth. X X
Toddalia asiatica (L.) Lam. X
Vepris nobilis (Delile) W.Mziray (=Teclea nobilis) X
Rutaceae
Dovyalis macrocalyx (Oliv.) Warb. X
Flacourtia indica (Burm.f.) Merr. X
Santalaceae
Osyris compressa (P.J.Berg.) A.DC. X X
Osyris lanceolata Hochst.& Steud. PS2077
Thesium fastigiatum A.W.Hill X PS2070,

LM2357,
LM2372
Sapindaceae
Allophylus africanus P.Beauv. X
Allophylus chaunostachys Gilg X
Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. X X
Pancovia golungensis (Hiern) Exell & Mendonça X
Sapotaceae
Chrysophyllum gorungosanum Engl. X
Englerophytum magalismontanum (Sond.) T.D.Penn. X X s.r.
(=Chrysophyllum magalismontanum)
Scrophulariaceae
Crepidorhopalon rupestris (Engl.) Eb.Fisch. JT6207,
PS2064,
LM2337
Hebenstretia angolensis Rolfe MS545
Hebenstretia dentata L. X X
Sopubia mannii Skan X JT6231
Sopubia simplex (Hochst.) Hochst. X
Sladeniaceae
Ficalhoa laurifolia Hiern X
Solanaceae
Solanum aculeatissimum Jacq. X
Solanum rohrii C.H.Wright (=S. indicum subsp. rohrii) X
Sterculiaceae
Dombeya burgessiae Harv. (=D. lasiostylis) X
Dombeya torrida (J.F.Gmel.) Bamps subsp. erythroleuca X
(K.Schum.) Seyani (=D. erythroleuca)
Triumfetta dekindtiana Engl. X
Triumfetta tomentosa Bojer X X
Stilbaceae
Nuxia floribunda Benth. X
Thymelaeaceae
Craterosiphon scandens Engl.& Gilg X
Gnidia buchananii Gilg X
Gnidia glauca (Fresen.) Gilg X
Gnidia kraussiana Meisn. X
Peddiea fischeri Engl. X LM2368
Ulmaceae
Trema orientalis (L.) Blume X
Urticaceae
Myrianthus holstii Engl. X
Verbenaceae
Lippia baumii Gürke var. nyassensis R.Fern. PS2096, 1st Zam record
LM2398
Lippia javanica (Burm.f.) Spreng. X X
Lippia plicata Baker X X
Rotheca myricoides (Hochst.) D.A.Steane & Mabb. X
subsp. myricoides (=Clerodendrum myricoides)
Vitaceae
Cyphostemma vandenbrandeanum (DeWit) Wild & PS2074
R.B.Drumm.
Rhoicissus tridentata (L.f.) Wild & R.B.Drumm. X

Vitex madiensis Oliv. subsp. madiensis X
Ximeniaceae
Ximenia americana L. var. americana X
MONOCOTYLEDONS
Anthericaceae
Chlorophytum pusillum Baker vel. sp. aff. LM2407
Chklorophytum cameroonii (Baker) Kativu var. NN01
pterocaulon (Baker) Nordal
Chlorophytum colubrinum (Baker) Engl. LM2384
Chlorophytum sphacelatum (Baker) Kativu var. LM2350
milanjianum (Rendle) Nordal
Arecaceae
Raphia farinifera (Gaertn.) Hyl. X
Asparagaceae
Asparagus africanus Lam. X
Asparagus racemosus Willd. X
Asparagus setaceus (Kunth) Jessop X
Dracaena laxissima Engl. X
Asphodelaceae
Bulbine abyssinica A.Rich. PS2082,
LM2369
Colchicaceae
Gloriosa superba L. MS539
Commelinaceae
Commelina africana L. sensu lato LM2389a,
LM2402
Commelina kituloensis Faden LM2343
Cyperaceae
Ascolepis capensis (Kunth) Ridl. sensu lato LM2382
Bulbostylis boeckleriana (Schweinf.) Beetle LM2345
Bulbostylis scabricaulis Cherm. LM2411
Bulbostylis filamentosa (Vahl) C.B.Clarke LM2353,
LM2378
Cyperus alternifolius L. subsp. flabelliformis Kük. X
Cyperus angolensis Boeck. LM2376
Kyllinga alba Nees LM2346,
LM2390
Scleria bulbifera A.Rich. LM2352
Dioscoreaceae
Dioscorea schimperiana Kunth (=D. schimperana) X
Iridaceae
Lapeirousia erythrantha (Klatt) Baker JT6220,
LM2336
Moraea schimperi (Hochst.) Pic.Serm. PS2084
Romulea camerooniana Baker LM2395
Orchidaceae
Habenaria hologlossa Summerh. JT6205,
JT6213
Polystachya mafingensis P.J.Cribb FZ record
Poaceae
Andropogon schirensis Hochst. JT6230,
PS2110
Digitaria diagonalis (Nees) Stapf PS2109

Exotheca abyssinica (A.Rich.) Anderss. PS2107
Loudetia simplex (Nees) C.E.Hubb. JT6229
Microchloa kunthii Desv. PS2108
Phragmites mauritianus Kunth X
Smilacaceae
Smilax anceps Willd. (=S. kraussiana) X MS566
Velloziaceae
Xerophyta equisetoides Baker (=Vellozia equisetoides) X X X
Xerophyta nutans L.B.Smith & Ayensu MS556,
MP33
Xanthorrhoeaceae
Aloe duckeri Christian X X X
Xyridaceae
Xyris obscura N.E.Br. JT6206,
PS2063,
LM2386
Zingiberaceae
Aframomum alboviolaceum (Ridl.) K.Schum. (=A. X
biauriculatum)
Note: s.r. = sight record

Collections: JT = Jonathan Timberlake; PS = Paul Smith; LM = Lari Merrett; MS = Mpande Sichamba
ANNEX 2. PRELIMINARY LIST OF BIRD SPECIES RECORDED

FROM THE MAFINGA MOUNTAINS
This list is preliminary – no attempt has made here to incorporate records from published
sources other than Dowsett & Stjernstedt (1973) and Leonard (2005, who lists 144 species) or
from grid squares in the two bird atlases. In particular, the recent detailed checklist from
Reynolds & Willlems (2018) has not been included.
Sources: 1, Leonard 2005 (Zambia); 2, Dowsett-Lemaire & Dowsett 2006 (Malawi); 3, Dowsett &
Stjernstedt 1973 (Zambia); 4, this trip. References in square brackets [ ] indicate uncertainty. Names
and arrangement follow Dowsett et al. (2008).
Gymnogene Polyboroides radiatus 3

African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro 3
Augur Buzzard Buteo augur 3
Rock (Common) Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 1,3
Shelley's Francolin Francolinus shelleyi 3
Hildebrandt's Francolin Francolinus hildebrandtii 1,3
Red-necked Francolin Francolinus afer 3
Common Quail Coturnix coturnix 3
Denham's Bustard Otis denhami [3]
Temminck's Courser Cursorius temminckii [3]
Rameron Pigeon Columba arquatrix 1,3
Cinnamon Dove Aplopelia larvata 1,3
Pink-breasted Turtle Dove Streptopelia lugens 3
Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria 3
Schalow's (Green) Lourie Tauraco schalowi 3
Wood Owl Strix woodfordii 3
Mountain Nightjar Caprimulgus poliocephalus 1[3]
Pennant-winged Nightjar Macrodipteryx vexillarius 3
Scarce Swift Schoutedenapus myoptilus [3]
Mottled Swift Apus aequatorialis 1
African Black Swift Apus barbatus 1,3
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus 3
Bar-tailed Trogon Apaloderma vittatum 1,3
Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata [3]
Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus 3
Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus 3
Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus 3
Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator 3
Silvery-cheeked Hornbill Bycanistes brevis 1,[3]
Moustached Green Tinkerbird Pogoniulus leucomystax 1,3
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus 3
Scaly-throated Honeyguide Indicator variegatus 3
Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator 3
Olive Woodpecker Mesopicos griseocephalus 3
African Broadbill Smithornis capensis 3
White-headed Saw-wing Psalidoprocne albiceps 3
Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica 1,3
African Rock Martin Hirundo fuligula 3
Long-tailed Wagtail Motacilla clara 3
Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi 3
Long-tailed Pipit Anthus similis 3

Striped Pipit Anthus lineiventris 3
Eastern Mountain Greenbul Andropadus nigriceps 1,3
Little Greenbul Andropadus virens 3
Yellow-bellied Bulbul Chlorocichla flaviventris 1
Grey-olive Bulbul Phyllastrephus cerviniventris 3
Cabanis' Bulbul Phyllastrephus cabanisi 3
Black-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus 3
Miombo Rock Thrush Monticola angolensis 3
Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus 1
Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyana 3
Orange Thrush Zoothera gurneyi 3
White-chested Alethe Alethe fuelleborni 1
Starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata 3
Bocage's Robin Sheppardia bocagei 3
Sharpe's Akalat Sheppardia sharpei 1
Cape Robin Cossypha caffra 1
Heuglin's Robin Cossypha heuglini 3
Stonechat Saxicola torquatus 3
Familiar Chat Cercomela familiaris 3
Mocking Chat Myrmecocichla cinnamomeiventris 3
Cinnamon Bracken Warbler Bradypterus cinnamomeus 3
African Yellow Warbler Chloropeta natalensis 3
Red-capped Crombec Sylvietta ruficapilla 1
Yellow-throated Warbler Phyloscopus ruficapilla 1
Wailing Cisticola Cisticola lais 1
Rock Cisticola Cisticola aberrans 3
Black-lored (Mountain) Cisticola Cisticola nigriloris 1,2,3
Bar-throated Apalis Apalis thoracica 3
Chestnut-headed Apalis Apalis chapini 1,3
Brown-headed Apalis Apalis alticola 3
Bleating Bush Warbler Camaroptera brachyura 3
Slaty Flycatcher Melaenornis chocolatinus 1,3
Southern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina 3
Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta 3
Ashy Flycatcher Muscicapa caerulescens 3
Cape Batis Batis capensis 1,2
Chinspot Batis Batis molitor 3
White-tailed Blue Flycatcher Elminia albicaudata 3
White-tailed Crested Flycatcher Elminia albonotata 1
Miombo Grey Tit Parus griseiventris 1,3
Rufous-bellied Tit Parus rufiventris 1,3
Collared Sunbird Anthreptes collaris 3
Olive Sunbird Nectarinia olivacea 3
Green-headed Sunbird Nectarinia verticalis 3
Black Sunbird Nectarinia amethystina 3
Yellow-bellied Sunbird Nectarinia venusta 3
Miombo Double-collared Sunbird Nectarinia manoensis 1,3
Eastern Double-collared Sunbird Nectarinia mediocris 1
Yellow-tufted Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa 1
Bronze Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis 1
Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis 3
African Golden Oriole Oriolus auratus 3

Eastern Black-headed Oriole Orious larvatus 3
Fiscal Shrike Lanius collaris 3
Southern Puffback Dryoscopus cubla 3
Brown-headed Tchagra Tchagra australis 3
Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus 3
Southern Boubou Laniarius ferrugineus [3]
Many-coloured Bush Shrike Malaconotus multicolor 1
White Helmet Shrike Prionops plumatus 3
Retz's Red-billed Helmet Shrike Prionops retzii 3
White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis 3
African Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio 3
Sharpe's Starling Cinnyricinclus sharpii 1
Yellow-throated Sparrow Petronia superciliaris 3
Bertram's Weaver Ploceus bertrandi 1
Green Twinspot Mandingoa nitidula 3
Blue-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata 3
Swee Waxbill Coccopygia melanotis 1
Cape Canary Serinus canicollis 1
African Citril Serinus citrinelloides 1
Bully Canary Serinus sulphuratus 3
Black-eared Seedeater Serinus mennellii 1
Streaky Seedeater Serinus striolatus 1
Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris 3
Cabanis's Bunting Emberiza cabanisi 3

The Mafinga Mountains, Zambia:: Report of A Reconnaissance Trip, March 2018

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THE MAFINGA MOUNTAINS, ZAMBIA:

Report of a reconnaissance trip, March 2018

Occasional Publications in Biodiversity No. 24

Photo credits: JT - Jonathan Timberlake; WN - William Van Niekirk; LM - Lari Merritt

Occasional Publications in Biodiversity No. 24

3. PLANTS AND VEGETATION

Past Studies and Vegetation

development. Here Entandrophragma and Chrysophyllum can be found with

Figure 5. View north over Mafingas grasslands [JT].

Table 1. The main six families in terms of species number

Family no. species

Family Species Notes

Reptiles & Amphibians

A further bush-hopper, Lophothericles burri Descamps, 1977 (Thericleidae), was present in

Cymatura nyassica Breuning, 1935 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) – seemingly not previously

5. BOTANICAL AND CONSERVATION FINDINGS

Ecology & Substrate

On preliminary investigation, there did not appear to be a great difference in vegetation

Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (1989b). Ecological and biogeographical aspects of forest bird communities

Dowsett-Lemaire, F. (2006). Notes supplementary to The Birds of Malawi (2006). Tauraco

ANNEX 1. PRELIMINARY PLANT CHECKLIST FOR THE MAFINGA

Cyathula cylindrica Moq. X

Gymnanthemum myrianthum (Hook.f.) H.Rob. X

Pterolobium stellatum (Forssk.) Brenan X

Neoboutonia melleri (Müll.Arg.) Prain (=N. africana) X

Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. subsp. afromontanum X

Maesa lanceolata Forssk. X

Hedythyrsus spermacocinus (K.Schum.) Bremek. X

Thesium fastigiatum A.W.Hill X PS2070,

Rhoicissus tridentata (L.f.) Wild & R.B.Drumm. X

Digitaria diagonalis (Nees) Stapf PS2109

Note: s.r. = sight record

ANNEX 2. PRELIMINARY LIST OF BIRD SPECIES RECORDED

Gymnogene Polyboroides radiatus 3

Long-tailed Pipit Anthus similis 3

African Golden Oriole Oriolus auratus 3

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