Ib Friis
Sebsebe Demissew
Odile Weber
Paulo van Breugel
Plants and
vegetation of
NW Ethiopia
A new look at Rodolfo E.G. Pichi
Sermolli’s results from the ‘Missione
di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937
STUDI E SAGGI
ISSN 2704-6478 (PRINT) - ISSN 2704-5919 (ONLINE)
– 240 –
Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew, Odile Weber, Paulo van Breugel
Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia
A new look at Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results
from the ‘Missione di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937
FIR ENZE UNIVERSITY PR ESS
2022
Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia : a new look at Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results from the ‘Missione
di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937 / Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew, Odile Weber, Paulo van Breugel. – Firenze : Firenze
University Press, 2022.
(Studi e saggi ; 240)
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DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-634-6
Graphic design: Alberto Pizarro Fernández, Lettera Meccanica SRLs
Front cover: Pichi Sermolli and assistant pressing plants and drying pressing material, presumably at
Ifag. Anonymous photographer. Original image in Fondo Dainelli 501 991 in Società Geografica Italiana
in Rome.
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Table of contents
Foreword by Prof. Shibru Tedla, Addis Ababa
7
Foreword by FT herbarium, Università degli Studi di Firenze
9
Introduction
11
Materials and Methods
Fieldwork
Herbarium specimens
Texts
Photographs
Maps and other topographical sources
17
17
18
20
22
23
Chapter 1
Background: The Royal Academy of Italy and the Mission to the Study of
Lake Tana in 1937
The establishment and role of the Royal Academy of Italy
Giotto Dainelli, the Royal Academy of Italy and the Study Centre for
Italian East Africa
Giotto Dainelli’s review of the ideas behind the mission to the study of
Lake Tana and a general report on the mission
25
25
26
29
Chapter 2
Pichi Sermolli: career before, during and after the mission to Lake Tana
35
Giotto Dainelli’s views in retrospect of the mission to the study of Lake
Tana and on Pichi Sermolli’s results (Dainelli in Pichi Sermolli 1951).
39
Pichi Sermolli continued to be interested in the botany of the Horn of Africa 40
FUP Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOI 10.36253/fup_best_practice)
Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew, Odile Weber, Paulo van Breugel, Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia. A new look at
Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results from the ‘Missione di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937, © 2022 Author(s), CC BY 4.0,
published by Firenze University Press, ISBN 978-88-5518-634-6, DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-634-6
Chapter 3
Pichi Sermolli’s field observations of Ethiopian vegetation
Botanical research in the Lake Tana region and in the Semien (Pichi
Sermolli 1938a).
Aspects of the landscape and vegetation in the High Semien (1939)
Observations on the vegetation of the western slope of the Ethiopian
Highland (published in 1940; here as Pichi Sermolli 1940b).
“Introduction” to the publication “Mission to the study of Lake Tana.
Vol. 7. Botanical researches. Part 1. Fanerogame …” (Pichi Sermolli 1951).
43
51
67
77
90
Chapter 4
Results: collections, new species, infraspecific taxa, combinations,
replacement names and their type material
The collections: incorporation in Erbario Tropicale (Centro Studi
Erbario Tropicale) and distribution of duplicates
The new taxa, their types and other nomenclatural changes
101
101
103
Chapter 5
Chronological list of collecting localities with update of identification of
species collected
115
Chapter 6
Updated numerical list of Pichi Sermolli’s Ethiopian collections from 1937
Ferns and fern allies not in Pichi Sermolli (1951)
249
277
Chapter 7
Later studies of localities around Lake Tana and in the Semien Mountains
281
Chapter 8
Pichi Sermolli’s observations of vegetation compared with models of the
vegetation
285
Chapter 9
Conclusions
301
Acknowledgements
303
References
305
Indexes and synonymy
1. Index to locality names
2. Index to plant names in this work.
3. Identifications of names used by Pichi Sermolli (1951) but not
accepted in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, with recent synonyms
4. List of archival numbers and dates of Pichi Sermolli’s photographs
311
311
315
329
338
Maps
341
Foreword by Prof. Shibru Tedla, Addis Ababa
The research carried out by the Italian botanist Rodolfo Emilio Giuseppe Pichi Sermolli (1912-2005), during his participation in the Italian Missione di Studio al Lago Tana
[Mission to the study of Lake Tana] in the months from January to April in 1937, is not
widely known, neither in Ethiopia, nor in the botanical domain worldwide. The main
reason is undoubtedly that the results from that fieldwork were all published in Italian
and appeared just before, during and just after World War II in publications with limited circulations. The fieldwork of the Missione di Studio al Lago Tana began only seven
months after Italy had announced its annexation of Ethiopia. Hence from the general
statements in the publications about the mission, there is no doubt that the leaders of
the entire project saw it as part of the Italian colonisation of the Horn of Africa. However, there are no hints of colonialist ideas in the writings of Pichi Sermolli. He celebrated his 25th birthday collecting and pressing specimens of plants on the shores of
Lake Tana, recording names of places and plants in Amharic (the local language) with
the help of his local supporters. After he returned from Ethiopia, Pichi Sermolli joined
the resistance against the fascist forces. During his later life, Pichi Sermolli maintained,
even expanded, his interest in the flora and vegetation of the Horn of Africa, producing a vegetation map of the Horn of Africa in 1957. He also wrote and edited family
accounts of plants from the Horn of Africa in the Adumbratio Florae Aethiopicae (19531978) and produced his last publications on Ethiopia in 1977. He gave permission to
use information from his work for the enrichment of the publications of the Ethiopian Flora Project. In 1966, he was awarded the Haile Selassie I Prize for his important
contributions to knowledge of the flora and vegetation of Ethiopia (Martelli 2011).
The observations which Pichi Sermolli made in 1937 on the flora and vegetation of
Ethiopia represent detailed studies of the complex flora and vegetation around Lake
Tana. They comprise some of the earliest scientific observations of the vegetation on
the western escarpment of the Ethiopian highlands between the present-day towns of
Humera and Gondar, and he made valuable supplementary observations on the Semien Mountains. Pichi Sermolli collected plants and made observations, not least in the
surrounding area of Bahar Dar, which today is completely urbanized. I believe that
FUP Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOI 10.36253/fup_best_practice)
Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew, Odile Weber, Paulo van Breugel, Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia. A new look at
Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results from the ‘Missione di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937, © 2022 Author(s), CC BY 4.0,
published by Firenze University Press, ISBN 978-88-5518-634-6, DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-634-6
8
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
modern botanists, geographers as well as historians, especially in Ethiopian and Italian academic institutions and museums, will find this contribution by Ib Friis, Sebsebe
Demissew, Odile Weber and Paulo van Breugel important and useful indeed. This publication is an outcome of extracting the observations made by Pichi Sermolli more than
80 years ago. The information and data therein have been reorganised and interpretations made on them, allowing all the knowledge to be seen not only as an image of the
past, but also as data that can be used in a contemporary context and thereby provide
a knowledge base for comparison with modern studies.
Shibru Tedla
Professor emeritus at Addis Ababa University,
Founding Fellow of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences,
and a prime promoter for the ‘Rehabilitation of the
Choke Mountain Range’ – a major watershed of the
Abay River (Blue Nile) and the Lake Tana Basin.
Foreword by FT herbarium, Università degli Studi di Firenze
As the Editor-in-Chief of Webbia, Journal of Plant Taxonomy and Geography, it is
an honour for me to introduce this book on the early studies in Eritrea and Ethiopia
by Prof. Rodolfo Emilio Giuseppe Pichi Sermolli (1912-2005), “Fofo” to his family,
close friends and colleagues. We see him here as a highly competent scholar and an
important student of tropical botany, both on the Italian and the international scene.
Since my first personal acquaintance with Pichi Sermolli towards the end of
the nineteen eighties, I was fascinated by his personality both as a man and as a
botany scholar. He was a tenacious, authoritative, and at the same time sensitive
character, and in discussions with him one was often faced with serious and certainly not ambiguous arguments. But he could also accept findings of others if
convincing. This rigor and respect which he manifested in human relationships
are also to be found in his works and in his meticulous research methods that
have been employed in every one of his scientific contributions. Although Pichi
Sermolli travelled mostly to countries further away from Italy than the Horn of
Africa, his early studies in Eritrea and Ethiopia marked a milestone in his academic and cultural training as a naturalist. Because of the opportunities that
the Italian Academy had on the Horn of Africa in the period prior to the Second
World War, Pichi Sermolli became involved in the study of that immense territory. This first involvement with East Tropical Africa, which is the subject of this
book, was also the basis for his further studies on the flora and vegetation of the
Horn of Africa. These culminated in 1957 with the publication in Webbia of the
first Map of the Vegetation of East Africa [see Una carta geobotanica dell’Africa
Orientale (Eritrea, Etiopia, Somalia) [A geobotanical map of East Africa (Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Somalia] in Webbia 13(1). 1957], the result of his personal experiences
and his work on a previous report on the plant-ecology of the arid and semi-arid
zones of East Africa prepared for UNESCO in 1952.
Thanks to the revisional work and interpretations of Prof. Ib Friis and his
co-workers, we can now see all the well thought-out methods used by Pichi Ser-
FUP Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOI 10.36253/fup_best_practice)
Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew, Odile Weber, Paulo van Breugel, Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia. A new look at
Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results from the ‘Missione di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937, © 2022 Author(s), CC BY 4.0,
published by Firenze University Press, ISBN 978-88-5518-634-6, DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-634-6
10
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
molli that emerge in his accurate field observations of a territory practically still
unknown to science at the time of his first visit.
For the first time in English, and therefore far more suitable for a wider international public than in Italian, the data collected and presented by Pichi Sermolli
in his original work is here re-interpreted and carefully analysed by the authors
of this book. In the future, the interpretation of Pichi Sermolli’s observations
may represent a point of reference for comparative analyses of the Flora and Vegetation of Ethiopia, which may be of great cultural and scientific significance.
This editorial product also evokes pride in the Center for Tropical Herbarium
Studies – CSET, formerly Regio Erbario Coloniale Italiano, currently part of
the Department of Biology of the University of Florence which supports its realization with the Firenze University Press. It is also worth mentioning that the
first set of all the plant specimens presented here are housed at FT herbarium at
the CSET and constitute the true historical documentation of Pichi Sermolli’s
scientific work during the 1937 expedition.
The last image I keep in mind of R.E.G. Pichi Sermolli is from April 2005,
while he was working in his country house in Montagnana Val di Pesa (Firenze) shortly before his death. Lying on his desk were taxonomic accounts of the
Pteridophyta of Eritrea and Ethiopia. He was by then almost completely deprived of eyesight, but struggled to complete his contribution to the last volume of the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, evidence of his dedication to the flora
of the Horn of Africa. This editorial initiative by the FUP is thus also intended
to be a reminder of his formidable tenacity and vital force with which he faced
every challenge in life. With these words, I leave it to the reader to discover how
much has been produced by R.E.G. Pichi Sermolli and how it has been masterfully studied and presented here.
A heartfelt thanks goes to the authors of this book, which will allow us to remember a great and prominent figure on the Italian and international botanical
scene with the hope that future tropical botany scholars will treasure his work.
Riccardo Maria Baldini
Editor on Chief of Webbia,
Journal of Plant Taxonomy and Geography
Rodolfo Emilio Giuseppe Pichi Sermolli (April 2005).
Introduction
Apart from the works by Pichi Sermolli, only a few recent scholarly publications
have dealt with the vegetation of the Lake Tana basin. Results of field work in church
forests from the Lake Tana basin1 were analysed by Alemayehu Wassie et al. (2005),
a paper by Alemnew Alelign et al. (2007) describes the forest on the Zegie Peninsula
at the south-western corner of the lake, and a paper with observations from the Lake
Tana Basin combined with observations from further afield resulted in the definition
of ‘Intermediate evergreen Afromontane forest (IAF),’ a vegetation type intermediate
between the ‘Dry’ and ‘Moist Afromontane Forest’ and including forests on the shores
and islands in Lake Tana (Abiyot Berhanu et al. 2018). Less attention has been given
to the open vegetation types, the woodlands, but they are included in a general analysis of the natural vegetation in the Lake Tana basin, or what remains of it (Chuangye
Song et al. 2018), and are dealt with in a general work on the western woodlands of
Ethiopia (Friis et al. 2022). Two papers by the botanist Oskar Sebald from Stuttgart in
Germany, and written in German, report on a few localities at the southern shores of
Lake Tana and the Semien (Sebald 1968, 1972), and the works by Sileshi Nemomissa
& Puff (2001) and Puff & Sileshi Nemomissa (2001, 2005) have dealt with the flora of
the Semien. A recent study has attempted to analyse the Afroalpine vegetation of the
Semien (Getahun Tassew Melese et al. 2018). The publications are discussed in more
detail in chapter 7, “Later studies…”.
1
In central and northern Ethiopia the churches are mostly built on high ground and surrounded by
trees that also occur in the remaining natural forests of the region; Pichi Sermolli also studied such
church forests.
Ib Friis, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Denmark, ibf@snm.ku.dk, 0000-0002-2438-1528
Sebsebe Demissew, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, sebseb.demissew@gmail.com, 0000-0002-0123-9596
Odile Weber, National Museum of Natural History, Luxemburg, odile.weber@mnhn.lu, 0000-0002-0861-2752
Paulo van Breugel, HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands, p.vanbreugel@gmail.com, 0000-0001-95790831
Referee List (DOI 10.36253/fup_referee_list)
FUP Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOI 10.36253/fup_best_practice)
Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew, Odile Weber, Paulo van Breugel, Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia. A new look at
Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results from the ‘Missione di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937, © 2022 Author(s), CC BY 4.0,
published by Firenze University Press, ISBN 978-88-5518-634-6 , DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-634-6
12
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 1. Group photograph of the members of the Lake Tana expedition. The leader, professor of geology and geography
at the University of Florence, Giotto Dainelli, is seated in the middle. Pichi Sermolli is standing in the upper right
corner. Next to him is the geologist Enzo Minucci, who accompanied him on the field work in the Semien Mountains
and on other field trips.
Surprisingly, none of these works, with the exception of Sebald (1968, 1972) and
Friis et al. (2022), draws on the large plant material and field observations from the
Lake Tana Basin collected by Pichi Sermolli in 1937, and the only work resulting from
the Lake Tana expedition mentioned in the standard work Taxonomic Literature (Stafleu & Cowan 1983: 252–253) is the reprint of a preliminary account of the botanical
results of the Lake Tana expedition (Pichi Sermolli 1938a), while the largest work on
the botanical studies from 1937, Pichi Sermolli (1951), is not cited.
Virtually unknown among botanists are Pichi Sermolli’s large collections of photographs of the vegetation on the western escarpment of the Ethiopian highlands, the
Lake Tana Basin and the Semien. Together with photographs taken by other members
of the Lake Tana expedition (Fig. 1) they are deposited at the Società Geografico Italiana in Rome and are now made available on the home page of the society2 . A portrait
photograph of Pichi Sermolli on the expedition is reproduced here as Fig. 2. Born on
2
http://www.archiviofotografico.societageografica.it/
INTRODUCTION
the 24th of February, 1912, Pichi Sermolli celebrated his 25th birthday at the small town
of Quonzela [Consuela, Consela] on the south-western shore of Lake Tana, collecting
plants at the lake shore. Due to the fact that Pichi Sermolli’s research on the Lake Tana
expedition is so relatively unknown, it is appropriate to make known both the history
of the botanical collections, the collections of photographs and the publications dealing with the field work, as well as to attempt a modern analysis of the botanical collections and what they may tell us about the vegetation.
It is also unfortunate that Pichi Sermolli’s valuable scientific results have not been
used more in the development of science, particularly in Ethiopia, because the Italian
language in which they are published is not more widely read. These results should be
more widely known, and the present authors hope that this publication will help to
remedy that problem. We provide commented translations of the papers that present
the field observations and we analyse the updated lists of the herbarium collections.
In contrast, Pichi Sermolli’s many later publications in English, mainly his work on
ferns, are widely read.
By reconstructing the sequence of Pichi Sermolli’s 1937 collections and databasing the species, we have localised his collecting localities as precisely as possible. By
reconstructing and updating the identification of the collections made at each site, it
has been possible to draw conclusions about the vegetation of the localities and compare these with both of the recent reconstructions of the natural habitats of Ethiopia,
Friis et al. (2010) and Friis et al. (2022), opening up hitherto unused information. We
have also connected our interpretations of the modern vegetation with Pichi Sermolli’s
many photographs of landscapes, which are preserved as negatives and kept in photographic archive “Fondo Missione Dainelli al Lago Tana, lotto 501” at the Società Geografica Italiana in Rome. 3
The analysis in this paper is a much extended successor to work made for a paper
by Friis (2015), where initial observations were made on the importance of Pichi Sermolli’s 1937 collections. That paper was written to celebrate, on the 3rd of October,
2014, the centenary of the Tropical Herbarium in Florence (Centro Studi Erbario Tropicale), the institution which holds the most complete set of Pichi Sermolli’s collections
from the Lake Tana expedition. The Tropical Herbarium in Florence was originally
initiated in 1904 by Pietro Romualdo Pirotta as the Erbario Coloniale at the “La Sapienza” University in Rome, intended to house material coming from the Italian colonies of Eritrea and Somalia. But when, in 1913, a National Herbarium in Florence was
planned, Pirotta, convinced of the usefulness of this initiative, accepted to move the
Erbario Coloniale to Florence in 1914, in the same building as and next to the National
Herbarium. The Erbario Coloniale was later renamed as Erbario Tropicale (FT), and incorporated as a centre for research, the Centro Studi Erbario Tropicale (CSET), at the
University of Florence. The paper by Friis (2015) on Pichi Sermolli’s 1937 collections
had three main purposes: firstly to approximately localize Pichi Sermolli’s collecting
localities, secondly to evaluate the importance of the floristic discoveries of the Lake
Tana expedition by comparing the new taxa described by Pichi Sermolli (1951) with
the modern taxonomic concepts in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea (Hedberg et al.
1989, 1995, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009a, 2009b; Edwards et al. 1995, 1997, 2000), and
thirdly to trace the ways in which the material had been collected, identified and then
integrated in the Erbario Tropicale and duplicates distributed. In Florence, Pichi Sermolli’s work on the 1937 expedition initiated a more systematic and regular treatment
3
http://www.archiviofotografico.societageografica.it/index.php?it/152/archivio-fotografie
13
14
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 2. Official portrait of R.E.G. Pichi Sermolli on the Lake Tana Expedition in 1937.
INTRODUCTION
of collections than had previously been the case and, most of all, Pichi Sermolli’s work
meant an internationalisation of Italian tropical botany by international collaboration
and exchange of specimens. In the paper from 2015, a publication with a more complete analysis was promised, and this is what we present here.
The main purposes of the present work is to give a modern interpretation of Pichi
Sermolli’s botanical collections and observations from the 1937 expedition, hopefully making them easier for modern botanists to utilise, both abroad and in Eritrea and
Ethiopia, not least in the new universities in the Amhara Region, where Pichi Sermolli
made his studies: the Bahar Dar University, the University of Gondar, the Debre Markos
University and the Debre Tabor University, and possibly also some of the universities
in Tigray. The documentation of Pichi Sermolli’s observations from the Semien will
also benefit the staff and researchers at the Semien National Park.
15
Materials and Methods
In this section we will not only deal with materials and methods used in our research
for this publication, but also take a look back to 1937 and describe some of the methods
that were used by Pichi Sermolli on the expedition to Lake Tana.
Fieldwork
As described by Dainelli (1938), the fieldwork was mainly carried out from base
camps, from which individual scientists or small groups made excursions with the staff
brought from Eritrea and with local helpers.1 The accommodation in the base camps
was typically in tented camps, even within major towns such as Gondar, where a camp
was established inside the compound of the ruined royal palaces from the 17th and 18th
centuries. Other base camps were in the then very small town of Bahar Dar, at the Zegie peninsula, at the small town of Quonzela [Consuela], on the plain near the northern
lakeshores at Gorgora and Ifag, and at a hill with the church of Zara Enda Michael. Base
camps and camps with smaller tents used during excursions can be seen on a sequence
of images in the archive of Società Geografica Italiana; the majority of these photographs
show camps of small tents used during the journey in the Semien.2
Excursions from the base camps was mainly made on foot or on mule. In the Semien, Pichi Sermolli and Minucci hired a caravan with mules and muleteers in the small
1
2
The major stops on the journey to and from the Lake Tana basin are discussed in detail in Friis
(2015) and a simplified map is shown in Fig. 9.
See archival font Dainelli (501), image 1000, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
Ib Friis, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Denmark, ibf@snm.ku.dk, 0000-0002-2438-1528
Sebsebe Demissew, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, sebseb.demissew@gmail.com, 0000-0002-0123-9596
Odile Weber, National Museum of Natural History, Luxemburg, odile.weber@mnhn.lu, 0000-0002-0861-2752
Paulo van Breugel, HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands, p.vanbreugel@gmail.com, 0000-0001-95790831
Referee List (DOI 10.36253/fup_referee_list)
FUP Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOI 10.36253/fup_best_practice)
Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew, Odile Weber, Paulo van Breugel, Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia. A new look at
Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results from the ‘Missione di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937, © 2022 Author(s), CC BY 4.0,
published by Firenze University Press, ISBN 978-88-5518-634-6 , DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-634-6
18
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 3. Mule caravan carrying equipment near Nori in the lower Ericaceous zone of the Semien Mountains.
Photograph by Pichi Sermolli in Fondo Dainelli 501 1074.
town of Dabarek, Fig. 3, together with a few assistants from Eritrea that might also have
acted as interpreters; the caravan was organised with a leader of the caravan team, Fig.
4. Enzo Minucci was photographed riding on a mule in grasslands near Nori and in the
Carex bogs at Arcuasie, Fig. 5. 3 Collections seem largely to have been made with the
same tools as used today. Epiphytes and branches of trees and lianas and were cut down
with a tree pruner on a pole (pole cutter), Fig. 6. Bulbs and roots were dug up with a hoe,
Fig. 3. Accommodation and work-space was provided by tents brought from Italy; what
must have been a typical scene of plant pressing was photographed near Ifag, Fig. 7.4
Herbarium specimens
The botanical material from the mission to Lake Tana was collected and preserved
according to the traditions for botanical fieldwork, as seen on photographs taken near
3
4
See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1074, 1075, 1089, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società
geografica italiana. Other scenes from camps can be seen on: archival font Dainelli (501), images 862,
922, 1022, 1028, 1046, 1047, 1070, 1071, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1119, 1120, 1130, 1131, 1132, 1143, 1144.
See archival font Dainelli (501), images 883, 884, 922, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
19
Fig. 4. The ”negadras” (literally ”head of merchants”) of the caravan hired by Pichi Sermolli and Minucci at Debarch
for their field trip in the Semien Mountains. Photograph by Pichi Sermolli in Fondo Dainelli 501 1045.
Ifag north east of Lake Tana. It shows Pichi Sermolli pressing plants with a local helper,
and drying material is left to dry in the sun to let all moisture evaporate, Fig. 7. 5 Collecting tools used during the journey into the Semien have been mentioned above and
are also seen in some of Pichi Sermolli’s other photographs.6
The basic material for the systematic account of the botanical results from the mission, and also for this study, is the first set of Pichi Sermolli’s 1937 collections from Eritrea and Ethiopia which are kept at the Centro Studi Erbario Tropicale (FT), Università
degli Studi di Firenze. These collections are now incorporated in the herbarium, which is
organised taxonomically by family, genus and species.7 The Centro Studi Erbario Tropicale (FT) has now a holding of ca. 230,000 specimens, and sheets are moved when new
identifications have been made, so it has not been possible to retrieve and reidentify all
Pichi Sermolli’s specimens for which an update of the identifications would seem de-
5
6
7
See archival font Dainelli (501), images 883, 991, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana. Image 991 is reproduced here as Fig. 7.
For example in the archival font Dainelli (501), image 1145, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società
geografica italiana.
Note that ca. 102 fern collections are nor present at FT. For what we know of the fern collections,
see further in chapter 6.
20
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 5. Individual transport by mule in the Semien Mountains. Cushions of Carex monostachya in a valley near
Arcuasie; scattered giant Lobelia in the grasslands in the background. The mule rider is Enzo Minucci. Photograph
by Pichi Sermolli in Fondo Dainelli 501 1089.
sirable. For such collections, we have updated Pichi Sermolli’s nomenclature in agreement with the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
The labels on these specimens are either printed, typed or handwritten. The type of
label may change from locality to locality or even between collections from the same
locality or between specimens of the same collection. Pichi Sermolli used a numbering system for the localities, and it has in many cases been possible to reconstruct the
locality numbers, which are generally indicated on labels with typeset text (see below). The locality numbers that have been identified are cited in the chapter entitled
“6. Chronological list…”. Examples of the different types of labels are shown and further discussed in chapter “4. Results”.
Texts
In spite of Pichi Sermolli’s remarks about his numerous notes taken during the fieldwork (Pichi Sermolli 1938a: 103), it has not been possible at the Centro Studi Erbario
Tropicale (FT) in Florence to trace any notebooks from the field, or indeed any other
archival material from fieldwork. The staff at the Centro Studi Erbario Tropicale has suggested that much original material, including field notes, might have been lost in Pichi
MATERIALS AND METHODS
21
Fig. 6. Field assistant with collecting tool for trees, lianas and epiphytes in the vegetation on the shore of Lake Tana
near Zegie. Photograph by Pichi Sermolli in Fondo Dainelli 501 779.
Sermolli’s home when it was destroyed during World War II, but, notwithstanding
theories about lost notes, information about his work in Ethiopia in 1937 must now be
derived from the literature: Motyka & Pichi Sermolli (1952), Pichi Sermolli (1938a;
1939; 1940b; 1940c; 1950b; 1951) or from the labels on the specimens. Additional
notes from Dainelli (1938) have been used where cited.
For our work, all information about the collections in Pichi Sermolli (1951) has
been entered in a spreadsheet (Excel). The primary source of this was the information
in the final monograph (Pichi Sermolli 1951), supplemented with information from
specimen labels, where most of the collecting localities have been given numbers in
chronological order. The labels of the herbarium specimens were mostly printed with
loose metal type set by hand, see example in Fig. 39, and there are rarely disagreement
between the label data and what is cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951). The numbering of
the collections was done at a very late stage, probably after most of the collections had
been identified. The numbers and identifications are usually handwritten even on the
labels with printed or typed localities and dates. Our spreadsheet was provided with
a column of updated identifications, either due to taxonomic changes in the Flora of
Ethiopia and Eritrea, or due to reidentifications. The localities cited from Pichi Sermolli
(1951) and the herbarium labels have been georeferenced as stated in the chapter “5.
Chronological list…” and also this information was entered in the spreadsheet. Both
22
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 7. Pichi Sermolli and assistant pressing plants and drying pressing material, presumably at Ifag. Anonymous
photographer. Fondo Dainelli 501 991.
the identifications and the georeferencing were used for quality control of the data and
extracting information for chapter 5. Ferns and fern allies were not included in Pichi
Sermolli (1951), and we have only been able to trace 35 collections out of 102. These
are listed separately under each locality in chapter 5 and dealt with in numerical order in chapter 6.
Photographs
Pichi Sermolli’s collecting localities are documented with photographs in the Archivio Fotografico of the Società Geografica Italiana, where they can be found on the
home pages of the society.
The archival numbers of the approximately 500 photographs taken by Pichi Sermolli
range from number 501/696 to 501/1172. Mostly the dates on which the photographs
are said to have been taken agree with information derived from the literature and the
herbarium labels, but there may be discrepancies of one or a few days. The geologist
Enzo Minucci sometimes travelled with Pichi Sermolli, for example on the Gogora Peninsula, in the area north-west of Lake Tana near Celga, and most notably on the journey in the Semien from 6.4. to 16.4.1937. Minucci also collected specimens for Pichi
Sermolli on a journey to Amba Libo on the 19.3.1937. For such localities, reference in
MATERIALS AND METHODS
the chronological list of collecting localities has sometimes been made to photographs
taken by him. The archival numbers of the photographs taken by Minucci range from
number 501/492 to 501/2531.
In the archival database of the Società Geografica Italiana it may be difficult to search
for a photograph from a specific place on the name of the locality, as the indication of
the place names is not always consistent. It is preferable to try locating specific photographs with the information in the chapter entitled “6. Chronological list…” or, if necessary to look for more photographs, then to search through images taken on or around
the relevant dates. See a list of archival numbers of images and the dates on which they
were taken in Index 4 at the end of this publication.
Some photographs are reproduced in Pichi Sermolli’s publications (Pichi Sermolli
1938a, 1939, 1940); in the overviews in the footnotes, the relevant photographs in the
archives of the Società Geografica Italiana are referred to by their archival numbers,
while the illustrations in the published papers are referred to by page or plate numbers and reproduced here wherever relevant. In the legends to the images from the archives of the Società Geografica Italiana and reproduced in this text only the archival
numbers are cited.
Maps and other topographical sources
The primary source of maps for the georeferencing of Pichi Sermolli’s collecting
localities and places where he made other observations are the maps in the publications related to the expedition Missione di Studio al Lago Tana, particularly the maps at
the title page of Pichi Sermolli (1951), showing the Lake Tana basin. This is based on a
map drawn by Enzo Minucci (and shows his travels, not those of Pichi Sermolli). Other important sources are two maps of the High Semien, one drawn by Minucci (1938),
another drawn by Pichi Sermolli (1940c); both are reproduced in chapter 3. Pichi Sermolli often related his collecting locality to the name of a nearby Ethiopian Orthodox
church. An undated tourist map, Demelle Arega: Tourist Map. Lake Tana and its environments. 1: 200,000, without publisher or place of publication, has names of nearly all
churches around Lake Tana, but often several churches in the same area are dedicated
to the same saint, even when they are near to each other, which sometimes makes identification of Pichi Sermolli’s localities by means of the names of churches ambiguous.
Other sources are the topographical maps issued by the Italian Istituto Geografico
Militare available at the time of the expedition (IGM 1934-1936a & b) and names listed in Guida (1938: 30-32). Several times referred to in Pichi Sermolli’s publications is
the set of maps named Carta dimostrativa della Colonia Eritréa e delle regioni adiascenti
400,000, consisting of 12 full sheets and two half sheets and issued from 1934 and onwards (IGM 1934-1936a); these maps cover all of Eritrea, Tigray and Amhara as far
south as 12° N, which means that the southern half of Lake Tana is not covered. Localities near Bahar Dar, as the small town it was in 1937, were searched for on the sheet F2
of the map 1:100,000 by the Ufficio Topografico del R. Governo Amara (ca. 1938: Sheet
F2, “Bahar Dar”), but not always found. For this study, we have occasionally also used
the Carta dell’A.O. al milione, issued on 14 sheets in 1934-1936 (IGM 1934-1936b).
The old British maps of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan in 1:250,000 by the EgyptianSudanese mapping Authority have an overlap with western Eritrea and Ethiopia as far
east as most of Lake Tana. The sheets Umbrega 56-E (1940), Nogara 56-I (1949) and
Gallabat 56-M (1940) were searched in order possibly to identify the many small rivers
in the north-western lowlands of Ethiopia, which Pichi Sermolli (1938a, 1940) mentioned, but no rivers not already identified from the Italian maps were found. For the
23
24
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
area south west of Lake Tana, localities were searched for on a sheet in the same series,
Dangila 67A (1940), and some localities not on Italian maps were traced.
Sometimes it has been possible to identify and georeference localities with the help
of the Gvida d’Italia della consociazione tvristica Italiana - Africa Orientale Italiana (Guida 1938), and the modern guide to Gondar and Lake Tana by Chiari (2012).
The Semien Mountains are included in the Carta dimostrativa della Colonia Eritréa e
delle regioni adiascenti 400.000 (IGM 1934-1936a), but information is rather incomplete,
as pointed out by Pichi Sermolli (1940c) in a separate publication on Semien topography and place names. There are maps relevant to collecting localities in the Semien in
Pichi Sermolli (1940c; 1951), and another map of the Semien, showing the combined
route of Pichi Sermolli and Minucci (1938: 39), but the spelling of the names is not consistent with modern spelling, for example the modern spelling on the maps by Hurni
(1981 [as “1980”]; 2003). Where there has been doubt about georeferencing of localities,
this is discussed in the section headed ‘Georeferencing’ at each locality in chapter 5.
Ethiopian place-names are always difficult to render, particularly in non-Ethiopian
languages and with non-Ethiopian alphabets, and the way such names have been transcribed in Italian and English vary significantly. Moreover, although he was aware of
the problem due to his interest in cartography, Pichi Sermolli was not consistent in his
spelling, which may vary from publication to publication. We have tried to follow his
original spelling as far as possible and cite more standardised place names in square
brackets.
Occasional sources for the localization of place names are other maps in various
publications from the Missione di Studio al Lago Tana, which are referred to where necessary. Finally, to check and sometimes further localise the topography of places where
Pichi Sermolli collected we have made extensive use of the images of Google Earth via
a desktop-version of the browser.8
8
https://www.google.com/earth/versions/#earth-pro
CHAPTER 1
Background: The Royal Academy of Italy and the Mission
to the Study of Lake Tana in 1937
A brief review of the background of Pichi Sermolli’s botanical work during the Missione di Studio al Lago Tana was given in Friis (2015). Here that account is supplemented
with information about the mission’s institutional background, explaining the organization and some of the work by the other participants in the mission to Lake Tana. Also
included are some biographical details relating to the geographer and geologist Giotto
Dainelli, who conceived the idea of the mission and lead it (Dainelli 1938; Dainelli in
Pichi Sermolli 1951). This provides background to the forewords which Dainelli wrote,
first for the preliminary account of the mission (Anonymous 1938), and later to the
main account of the botanical results by Pichi Sermolli (1951).
The establishment and role of the Royal Academy of Italy
Due to Italy having been divided into many small states until its unification in 1871,
small scientific academies continued to exist after the Accademia dei Lincei in Rome
became the academy for both sciences and humanities of united Italy. However, after
the Italian Fascist Party came to power in 1922, the new government felt the need for
a more coordinated approach to science, integrating scientific and cultural activities as
valuable elements in the corporate state that should be under strict control of the government (Volpe & Carussi, 1938; Noether, 1982; Vedovato, 2009), and ideas developed
about heading Italian science and arts with an academy, the members of which were
appointed directly by the government. In 1926, a decree by the King of Italy ordered
the establishment of the Reale Accademia d’ Italia [Royal Academy of Italy] with the
purpose “to promote and coordinate Italian intellectual activity in the sciences, the humanities, and the arts.” In 1929 the government confirmed the statutes of this Academy,
and it was formally inaugurated. The new academy had its seat in Rome, sited in front
Ib Friis, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Denmark, ibf@snm.ku.dk, 0000-0002-2438-1528
Sebsebe Demissew, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, sebseb.demissew@gmail.com, 0000-0002-0123-9596
Odile Weber, National Museum of Natural History, Luxemburg, odile.weber@mnhn.lu, 0000-0002-0861-2752
Paulo van Breugel, HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands, p.vanbreugel@gmail.com, 0000-0001-95790831
Referee List (DOI 10.36253/fup_referee_list)
FUP Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOI 10.36253/fup_best_practice)
Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew, Odile Weber, Paulo van Breugel, Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia. A new look at
Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results from the ‘Missione di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937, © 2022 Author(s), CC BY 4.0,
published by Firenze University Press, ISBN 978-88-5518-634-6 , DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-634-6
26
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
of the Accademia dei Lincei, with which it first co-existed; it should have 60 members,
with equal numbers from the physical sciences (including both the mathematical and
natural sciences), the moral sciences (including history), the arts, and the letters. The
academy should have no foreign members, but encourage travel in and exploration of
remote countries, particularly the Italian colonies. New academicians were chosen by
the government from lists proposed by the existing members; however, the first members were proposed by the selected future president of the new academy, the diplomat
and politician Thomasso Tittoni, who was already member of the Accademia dei Lincei.
The academicians received a monthly stipend directly from the government, comparable to a professorial salary, and the academicians were to be addressed as “Your Excellency”, as can be seen in some of the quotations in this paper.
Membership of the Royal Academy of Italy was not only a recognition by the state
of the members’ intellectual achievement, but members were also selected to support the government’s policies. The list of academicians included Italy’s most eminent
names in the arts, humanities, and sciences, people whose reputation owed little to
political support. Among the members were well known physicists such as Guglielmo
Marconi and Enrico Fermi. In 1939 members of the Accademia dei Lincei, which the
government abolished in that year, became members of the Royal Academy of Italy, a
situation which lasted until the Royal Academy was dissolved in 1944 and the Accademia dei Lincei was re-established.
Giotto Dainelli, the Royal Academy of Italy and the Study Centre for Italian East Africa
Giotto Dainelli (1878–1968) was a highly influential Italian geographer and geologist who from 1924 had held the position of professor of geology and palaeontology in
Florence. Already in 1919 he had become a member of the Accademia dei Lincei, and
was a member of the Royal Academy of Italy from its beginning in 1929, having taken
part in an expedition to Eritrea in 1905-1906 and in an expedition to the Karakorum
Mountains in the Himalayas in 1913-1914. Dainelli has been characterised as a strongly
dedicated and competent scientist, an Italian nationalist and a strong supporter of colonialism, especially with regard to ideas about improving agriculture and mining in
the Italian tropical colonies, but he was not otherwise involved in party politics (Ricci,
2005; Settesoldi et al., 2005; Vedovato, 2009). In June 1936, after the Italian occupation
of Ethiopia and the establishment of an Italian colony, Africa Orientale Italiana, which
covered the Horn of Africa except British Somaliland and French Djibouti (Calchi
Novati 2003, 2007), Dainelli was appointed head of a newly established Centro Studi
per l’Africa Orientale Italiana. [Study Center for Italian East Africa]. This was a government-financed institution under the Reale Accademia d’Italia, set up on the initiative
of Alberto De Stefani (1879–1969), a liberal economist, one time Italian minister of
finances and later professor of political economy in Rome, and Giotto Dainelli himself.
The Missione di Studio al Lago Tana in 1937 was the first of a series of planned missions of research to be organized by the Centro Studi per l’Africa Orientale Italiana, and
that with the largest output of publications, a total of seven volumes appearing from
this mission during the years from 1938 to 1951. Two more large expeditions in Ethiopia were organised by the Centro Studi per l’Africa Orientale Italiana. The first was the
Missione Biologica nel Paese dei Borana [Biological mission to the land of the Borana],
which went to the Sidamo region of southern Ethiopia in 1937 with Georg Cufodontis
as the botanist. The second was the Missione Biologica Sagan-Omo [Biological mission
to the Sagan and Omo Rivers], which went to the basins of the Sagan and Omo Rivers
in southwestern Ethiopia in 1939, with Rinaldo Corradi as the botanist (Friis 2009);
THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ITALY AND THE MISSION TO THE STUDY OF LAKE TANA IN 1937
Pichi Sermolli (1947a) published an account of the ferns of the Sagan-Omo mission
and named a new species of fern after Corradi (Pichi Sermolli 1947b).
The following is a review of the events as they developed after the Lake Tana expedition, which will explain the delay of the publications by Pichi Sermolli, and why
the main botanical work from the Lake Tana expedition (Pichi Sermolli 1951) was
published by the Accademia dei Lincei. This account follows information provided by
Vedovato (2009), who knew Dainelli personally. After June 1940 when Italy entered
World War II on the side of Germany, several years passed without armed hostilities
on Italian ground, although in Africa Ethiopia had regained its independence in 1941
after a long guerrilla war supported by forces mainly from the British colonies. From
July 1943, Allied invasions on Sicily and in southern Italy brought the war to the Italian mainland, and the Gran Consiglio [the Grand Council], a body which controlled
the Italian government, almost immediately withdrew its confidence in Mussolini’s
administration, after which he was dismissed as prime minister by the King.
A period with sharply divided opinions within the Italian Academy followed, not
least because its president, Luigi Federzoni, at one time minister for the colonies, had
voted for non-confidence in Mussolini’s government, while other academicians had
continued to support it. The internal conflicts in the Reale Accademia d’Italia increased
after the formation of a new Italian government in September 1943 and the swift German occupation of northern Italy. The opinions diverged even more with the establishment of the Repubblica Sociale Italiana with its capital at Salò at Lake Garda. In January
1944, this and the northward advancing Allied forces led to the relocation of the Reale
Accademia d’Italia from Rome to Florence, where it was housed in Palazzo Serristori
on the south bank of the Arno River. Dainelli had up to that time been occupied preparing a work in four volumes, Geologia dell’Africa Orientale (Dainelli 1943), one of the
last publications of the Centro Studi per l’Africa Orientale Italiana, by then still named
after a colony that no longer existed. Due to financial problems within the Academy, it
was published with support from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche [National Research Council], building also on various other expeditions undertaken by Dainelli
in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia. Another late work from the Centro Studi per l’Africa
Orientale Italiana, and the very last work from the Missione di Studi al Lago Tana, was
an ethnological work by Grottanelli and Massari (1943).
From 1943 the president of the Reale Accademia d’Italia was the philosopher Giovanni Gentile, but he was killed in Florence by partisans in April 1944, and Dainelli
was appointed the next president. He accepted the task of moving the Reale Accademia
d’Italia away from the northwards advance of the Allied forces, which eventually reached
Florence in August 1944. During the night between the 6th and 7th of July, Dainelli left
Florence with a convoy of vehicles carrying the combined archives and other property
of the Accademia d’Italia and the Accademia dei Lincei, on the 30th of July ending in a
villa at Lake Como. Formally, the Accademia dei Lincei was re-established by a decree
from the king and government in Rome in September 1944, but most of its property
was still at Lake Como in the Repubblica Sociale Italiana. On the 26th of April, 1945,
Dainelli wrote to the new president of the Accademia dei Lincei, sending an inventory
of all that was due to be handed back to the Accademia dei Lincei and stating that he had
deposited the Academy’s valuables at the Como branch of the Credito Italiana. The following day, 27th of April, Dainelli left Lake Como and started wandering incognito to
avoid possible arrest and summary execution. In fact, on the same day, Mussolini was
arrested by partisans on the shore of Lake Como together with his mistress, Claretta
Petacci, and the next day he was shot, along with a number of ministers and officials of
the Italian Social Republic and Petacci.
27
28
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
With the final collapse of Fascism in 1945, the Reale Accademia d’Italia ceased to exist, and Dainelli was declared unworthy of again becoming a member of the re-erected
Accademia dei Lincei. He was also not permitted to regain his chair of geology in Florence, but was acquitted of any Nazi or fascist activity and any support of the invading
German forces. He donated his collection of photographic negatives from his expeditions in Asia and Africa to the Società Geografica Italiana, including all the photographs
taken by Pichi Sermolli and other members of the Lake Tana mission. The Società Geografica Italiana honoured him in 1954 with its gold medal.
Dainelli’s vision of the expeditions of the Centro Studi per l’Africa Orientale Italiana
is expressed in a foreword to the preliminary 1938 report of the expedition to Lake Tana
(Dainelli 1938). The aim was field work carried out by groups of specialised scholars
with well-defined fields of research, but all able to work together and to consult each
other. The ultimate aim was to obtain both basic research and knowledge that would be
useful for the development of the regions studied. The economic and political interests
of the Italian government in the Lake Tana basin as a major natural resource in Africa
Orientale Italiana were obvious, not least because of the significance of the lake as the
source of the Abay (Blue Nile) River, which provides water to the Sudan and Egypt. Lake
Tana has always represented a huge natural resource and been politically important for
relations between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt (Erlich 2003; Lachal & Gascon 2010).
The preliminary volume, published after a symposium with participation of the
members of the expedition (Anonymous 1938), contained the following articles that
are listed here with their Italian titles, enough to give an idea of the range of the subjects
of the mission: G. Dainelli: La missione di studio al lago Tana [Mission to study Lake
Tana; a translation is given in the following part of this chapter]; E. Minucci: Ricerche
geologiche nella regione del Tana [Geological research in the Tana region]; E. Minucci: Ricerche geologiche nella regione del Semién [Geological research in the Semien]; G.
Bini: Ricerche sulle condizioni chimiche del lago Tana [Research on the chemical condition of Lake Tana]; G. Morandini: Ricerche fisiche sul lago Tana [Physical research on
Lake Tana]; R.E.G. Pichi Sermolli: Ricerche botaniche nella regione del lago Tana e nel
Semien [Botanical research in the region of Lake Tana and the Semien; a translation
reproduced in the following of this chapter]; G. Bini: Notizie sulle raccolte zoologiche
eseguite dalla Missione Dainelli nel bacino del lago Tana [Notes on the zoological collections made on the Dainelli mission in the Lake Tana Basin]; L. Cipriani: Ricerche antropologiche sulle popolazioni del lago Tana [Anthropological research on the population
of Lake Tana]; V.L. Grottanelli: Ricerche antropogeografiche nella regione del lago Tana
[Research on the anthropological geography of the region of Lake Tana]; P.F. Nistri:
Itinerari e studi agrari nella regione del lago Tana [Itineraries and agronomic studies in
the region of Lake Tana].
A number of subsequently published volumes were comprehensive monographs
of the subjects indicated: geography and economy (Grottanelli 1939); anthropology
(Cipriani 1940); ornithology (Moltoni 1940); topographic aspects of limnology (Morandini 1940a). The following volume contained articles by different authors on associated subjects: chemical and biological aspects of limnology (Morandini 1940b; with
articles by G. Bini, S. Loffredo, G. Brunetti & G. Cannicci, G. Brunelli, and C. Piersanti. Three years later another volume about anthropological studies appeared, dealing
with ethnic groups in western Eritrea (Grotanelli and Massari 1943). Only the monograph by Pichi Sermolli (1951) appeared after the war and with the re-established Accademia dei Lincei as publisher.
THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ITALY AND THE MISSION TO THE STUDY OF LAKE TANA IN 1937
Giotto Dainelli’s review of the ideas behind the mission to the study of Lake Tana and a
general report on the mission
In the introduction to the first publication from the Missione di Studio al Lago Tana
Dainelli (1938: 5-17) gave a general account of the progress and achievements of the
mission. The paragraphs of the original texts have been maintained in the following
translation, which is printed in italics. Numbers in square brackets [like this: “p. XX”]
refer to the original pagination in order to facilitate references to the original Italian
texts. The same rule has been applied to the translations in the following translations.
This foreword states both the scientific and the political purposes of the mission as seen
by Dainelli, and it has historical interest by describing the organisation and spirit of
the fieldwork. The account is illustrated with four photographs from the mission, but
none of them are of particular relevance for the work by Pichi Sermolli, and they are
therefore not reproduced here.
[P. 5; Title:] Mission to study Lake Tana.
The Centro Studi A. O. I. [‘Africa Orientale Italiana’], set up on the initiative of
Academician De Stefani at a time when the conquest of the Empire was not yet complete,
sought immediately after the victory to carry out one of those ‘missions’, which represented
the main task for the development of the programme it had chosen for its activity: that is to
contribute to the scientific knowledge of the territories of the Empire, in order that they might
become useful elements for the economic development of the new Italian lands beyond the sea.1
The general programme of the Centro Studi A. O. I. was to study, year after year, that
region of the Empire that was designated or advised by the Minister of Italian Africa to be
in need of research, based on precedence or opportunities of the moment, and the Minister
would be the best judge of what to choose. The Centro Studi intended to affirm, also in this
way, that its purpose is to promote research of pure science, directly and solely at the service
of the Government and the State. It also proposed not to limit the types of research it would
promote, but within its ‘missions’ try to achieve the most complete knowledge possible of the
regions, expanded by repeated visits, and with the idea that any validation of observation
must be based on a total knowledge of the natural and human conditions. [P. 6] It should also
take into consideration economy of time, energy and even money, compared to the greater
expenditure represented by partial ‘missions’, sent successively and each with particular
objectives. These procedures would also have the advantage - scientific, but with obvious
impacts on the practical applications that were to follow - of work by close communities of
collaborating scholars, each having a well-defined field of research, but all of whom able to
consult one another, because of the intimate mutual relationships that link the various natural
conditions of a country and those of its people.
In full agreement with the Minister of Italian Africa, the hydrographic basin of Lake
Tana was chosen as the first field of activity for a ‘mission’ of the A. O. I. Study Centre. The
decision was made, by necessity of events, only in the late autumn of 1936. There was no time
in between decision and realisation if the project was to be implemented, so that research on
the sites could certainly be completed before the next rainy season.
In fact, in twenty days, the organisation was complete, and everything was prepared for
the journey of 12 people, a journey which would last five months. In other words: the camp
1
Dainelli’s use of the term ‘empire’ refers to the Impero italiano, the African colonies, protectorates
and dependencies elsewhere, an empire dependent on the Italian Kingdom in Europe, but not including it. In 1936 the Italian King was declared Imperatore d’Etiopia, not emperor of Italy.
29
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
equipment was ready, even for high mountain areas; the food was ready, distributed in boxes,
each of which was equipped with everything necessary, according to carefully considered
proportions; all the scientific and collecting equipment was ready to be used by scholars of the
most varied disciplines; all other equipment was ready, and the necessary instructions for the
tasks entrusted to each person and for the duties common to all were given to the participants.
Let me say that it would have been impossible in less time to complete this organisation, which
is not easily organized anyway.
The choice of participants was also quickly made. Giuseppe Morandini had the task of
studying the physical characteristics of the lake and Giorgio Bini was to study the chemical
and faunistic aspects; [P. 7] to these two was added Giovanni Penzo, a technician for
limnological and fishing research. The study of the geology of the region was entrusted to
Eng. Enzo Minucci, the botanical collections and the recognition of the phytogeographical
character of the landscape to Dr. Rodolfo Pichi-Sermolli. For the collection and preparation
of the fauna two technicians were invited, Mr. Bruno Castelli and Mr. Enrico Broilo; all the
anthropological researches were entrusted to Professor Lidio Cipriani, and Dr. Vinigi Lorenzo
Grottanelli was in charge of anthropogeographical research. Dr. Pier Francesco Nistri was to
study current agricultural conditions and future possibilities. The Head of the Mission had to
be in charge of the general organisation, command and coordination of the work of everyone,
a task that was not expected to be easy, given the particular needs of so many scholars from
different disciplines and the certain logistical difficulties that the very heavy caravan would
be expected to encounter. [P. 8] He had as his assistant Capt. Carlo Busi, who had almost
ten years’ experience in the colonies, and who especially would have to deal with relations
with the military authorities and eventually take over the military command of the column
in case it was needed or at least seemed to be needed.
The Mission - even though it had already been prepared beforehand - was only able to leave
on 4 January of this year [1937]. A stop in Asmara was necessary in order to reorganise all the
materials and recruit local personnel, who were all non-commissioned officers and ascaris of
the Eritrean troops, with the function of cooks, attendants and interpreters. During the course
of the Mission, the column was then joined by ascaris or group leaders, in varying numbers
according to the needs imposed by our work or the conditions of the country. On the 18th of
January, the column left Asmara, heading, via the western lowlands, for Gondar and Lake
Tana, of which it reached the southern end at Bahar Dar, where it set up its first base camp.
The Mission immediately began the intense and varied work of scientific exploration of the
great lake and its region. The very different tasks and requirements determined - as had been
foreseen - a different degree of mobility of the different participants in the Mission. The two
limnologists, together with the additional technician, had to navigate Lake Tana intensively,
but they had to have a fixed base where they could set up a functional chemical laboratory.
They based this in Bahar Dar until around the 10th of March, then they moved it to Gorgora,
at the opposite, northern end of the Lake, where they remained until the eve of their return
to Italy. The Head of the Mission, together with the other participants - who were entrusted
with the study of the entire region - subsequently changed their base camps: in Bahar Dar,
in Zeghie, in Quonzela [Consuela], in Gorgora, in Ifag, in Zara [Zara Enda Michael], so
as to complete the entire circumnavigation of the Tana. [P. 9] But from each of these base
camps the participants radiated out, with a gradually increasing radius and with journeys of
varying size according to the tasks of each. The greatest mobility was of the geologist and the
agronomist, who almost always moved in independent caravans. However, points more or less
distant from the temporary base-camps were also reached by the botanist, the anthropologist
and the anthropogeographer. One last stop was at Gondar, for the study of the surrounding
area and its various peoples, while the Chief of Mission personally directed the preparation
of the loads of the abundant collections made and the pre-arrangement for the return. And
THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ITALY AND THE MISSION TO THE STUDY OF LAKE TANA IN 1937
since other duties of the same order would have obliged him to stop in Asmara, he decided
to direct the geologist and botanist, and, with an independent caravan, also the agronomist,
through the Uoghera2 and the Semien, so that a contribution could be made to the knowledge
of these regions too, and to leave the anthropologist and anthropogeographer in the western
Eritrean lowlands to study the interesting and little-known ethnic groups in that area. At the
end of April everyone was gathered again and ready for immediate departure. On the 3rd of
May, the Mission returned to Italy with all its collections.
The results achieved by the Mission can already be glimpsed from the preliminary reports
gathered here [in the symposium report of 1938]; they will become clear from the series of
monographic volumes, the publication of which will begin soon. However, it is only right to
give an overview of the results now.
The Tana - of which so much is spoken and discussed, but so far so little known - has on
this mission been the subject of numerous studies and methodical research, observations and
collections, from which we can say that our knowledge will be complete, except for its seasonal
variations, for which it would have been necessary for us to stay in the area for an entire
year. A regular series of soundings, numbering several hundred, has definitively established
the conditions of depth and the morphology of the bottom of the lake. A hydrometer made
it possible to follow the variations in level during the months the Mission spent at the Lake.
Stations were observed at numerous points in the large lake, in order to ascertain the conditions
of colour, transparency, temperature and currents, and to collect water samples at various
depths and bottom sediments, as well as to carry out regular plankton surveys. [P. 10] Water
and sediments were subjected to analysis and showed very peculiar characters. All means
known to modern fishing technology were used to collect the fish fauna of the Tana, which
was perhaps more abundant in terms of individuals than in species, and the invertebrate
fauna of the banks and the bottom was also researched and collected.
The two limnologists in particular, who had more uniform activities than the rest, made
valuable contributions to the zoological collections. Relatively speaking, the zoological
collections were not very rich, since the dry season is not the most propitious for reptiles,
amphibians, worms and insects. The most interesting collection was certainly that of birds,
all of which were prepared on site, and of which the Mission brought back several hundred
specimens. [P. 11] Insects, however, were equally numerous; the other animal groups were
less so. Skeletons of mammals were also prepared.
The geologist, almost always on the move with a light caravan of his own, surveyed the
entire hydrographic basin of the Tana, trespassing its boundary southwards in the direction
of Goggiam, westwards down the valleys descending to the western lowlands, eastwards
on the plateau of Beghemeder3 , and northwards - as I have already mentioned - through
the Semien. In spite of the overall uniformity of the geological structures, he was able to
distinguish the young lava effusions that had formed Lake Tana, and in the powerful series
of older trap lavas he was able to establish new and interesting facts for their dating and for
reconstructing the history of the uplift of the great Ethiopian plateau. Documentation can
be found in the rich collection of geological specimens and – an observation new to science in the discovery of two fossil floras.
The botanist had less need than the geologist to move away from what were the successive
base-camps of the Mission: he generally moved within a day’s walk from them. However, he
2
3
Wogera or Wegera, the highly dissected landscape between the Semien Mountains and the Tacazze
River.
Begemder was the former name of the province in north-western Ethiopia, later renamed Gondar
region after its capital and largest town.
31
32
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
also made longer excursions to the western edge of the Tana plateau, then to the margins
of the upper Beghemeder plateau; and finally, because of the interest that would originate
from the study of the altimetrical zones of the vegetation, he was sent with the geologist to
the Semien, where the major peaks were climbed. A collection of about 25,000 specimens of
plants will make a valuable contribution to the floristic knowledge of the region, documenting
the phytogeographical picture of the region that it will certainly be possible to draw.
The anthropologist, aided by his long experience in Africa, has also brought back a rich
material of observations and measurements: about 900 anthropometric cards will be used
to establish the somatic characteristics of the people encountered. They are, especially the
people of Tana basin, mainly the Amhara, but perhaps even more interesting were the ethnic
minorities, [P. 12] i.e. the various Muslim [or Jewish] nuclei, including the Uoito, 4 or the
fishermen of the Lake, the Falascia5 or Jews of Ethiopia, the Chemanti6 - but they are also
the populations of the western Eritrean lowlands, i.e. Baria7, Cunama 8 and Beni Amer9 . The
anthropometric sheets were completed by a series of 63 masks cast from living people, and by
the varied observations and notations.
In the ethnographic field, collections were made - which can be judged as being complete
- of all the objects of the material life of the populations around Lake Tana, including the
Cunama. This was largely the particular task of the Head of Mission, so as not to distract
the anthropologist too much from his more special work.
The anthropogeographer proceeded to methodically study all the manifestations of
indigenous life, from the types of dwellings - around which he surveyed numerous domestic
plants - to the bargaining in the characteristic markets, in each of which samples were
methodically purchased, whether it was local produce or was brought there and offered for
sale or exchange.
Finally, the agronomist, who had a great deal of freedom of movement, and increased,
on his own account, the collections of agricultural goods and added collections of land and
soil, and proceeded to a meticulous investigation, spatially very extensive, into agricultural
methods, cultivated plants, their yields, their altimetrical limits, as well as indigenous breeding
and breeding-methods, and also the breeds of cattle or sheep, and even horses, but always with
an eye to the possibilities of new cultivation and the improvement of the traditional methods.
All the participants in the Mission, without distinction, were equipped with photographic
equipment and abundant amount of light-sensitive material: a collection of about 6,500
negative prints documents the intense and multiform activity of the Mission and illustrates
in full the region visited in its wide orographic and hydrographic characteristics, in its natural
4
5
6
7
8
9
Woito, also spelt Weyto, Wäyto or Watta, an ethnic group at Lake Tana. In historical texts they were
referred to as hippopotamus hunters and had once their own language belonging to the Cushitic
family. By the time of the Lake Tana expedition, thieir main occupation was fishing.
Falasha, a religious community in Ethiopia, also known as Beta Israel or Ethiopian Jews, which appear to have been isolated from mainstream Jewish communities for at least a millennium. Most of
this community emigrated to Israel in the late 20th century.
The name sometimes spelt Qemant, a small ethnic group, related to the larger ethnic group, the
Agaw, traditionally Jews and like the Agaw speaking their own language belonging to the Cushitic
family, mainly farmers living north and north-west of Lake Tana.
Now generally referred to as the Nara, a Nilo-Saharan speaking people who live in Gash Barka region of Eritrea around north and east of Barentu.
A small ethnic group that live in the area between the Gash and Setit rivers, also speaking a NiloSaharan language.
A large traditionally nomadic Muslim group, living in the Barka valley and adjacent parts of the
Sudan; now mostly Arabic speakers.
THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ITALY AND THE MISSION TO THE STUDY OF LAKE TANA IN 1937
landscapes, in its varied vegetation, in its people and in all the forms of activity they manifest
and in all the anthropological types they represent.
[P. 13] We can state it as a fact rather than as a judgement when we say that East Africa
had never known such a complete and such an intensely active study mission. And we should
not believe that the new political conditions, so soon after the Italian occupation, could have
changed the natural and human environment to such an extent that an enterprise of scientific
exploration as complex as ours would have been easy, being burdened as it was by the number
of participants and by the complication of the necessary instruments and equipment. [P. 14]
On the contrary, it could almost be said that some of the consequences of the recent war had
made the movements of a heavy caravan more difficult, with the unthinkably complicated
loading of saddles and pack animals, so that any movement, even with light caravans and not
very far from the base camps, always represented a real and sometimes an unsurmountable
difficulty. Nor were the movements of the bulk of the Mission in the area west of Tana, where
there is still no track, easy. A motorboat of the Royal Navy, which had been placed at the
disposal of the Mission for hydrographic work, largely provided the necessary support, but
it was also necessary to resort to indigenous means, almost of fortune, and to move between
Zeghie and Conselà [Quonzela, Consuela] it was necessary to build a “tanqua”,10 capable
of carrying 60 quintals11, certainly the largest “tanqua” that has ever sailed the Tana.
Communications and transport by road and track were all carried out with cars that
were almost exclusively provided by the Amhara Government, which welcomed and helped
the Mission with unstinting goodwill and with the breadth allowed by local possibilities.12 Let
it be said, however, that the Head of the Mission was aware, not least from past experience,
of what a truly indigenous country it [Ethiopia, especially the Amhara region] is, not yet
shaped by modern civilization, and of the difficulties in which the Government of Amhara
already found itself. Due to the distance from the base of its supplies and to the necessary
large quantities of these, the Mission had proposed to be as independent as possible and to
weigh as little as possible on the local authorities and their resources. The Mission asked and
obtained indigenous soldiers for the service of the caravan from the Command of the Eritrean
Troops; it had national escorts, ascaris or band-members, according to the opportunities as
judged by the responsible authorities. Above all, it asked and obtained transport by road and
by track: but, even in this, it limited its requests to a minimum in such a way as not to disturb
the logistical movements, military or civilian, of the Amhara Government. [P. 15] For all the
rest, the Mission - in the base camps, on the small excursions, on the longer ones by means of
mule caravans - has had a completely autonomous and independent life: the breadth of its
organisation has even allowed it to exercise that hospitality which is so acceptable among
men who, in one way or another, recognise themselves as pioneers and vanguards of similar
ideas and similar passions.
This affirmation - of the breadth with which the Mission had been organised - should
not cast doubt on the fact that the entire administration was conducted with absolute rigour.
The total cost of preparing and carrying out our mission was 259,743 lire. [P. 16]
This includes personal equipment and insurance for the participants; salaries of the three
technicians; costs of complete field equipment; food supplies; personal travel and transport
of materials; instrumental and photographic equipment; caravan expenses; and purchases
of ethnographic collections. It should be noted that the scientific instruments and equipment
10 Traditional reed-boats made of stems of papyrus tied together; see an example of a small tanqua for
one person in Fig. 47.
11 One quintal is 100 kg.
12 See the convoy moving from the Eritrean border towards Gondar in Fig. 28 and 30.
33
34
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
- all put back in perfect order and ready for new Missions - represent a value of 49,044 lire,
and that the scientific collections represented a total purchase cost of 21,125 lire, even by
simple commercial calculations, although they represent a much higher scientific value. If
these two ‘items’ are removed, the pure cost of the whole trip is reduced to 189,574 lire for
4 months work of 12 people. It is permissible to assume that, even from this specific point of
view, one has fulfilled one’s duty.
I must say that all participants have fulfilled their duty, for which I must thank them here
for their spirit of collaboration and enthusiasm for the joint venture. Because of this spirit
of collaboration and this enthusiasm - which also seemed to be instilled by example in the
national, military or civilian staff members, in the ascaris and officers in our direct retinue, in
the ascaris and the band-members of the escorts, and in the local people themselves who were
very often welcoming and willing to help us in our multiple tasks - I think that the Mission
left good memories in the regions it travelled in and studied. Also for the seriousness and
methodical approach of its research and for the usefulness that their results and applications
may have: it is not for nothing that His Excellency, General Pirzio Biroli, Governor of the
Amhara, took occasion - during our stay in the Tana area - from one of his reports to the
Minister of Italian Africa, to close as follows: Blessed be the Research Commission, which the
Royal Academy of Italy has entrusted to His Excellency Dainelli for the surveys of the Tana
area, to which are connected infinite problems, some of which are already evident and others
that will not fail to arise as knowledge of that very important geographical region increases.
[P. 17] Thanking His Excellency Pirzio Biroli and Commander Armando Felzani,
Secretary General of the Government of the Amhara - who welcomed us and helped us, I
repeat without reserve, to facilitate the tasks we had proposed, I would also like to thank all
those - officials and officers, soldiers and workers, men in authority and humble men - who
showed their sympathy for our enterprise, considering us almost comrades in the greatest
enterprise that Italy has struggled with and will still struggle with in East Africa for its
power and civilization.
When, at the head of our long and heavy column - which sometimes may have had
something warlike about it, with men with rifles on top of the loaded vehicles and the roaring
noise from the escorting armoured vehicles - we advanced, struggling along unimproved tracks
in the middle of the bush or over the boundless expanses of tall grasses, I felt that this our
work was indeed fighting for science at the service of the country. This was as I have always
believed it should be, and how I have also always tried to exercise it.
With this preliminary exposition, my task is over: to Academician [Alberto] De Stefani,
creator and president of the A. O. I. Study Centre, I convey the expression of my friendly
gratitude for the confidence he has shown in entrusting me with the direction of an enterprise,
to which I have given all my experience and enthusiasm.
G. Dainelli, September 1937-XV.
CHAPTER 2
Pichi Sermolli: career before, during and after the mission
to Lake Tana
The botanist of the Lake Tana expedition, Rodolfo Emilio Giuseppe Pichi Sermolli (1912–2005, born in Florence, died in Montagnana Val di Pesa near Montespertoli south-west of Florence) was only 24 years old when he went with the expedition
to Ethiopia, celebrating his 25th birthday on the shores of Lake Tana. His interest in
natural history went back to the time when he was a high school student, making long
excursions to the hills and mountains of Toscana, collecting first minerals, then lepidoptera and finally plants. His interests were supported by the Professor of comparative anatomy at the University of Florence, Nello Beccari (1883–1957), son of the
famous naturalist, Odoardo Beccari, who had visited Eritrea (1869–1870, collections
published in Martelli 1886), but was more famous for his travels in what is now Indonesia, both before and after the African trip. Nello Beccari, who had also briefly visited
Eritrea, was a close friend of the Pichi Sermolli-family and encouraged young Rodolfo
to study nature. Rodolfo enrolled at the University of Florence in 1931, and from the
beginning he attended the teaching and research at the Institute of Botany, where professor Giovanni Negri (1877–1960, professor of botany from 1925 to 1948), professor
Albina Messeri (1904–1972) and Eleonora Francini (1904–1984) soon involved him
in research projects, particularly on serpentine plants. In 1934, as a third year student,
he took part in the second mission for agronomical studies of Cyrenaica in Libya as an
assistant to Professor Renato Pampanini (1875–1949; formerly employed at Florence,
but by then appointed to a Chair of botany at the University of Cagliari). This experience gave Pichi Sermolli his first contact with the flora and vegetation of hot and dry
zones, a subject which he was to cultivate later. He also worked on the connection between the parasitic plant Rafflesia tuan-mudae and its host, based on material collected
by Odoardo Beccari in Malaysia, and began his first works on pteridophytes, another
very important subject of his later studies. Around the time of the Lake Tana mission,
Ib Friis, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Denmark, ibf@snm.ku.dk, 0000-0002-2438-1528
Sebsebe Demissew, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, sebseb.demissew@gmail.com, 0000-0002-0123-9596
Odile Weber, National Museum of Natural History, Luxemburg, odile.weber@mnhn.lu, 0000-0002-0861-2752
Paulo van Breugel, HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands, p.vanbreugel@gmail.com, 0000-0001-95790831
Referee List (DOI 10.36253/fup_referee_list)
FUP Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOI 10.36253/fup_best_practice)
Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew, Odile Weber, Paulo van Breugel, Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia. A new look at
Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results from the ‘Missione di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937, © 2022 Author(s), CC BY 4.0,
published by Firenze University Press, ISBN 978-88-5518-634-6 , DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-634-6
36
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Pichi Sermolli spelt his surname with a hyphen, “Pichi-Sermolli”, but gave up the idea
later. The later spelling has been used in this work.
Pichi Sermolli graduated in 1935 and became an assistant at the Institute of Botany
in the University of Florence and at the Erbario Tropicale. Probably late in 1936, the
Reale Accademia d’Italia, most likely due to the initiative of Giotto Dainelli, asked him
to take part as a botanist in the expedition to Lake Tana. His observations from this
expedition and his collections of 2649 angiosperms and gymnosperms1 from Eritrea
and Ethiopia will be analysed later in this paper.
Producing the best possible georeferencing of Pichi Sermolli’s 115 collecting localities and 20 base camps was one of the important subjects in Friis (2015). Here, the base
camps and major stops have been shown in Fig. 9. The identification of the collecting
localities has been significantly refined in the present paper. Here, all georeferenced
collecting localities have been mapped and projected onto maps showing the potential
natural vegetation of Ethiopia, as analysed by Friis et al. (2010) and Friis et al. (2022).
The following biographic overview is based on Bizzarri (1993), Brummitt (2007)
and Moggi (2007). Back in Florence from the expedition to Ethiopia, Pichi Sermolli
returned to his work at the Institute of Botany and the Erbario Coloniale [Colonial Herbarium, now Centro Studi Erbario Tropicale]. In the first years after his return, 19381939, Pichi Sermolli was assistant lecturer at the Institute of Geography and published
a study of rural buildings in Tuscany (Pichi Sermolli 1938b). The employment at the
Institute of Geography and the architectural and geographical studies were almost certainly encouraged by Giotto Dainelli, but Pichi Sermolli kept his main interest in plants
and his connection with the Institute of Botany. During the war he was twice called up
for military service, first to the Greek-Albanian front, presumably mainly for mapping
and surveying, and later as an officer in the reproduction and printing department of
the Istituto Geografico Militare [Military Geographical Institute] in Florence, during
which service he contributed to a map in 1:25,000 of the municipality of Chitignano
near Arezzo. For the journal of the Istituto Geografico Militare, he also prepared a review of his own and previous travellers’ geographical observations regarding altitudes
and place-names in the Semien Mountains (Pichi Sermolli 1940c).
As mentioned, the collapse of the Fascist Italian regime and the fall of Mussolini in
1943 meant that the new Italian government signed an armistice with the Allied forces,
and in consequence of the German forces in northern Italy, a Fascist puppet state, the
Italian Social Republic (RSI), was formed in the part of the country occupied by Germany. From its capital in the town of Saló on Lake Garda, the Italian Social Republic
administered the German-occupied territories. During this period Pichi Sermolli aided
the Allied forces on their continued advance towards Florence and northern Italy. This
meant that he was away from Florence, with the result that he was not only distanced
from his research, but also that he was deprived of a substantial part of his belongings,
including his books and manuscripts. An unknown part of these was lost in the destruction of buildings in Florence located on the bank of the river Arno near Ponte Vecchio,
the place where Pichi Sermolli lived. Unlike the other bridges on the Arno, Ponte Vecchio was not destroyed by the retreat of the Nazi German forces, but crossing of the
river was instead blocked by the destruction of buildings at either end of the bridge.
1
This number is according to the introduction to Pichi Sermolli 1951: 16); including ferns and fern
allies, his collections counted from a numerical list Pichi Sermolli (1951: 277-306) includes 2742
collections.
PICHI SERMOLLI: CAREER BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE MISSION TO LAKE TANA
In 1945, Pichi Sermolli could resume his job at the Institute of Botany in Florence
and as curator of the Colonial Herbarium. He completed some research-projects which
he had started earlier, including a work describing a new family and a new genus of ferns,
Negripteridaceae and Negripteris, based on material from Ethiopia and dedicated to
his teacher, Prof. Giovanni Negri (Pichi Sermolli 1947c [‘1945’], 1950a). He continued his employment at the University of Florence up to 1958 and was simultaneously
assistant professor in Siena from 1951 to 1958.
In 1947, Pichi Sermolli was granted a scholarship from the British Council, thanks
to which he was able to carry out research in the libraries and herbaria of Kew and the
British Museum, devoting himself for months to the study of his Ethiopian collections
in collaboration with a number of botanists at Kew. The results of this work were included in a monograph published about three years later by the Accademia dei Lincei.
The “academy of the lynxes”, as has been described above, was re-established in 1944 in
connection with the suppression of the Accademia d’Italia. The months in England improved the values of the botanical results of the Lake Tana expeditions and they fundamentally influenced Pichi Sermolli’s scientific views, not least his request for thorough
investigation of both classical and newer herbarium material before drawing taxonomic
conclusions, but also his interest in botanical nomenclature. His subsequent and extensive scientific works and publications on the flora of Italy, nomenclature, pteridology,
the Pandanaceae of Madagascar and the history and taxonomy of the Beccari collections from Indonesia are listed by Bizzarri (1993), Moggi (1993, 2007) and Brummitt
(2007). However, in the following, only the line of African botany will be followed.
In 1958 Pichi Sermolli left Florence and was appointed full professor in the University of Sassari in Sardinia, but a year later he moved to a chair in botany at the University of Genova where he was professor until 1972. From that year to 1987, he held a
chair of botany in Perugia, and he was given the title of Professor Emeritus at Perugia
on his retirement in 1987 (Brummitt 2007).
With the publication in 1951 of the systematic account of the gymnosperms and
angiosperms collected on the Lake Tana Mission, those of Pichi Sermolli’s works that
were directly related to that mission came to an end. A promised volume on the vegetation around Lake Tana was never published, and it seems that no account of the ferns
and fern allies of the Lake Tana Mission was ever completed, but the observations on
the vegetation of western Ethiopia were included in the monographic account of the
vegetation on the Horn of Africa that accompanied Pichi Sermolli’s vegetation map
of the Horn in 1:1000,000 (Pichi Sermolli 1957b). Around 1951, Pichi Sermolli was
invited by UNESCO to draw up a report on the arid and semi-arid areas of East Africa (Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania), with subsequent reports (Pichi Sermolli 1955). In 1954 this earned him a position as a botanist in the 9-member UNESCO
Advisory Committee for Research on Arid Zones, a position he held until the end of
1956. Already from the foundation in 1950 of the Association pour l’étude taxonomique
de la flore d’Afrique tropicale [AETFAT, Association for the Taxonomic Study of the
Flora of Tropical Africa], Pichi Sermolli was a member of this organisation and joined
various committees, including one for the preparation of a vegetation map of tropical
Africa (Aubréville et al. 1959), and later a committee for a map of the whole of Africa
and Madagascar (White 1983). As a precursor of this work, he compiled all then existing observations of the vegetation of the Horn of Africa, including his own from 1937,
and published the above mentioned monograph Una carta geobotanica dell’Africa Orientale (Eritrea, Etiopia, Somalia) [A geobotanical map of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti and
Somalia] with the sources of his classification of the vegetation and description of the
types he recognised in that part of Africa (Pichi Sermolli 1957b).
37
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig.8. Pichi Sermolli at Kew. The photograph may possibly have been taken during a visit later than
the one in 1947, when he identified his collections from the Lake Tana expedition. Anonymous
photographer. Photograph at the Centro Studi Erbario Tropicale, Florence.
PICHI SERMOLLI: CAREER BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE MISSION TO LAKE TANA
In spite of the dramatic events in 1943-1945, which had estranged Giotto Dainelli from parts of the academic circles at the University of Florence, it was decided that
Dainelli should write a foreword to Pichi Sermolli’s main botanical account from the
Lake Tana mission (Dainelli in Pichi Sermolli 1951: 7-9). It is interesting to compare
this with the foreword from the publication of the preliminary results of the Lake Tana
Mission (Dainelli 1938). Although some colonialist ideas are maintained in this later
foreword, there is more emphasis on what benefit science might bring to the local, indigenous people of Ethiopia. Less clearly expressed is the playing down of Dainelli’s
original scheme of cooperative research and more emphasis is given to the individual
achievements of the scientists, producing results “if not for other purposes I have proposed, at least for the universal advancement of knowledge.” Pichi Sermolli, in particular, is praised for tenaciously continuing his research on the material from the mission
after the war, “the great storm that hit Italy”. Although the results of Pichi Sermolli’s
research “should have been even more extensive than what is presented in this volume, they are, for the times we live in, already excellent and the author has been able
to overcome, with his tenacious enthusiasm, even the serious difficulties that he has
encountered along the way.”
Giotto Dainelli’s views in retrospect of the mission to the study of Lake Tana and on
Pichi Sermolli’s results (Dainelli in Pichi Sermolli 1951).
As mentioned above, Dainelli’s foreword to Pichi Sermolli’s monograph of the botanical collections from the Lake Tana expedition, published in 1951, should be seen in
continuation of his foreword to the symposium proceedings from 1938. This foreword
shows his continued enthusiasm for the expedition, but also some disappointment. The
following is a translation of Dainelli in Pichi Sermolli (1951: 7-9).
[P. 7; title:] Foreword.
[P. 7] When, in the autumn of 1936, I went to Addis Ababa to make arrangements with
the Governor General of the new territories occupied by Italy in East Africa - arrangements
relating to scientific research, which was the essential aim of the Centro Studi per l’A.O.I.”
[Study Centre for the Italian East Africa], set up at the Reale Accademia d’Italia on the
initiative of Alberto De Stefani and myself - I immediately drew up a general programme
which indicated the direction that this action of ours should take.
The direction was clearly indicated by the goals that should not be lost sight of in our
activity as scholars and, at the same time, as men who know that the world is not only enclosed
within the limited circle of their studies. For this reason the first and fundamental aim would
have to be the diligent observation and wise evaluation of all the natural conditions - physical,
biological, even strictly human - with the unwavering intent of increasing our knowledge of
all the elements that make up and animate the various natural landscapes that this Earth
offers to our eager curiosity for knowledge. But a second aim, directly consequent to the first, and for which we, pure scholars, would have essentially offered the richness and variety of our
diligent observations to men capable of appreciating and using them for the greater good of
both themselves and all - had to be to offer, precisely, the necessary elements for the ever greater
valuation of the natural forces and resources that the climate, the geological constitution, the
surface soil, the waters, the vegetation cover, even the indigenous peoples with their various
physical characteristics and with their varied distribution, with their varied customs in the
field of agriculture or animal husbandry or small and primitive local industries, could have
brought about an ever greater formation and wider distribution of wealth, to raise the level
of human material life. [P. 8] But a third purpose had still to be derived from it, for it is
39
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
unthinkable to raise the level of human material life without a concomitant rising of its cultural
level. This purpose, and it is appropriate to state this, would essentially be important among
the indigenous peoples, and to their prevailing benefit, with the spread and intensification of
a culture that it is the human duty to instruct in those who do not already possess it.
In consequence of the direction that I had thought should be given to the activity of the
Centro Studi per l’A.O.I., I certainly did not exclude the organisation of study missions
conducted by individual scholars and for special subjects of observation, whenever scientific
interest or the wish of the Government advised it. But I had to give preference to the
organisation of collective study missions, which, in the chosen region, should bring back all
the elements of observation necessary for a truly complete and total knowledge of it. And I
wanted to apply this guideline immediately, following, as a good old mountain climber, the
aphorism that “the mountaineer must have long legs and a short tongue”: an aphorism that
should be applied always and by everyone.
And I chose, for what should have been the first of a long series of collective study missions,
the region of Lake Tana, which because of its altitude, its hydrography and its many indigenous
ethnic groups presented particular interest. It is not important for me to recall here the names
of the young scholars, who constituted a well-prepared and enthusiastic “team” that would
leave no gaps in the complete knowledge of the chosen region. It is not important here, because
at the time I already had the opportunity to name them all and recall their fields of activity.
Of these activities, the six volumes published between 1938 and 1943 are certain
testimonies. Then the great storm hit Italy, several of my young companions were dispersed
around the world, and the series of volumes containing the scientific results of the mission to
Lake Tana seemed to have been suspended without further hope of continuation. But one of
my young men remained on the front line, virtually attached to his own scientific collections,
tenaciously resolved to bring the study of them to completion and to offer them, if not for the
other purposes I have proposed, at least for the universal advancement of knowledge. [P. 9]
And here is, in this volume and for the most part the result achieved by this tenacious will,
the description by Rodolfo Pichi-Sermolli of the rich phanerogamic flora2 , collected during
the months of our wanderings around Lake Tana. The study, according to the plan originally
made by the author and fully approved by me, should have been even more extensive than that
presented in this volume, but, for the times we live in, it is already excellent that the author
has been able to overcome, with his tenacious enthusiasm, even the serious difficulties that he
has encountered along the way. And I hope that he will also be able to overcome the inevitable
difficulties for the publication of a second volume, destined for the characterisation of the
various plant formations and associations and therefore for the botanical characterisation
of the different types of landscape. As a geographer, even if no longer active and pugnacious,
I await this volume with particular interest, also because of the visual memory that I have
of those landscapes.
But while this first volume is being published, I must warmly thank my old pupil and
young friend, Rodolfo Pichi-Sermolli, for the heartfelt satisfaction this gives me.
Giotto Dainelli.
Pichi Sermolli continued to be interested in the botany of the Horn of Africa
In 1940, Pichi Sermolli published a study of Cei’s collections of ferns from southwestern Ethiopia (Pichi Sermolli 1940a), and a few years after the publication of the last
2
Pichi Sermolli (1951) in fact also contained important information about gymnosperms (Juniperus
and Podocarpus), but not ferns and fern allies.
PICHI SERMOLLI: CAREER BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE MISSION TO LAKE TANA
monograph on the Lake Tana collections (Pichi Sermolli 1951), he initiated in 1953 in
full agreement with the then director of the Botanical Institute of Florence, Prof. Alberto Chiarugi, the publication of the series of monographic treatments of plant families
on the Horn of Africa in the Adumbratio Florae Aethiopicae [‘A foreshadow of the flora
of Ethiopia’], published under his direction. This series was intended for taxonomic
revision at the monographic level of vascular plants of north-eastern tropical Africa
(‘Ethiopia’ in the wide sense, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Socotra), of which 32 parts
were published. Pichi Sermolli is the author of the 12 of these dealing with ferns, and
one on Ericaceae in collaboration with H. Heiniger (Pichi Sermolli & Heiniger 1953).
Pichi Sermolli also widened his interests in the African flora and was General Secretary of AETFAT [Association pour l’Etude Taxonomique de la Flore d’Afrique Tropicale, ‘The Association for the Taxonomic Study of the Flora of Tropical Africa’] from
1960 to 1963, organizing the 5th Plenary Meeting of the Association at his then current university in Genova, but also with part of the meeting held at his old university
of Florence. He also edited the proceedings of the 5th Plenary Meeting of AETFAT
(Pichi Sermolli 1965).
In 1966, Pichi Sermolli was awarded the Haile Selassie I Prize for his work on the
plant world of the Horn of Africa, a prize which he received in person in Addis Ababa
from the hand of Emperor Haile Selassie I. This trip involved also field work in Ethiopia, from which he brought back pteridological collections. In December 1966-January
1967 he undertook another trip to Africa, collecting in Burundi, Kenya and southwestern Ethiopia. The results of the study of these collections, which he studied by
comparison of his material with collections in various foreign herbaria are published
in a series of papers begun in 1968 and named Fragmenta Pteridologiae. This series
consisted of 8 contributions, the last of which appeared in 1983. More new fern species from Ethiopia were published in Novitates Pteridologicae Aethiopicae, where 3 new
species are described.
It was Pichi Sermolli’s idea that the monographic contributions to Adumbratio Florae Aethiopicae should form the basis for one or several floras of the Horn of Africa. This
did indeed happen with the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea and the Flora of Somalia, as far
as the appropriate fascicles in the Adumbratio were published. However, the progress
with the Adumbratio was much slower than the progress with the publication of the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea (published 1989-2009) and with the Flora of Somalia (19932006). For the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, Pichi Sermolli produced a typed check-list
of all ferns recorded from those two countries; the actual accounts of all the pteridophyte families were written after Pichi Sermolli’s death in 2005 by J.P. Roux, Sebsebe
Demissew, Ensermu Kelbessa and Ib Friis, with consultation of own Pichi Sermolli’s
fern herbarium by Ib Friis, after it had been given to the Natural History Museum of
Florence in 2007 to be kept as a ‘closed historical herbarium’ (Moggi 2009), to be referred to as FI-PS. When the ferns were published in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea,
Vol. 1 (Hedberg et al. 2009a), the family concept followed that of Pichi Sermolli in the
paper Tentamen Pteridophytorum genera in taxonomicum ordinem redigendi (Webbia 31:
313-572. 1977) in appreciation of his outstanding work on the pteridophytes in general
and on Ethiopian ferns in particular.
41
CHAPTER 3
Pichi Sermolli’s field observations of Ethiopian vegetation
Pichi Sermolli’s field observations on the Lake Tana expedition, including detailed
descriptions of the entire or various parts of the journey, are published in four articles
or book chapters that appeared between 1938 and 1951 (Pichi Sermolli 1938a; 1939;
1940b; 1951), all written in Italian. In the following these are presented in chronological order with a general introduction, and each has been translated into English by the
present authors, who have also provided the text in the footnotes or the notes in square
brackets. Because the four texts deal either with the entire journey or parts of it, there
is of necessity some overlap between them, but often they do complement each other
when describing the same part of the journey. The texts in the first three publications
specifically discuss published photographs of landscapes and vegetation, and the original illustrations are therefore reproduced here. Pichi Sermolli’s text is mostly in the present tense, but has everywhere here been translated to the past tense. Footnotes in the
Italian text are indicated as such, and quoted in square brackets near the place in the
text which they refer to. Throughout these texts, the term “consorzio” has been translated as “plant community”, and the term “formazione” as “plant formation”. The term
“pascolo”, literally meaning ‘pasture’, has been translated as ‘grassland’, independent
of whether it was grazed by domestic animals or not.
Note also that the altitudes given here are always those of Pichi Sermolli’s publications, unless differently specified. The altitudes indicated by Pichi Sermolli may be
different from the presently accepted altitudes and usually they are 100 to 200 m. too
high. One example is the fluctuating water level of Lake Tana now indicated to be on
average at 1,788 m. above sea level1 (a figure indicated in Google Earth), or as much
1
The words ”above sea level” or ”a.s.l.” are omitted in the translation unless necessary as part of a
direct quote.
Ib Friis, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Denmark, ibf@snm.ku.dk, 0000-0002-2438-1528
Sebsebe Demissew, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, sebseb.demissew@gmail.com, 0000-0002-0123-9596
Odile Weber, National Museum of Natural History, Luxemburg, odile.weber@mnhn.lu, 0000-0002-0861-2752
Paulo van Breugel, HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands, p.vanbreugel@gmail.com, 0000-0001-95790831
Referee List (DOI 10.36253/fup_referee_list)
FUP Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOI 10.36253/fup_best_practice)
Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew, Odile Weber, Paulo van Breugel, Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia. A new look at
Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results from the ‘Missione di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937, © 2022 Author(s), CC BY 4.0,
published by Firenze University Press, ISBN 978-88-5518-634-6 , DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-634-6
44
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 9. Base camps, major stops and other major sites of the Lake Tana expedition (in the Semien Mountains only
Enzo Minucci and Pichi Sermolli). 1. Massawa. 2. Asmara and Daharo Kaulos. 3. Keren. 4. Agordat. 5. Barentu.
6. Tessenei. 7. Om Ager / Humera. 8. Sengià River. 9. Tucur Dinghia, adjacent localities northwest of Gondar and
Gondar. 10. Bahar Dar. 11. Zegie peninsula, Furie. 12. Quonzela [Consuela] and Alefa. 13. Gorgora. 14. Ifag. 15.
Zara Enda Michael Church. 16. Debra Tabor. 17. Debarech [Debark]. 18. Semien Mountains. 19. Addi Arcai [Addi
Arkay or Adi Arkay]. Detailed maps are shown at the end of the text as Map 1-9.
as 1,830 m. according to Lamb et al. (2007), but in Pichi Sermolli’s publications the
altitude is indicated as 1,820 m. Pichi Sermolli’s altitudes of peaks in the Semien also
deviate from what is now accepted; the highest peak, Ras Dejen, is now measured to
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
be 4,550 m. above sea level, but in Pichi Sermolli’s publications the altitude is indicated as 4,620 m., the peak of Mount Buahit is now measured to be at 4,430 m. above sea
level, but in Pichi Sermolli’s publications the altitude is indicated as 4,510 m. In chapter “10. Pichi Sermolli’s localities…” the altitudes indicated by Pichi Sermolli for his
collecting sites have been compared with a modern digital elevation model and the
deviations specified.
In the following, the first account covers the entire journey and is one of the relazioni
preliminary [preliminary accounts], published by the members of the Lake Tana Mission after having been presented at a symposium held at the Reale Accademia d’Italia
in Rome on the 29.5.1938. It is a broad overview, and it is introduced with quick and
sketchy notes on the vegetation across the Eritrean highlands to the western lowlands.
A later publication (Pichi Sermolli 1940b) provided a more detailed account of the journey from western Eritrean lowlands and up the western escarpment to the watershed
around the Lake Tana basin north-west of Gondar.
Having landed at the port of Massawa on the coast of the Red Sea, the party went
to Asmara, capital of Eritrea. From there Pichi Sermolli made a number of day-trips,
the longest to the hill at the settlement of Daharo Kaulos. The party left Asmara in a
convoy of lorries on 18 January, progressing to Tessenei in western Eritrea via Keren,
Agordat and Barentu. Across the Eritrean highlands, the vegetation was dominated by
secondary evergreen bushland with Rumex nervosus, Merendera bengalensis and Ocimum filamentosum, with species of Aloe and Echinops. In protected places, there were
remnants of a taller woody vegetation with Olea chrysophylla [Olea europaea L. subsp.
cuspidata (Wall. & G. Don.) Cif.], the candelabra-shaped succulent Euphorbia abyssinica
and the liana Pterolobium exosum [Pterolobium stellatum]. Ficus sycomorus occurred in
riparian vegetation. In the river valleys and in the landscape in western Eritrea towards
the Sudan Adansonia digitata and Sterculia tomentosa [Sterculia setigera] occurred, and
also species characteristic of deciduous woodland (Boswellia papyrifera and species of
Commiphora, Combretum, Terminalia, etc.).
On the plains in the western lowlands the vegetation was different from the dry
bushland of the Eritrean highlands, consisting of dry, deciduous scrub with species of
Acacia. The major rivers running to the north (in Eritrea) and west had riverine vegetation up to one kilometre wide, with an upper stratum of dum palms. Where the flat
plains of the Nile Valley extended into Eritrea and north-western Ethiopia, there were
vast plains of black soil [black cotton soil; vertisol], with tall grassland and trees of Acacia seyal or Balanites aegyptiaca. This vegetation, Pichi Sermolli termed “savannah”.
The convoy crossed the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia at the towns of Om
Ager [in Eritrea] / Humera [in Ethiopia]. There, the party entered the Combretum-Terminalia woodland of the western Ethiopian lowlands. Once the Lake Tana mission had
crossed the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia, they met a network of small rivers,
mostly temporary steams, running westwards from the Ethiopian highlands towards
the Sudan, and with a mosaic of narrow belts of riparian vegetation and CombretumTerminalia woodland. Pichi Sermolli referred to many of these streams by name, the
major ones being Sua, Soroca and Sengia, but it is mostly not possible for us to identify
the exact places where the mission crossed them and to locate the exact route which
the mission followed. However, Pichi Sermolli’s observations of the plant communities agree with what has been described by Friis et al. (2022) from near the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea. On sloping stony ground the vegetation changed from the
wooded grasslands on black cotton soil with Balanites aegyptiaca and Acacia seyal to
deciduous woodland formed mainly by 5-6 m. tall trees of Boswellia papyrifera, Terminalia brownii and species of Combretum, with an undergrowth of high grasses. In other
45
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
places Anogeissus leiocarpa was the dominant tree. Although Pichi Sermolli noted that
Boswellia woodland and Combretum-Terminalia woodland seemed to replace each other, he did not note any well-defined change in the environmental parameters between
the two, nor at the transition to the Anogeissus woodland, at which he only pointing
out the floristic variation. Because the journey was made in a convoy, it was generally
not possible to stop for collecting before a halt at Tucùr-Dinghia near the upper limit
of the western escarpment.
Having reached the stream of Soroca, Pichi Sermolli noted that areas with less steep
slopes and less rocks were dominated by dense thickets of Oxytenanthera abyssinica,
often covering large areas on the lower slopes of valleys, but alternating with Boswellia
woodland and Combretum-Terminalia woodland, as the mission ascended to higher
altitudes around between 900 and 1,300 m. above sea level in the higher parts of this
landscape, near the stream of Avellana [not found on the IGM map in 1:400,000 (IGM
1934-1936a)], there was deciduous woodland with Terminalia sp., Combretum collinum,
Anogeissus leiocarpa, Gardenia lutea [Gardenia ternifolia] and Bauhinia thonningii [Piliostigma thonningii]. This vegetation gradually changed into semi-evergreen bushland
and at an altitude of about 1,700 m. to forest with a dense upper stratum of Mimusops
kummel, Ficus riparia [F. sur], Strychnos unguacha [S. innochua] and Phoenix reclinata.
Presumably this vegetation required streams or underground water.
Higher up, near the small town of Tucur Dinghia and at around 2,300 m., the vegetation was dominated by a dense canopy of Acacia abyssinica with undergrowth, and
still higher, at about 2,400 m., by Olea chrysophylla [Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata],
Apodytes acutifolia [Apodytes dimidiata], changing into scrub and montane grassland
near the watershed at about 2,600 m. This mosaic of vegetation types that can now
be identified as referrable to Dry evergreen Afromontane forest and grassland complex
(DAF), with Afromontane wooded grassland, secondary semi-evergreen bushland
and dry Afromontane forest, is mostly dominated by Acacia abyssinica, but in some
places, particularly nearer Gondar, also by Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata. Pichi Sermolli noted that the vegetation on the western side of the watershed of the Lake Tana
basin was more dominated by woody plants than the grasslands on the Lake Tana side;
he did not comment further, but our own observations confirm this, and we think it
likely that the reduced number of woody plants towards Lake Tana is caused by more
intense human influence and grazing.
The convoy moved on from Tucur Dinghia to the town of Gondar, where the studies of the Lake Tana Basin began on 26 January. During 3 days in Gondar, Pichi Sermolli collected plants from localities between the town and the watershed to the north.
From Gondar the mission moved headquarters to Bahar Dar at the southernmost point
of Lake Tana. At that time, Bahar Dar consisted only of houses stretching along one
road, running near to and parallel with the lake shore.
From the 30 January to 11 February, the group was located at Bahar Dar. From this
base camp Pichi Sermolli collected in many places along the shores of Lake Tana. Pichi
Sermolli’s main observation from localities around Bahar Dar was that there were four
major categories of vegetation, which could be distinguished thus:
(1) A narrow strip of bushland with trees and lianas and little undergrowth of herbaceous vegetation on the lake shore; trees were often growing in shallow water.
(2) A wider strip of bushland om the lake shore with trees interrupted here and there
by almost pure communities of Cyperus papyrus or swamps with Polygonum and
various grasses.
(3) Immediately on the inland side of (1) and (2), there was grassland, almost completely devoid of trees.
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
(4) Further inland, where the lake shore plains ended and low hills or generally rising
ground began, there was bushland or wooded grassland, only rarely forest, and
then mostly along the Abay River or along the smaller streams.
After having moved the base camp west of Bahar Dar to the village of Furie and the
Zegie peninsula, Pichi Sermolli noted differences in the shore vegetation and began a
study of the forests on the peninsula. Its canopy was found to consist of the same species of trees as growing on the island of Kebra Uddus Gabriel near Bahar Dar, while
the shrub layer was completely replaced with cultivated coffee. In some parts of the
peninsula the coffee-forest had been cleared and woodland species such as Stereospermum kunthianum had invaded the grassland and scrub. Around the churches on the
Zegie peninsula there were patches of woody vegetation with Podocarpus, Juniperus,
Mimusops kummel, Millettia ferruginea, etc., partly remains of the natural forest, but according to Pichi Sermolli the tall trees of Juniperus and Podocarpus would seem to have
been planted by the priests of the churches.
Moving from the Zegie peninsula to the small town of Consela [Quonzela, Consuela] on the western side of Lake Tana, Pichi Sermolli observed further changes in
the lake-shore vegetation, with no trees or papyrus swamps, but gentle slopes from the
lake shore with gravel, often with clumps of Kanahia laniflora towards higher ground.
Inside the shores there was a narrow zone with grassland and further inside that zone,
there was a zone with shrubs and scattered trees. Even further inland, this vegetation
was replaced by wooded grassland or woodland, which seemed no longer to be dependent on the water in the lake. The type of woodland was not easy to classify, but it
seemed to contain the same species of deciduous Combretum-Terminalia woodland as
on the lower altitudes of the western escarpment of the highlands. Along the streams
there were Mimusops kummel and Syzygium guineense. At higher altitudes the wooded
grassland and woodland was replaced by dry forest or dense woodland with Olea chrysophylla [Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata] and Acacia abyssinica. An excursion across the
watershed to a hot spring lower on the western side of it was reflected in the labels of the
specimens collected, but no description was published in any of Pichi Sermolli’s texts.
Based on observations made on an excursion by boat to the island of Dech [Dek],
Pichi Sermolli described the highly cultivated island as having a natural rim of forest
with Syzygium guineense along the lake shore as in the vegetation type (1) around Bahar Dar. The island of Daga was hilly and covered with forest similar to that on Kebra
Uddus Gabriel.
On the 1st of March the base-camp was relocated to the Gorgora peninsula at the
northern shore of the lake, where the group stayed until 8 March.
After moving to the northern shore of Lake Tana at Gorgora, Pichi Sermolli noted
that the lake shore was rocky and steep, only occasionally with lake shore forests or
papyrus swamps. The top of the highest hill of the Gorgora peninsula, Zefen terara,
he noted, had a splendid view and had by the Italians been renamed Cima Mussolini
[Mussolini peak]. The vegetation of that hill was a mixture of deciduous woodland with
species of Combretaceae, species of Acacia and bushland. On a boat trip to the small
island of Birghida Mariam with a church and a monastery, Pichi Sermolli observed
that the natural vegetation was mainly replaced with cultivations, but that there were
remnants of low forest. An excursion along the southern shore of the peninsula with
Enzo Minucci neither resulted in a published record of the vegetation, nor in collections of recent plants, but comprised a visit to a site rich in plant fossils and ruins from
the time of Emperor Susenyos (1606-1632), including a church, Maryam Gimp, built
by Portuguese missionaries during the rule of that emperor.
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
On the 9 March the group moved to the small town of Ifag at the northeastern shore
of Lake Tana. From there Pichi Sermolli made various excursions near the lake, on
the small hills further inland, and on the low mountains that form the eastern border
of the Lake Tana basin. Pichi Sermolli studied the landscape further east of the lake
on two journeys, one on 12 March on a trip from Ifag to Debra Tabor along a road or
track that no longer exists. When moving eastwards from Gorgora towards Ifag on the
north-eastern side of the lake, Pichi Sermolli first progressed through the low plains
of Guramba on which there were extensive grasslands sometimes flooded at high water levels. North-east of Lake Tana the journey went across hilly areas with bushland
and descended to the extensive plains around the small river of Arno, again sometimes
flooded at high water levels and with black cotton soil, a very monotonous vegetation
with short grass, clumps of Acacia seyal and scattered cultivation. The plains extended
20-40 km. from the lake to the rather steep mountains to the east. As the mission visited the area in the dry season, the soil was stone hard and cracked, and very few observations of vegetation and collections of plants were made before the group reached
the small town of Ifag. Along that part of the lake near Ifag, Pichi Sermolli observed
three zones of vegetation, somewhat similar to those he had noted around Bahar Dar,
but without the rim of trees at or on the lake shore:
(1) A strip on the lake-shore with swamps or grassland going right down to the lake,
usually narrower than at Bahar Dar.
(2) Above that extensive grasslands as north of Ifag, a vegetation which was often
flooded during the rainy season.
(3) Wooded grasslands similar to those seen along the Arno River with short grass and
scattered trees, mainly species of Acacia; this vegetation extended to the foothills
of the mountains east of the Lake Tana basin.
The last base camp was at the forested hill of the church of Zara Enda Michael, the
point of departure for Pichi Sermolli’s excursions from the 14 to the 19 March, reaching the river Gueldo and localities between Zara Enda Michael and Lake Tana. Zara
Enda Michael was situated on a hill to the south-east of the lake, and the forest around
the church consisted mainly of Mimusops kummel, with two strata of smaller trees and
shrubs below. Similar vegetation was found to surround the hill and stretching to the
lake shore, but it had in many places been replaced with cultivation. On an short excursion towards Bahar Dar, Pichi Sermolli observed woodland and wooded grassland
with Stereospermum kunthianum and patches of evergreen trees. A second trip to Debra
Tabor was made on the 20–24 March. On the mountains towards Debra Tabor there
was moisture-loving bushland and mostly evergreen species of trees, which became
dense above 2,500 m. Acacia abyssinica was very common and formed a woodland as
dense as forest. At the highest points, towards the upper limit of the dense, woody vegetation, the Acacia abyssinica was replaced by specimens of Juniperus procera. Above
2,700-2,800 m. there was grassland and low bushland, mainly consisting of Hypericum
lanceolatum [Hypericum revolutum Vahl] and Rosa abyssinica. Near Debre Tabor and on
Mt. Jesus Tabor just south of the town there was scrub of Erica arborea on the mountain slopes, and scattered trees of Hagenia abyssinica were observed.
On 24 March the group returned to Gondar, where Pichi Sermolli studied the flora
around the old castles and churches of Gondar and recorded around these monuments
Olea chrysophylla [Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata] and Juniperus procera. He thought
that the latter were planted, rather than representing direct remains of the original vegetation. Also from Gondar, Pichi Sermolli made an excursion with Enzo Minucci to the
area north-west of Lake Tana, more specifically the Celga area, to study the geological
stratification of the rocks and lignite with plant fossils.
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
From Gondar Pichi Sermolli and Enzo Minucci also started their excursion to the
Semien Mountains with a caravan of local helpers organised from Debarech. Pichi Sermolli published different accounts of that journey (Pichi Sermolli 1938a, 1939, 1940c,
1951) and in these accounts he sometimes mention different localities. The following is
an attempt to fit the various versions of the travel together. Collections were not made
at all the sites that are mentioned in the travel accounts referred to above, and it will not
always be possible to find the sites in chapter “6. Chronological list …” in this paper.
Initially, after having left Debarech, the excursion followed the stream of Addeschie,
running in a westward direction from the Semien. There the vegetation was grassland
in a zone below the Erica arborea bushland, called by Pichi Sermolli “grasslands of the
Dega”, which extended up to 2,800-3,000 m., past the village of Micciubbi. This grassland had scattered groves of Acacia abyssinica, Olea chrysophylla (Olea europaea subsp.
cuspidata), Pygeum africanum [Prunus a.], a few specimens of Hagenia abyssinica, many
shrubs of Gymnosporia [Maytenus spp.] and scattered patches of scrub of Hypericum
lanceolatum [Hypericum revolutum Vahl] and Rosa abyssinica. From Micciubbi, they
followed the right side of the deep valley of Mai Beleghes, where today there is the
modern road into the mountains towards Cennech [Cennek, 3,714 m] and Mount Buahit [Bwahit, peak at 4,510 m]. This road runs high above the bottom of the valley and
the village of Ambaras (3,610 m), and probably Pichi Sermolli and Minucci followed
a similar route. In his first detailed paper on the vegetation of the Semien Mountains,
Pichi Sermolli (1939) reviewed the zonation of plant communities, although not in a
diagrammatic form. Interrupting the review of travelogues, the review is summarised
here, from the Erica bushland up to the Alpine vegetation on the highest peaks. The
giant lobelia, Lobelia rhynchopetalum, which Pichi Sermolli considered an indicator of
the alpine vegetation, began to appear at ca. 3,200 m., the lowermost ones seen at the
village of Micciubbi. At the lowermost altitudes Lobelia rhynchopetalum was mixed with
Erica scrub, which was seen at its lowest altitude at ca. 2,500 m. at the Uolchefit pass
[Wolkefit pass to the north of Debark]. At higher altitudes the giant lobelias occurred
in short grassland, called by Pichi Sermolli “Upper grassland with Lobelia rhynchopetalum.” In the valley of Adeschie they observed tree-sized specimens of Erica arborea,
up to 3 m. tall (in other places, for example near Uolchefit, the tree-like specimens of
Erica were observed to be 5-6 m. tall) and trunks with a diameter of up to 40 cm. On
the slopes of the Beleghes valley, Pichi Sermolli observed a mosaic of scrub and grassland, with Erica arborea, Rosa abyssinica, Hypericum lanceolatum [Hypericum revolutum
Vahl] and large species of Echinops, E. steudneri and E. hoffmannianus [E. longisetus].
Hagenia abyssinica was rare. On the slopes of Mount Buahit short grassland was the
dominant vegetation. The species changed with altitude and the vegetation thinned
out at about 4,250 m., being at this and higher altitudes restricted to sheltered places.
Pichi Sermolli also described the way in which the Erica bushland was converted to
farmland with the cultivation of cereals.
From these observations, Pichi Sermolli concluded that the zone with Erica arborea
would mostly extend from 2,800-3,000 m. at the lower edge up to 3,000-3,300 m. (but
elsewhere, in unspecified localities, the range could be 3,000-3,300 to 3,300-3,700 m.,
with a vertical transition zone of 200-400 mm in height (Pichi Sermolli 1939: CXIX)).
He therefore concluded that at 3,800-4,000 m. the transition from the highest samples
of Erica arborea bushland to the upper grassland with Lobelia rhynchopetalum was complete, and from there the zone of upper grassland with Lobelia rhynchopetalum extended
upwards to 4,300-4,350 m. Apart from grasses, this zone contained species of Carex,
herbaceous species of other families and some subshrubs (Helichrysum citrispinum, H.
abyssinicum, [Helichrysum splendidum (Thunb.) Less.], Thymus sp., Blaeria spicata, etc.).
49
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Where the soil was very stony, Helichrysum citrispinum might replace the Lobelia. Here,
in moist places there were also swamps with large tussocks of Carex monostachya, surrounded by species of slender herbs such as Ranunculus spp., Saxifraga hederifolia, etc.
Above 4,300-4,350 m. to all the peaks in the Semien Mountains there was Alpine
vegetation on stony ground, consisting of subshrubs (Helichrysum citrispinum, H. abyssinicum [Helichrysum splendidum (Thunb.) Less.], etc.), small herbs (Ranunculus
spp., Saxifraga hederifolia, Cruciferae [for example Oreophyton falcatum], and various
Compositae [for example Haplocarpha rueppellii, H. schimperi, Dianthoseris schimperi])
growing on gravel and among small rocks. Lichens covered the rocks, but also crusted
lichens that were detached from their substrates and curled up in globular forms, that
might be accumulated like balls in places protected from the wind.
After this review of Pichi Sermolli’s observations of altitudinal zonation in the Semien this summary will return to reviewing the travelogues. From Mount Buahit Pichi
Sermolli and Minucci descended to the village of Nori (3,560 m.) via the Arcuasie pass
(3,740m), along the slopes above Arcuasie Uenz [Arkwasie River] and the western and
eastern side of the valley of Mesciaha [bottom of valley 2,480 m; Mescia, Mai Shasha,
a stream in the deep valley running to the south out of the Semien], forming the western flank of the Ras Dascian [Ras Degien, Ras Dejen, 4,620 m] massif. This area was
covered with short grassland, while the area around Nori was covered with bushland
of stunted Erica arborea. Photographs from the journey show that this area was sometimes burnt, which was probably the reason why the Erica was reduced to low shrubs.
From the area around Nori, Pichi Sermolli and Minucci climbed Mount Beroc Uaha
[no height indicated] and descended to the village of Atgeheba and continued to the
village of Mecanha [2,840 m.; Mercana], above the Mecana Uenz or Mecanha Uenz, a
tributary from the east to the river Mesciaha [Mescia, Mai Shasha]. Three types of vegetation were noted in this area: Erica bushland, grassland with Lobelia rhynchopetalum
and discontinuous Alpine vegetation on stony ground with numerous lichens, called by
Pichi Sermolli “stone fields with Alpine type vegetation.” In the valleys around these
mountains (Mount Beroc Uaha and towards the north Mount Selchi [Silki]), the slopes
had almost pure grassland, while the damper valley bottoms had swamps with large
tufts of Carex monostachya.
To cross the valley of the stream of Mesciaha [Mai Shasha] from Atgeheba to Mecanha [2,840 m.; Mecana], it was necessary to descend to the stream, which was flanked
by shrubs of Salix subserrata and Rosa abyssinica, and also to pass a minor tributary, a
stream named Ambiquo. On the slopes was bushland of Ocymum [Ocimum sp.] and
Rumex [Rumex sp.], with Aloe on stony soil and at low altitude scrub formed of low
specimens of Euphorbia abyssinica. From there, Pichi Sermolli and Minucci ascended
Mount Ualta and Mount Ancua [no altitudes indicated, part of the mountain complex
around Ras Dascian, and it is now difficult to identify the individual peaks], where the
valleys had grassland with Lobelia rhynchopetalum and more Carex in the herbaceous
stratum than seen in the previous sites.
Having continued to Ras Dascian [4,620 m.; Ras Dejen] and Mt. Lagata [location
and altitude not traced], Pichi Sermolli and Minucci went northwards past the Metelal
pass (3,860 m), Mount Chiddis Arit (4,532 m), and towards Mount Abba Jared [4,520
m] and Mount Selchi (4,475 m.) [Silki], in order to end up again at Nori. From Nori,
they descended along a ridge below the Suana [Sauima, Suonha] peak and from there
to Addi Arcai. Along the descent they met the plant communities of the ascent in reverse order: Erica bushland, scrub with Rosa abyssinica, Hypericum lanceolatum [Hypericum revolutum Vahl] and Echinops steudneri. Further down, they met open scrub and
wooded grassland with species as around Lake Tana, such as Gardenia, Stereospermum
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
kunthianum, Ficus vasta, Croton macrostachyus and species of Acacia. At Addi Arcai a
vehicle was awaiting for them and in two days transported them to Asmara and Massawa, from where they embarked for Italy.
The following texts are the translations of the original texts. As mentioned above,
the papers do to some extent overlap each other and the place names are sometimes
spelt differently in the different papers, but the full texts are useful to illustrate as many
aspects of Pichi Sermolli’s observations as possible.
Botanical research in the Lake Tana region and in the Semien (Pichi Sermolli 1938a).
The following is a translation from Italian of the text of Pichi Sermolli’s contribution to a conference held about a year after the members of the Lake Tana mission had
returned to Italy. The text is translated from the printed proceedings (Pichi Sermolli
1938a). It gives a first account of field observations made on the entire journey and
a summary of the material and data collected. In the text for this paper, there are no
references from the text to the illustrations; we have connected text and illustrations
by footnotes. The rules followed in these four translations of Pichi Sermolli’s descriptions of vegetation are the same as the ones followed in the previous reviews of more
general text.
[P. 77; title] Botanical research in the Lake Tana region and in the Semien.
The Mission of the Royal Academy of Italy, directed by His Excellency Giotto Dainelli,
followed an itinerary in East Africa that was very interesting for the botanical research
entrusted to me.
We landed in Massawa during the first ten days of January, and we soon reached
Asmara, where we stayed for a week for the last preparations. During these days, I had the
opportunity to make three trips in the surroundings of the city. From this summary look
at the vegetation on this part of the Eritrean plateau, documented by a small collection of
plants, I drew useful comparisons with the vegetation of the Ethiopian plateau, which I had
to study more particularly.
Leaving finally from Asmara in order to reach Lake Tana, the destination of our research,
we followed the route through the western lowland, starting from Asmara to Agordat [15°
33′ N, 37° 53′ E] in order to descend from the highland, then from Agordat to Tessenei [ca.
45 km. from the Sudan border; 15° 06′ N, 36°39′ E], then to Om Ager 2 and then to the
Baker River3 in the western lowland, finally in the region that extended from the Baker to
the watershed of the Tana River basin; in these regions there were many types of vegetation,
and the area was very interesting for the study of their altitudinal succession.
The first section, which went from the arid shrubby vegetation of the Eritrean plateau
around Asmara to the plant communities with Acacia-species around Agordat, made it possible
to observe a complex succession [p. 78] of the altitudinal limits of the main plant formations.
Near Asmara, the arid vegetation of the plateau is formed by various species of shrubs, among
which Rumex nervosus and Meriandra bengalensis [Meriandra dianthera] dominate,
interspersed with a low herbaceous vegetation. Descending from the edge of the plateau
towards Agordat Olea chrysophylla [Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata] appears; this species
is always represented by isolated specimens that occur in the middle of the shrubby vegetation
2
3
Om Ager is a small town on the present border Eritrea and Ethiopia, close to the Sudan border, opposite the now much bigger town of Humera on the Ethiopian side of the border; 14° 20’ N, 36° 38’ E.
The name of this river is spelt “Bacher” on the map IGM (1938: Sheet 9); according to this map, a
road towards Gondar crossed the river at ca. 14° 00’ N, 36° 58’ E.
51
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
characteristic of the plateau. Lower down, this sparse vegetation with Olea chrysophylla was
replaced by a vegetation with Euphorbia abyssinica, which continued to the Anseba River, near
Elaberet.4 Here, the first specimens of Baobab (Adansonia digitata) appeared, majestically
overhanging a stratum of deciduous species dominated by species of Acacia.
This landscape and vegetation accompanied us to the base of the edge of the Eritrean
Plateau, where it meets the plain of Agordat that was crossed by the Barka River. 5 A spiny
shrubby vegetation with various species of Acacia and a very scarce herbaceous layer
characterized this alluvial plain, which extended almost as far as Tessenei.
Rare chains of low hills, especially near Barentu [15° 07′ N, 37° 36′ E], have a completely
different vegetation. 6 They were covered by a thick bush of deciduous plants, with a few species
and specimens of Acacia, while the river of Gasc7 and Barka, which furrowed this plain, flowed
between beautiful groves of Dum palms (Hyphaene nodularia [H. thebaica (L.) Mart.])
that extended along the streams, where they formed a plant community one kilometre wide
or even wider. The wonderful luxuriance of these palm groves offered us an example of what
constant and abundant presence of water in such a hot climate means. Under the palms, the
foliage of which form a continuous cover, there was an undergrowth of shrubs and shadeloving grasses, which here enjoyed the relatively humid and cool environment suited to their
ecological needs.
From Tessenei to Om Ager and up to the base of the Ethiopian plateau, the vegetation
was markedly xerophilous. Extensive grasslands [p. 79] with tall grasses (1.5–2 metres) were
interspersed with stretches of typical savannah [wooded grasslands]. The widely spread trees
above the high grass communities were mainly represented by Acacia seyal or Balanites
aegyptiaca or sometimes by the two species together. 8
From the Baker to the Sengia River,9 that was up to the altitude where we began to reach the
edge of the Ethiopian plateau, the territory was covered by two predominant plant formations.
The first of these, which occupies the territory from the Baker to the Soroca River10 and from
the Bascura to Sengia River, was a rather thick scrub, formed mainly by Boswellia papyrifera,
Terminalia brownii and species of Combretum, interspersed with various shrubs, with an
undergrowth of high grasses sparse on rather stony ground; this scrub was rarely interrupted
by short stretches of savannah [wooded grassland]. The second, which extended from the
Soroca to the Bascura River, was a very dense thicket of Oxytenanthera abyssinica [the
lowland bamboo] with infrequent trees belonging to the family Combretaceae.11 The region
covered by this plant community [p. 80] had more gentle slopes than the one described above,
and occurred on less rocky terrain, but with more marked characteristics of aridity. In this
4
Anseba River is a tributary of the Barka River, rising near Asmara and merging with the Barka River
near Agordat. Elaberet is a small town on the road between Asmara and Keren at 15° 42′ N, 38° 38’
E].
5 The Barka rises just outside Asmara and flows in a north-western direction through Agordat, merging with the Anseba River near the border with Sudan.
6 Pichi Sermolli took a photograph of the vegetation at Barentu (see archival font Dainelli (501), image 696, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana).
7 The Gasc rises near Asmara and flows south and westward and for some distance forming the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia. There it is known as the Mareb.
8 Pichi Sermolli took a photograph of the wooded grassland with Balanites aegyptiaca on black cotton soil near Om Ager. See archival font Dainelli (501), image 697, in the Archivio fotografico of the
Società geografica italiana.
9 Sengia River rises north-west of Gondar and runs in a mainly northern direction to merge with the
Angareb River that crosses the border into Sudan, where it is an important tributary of the Nile.
10 Soroca River rises in the Tsegede Hills, flowing westwards to join the Angareb River.
11 Fig. 10 (Fig. 1 in Pichi Sermolli (1938a)) illustrated this vegetation.
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
Fig. 10 (Fig. 1 in Pichi Sermolli 1938a). Oxytenanthera thicket in the lowland.
district the vegetation was extraordinarily homogeneous, in fact the Oxytenanthera thicket
was never interrupted by stretches of savannah or other types of scrub, as happened in the
territory between the Baker and the Sengia Rivers.
From the Sengia River up the edge of the Ethiopian Plateau, in fact up to the Chercher
Pass, which represented the watershed delimiting the Lake Tana Basin, there were a range of
landscapes with characteristic vegetation that can be classified into four main types:
1. A basal strip of thick woodland, Arduina edulis [Carissa spinarum L.], Gardenia,
Anogeissus, etc.;
2. A strip of very dense forest, very humid, furrowed by frequent streams, with evergreen
woody plants, lianas, epiphytes, etc., reminiscent of the tropical forest;
3. A strip of thicket of a drier type, very sparse, with a predominance of Acacia abyssinica;
4. A kind of grassland with scattered groups of shrubs and some rare trees (Acacia
abyssinica, Olea, etc.).
These, broadly speaking, were the main landscapes and vegetation types in the territory
that the mission crossed to reach the watershed of the catchment area of Lake Tana.
Throughout the trip from the Eritrean border to the highlands, the speed with which
we moved from place to place did not allow me to collect specimens of plants, other than in
small numbers, and only in Tucur Dinghia, where we stopped for one day, could I make a
small excursion that yielded a handful of plants whose study will allow me to outline briefly
the flora of this place.
53
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
We arrived at Gondar towards the end of January and stayed there for three days because
of the need to organize the various functions and services. During this short period, I made
three excursions to the hill of Chercher to visit the northernmost sector of the highest
part of the Lake Tana Basin; this side had a slightly different vegetation from that of the
northern side of [p. 81] Chercher towards Tucur Dinghia. It consisted mainly of grasslands
with sporadic trees in the highest part and widely spaced shrubs and trees in the lower part.
Above Gondar, the slopes were very stony, barren and with very little tree vegetation,
represented mainly by Olea chrysophylla [Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata] with the trees
very distant from each other. The dominant type of vegetation in this region, however, was
represented by bushes of rare shrubs more or less scattered and interspersed with stretches
of low herbaceous or suffruticose vegetation. Two other excursions made at the end of the
expedition, during the days when we stopped in Gondar for the preparations of the return,
allowed me to see the region along the road to Debarech. The flora of this part of the basin of
Lake Tana did not differ substantially from that of the region described above; the only new
element worth mentioning here was Erica arborea, which I never found in the other places
I visited north of Gondar.
From Gondar we moved through the territories of the eastern shore of the lake, to Bahar
Dar where we systematically began our research. During the time we spent here I made several
excursions on routes that radiated from Bahar Dar in different directions. So I travelled the
shore of the lake to the east and west of Bahar Dar and I also made excursions in the hinterland
to the south and west, on the banks of the Blue Nile and adjacent territories.
Although, for reasons beyond my control, I could not get far from the shore of the lake, I
was able to get a good idea of the vegetation of this part of the basin and collected abundant
material thanks to these excursions. In this vegetation, we could schematically distinguish three
main aspects. The first aspect was represented by a narrow strip on the lake shore, which had
the appearance of bushland with trees, composed of various species, [p. 82] mostly trees and
lianas, and with little herbaceous vegetation. This lakeside plant community was interrupted
here and there, particularly in the inlets, by pure plant communities of Cyperus papyrus or by
swamps with Polygonum and various grasses. Immediately outside the wooded strip there
were strictly lakeside, uninterrupted stretches of grassland, almost completely without trees,
and interrupted only by frequent cultures. A third type of vegetation was found further away
from the lake, where the plain ended and systems of low hills began to rise. The vegetation of
this area was formed by a more or less dense scrub, here and there frequently thinned, until
it passed gradually into a kind of savannah [wooded grassland]. Both in the bush and in
the savannah, tall grasses and various abundant shrubs formed the typical vegetation. The
trees were mostly represented by Combretaceae, of Gardenia, and several species of Ficus
and Acacia, etc.
For each of these types of vegetation I examined the floral composition, the distribution
and the main statistical-ecological characteristics.
Even on the banks of the [Blue] Nile, bordered by lush papyrus, there were discontinuous
stretches of forest. Here, contrary to what happens in water-poor districts, the vegetation
was mostly composed of evergreen plants with a lush habit. Lianas and epiphytes abounded,
while grasses were very scarce. The soil was impregnated with water and covered with a layer
of abundant plant debris.
Immediately outside this strip of forest, where the influence of water was no longer felt
with such intensity, there was a kind of savannah with high grasses and rare small trees.
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
Fig. 11 (Fig. 2 in Pichi Sermolli 1938a). Forest vegetation on the island of Kebra [Chebra] Uddus Gabriel.
From Bahar Dar I also made two excursions with a motorboat to the islands of Abba
Cherima and Kebra Uddus Gabriel, [p. 83] the largest of the islands located near Zeghie.12
On the latter, I was able to collect an abundance of material and make many observations
and notes. This small island, which rises from the water in the shape of a cone, is covered by
a very impressive vegetation. The crowns of very tall trees, Mimusops kummel, Millettia,
Albizia, etc., intersect each other, forming a dense and shady forest under which many
shrubs and a large number of lianas and epiphytes occur. Here and there where the forest was
interrupted the ground was occupied by crops: coffee, corn and teff, but the forest tended to
invade abandoned plots fast, especially with shrubs that invaded more quickly.
From Bahar Dar we went to Furie, near Zeghie, where we established a new base, from
which I made a series of excursions. I made a trip along the lake shore to the south, [p. 84]
an excursion to the west, one to Mount Woghelsa [Monte Vuoghelsa], located in the southwest, and finally three excursions to the Zeghie peninsula proper. The landscape here was
very similar to that of the surroundings of Bahar Dar and we could distinguish the types of
vegetation already described. Communities of papyrus were rarer because the lakeside was,
on this side, formed by blocks of compact stone and the inlets were less marshy. The other
types of vegetation were basically the same.
The Zeghie peninsula was of particular interest and was mostly occupied by areas with
cultivation of coffee. The peninsula was covered by dense forest of a rather dry type with very
12 Fig. 11 (Fig. 2 in Pichi Sermolli (1938a)) illustrated this vegetation seen from Lake Tana.
55
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
tall trees of luxuriant growth. The undergrowth was generally missing, because it had been
removed by the local people in order to grow coffee. The only representatives of the undergrowth
were the trees that the local people had left to limit the various fields in which the coffee was
grown. Coffee was cultivated exclusively in the shade of the trees of the forest, which reached
a height of 15-25 metres and formed, with their umbrella-like crowns, a relatively continuous
but thin canopy layer. Under this canopy, coffee was cultivated; the plants were rather
scattered and little cared for, mainly because they were rarely renewed. The soil under them
was occasionally freed from weeds, but even this operation was not performed often enough.
Where the forest was left in its original state, one could observe how its physiognomy and
floral composition was very similar to that described for the island of Kebra Uddus Gabriel. It
was dominated more or less by the usual species (Millettia, Albizia, Mimusops, etc.), often
represented by tall specimens, and an undergrowth of saplings with low or scarce herbaceous
layer. Lianas and epiphytes climbed on and adhered to the large branches of the trees.
Where coffee was grown, there were isolated houses or groups of three or four huts;
these were connected by a real labyrinth of small tracks that crossed the coffee fields in every
direction. [P. 85] The most important fields were limited by hedges formed by trees and shrubs
that probably represented the original species in the forest. In every part, one could see the
radical transformation that the vegetation has undergone over time due to the action of man,
both as destructor of the species in the undergrowth, which were harmful to the cultivation
of coffee, and as conservator of the species of tall trees that with their crowns provided the
shade necessary for the good development of this crop.
On the peninsula, however, there were some stretches in which the forest had been
completely destroyed. These spaces were occupied by grassland with very tall grasses (1.50-2
metres), and only here and there a few rare trees (Cordia, Stereospermum, etc.).
Another example of profound anthropic modification was the vegetation that occurred
around the Coptic churches; they were surrounded by magnificent and long-living examples
of Juniperus and Podocarpus, planted by priests and religiously respected. In general, the
surroundings of the churches offered aspects of particular beauty; besides the presence of these
majestic trees, also because parts of the original forest were for religious reasons very often
respected in the original state. High and robust red-fruited Mimusops kummel, gigantic
specimens of Millettia ferruginea with large pods showed us what the vegetation of this area
must have looked like in the past. Given its peninsula shape, which protrudes for a considerable
distance into the lake, the Zeghie was much influenced by the beneficial proximity of water.
Another place I visited during this time was the Abba Cherima Island, formed by a bank
of large stones emerging from the water and covered almost exclusively by papyrus. I could
not reach the small central part of the island because of the exceptional density of papyrus
along the shore, but I could see it from a tall rocky outcrop near the bank of the lake; it seemed
to consist of a swamp of grasses and Polygonum.
[P. 86] Around the 20th of February, we moved again along the western shore of the lake
and relocated at Consela [Quonzela, Consuela].
The shores around the mouth of the Piccolo Abbai [Little Abay River] were significantly
different from that of the south-western part of the lake. The Piccolo Abbai flowed into Lake
Tana with a large estuary, swamping a very large area. In this area papyrus formed an
almost pure and extensive plant community that stretched far into the lake. The abundant
silt that covered the bottom of these shallow marshes offered an environment well adapted to
this species, which here was growing with a lushness and density rarely seen anywhere else.
Here and there, where the water was shallower and the silt emerged, the marshes were home
to various grasses and species of Polygonum.
From the Piccolo Abbai [Abai, Little Abay] and further to the north, the lakeside had
a completely different appearance. In fact, while to the south it was formed by a slope of
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
57
Fig. 12 (Fig. 3 in Pichi Sermolli 1938a). Savanna [wooded grassland] vegetation in the surroundings of Consela
[Quonzela, Consuela].
uniform height and smoothed by the cleaning action of the waves, interrupted by small coves
where clumps of papyrus developed, here the lake shore descended with a very gently slope
to the lake. This kind of beach was mostly formed by large pebbles and stones mixed with
small patches of gravel.
This different shaping of the ground greatly influenced the vegetation of the shore,
which was particularly scarce here. A few specimens of Kanahia laniflora and another
Asclepiadaceae were the only plants present and they never formed dense communities.
Immediately above these narrow, almost deserted beaches began a plant community of
shrubs with scarce trees and a very discontinuous herbaceous ground cover. The poverty of this
vegetation was due to the nature of the substrate, with large stony blocks, and a scarcity of soil.
At some points where alluvial deposits had formed, mostly where some small streams
flowed, and where an abundant layer of soil had accumulated, there was grassland with tall
species, [p. 87] which, however, in many places was devoid of trees, in others had trees such
as Acacia abyssinica, various other species of Acacia, Cordia, etc.
Even further away from the lakeshore, where the slope began, the landscape consisted
of a succession of steps and hills towards the watershed, which in this part of the shore was
rather close to the lake; here, the vegetation began to take the appearance of savannah13
13 Here “savannah” probably means both wooded grassland and Combretum-Terminalia woodland.
58
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
[wooded grassland] or bush or a series of intermediate physiognomies between these two
plant formations. Here and there, where the slope was interrupted by shelves, which might even
extend for 2-3 km, one would find grassland that was largely cultivated by the local people
residing there.14 For the most part, these flat steps were crossed by streams, clearly visible even
from afar due to the bands of evergreen tree vegetation (Mimusops, Syzygium guineense,
Arduina edulis [Carissa spinarum L.], etc.) that occurred along them.
Even further up, towards the watershed, Olea chrysophylla [Olea europaea subsp.
cuspidata] began to appear, accompanied by Protea [p. 88] and large specimens of Acacia
abyssinica. Often this vegetation thickened to form real forests, where in the shade of the
large umbrella-like crowns in the canopy a quantity of shrubs, lianas and various other
plants developed a lower stratum.
Also from Consela [Quonzela, Consuela], as from the other bases, I made some
excursions along the lakeside and one up to the watershed, which I crossed to go to Alefa
and from there up to Full-uaha-Muhat (Amharic name, meaning the Muhat hot spring).
Before moving to Gorgora I also made an excursion to Deck Island and the nearby Daga
Island.
The island of Deck is completely flat. The vegetation that covers it is very much affected
by the intense cultivation of the land which is practiced there. Here and there, in the middle
of the fields of teff and dagussa, one could notice patches of natural vegetation, represented
by a rather arid type of bush, the most important components of which were Ficus vasta and
other very large species of Ficus, Cordia abyssinica [Cordia africana], Cassia, lianas and
shrubs in large quantities, mostly found around the trees.
There is also on this island a strip of lakeside vegetation, not very wide, but very well
marked, which recalled that of the lakeside near Bahar Dar. Very dense communities of
papyrus occupy the inlets, and between these stretches of cliff that rose a few meters out of the
water were covered with a magnificent wooded vegetation with a dominance of Syzygium
guineense. Inside the zone at the inlets suitable for papyrus the soil was less impregnated
with water and small swampy meadows with grass formed the transition to the bush. In these
meadows there were specimens of Salix.
Daga Island differed greatly from Deck Island. Unlike Deck Island, it was mountainous
and rose about fifty meters above the water level; it was also much smaller. Its vegetation was
very similar to that of the island Kebra Uddus Gabriel, both physiognomically [p. 89] and
floristically. Here, too, on the highest point of the island, there was a church, surrounded by
magnificent examples of Podocarpus and Juniperus and by small fields cultivated with
coffee, teff, dagussa, etc.
We arrived in Gorgora at the beginning of March and stayed for a few days, which
we spent exploring the surroundings of the village. I made several excursions, visiting the
mountains south of the village, the plain of Quami, and I made an excursion along the lake
shore to Sesbana; I also visited the island of Birghida Mariam. A truly lakeside vegetation
was represented here only in some places; in fact, for the most part, this stretch of lakeside was
mountainous with steep cliffs bordering the lake. Only a few trees of Syzygium guineense
seemed to represent the lakeside vegetation, so easily seen in many other parts of the lake shores.
This fact was particularly evident on the southern side of the highest peak [of the peninsula],
the so-called Cima Mussolini. In other points, such as north and west of Gorgora, there were
very large and extensive plains along the lake shore, occupied by vast grasslands (the plain of
Guramba). At the edge of these grasslands towards the lake there were some shrubs in places
14 Fig. 12 (Fig. 3 in Pichi Sermolli (1938a)) illustrated the wooded grassland near Quonzela [Consuela
Consela].
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
where there would elsewhere be a wooded lakeside strip. Sometimes these grasslands without
trees made the transition to the vegetation of the low hills, which were covered by a kind of
savannah [wooded grassland], where the trees consisted of several species of Acacia. In some
places these grasslands [near the lake shore] were interrupted by stretches with sporadic trees.
The vegetation on the slopes of the Gorgora hills differed considerably, both in appearance
and in floral composition, from that of the other areas visited. These slopes held an intermediate
type of vegetation between bushland and savannah, but more like the latter. High grasses
and various shrubs occupied the space between the trees. The main components of these
plant communities were Euphorbia abyssinica, Odina [Ozoroa] sp., various species of
Combretaceae, various species of Acacia, etc. At the points where the steep slopes were
interrupted by a shelf, this would be occupied by a [p. 90] formation with the physiognomy
of savannah [wooded grassland], with a ground cover of grasses (50-70 cm high) and trees,
mainly Acacia seyal, Acacia sp., and, much rarer, Gardenia.
The islet of Birghida Mariam, although mostly cultivated, preserved some original patches
of forest, which was low, but very interesting because of its floristic components. Here, in a
cove, there was a beautiful community of papyrus, within which there was the usual swamp
with grasses and Polygonum. The grass Arundo was particularly abundant on this island
(and even more so on a nearby islet).
The excursion I made to the lake shore south [and west] of Gorgora was very instructive
to give an overview of the landscape and the plant communities, and particularly because of
a collection that the geologist of the Mission, engineer Minucci and I made of abundant, but
unfortunately not very well preserved phytopalaeontological material, consisting of imprints
of fossil leaves. The fossiliferous deposit was located along the lake shore near the village of
Sesbana, in an old stone quarry from the time of the Portuguese occupation.15 The imprints
consisted largely of leaves of Angiosperms.
From Gorgora, we went on to Ifag on the east shore of Lake Tana, crossing the Guramba
plain and almost reaching Gondar; from there we took the road towards Bahar Dar, which
we had already covered at the beginning of the expedition.
The plain of Guramba consisted of an immense grassland absolutely devoid of trees.16
Only here and there, at a distance of 10-12 kilometres from each other, there were groups of
huts and a few churches surrounded by Eucalyptus.
As we gradually got closer to Gondar and began to climb the very slight slope towards the
mountains that close the basin to the north, the vegetation was enriched more and more with
species of trees, until it became a real bush, here and there interrupted by areas of grassland
and crops.
[P. 91] The vegetation along the road from Gondar towards the south was truly bushlike with different components.
15 No village of the name Sesbana has been seen on any map; Chiari (2012: 136) locates the stone
quarry from where the Portuguese Jesuits extracted the white tuff of which their church Maryam
Gimp and parts of Emperor Susenyos’ palace were built at a promontory on the western shore of
the Gorgora Peninsula at 12° 15’ N, 37° 10’ E. Near the old quarry there are ruins of an old church
named Selassie, a modern church and, slightly further inland, a village of which we have been unable to ascertain the name. On his joint trip with Pichi Sermolli to the quarry, Enzo Minucci took a
number of photographs of the ruined Portuguese church and Emperor Susenyos’ palace. See archival font Dainelli (501), images 582, 583, 584, 585, 586, 587, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società
geografica italiana.
16 According to IGM (1934: sheet 9), Guramba is a market town at ca. 12° 22’ N, 37° 22’ E.
59
60
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 13 (Fig. 4 in Pichi Sermolli 1938a). Evergreen scrub with trees (Acacia) in the low mountains between Ifag and
Debre Tabor.
However, we soon descended to the plains of the Arno River,17 where the vegetation took
on an extremely monotonous appearance. The soil was black or dark, very compact, in clumps
of an almost stony hardness, with numerous wide and deep cracks, often even 1.50 m. deep.
The vegetation of these plains looked like a savannah [wooded grassland] with not very high
grasses (50-70 cm) and occasionally dense trees, mostly represented by Acacia seyal and
other species of Acacia. Part of the land, however, was exploited by the local people, who
cultivated teff, dagussa, etc. The crops were mostly limited to a few hectares of land around
the groups of huts. In this area there was a very notable scarcity of water; there were only
few streams that crossed this plain, and these streams were often dry. [P. 92] The area was
located between the grassland behind the strip of lakeshore vegetation and the base of the
mountains that delimit the basin of Lake Tana to the east. The type of savannah with Acacia
seyal, which was restricted to flat land, was not found on the western shore of the lake, where
the land more rapidly, but gently, would rise to the slopes of the surrounding mountains. On
the eastern shore, however, the mountains would rise abruptly from the plain, but this was
very wide (up to 20-40 km). This plain, as I could see during the time we stayed south of Ifag,
was the home of three basic types of vegetation.
17 According to IGM (1934-1936: sheet 9), Arno is a small river crossed by the route of the expedition
at ca. 12° 07’ N, 37° 39’ E.
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
(1) A strip at the lake shore with grassy swamps, Cyperus sp., Polygonum sp. and
grasslands interrupted by groves of trees, which were mostly evergreen.
(2) A large grassy meadow [moist grassland] further inland, very deep, completely without
trees and flooded during the rainy season, and
(3) finally a savannah of the type described for the plain of the Arno River. This savannah
reached to the base of the mountains.
The slopes of these eastern mountains, which I visited on two excursions from Ifag to
Debra Tabor (March 12; March 22-24), were covered by a dense, rather moisture-loving
bush, mostly formed by evergreen species, lianas, some epiphytes, shrubs and abundant herbs.
At about 2,500 meters above sea level this bush-like vegetation became very dense, with clear
predominance of evergreen plants, and with a great frequency of Acacia abyssinica. Many
new constituents, missing at the bottom of the mountains, appeared at this altitude and the
vegetation became greener, denser and more forest-like. The main species that dominated this
vegetation were Nuxia, Buddleja [Buddleia], Osyris, Myrsine, etc.18
Towards the top, almost at the upper limit of the bush and forest, I also noted specimens
of Juniperus procera, which were not very abundant, but appearing very robust.19
Above this vegetation of bush, woodland and forest, the tree species thinned out more and
more up to about 2,700-2,800 m. in the area near Debra Tabor, where grasslands and plant
communities of bushes of low shrubs and subshrubs dominated, almost always without trees.
[P. 93] The grasslands had a particularly interesting appearance. They were generally
extensive, interrupted here and there by also extensive plant communities of low shrubs,
almost exclusively consisting of Hypericum lanceolatum [Hypericum revolutum Vahl]
with some sporadic herbaceous plants and some specimens of Rosa sp.
These grasslands covered all the gentle slopes that extended as far as the eye could see
towards Mt. Guna [peak at ca. 11° 43’ N, 38° 14′ E] and generally all around Debra Tabor.
However, the steep slopes of the hills that rose near the city and elsewhere in many parts
of the plateau had a different vegetation, consisting of dense communities of bushes of many
species, which hosted many lichens, while herbs and ferns densely covered the ground, which
was large grained and mixed with abundant stones and boulders. Here I found, on Mt. Jesus
Tabor, Erica arborea, represented by specimens only 30-60 cm high and rarely flowering.
Here as elsewhere around the churches there were specimens of Juniperus procera and various
species of Eucalyptus. I also noted Hagenia abyssinica in the surroundings of the city.
From Ifag we went south and camped at Zara Enda Michael, near the forest surrounding
the Coptic church of that name. The time spent here was not only used for the study of the
forest adjacent to the church, but also on an excursion to the shore of the lake, which was
not covered by the usual woody vegetation of saplings, shrubs and tall grasses. The forest,
instead, consisted of a consortium of tall and leafy specimens of Mimusops that formed a
green canopy under which trees and shrubs could grow. Grasses were completely or almost
completely missing, perhaps because of the poor light that penetrated through these three layers
of dark and dense foliage. These three layers, however, were very lush and the density of the
species that composed them was very large. The soil was very thick (1-1.50 m), fine-grained,
cool and moist. I took various measurements of soil and air temperature in this environment,
which I compared [p. 94] with equivalent readings taken outside the forest, to gather some
elements on the microclimate of this forest.
18 Fig. 13 (Fig. 4 in Pichi Sermolli (1938a)) illustrated this vegetation.
19 As mentioned earlier, the altitudes recorded in Pichi Sermolli’s text may be too high, possibly up to
200 m above the figures now considered correct.
61
62
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Towards the end of this stay, I also took a two-day hike to the south, to the banks of the Nile
and could thus see the park-like vegetation covering the ground to the east of the entrance to the
Blue Nile. It consisted of grasslands with species that varied in height and density, in the midst
of which one could see small and large groups of Phoenix, Cassia, Cordia, Stereospermum,
Gardenia, Croton, etc., interspersed with shrubs, grasses and lianas; finally, here and there,
the grasslands were crossed by streams flanked by lines of mostly evergreen tree vegetation.
After this short hike, I returned to Zara Enda Michael and from there to Ifag, from where
I continued to Gondar.
I used the stay in the capital of Amhara to rearrange the collections and prepare them
finally for the shipment to Italy. During this stay, however, I also visited the castles of Gondar,
taking note of the vegetation around them. In their vicinity there are specimens of Juniperus
procera and Olea chrysophylla [Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata], both species represented
by very tall and sometimes old specimens. The presence of Juniperus, some very old, which is
so scarce elsewhere in the region of Lake Tana, may suggest that the species had here found a
refuge during the frequent deforestation and fires, and that it thus represents remains of an
original vegetation. However, for other reasons I believe that this species has been planted
near the castles, and I reserve the right to report later on the observations which form the
base of my opinion.20
It was during this period spent in Gondar that I also made two excursions to Celga,
advised by Eng. Minucci that some impressions of fossil plants had been found there. So I was
able to make a rich collection of phytopalaeontological consisting of numerous impressions of
ferns and phanerogams. Engineer Minucci and I collected all these impressions at the Kernat
Uensi (“The river that smells”) where the stream has [p. 95] dug its bed into the rocks and
stripped the layers of lignite, which are abundant in the Celga basin. The fossiliferous layer
was placed above the lignite and almost in immediate contact with them. Even today, it is
very difficult to say anything about the age of these impressions, but probably they only date
back to a fairly recent period.
--Because Eng. Minucci and I had finished the exploration of the Tana basin before the
others, it was decided that we should go for a 15-day excursion in the Semien, to explore
that mountain massif from both a geological and a botanical point of view. This excursion
was interesting not only for the study of the characteristic flora, but also because I was able
to study the altitudinal limits of the main plant communities of the highest mountains now
under Italian administration.21
We set off from Gondar and went in a single stage by car to Debarech, where we organized
the caravan for the Semien. Our researches had to focus in particular on the upper part of the
Semien and to reach this area we managed in two stages to cover the whole territory between
Debarech and Ambaras, following first the valley of the stream of Addeschie and then following
the right slope of the valley of the Mai Beleghes River, finally reaching the head of this valley,
the ridge above the village of Ambaras (3,609 m). From Ambaras, we climbed Mount Buahit
(4,510 m.) and descended the same evening to the village of Nori (3,560 m). From there we
climbed to Mt. Beroc Uaha (4,505 m.) and descended to the village of Atgheba (3,325 m),
leaving the next day for Mecanha (3,410 m). We then climbed the northern slope of Monte
20 These observations are referred to in Pichi Sermolli (1951: 20), where Pichi Sermolli mentioned the
possibility that some of the old specimens outside the towns and the church forests might be part of
the natural vegetation.
21 As mentioned earlier, the altitudes indicated from the Semien are almost always too high, possibly
up to 200 m above the currently accepted altitudes.
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
63
Fig. 14 (Fig. 5 in Pichi Sermolli 1938a). Ericaceous bushland in the Addeschie valley of the western Semien
Mountains.
Ualta and the day after Monte Ancua (4,620 m.). In order to reach Nori again, we decided to
follow the north ridge, and since there is no mule track to follow on this route, [p. 96] we sent
the caravan along the route we had already travelled and continued with only two porters.
Following the ridge, we climbed Mount Lagata (4,532 m), where we bivouacked (the tents
had been left by the caravan) under this mountain at 3,925 m. The next day we continued
along the ridge and climbed Mount Abba Jared (4,483 m.), from where we reached Nori.
To descend from this village to Addi Arcai, where we would find the vehicles for the return
to Asmara, we descended to the Sauana peak and followed the valley of the stream Anzia
[Anzia] until Auasa River; from there we descended along the ridge to Addi Arcai.
Without wanting to go into details, I think it is useful to give a brief description of the
vegetation of this area, which is among the most interesting of our colony.
At Debarech, which lies at the edge of the vast plain that extends over the plateau, the
grasslands were of a type like that [p. 97] which I already found at Debra Tabor, but here
very well developed. Low grasses formed a continuous sward, interrupted only by stretches
covered with dense bushes of Hypericum, with rare specimens of Rosa and Erica.
Climbing towards the ridges that lead to Ambaras, we observed that the stony slopes
were covered by a plant formation, where herbs, subshrubs and shrubs dominated among
the grasses, Thymus, etc., an Echinops with very large heads and 2 to 3 meters high, Rosa
sp., Erica and Hypericum. While grasslands here occupied the ridges, the local people used
64
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
the floors of the valleys and the slopes above to grow barley, which was the most abundant
crop here.
While we were in the valley of Addeschie, we noted that the plant community of Erica
arborea was very well developed, formed by specimens of a truly exceptional robustness and
lustre. Used to seeing Erica arborea in the Mediterranean region, where it reached at most
a height of 2-3 meters and had a shrubby habit, one was amazed by these specimens, very
tall, sometimes with trunks of 40 centimetres in diameter and with a height of more than 5-6
meters, with hemispherical crown and real appearance as trees.22 A few other species would
grow in the middle of this Erica bushland, and there were very well developed specimens of
Rosa sp., Hypericum sp., etc. Many lichens hang from the branches (Usnea, Parmelia). The
Erica bushland was left intact only on the very steep slopes, while on the ridges and slopes
below them, slightly undulating, there were large cultivations, predominantly of barley.
These cultivations covered the territory up to just above the village of Ambaras. We can
state that the upper limit of the trees does not reach this altitude; I noticed in fact only one or
two specimens of Hagenia abyssinica near Ambaras. Around the church of this village there
were some cultivated specimens of Hagenia and Juniperus.
To reach Mt. Buahit, we walked along the right edge of the Beleghes, which is covered at
the bottom by a more or less dense Erica bushland [p. 98] and at the top by a discontinuous
grassland and stretches of Erica bushland that occurred along the streams and in the more
sheltered valleys above the normal limit reached on the slopes. Among the heathers there were
Lobelia rhynchopetalum, which began to appear as rare specimens at about 3,200 m. near
Micciubbi. The Erica bushland disappeared only at the top of the valley of the Beleghes River.
Above the Erica bushland, the vegetation was short grassland, looking like the grassland
with Lobelia, which was characteristic of all the highest areas of the high Semien. The ground
cover of this grassland was formed by short grasses, in which there were robust specimens of
Lobelia, many in bloom in April and reaching a height of 5-6 m. The continuous stratum of
grasses and species of Carex was also home to many other species, including species of Thymus,
Erica, a species of Helichrysum with beautiful golden yellow flowers, etc.
This grassland remained unchanged for much of the northern slope that we climbed in
order to reach Mt. Buahit.23 [P. 99] Up to about 4,250 m., the grassland, though changing
its appearance due to the advent of some new species, remained continuous, as well as the
Lobelia, which occurred there with the same density. Above this altitude the grassland was
thinning out and replaced by a sporadic vegetation of an alpine type, sheltered in the recesses
of the rocks and between the boulders that were found along the slopes. Lobelia also joined
this vegetation above the herbaceous sward. On the summit of Mt. Buahit, vegetation was
still present, but sheltered in the cracks of the rocks.
The south-eastern slope of Mt. Buahit fell sheer, and here the plants only grew in the cracks.
To reach Nori, we decided to follow the ridge that led to the Arcuasie Pass (3,740 m.) just
below the crest. This slope, which represents the western side of the valley of Mesciaha [valley
of Mai Shasha], and the eastern side, formed by the slopes of the Ras Dascian [Ras Dejen],
was covered by the usual grassland with Lobelia. Not so, however, on the north-west slope,
on which Norì is located; that part was covered almost to the crest by the Erica bush, which
at the top consisted of small specimens, while at lower altitude it was formed by increasingly
taller and lusher specimens. This difference in height of the Erica bushland at various altitudes
could also be noticed along the slope below Mt. Beroc Uaha.
22 Fig. 14 (Fig. 5 in Pichi Sermolli (1938a)) illustrated the Erica bushland at Addeschie.
23 Fig. 15 (Fig. 6 in Pichi Sermolli (1938a)) illustrated this grassland with Lobelia on Mt. Buahit.
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
Fig. 15 (Fig. 6 in Pichi Sermolli 1938a). Meadows [grassland] with Lobelia on the slope of Mount Buahit.
From Nori, while climbing this mountain, it was possible to distinguish three main aspects
of the vegetation. The Erica bushland, the grasslands with Lobelia and the discontinuous
vegetation of the alpine type stone grove, with abundant lichens.
The south-east side of the mountain, along which we descended, was covered by a
continuous sward of grassland, but lacking Lobelia. Only at the bottom of the valley, below
the pass of Arcuasie, the vegetation was more varied; the ground was swampy and occupied
by large tufts of Carex sp., with their leaves raised above the ground where there was flowing
water; these tufts were often growing so close together that they formed an almost continuous
stratum.
[P. 100] Near Atgheba the spontaneous vegetation had been completely destroyed by the
indigenous people in order to grow barley, which was growing there very well.
To reach to Mecanha from Atgheba, i.e. to the village on the other side of the valley, we had
to go very low (2,840 m.) to cross the stream of Mesciaha [Mai Shasha]. The bed of this stream
had carved a deep, narrow gap whose vegetation was formed by two plant communities; one
higher up consisting of Aloe and Ocymum [Ocimum] and lower down, a type of scrub with
Euphorbia abyssinica and other species, which were also present in the upper community.
The stream of Mesciaha [Mai Shasha] was flanked by saplings of Salix and Rosa,
Myrsine etc.
We climbed the opposite slope through a small valley where a tributary of the Mesciaha
[Mai Shasha] flows, the Ambiquo. This valley was home to vegetation very similar to that
65
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
below Atgheba and there we found Aloe, Ocymum [Ocimum] and Rumex growing in the
very stony soil. At the top of the valley, barley fields began again, covering the slope up to
Mecanha and reaching an altitude of about 3,750-3,800 m.
Above the crops we again found the grasslands with Lobelia, which continued up to the
area with the stony vegetation. There was not much variety of landscape on this side, and one
could identify the three areas of vegetation mentioned above, the lowest of which, the Erica
bushland, as above Mecanha, was in some places replaced by crops. As on Mt. Buahit, the
vegetation here continued up to the highest peaks, and also on the top of Mt. Ancua (m. 4,620),
which is the highest of all in the Semien, I could collect specimens of plants in full flower.
To the south of Mt. Ancua, between that peak and Mt. Ualta, there was a very wide and
flat valley, occupied by a vast grassland with Lobelia with a continuous herbaceous layer.
This grassland differed from the previously described samples of this vegetation by the high
percentage of specimens of Carex among the grass.
[P. 101] From Ras Dascian [Ras Dejen], in order to reach Nori again, we crossed the
ridge that passes through Mt. Lagata. This mountain did not differ from the others already
described, and there were the usual three main zones of vegetation. Below Mt. Lagata, in
some rocks bathed in dripping water, I made an abundant collection of plants that I think
may be interesting, given their particular station.
We reached Nori, crossing again the Selchi pass under Mt. Beroc Uaha. The descent from
Nori to Addi Arcai, along the ridge of Sauima, was of great interest and allowed me to take
numerous notes, especially on the succession of the various plant formations, to which I will
refer very briefly.
Descending from Nori we found first the Erica bushland that accompanied us further
downwards, becoming more and more luxuriant and mixed with other species (Rosa,
Hypericum, species of Echinops with large heads etc.) as we descended. At the lower end of
the ridge, however, this vegetation finished abruptly and developed first into sparse bush of
shrubs with some species of trees, then into bush with trees and high grasses and abundant
shrubs. This thicket, which varied in its flora as one descended towards the valley, accompanied
us to the base of the slope where the Anzia river [Ansia] flowed, flanked by magnificent
evergreen vegetation.24
We crossed the river, and halfway up the side of the valley we followed the left slope, which
at this altitude began to open into a wide basin. We were at a height of about 2,000 m., and
the landscape and vegetation were very similar to those in the basin of Lake Tana, with open
scrub25 of Gardenia, Stereospermum, Ficus vasta, Croton and species of Acacia, rich in
shrubs and high grasses, which alternated with crops of teff and dagussa.
Descending further, the landscape and the vegetation changed again to open woodland
of Combretum and Terminalia. Further down, above Addi Arcai, [p. 102] Boswellia
24 Sileshi Nemomissa & Puff (2001) and Puff & Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) describe moist and
Afromontane forest below the Ericacous belt on the Semien Mountains, the moist forests being almost destroyed apart from the Adarmaz forest below the northern escarpment west of the
Sankaber camp and the Muchila-Neznazit forest; of the latter there are scattered patches in gullies
on the north-western escarpment below the Gich camp. The dry Afromontane forests are dominated by Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, but usually not Juniperus procera, and this type of forest is
mainly preserved as ’graveyard forrests’ near villages. These localities were not on Pichi Sermolli
and Minucci’s route, and what they saw along the Sauima ridge and the Ansia River must have
been degraded bushland derived from moist Afromontane forest. Also Sileshi Nemomissa & Puff
place the upper altitudinal limit of the woodlands around 2,000 m.
25 Probably wooded grassland would be a more appropriate term.
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
papyrifera began to occur, accompanied by species of Combretaceae, and Strychnos
unguacha [Strychnos innocua] was rather abundant.
From Addi Arcai we reached Asmara in two stages, where the journey ended.
---The material collected during the Mission was very abundant.
The collection of dry materials that documented the vegetation of most of the places visited
allowed me to report not only on a very rich sampling of the species present, but also to produce
a fair number of duplicates in order to allow a systematic study that was as accurate as possible.
I collected both phanerogams and cryptogams, and I think it is true to state that the
exsiccata exceed 25,000.
In addition to the dry material, I also fixed material in alcohol, formalin and liquid
Karpetschenko for special studies of anatomy, embryology and karyology.
I took a certain quantity of soil samples for the pedological study of the most characteristic
stations, which hosted the main plant formations described; at each of them, I measured with
a pH-meter the pH on the spot, as orientation value.
I was also able to make a fair collection of seeds and bulbs; which I have already sown
and seen develop.
I also took care, as far as I could, to transcribe the indigenous names of the plants and
the information on their uses.
I collected samples of wood of various tree and shrub species.
I also took some measurements of air and ground temperature; and on the Semien, for the
measurement of the heights, [p. 103] I used an altimeter. The heights almost always agreed
with those reported in the map to 400,000 of the IGM.
I also took the most copious and detailed possible notes of everything I could observe about
the individual plants and the plant communities in which they lived, and documented my
observations with about 600 photographs of the most characteristic aspects of the landscapes
and vegetation.
The various collections and observations made by me during this Mission were placed
in order to provide me with the material necessary to draw up a floristic list as abundant
as possible of the plants present in the regions visited and providing for a phytogeographic
study of their vegetation.
My various collections and observations were made with the greatest interest and with
the utmost care, I hope that they will constitute a satisfactory basis for further elaboration,
which I hope will respond to the trust of those who entrusted me with these researches.
Aspects of the landscape and vegetation in the High Semien (1939)
This is a translation of the text of Pichi Sermolli’s article about results from field
observation of vegetation made during the journey in the Semien (Pichi Sermolli
1939). Much information in this work supports the information about the Semien
in the previous general article (Pichi Sermolli 1938a), but here there is also supplementary information added. The paper is illustrated with two sets of illustrations;
two figures (photographs) in the text (“Fig. 1; Fig. 2”), one map and four full-page
plates (also photographs) [“Tavola 1-4”]. Pichi Sermolli documented his description
of the vegetation of the Semien mountains with two not completely identically drawn
maps; for this 1939 paper he reproduced a map (“Il Semien in 1:150,000”) drawn
by Minucci (1938: 39), and for later publications, including Pichi Sermolli (1951),
he preferred to reproduce a map he has drawn himself (Alto Semien in 1:150.000;
Pichi Sermolli 1940c: 4).
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
[P. CXV: Title.] Aspects of the landscape and vegetation in the High Semien
(Italian East Africa) (with plate 1-4 and three figures in the text) (From the Royal
Colonial Herbarium of Florence, directed by Prof. Giovanni Negri) Pichi Sermolli
(1939)].
[P. CXV] In presenting here some photographs that I took in the Semien during my
trip to Italian East Africa as the botanist of the expedition of the Royal Italian Academy to
Lake Tana, directed by His excellency Dainelli (Jan.-May 1937), I think it is appropriate
to present a few notes on the vegetation of this interesting mountain range that includes the
highest altitude (4,620 m.) of the Abyssinian Highlands.
Having completed the botanical exploration of the Lake Tana basin, and at a time when
there were only a few days before departure, His excellency Dainelli decided to send the
Geologist of the expedition, Ing. Minucci, and me to the Semien with the intention of carrying
out a study, albeit a brief one, of the upper part of the massif.
Having left Gondar in the first week of April, we went in a single stage to Debarech, where
we organized a caravan of mules and muleteers that would accompany us on our trip. In
two stages we reached the village of Ambaras (3,610 m), going up through the valley of the
stream of Addeschie and following the right edge of the Mai Beleghes valley. From there, we
climbed up the western side of Mount Buahit (4,510 m), from which, along the ridge to the
pass of Arcuasie (3,740 m), we descended to the village of Nori (3,560 m). The following day
we climbed to the top of Monte Selchi (4,475 m.) and from here, passing under the peak of
Monte Beroc Uaha, we reached the village of Atgheba (3,325 m). From this locality, going
down the edge of the valley to the ford of the stream of Mescia [Mai Shasha] (2,840 m.) and
going up the opposite side, we went to the village of Mecana (3,410 m.), which on the next
day served as a base to visit the northern tip of Monte Ualta and then to climb Monte Degien
[Ras Dejen] (4,620 m), which is the highest point of the whole massif.26 [P. CXVI] From
here, in two stages, we travelled along the entire northern ridge as far as Mt Selchi, touching
the Metelal pass (3,860 m), Mt Chiddis Arit (4,532 m.) and Mt Abba Jared (4,520 m). We
then returned to Nori, from where, descending along the ridge of Suohna, we reached the
stream of Anzia, which we followed until Auasa. From there, continuing to Addi Arcai, we
ended our excursion, which had lasted 15 days.
Without wanting to go into much detail, which would also be premature at this point, when
the study of the material I have collected is not finished, I will here give some new information
about the vegetation of this area.
The Semien, which was well known from the floristic point of view from the classic
collections made there by various scholars, among which those of Schimper should be
particularly remembered, was little known from the ecological point of view, and the same
applied to the relation between the landscape, the vegetation and the altitudinal succession
of the plant communities that cover it. The photographs that I have added to this paper show
some of the most characteristic aspects of this vegetation that can be compared with the types
26 Pichi Sermolli’s footnote: “I have not used here the place names of the IGM Map in 1:400,000 [IGM
1934-2936a] because they do not correspond to the names used by the local people. So instead of
using the name Mt Ras Dascian on the map, I have used the name of M. Degien, which is name of
the local people, and similarly I have done with regard to Mt. Lagata, Mt Chiddis Arit, Mt Beroc
Uaha, Mt Selchi etc., names which were in fact already adopted by Minucci (in Missione di studio al
Lago Tana - Relazioni preliminari - edited by His excellency Dainelli, Rome, R. Accademia d’Italia,
1938), and the meaning of which is clear when comparing the Map of the IGM at 1:400,000 with
the topographical sketch from the above work.”
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
Fig. 16. The first map resulting from Pichi Sermolli and Minucci’s field trip in the highest part
of the Semien Mountains, drawn and published by Minucci (1938).
Fig. 17. The second map of Pichi Sermolli and Minucci’s field trip in the highest part of the
Semien Mountains, drawn and published by Pichi Sermolli (1940c).
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
of vegetation which Hauman has called Afro-Alpine;27 although they represent a particular
aspect of this vegetation.
If we depart from the grasslands of the “Dega”, 28 which extend as far as the eye can see
south of Debarech (2,865 m), and move upwards to the highest peak of the Semien (4,620
m), then we find four horizons that follow each other in an altitudinal sequence, and these
horizons can be identified like this:
(1) Grasslands of the Dega;
(2) Erica bushland;
(3) Upper grasslands with Lobelia rhynchopetalum;
(4) Stone fields with alpine type vegetation.
Let us see what the plant communities of these four horizons look like.
The area of the Dega grasslands to the south-west of Debarech extends over a plain
consistently having an average altitude of 2,800-3,000 m., interrupted only by a few rare
streams and small, isolated mountains. These were grasslands with continuous sward of low
grasses, in which here and there were patches of vegetation with Hypericum lanceolatum
[Hypericum revolutum Vahl] and sporadic specimens of Erica arborea (not very tall, [p.
CXVIII (p. CXVII is a map of the Semien)] usually only 0.50-1 m), Rosa abyssinica, etc.
These grasslands were mostly without trees; only in particular places, and then mostly along
watercourses, around villages, near churches, and close to springs, we noticed, at great distances
from each other, groves of Acacia abyssinica, with Olea chrysophylla [Olea europaea subsp.
cuspidata], Hagenia abyssinica, Pygeum africanum [Prunus africanus], several species
of Gymnosporia [Maytenus], etc.29 In these groves, some specimens of Juniperus procera
were found, well developed and with branches starting almost from the ground. Occasionally,
on the slopes of the small mountains which rose some hundred metres above the plain, the
grassland with patches of Hypericum lanceolatum [Hypericum revolutum Vahl] was
replaced by plant communities of low grasses with discontinuous sward, interrupted here
and there by some bushes of Hypericum lanceolatum [Hypericum revolutum Vahl],
Rosa abyssinica, Echinops steudneri, or Echinops hoffmannianus, both with big heads
and 2-3 metres tall, etc.
Plate 1 [Fig. 18] shows in the foreground a mountain slope with low grassland where one
can see examples of Echinops and shrubs of Hypericum and Rosa. In the background, in the
lower right corner, one can see [flat areas of] grasslands that here and there are interrupted
by very extensive stretches of dense bushland with Hypericum lanceolatum [Hypericum
revolutum Vahl].
In this altitudinal zone there was very extensive cultivation, mostly of cereals.
The Erica bushland that we found above these grasslands, and which in the north went
down to 2,500 m. on the ridge of Uolchefìt, 30 was seen in its most typical aspect above a
transition zone with mixed characteristics of that and the [Dega] grassland. The transition
zone was a grassland very rich in bushes of Erica arborea that were never very high (0.501 m.), Hypericum lanceolatum [Hypericum revolutum Vahl] and other species, and it
occupied a zone extending from 2,800-3,000 up to 3,000-3,300 m.
27 See Hauman (1933).
28 Pichi Sermolli’s footnote: ”In this nomenclature I intend to limit the name of “Dega” to the grasslands above the “Woina-Dega” and below the Erica bushland.”
29 These agree with the patches of dry Afromontane forests dominated by Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, but usually not Juniperus procera, which Sileshi Nemomissa & Puff (2001) mention as preserved mainly as ’graveyard forests’ near villages.
30 The ridge of Uolchefìt or Wolkefit is a westward extension of the Semien Mountains, the road from
the north to Debarech crosses the ridge at 13° 12’ N, 37° 53’ E.
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
71
Fig. 18. (Plate [“Table”] 1 in Pichi Sermolli 1939). Grasslands of the “Dega” near Debarech. In the foreground a
mountainside with Echinops Steudneri, Hypericum lanceolatum [Hypericum revolutum Vahl] and Rosa abyssinica.
Still observing Plate 1 [Fig. 18], one can see on the ridge of the mountain in the horizon a
weakening of the bushland that represents precisely this transition area between the grasslands
with patches of bushes and the thick Erica bushland.
In the zone of the fully developed Erica bushland there were almost pure plant communities
that covered entire mountain sides with dense and high specimens of Erica. Sporadically in
the middle of the bushland of Erica arborea, which here reached a height of 5-6 m. and was
exceptionally lushly developed (I noticed stems of 40 cm in diameter at 50 cm from the ground),
one could see specimens of Hypericum lanceolatum [Hypericum revolutum Vahl] and
Rosa abyssinica, each not exceeding 3-4% of the cover of the Erica. The undergrowth, given
the density of the tree and shrub layers, was almost missing and only here and there, where
there was some opening in the canopy, [p. CXIX] specimens of Helichrysum schimperi, some
Composite and various grasses could be found. In the thick Erica bushland the branches of the
heathers were abundantly covered by crusted lichens and sometimes magnificent specimens of
Usnea hang from the branches. The altitudinal range of the zone of heather does not exceed
200-400 m., with limits ranging from 3,000-3,300 to 3,300-3,700 m.
In this horizon we could observe the most extensive areas of crops (generally cereals),
and some slopes had been completely cleared in order to plant crops. This was the case on the
slope below the ridge of Arcuasie above Atgheba, where only crops were left and the Erica
bushland represented by rare specimens of heather in places where the steepness of the slope
72
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 19 (Fig. 1 in Pichi Sermolli 1939). Transition zone between the Erica bushland and the upper grasslands with
Lobelia rhynchopetalum near the pass of Cennech.
was such that it did not allow the local people to cultivate cereals. I saw many places where
deforestation had been carried out recently and others, as at Micciubbi, where the cutting
of the bushland was still in progress. Indigenous practices to reduce bushland to cultivation
consisted in first cutting the Erica bushes, then removing the shoots of heather and finally
ploughing the soil, which, being quite deep, allowed an excellent growth of cereals at least for
a certain time after the destruction of the Erica.
[P. CXX] Plate 2 [Fig. 20] shows a rather steep crest covered by a dense bushland of
Erica. The figure also shows the very irregular and precipitous aspect of the northern slope
of the Semien.
Above altitudes of 3,200-3,600 m., specimens of Lobelia rhynchopetalum would appear,
indicating a transition zone between the pure Erica bushland and the upper grasslands with
Lobelia, which was the plant community that characterised the next altitudinal horizon. This
transition zone, like the lower one, had an altitudinal extension of about 200-400 meters.
The characteristics of this area with mixed plant communities of Erica and Lobelia could
be poorly defined, because the vegetation varied greatly in composition and density depending
on whether we were closer to the lower horizon or to the upper horizon. We could say in
principle that from the bottom we saw the Erica bushland permeated more or less abundantly
by specimens of Lobelia which were more often found in the valleys where the soil was cooler.
With the appearance of Lobelia rhynchopetalum, the Erica bushland became less dense
and the more we rose, the more the bushes thinned out and the vegetation was enriched with
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
73
Fig. 20 (Plate [“Table”] 2 in Pichi Sermolli 1939). Appearance of the northern slope of the Semien under the Cennech
pass [and the profile of Emiet Gogo]. At the edge [of the plateau] you can see the Erica bushland.
herbs, until it took on the appearance of a continuous herbaceous grassland with scattered
Erica and Lobelia mixed in. An example of this plant community is represented in Figure
1 [here Fig. 19], which in the foreground shows some examples of Lobelia growing along
the stream at which the photograph was taken and where the heathers are missing; in the
background you can see the grassland with Erica and Lobelia.
This altitudinal horizon included the lower ridges of the highest mountains, whose
vegetation was physiognomically distinct. These ridges, which were very beaten by the wind,
were covered with stony grasslands rich in low shrubs (40-60 cm) and abundantly invaded
by subshrubs and herbaceous plants. Among the plants of these plant communities, I recorded
besides Rosa, Hypericum and Erica, also Helichrysum horridum, H. schimperi, Dipsacus
pinnatifidus, Pterocephalus frutescens, species of Asparagus, etc.
At altitudes towards 3,800-4,000 metres we could fix the lower limit of the upper
grasslands with Lobelia, of which I report a good example in Plate 3 [Fig. 21]. These grasslands
are essentially formed by true grasses, in addition to which there were species of Carex and
herbaceous plants of other families and some subshrubs (Helichrysum citrispinum, H.
abyssinicum, Thymus sp., Blaeria spicata, etc.). Where the soil is very stony, Helichrysum
citrispinum may even replace the Lobelia, giving these stony areas, which interrupt the
grasslands, a particular appearance which recalled the impression of flowerbeds in a garden.
This unique physiognomy was [p. CXXI; on the following pages Plate [“Table”] 1-4
were reproduced] above all due to the contrast between the thick bushes of Helichrysum
74
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 21 (Plate [“Table”] 3 in Pichi Sermolli 1939). Western slope of Mount Buahit. Upper grasslands with
Lobelia rhynchopetalum. In the foreground three specimens of Lobelia in bloom.
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
citrispinum with white-sericeous capitula and the lower bushes of Helichrysum abyssinicum
[Helichrysum splendidum (Thunb.) Less.] with its sulphur-yellow capitula, among which
one could see the stones covered with lichens of the most varied colours.
Another aspect of this horizon and the transition zone below was presented by the marshy
community of species of Carex. These plant communities were found scattered at various
points throughout the massif, chiefly in places where the ground or valley bottom was flat or
slightly concave so that water would flow there from the surrounding slopes and impregnate
the ground until it was completely soaked and sometimes completely swamped.
These plant communities were formed by tall tufts of Carex monostachya (or related
species), which were raised about 40-70 cm above the swampy ground due to a sort of
cylindrical pedestal formed by accumulation of dead leaves between densely tangled roots.
From the top of these columnar tufts, which are 40 cm to a few metres apart, long, green
leaves spread out and bend or fall downwards. Where these columnar tufts are very close
together, they would form carpets which, seen from above, had the appearance of grassland;
whilst, as I have already said, under the living leaves, there were accumulations of dead leaves
which elevated the top of the plants above the swamp. These big tufts were often burned, at
other times cut by the local people, so that they developed young leaves, which were the only
ones that were eaten by animals. The periphery of the bases of these tufts, when they were few
and rather spread out, was covered by a flora composed of various phanerogams (species of
Ranunculus, Saxifraga hederifolia, etc.) and by abundant mosses. The soil on which these
tufts grow was, as I have said, abundantly soaked with water and sometimes even submerged
for a few centimetres.
Plate 4 [Fig. 22] shows one of these Carex swamps and in the foreground one can see
the large tufts with the droopy leaves; in the background one can see the columns formed by
accumulation of dead leaves, but missing the living apical part that had been burnt. In the
midst of these associations one could also see Lobelia rhynchopetalum, which often, when
the soil was not extremely swampy, could be seen growing in these habitats.
The grasslands with Lobelia entirely covered the sides of the mountains up to the upper
limit of the continuous herbaceous sward, which was observed at around 4,300-4,350 m.
Already at this altitude the grasslands began to be a little sparser, and the first specimens of
the alpine flora of the uppermost altitudinal horizon began to appear. But as one can easily
understand, the transition zone between the grasslands with Lobelia and the stony areas
with [p. CXXII] alpine vegetation is very difficult to identify because the alpine flora is
represented by inconspicuous plants and sheltered between the rocks where the plants of the
upper grasslands do not grow. Lobelia was also seen growing above the continuous herbaceous
sward into the zone with the stony ground.
The alpine vegetation on stony ground, which constitutes the horizon above the upper
grasslands with Lobelia, reached everywhere in the Semien to the peaks of the mountains.
The cover was sparse and consisted of some subshrubs (Helichrysum citrispinum, H.
abyssinicum [Helichrysum splendidum (Thunb.) Less.], several species of Senecio, etc.)
and perennial herbaceous plants (several species of Ranunculus, Saxifraga hederifolia,
Cruciferae and various Composites, etc.) that were growing between the rocks and in the
cracks in the rocks. The most abundant plants were undoubtedly the lichens that literally
covered every stone with a wealth of species. On the flat ridges of the mountains where the
very dry soil was continuously exposed to the wind and did not allow the growth of vegetation
[of vascular plants], the fine, clayey and grey soil only hosted crusted “wandering” lichens,
that is lichens that are curled up in the shape of a sphere and completely without attachment
to the substrate. Here and there these spheres of lichens were accumulated by the wind; [p.
CXXIII] sometimes the lichens formed continuous layers, which were a few inches thick
and covered very large surfaces. The surface of these layers did not appear homogeneous, but
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 22 (Plate [“Table”] 4 in Pichi Sermolli 1939). Swampy plant community with Carex monostachya (or related
species) in the valley bottom of Arquasie [Arcuasie] Uenz. Note in the background the specimens of Carex burned
by the local people and the specimens of Lobelia growing in the middle of the association.
was divided into stripes forming a net-like structure, where the ground remained uncovered
inside the meshes. The lichens that composed them were of two species, each forming a pure
community; one species never joined the other to produce a mixed community. Figure 2 [here
Fig. 23] shows a community of this type and at the bottom one can see an area of open ground
and higher a darker area representing precisely the community of loose spheres of lichens;
higher still there are more areas of bare ground and rocks.
These lichens were the only plants that could grow in places where the rock could not
give shelter to vascular plants, probably due to the strong wind, the aridity of the soil and the
shallow layer (2-3 cm) of fine, powdery soil that covered them.
From these brief notes on the vertical distribution of the various plant communities in
the upper part of the Semien, it appears that it is justified to refer this vegetation to the AfroAlpine type of vegetation described by Hauman. In fact, apart from the species of plants that
are in common with the high mountains of Equatorial Africa, many plant communities are
found both in the Semien and in the Ruwenzori. We see for example on both these massifs the
Erica bushland, the Carex community in the wetlands and the alpine stony areas. Differences
between Semien and the high mountain massifs of Equatorial Africa (Kilimanjaro, Kenya,
Ruwenzori, etc.) certainly exist, and can be understood when we take into account the great
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
Fig. 23 (Fig. 2 in Pichi Sermolli 1939). “Wandering” lichens on the flat ridges of the highest peaks of the Semien.
distance between them, the climatic differences, and also the lower altitude of the peaks of the
Semien. In fact, in our mountains the arborescent species of Senecio are missing and so is the
carpets of sphagnum, mosses and lichens that can be seen in the high equatorial mountains,
where the humidity is much higher. In fact, everywhere in the Semien there was unmistakable
evidence of greater aridity of the vegetation due to lower precipitation and higher temperature,
which are consequences of lower altitude and higher latitude, for which reasons there is also
lack of perpetual snow in the Semien.
It is not the case here to insist on these affinities and differences, to which I will return
later in a more definitive work, and to which I have referred here only as justification of the
attribution of the vegetation of the Semien to the Afro-Alpine type of Hauman.
At the end of this brief note I feel the duty to express my most sincere feelings of gratitude
to His excellency Dainelli who, as head of the Mission of the Reale Accademia d’Italia, [p.
CXXIV] gave me the opportunity to carry out these researches and who granted me the
authorization to communicate to the Italian Botanical Society these brief notes on my journey.
Observations on the vegetation of the western slope of the Ethiopian Highland
(published in 1940; here as Pichi Sermolli 1940b).
This is the text of Pichi Sermolli’s second separate article about results from the
field observations made during the journey. This paper covers brief notes about the
journey across the Eritrean highlands to the western lowlands of Eritrea, then through
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
the western Ethiopian lowlands and up the western escarpment to the highlands to
Gondar (Pichi Sermolli 1940b). It is illustrated with ten photographs in the text; Fig.
3-4 each cover a full page.
[P. 609; title:] Observations on the vegetation of the western slope of the
Ethiopian Highland (from the Royal Colonial Herbarium of Florence (Pichi Sermolli
1940b).
[P. 609] These brief notes on the vegetation of the western slope of the Ethiopian plateau
are based on notes taken during the trip I made to Gondar when, in 1937, I took part in the
Mission of the Reale Accademia d’Italia to Lake Tana, directed by His Excellency Giotto
Dainelli.
The itinerary followed during this journey proceeded from Asmara through Keren,
Agordat, Barentu, Tessenei, to Om Ager on the shores of the Setit River; from there we followed
the road to Gondar, crossing first all the areas located in the western base of the plateau and
then through the mountains via the Sengia valley to Tucur Dinghia, located not far from the
watershed of the hydrographic basin of Lake Tana.
The part of the Eritrean territory crossed during our journey was sufficiently well known
with regard to its vegetation, and a description of it here appears only for the sole purpose of
highlighting the differences between that landscape and vegetation and those forming part of
the Abyssinian [Ethiopian] territory crossed by me, particularly with regard to the vegetation,
of which we had only little information.
The sector of the Eritrean plateau where Asmara is located was characterized by a
notable aridity; the land used for grazing consisted of a low shrub layer formed for the most
part by Rumex nervosus, Meriandra bengalensis [Meriandra dianthera] and Ocimum
filamentosum, and by a discontinuous layer of herbaceous plants that covered this part of
the Eritrean plateau at the altitudes of 2,200-2,400 m. Here and there the monotony of this
plant community was interrupted by the red-orange inflorescences of Aloe eru and the large
flower heads of Echinops spinosus [Echinops pappii]. In the direction of Keren this is the
characteristic plant community right to the edge of the Eritrean plateau. At the beginning [p.
610] of the descent to lower altitudes, widely spaced specimens of Olea chrysophylla [Olea
europaea subsp. cuspidata] began to appear in the grasslands as trees with hemispherical
crowns and modest proportions.
At the top of the ridge from which we descended to reach Keren, the first candelabrashaped Euphorbias (Euphorbia abyssinica) appeared, at first mixed with Olea and then in
increasingly pure communities, so much so that they were the only component of the tree layer,
supporting lianas mostly represented by Pterolobium exosum [Pterolobium stellatum].
The Anseba River ran at the bottom of this mountain ridge, flanked by magnificent sycamores
(Ficus sycomorus) which, with their wide foliage, offered shade and coolness to the flocks of
animals that gathered here for quenching their thirst.
Near Elaberet Adansonia digitata appeared in the midst of a plant community that
had the physiognomy of deciduous bushland, predominantly consisting of species of Acacia,
which covered the entire valley; this clearly marked the lower limit of the community of
Euphorbia abyssinica and also the lower limit of the occurrence of this species as
isolated individuals.
The whole valley of Elaberet was covered by this type of bush with prevalence of species
of Acacia, while the basin at which Keren was located had a slightly different vegetation,
because there the predominant tree species did not belong to the genus Acacia, but were
species belonging to various other families (Commiphora, Combretum, Terminalia, etc.).
From Keren, through the Dongola pass, we descended to the plains of the Western
Lowland where numerous mountain massifs, mainly consisting of granite, emerged as large
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
inselbergs. The landscape and the vegetation had here two main aspects: on the slopes of the
hills and mountains, there was a very dense deciduous woodland, where the predominant
species, belonging to the Combretaceae, were almost always interspersed with giant specimens
of baobab (Adansonia digitata) (Fig. 1 [here Fig. 24]), Sterculia tomentosa [Sterculia
setigera] with trunks on which large brick-red plates of parchment-like older bark remained,
Boswellia papyrifera and many other species. In the more or less extended plains that were
located at the base of and in between this sort of island-like mountain, we noticed plant
communities that could be called thorny bushland, fundamentally constituted of a more
or less dense complex stratum of species of Acacia with an umbrella-like appearance and
covering a much interrupted herbaceous layer mainly consisting of low grasses (Fig. 3 [here
Fig. 26]). In some places this layer was even made up of small isolated plants growing in a
sandy substratum very rich in pebbles, while in others with less arid soil one could also see
evergreen plants, such as Balanites aegyptiaca, species of Ficus, etc.
Along the watercourses that cross the plain, one could observe landscapes and vegetation
that were considerably different from those described above; the most severe aridity was
replaced by a more [p. 611] luxuriant and dense vegetation. Basically two plant communities
made up these riparian forests or woodlands. The first type, which we found along the larger
watercourses, the Barka and Gasc Rivers, were almost pure forests or woodlands of Dum
Palms (Hyphaene nodularia) [Hyphaene thebaica], which extended along the river beds
in two strips of vegetation sometimes up to one kilometre wide (Fig. 2 [here Fig. 25]). In
the immediate proximity of the river, which carried no water in the dry season, but where
sufficient to dig two metres into the ground to find plenty of water, the canopy of the forest
consisted of Dum Palms alone. However, as we moved away from the banks of the rivers
these pure communities were penetrated by species of the surrounding arid vegetation, so the
riparian vegetation faded gradually into it. The undergrowth was made up of sparse shrubs
and shade-loving grasses that enjoyed the cool and shady environment.
The other vegetation type was represented by the communities found along the smaller
watercourses, where the amount of moisture in the substrate was considerably lower. Here we
never found the Dum palm, and the forest, which was sometimes very dense, but not as fresh
and green as the previous one, was made up of various species, mostly of Ficus, Tamarindus,
Tamarix, etc., which did not extend far from the river banks.
[P. 612] In the vicinity of Tessenei, the thorny bushland described above became thinner
and thinner, until it gave way to plant communities formed exclusively of tall grasses
(Andropogoneae), and the tree stratum consisted only of trees very far apart. At Tessenei, the
largest colonial agricultural farm in Eritrea was founded by the African Companies Society,
and extensive crops, mostly cotton and durra, covered about 3000 hectares occupying the
part of the area closest to the Gasc River.
To reach the Baker River from Tessenei the road crossed an extensive plain at an altitude
of 500-600 m., furrowed by scarce watercourses, of which the main ones were the Setit River
and a stream that pours into it, which took various names along its course (Royan, Selassil,
Scie and Baker). This plain was covered by a homogeneous vegetation that consisted of a
typical savannah [wooded grassland], of which Balanites aegyptiaca (Fig. 4 [here Fig.
27]) or Acacia seyal or sometimes both species together were the main tree components. The
herbaceous layer, on average about 1.50 m. high, was mainly made up of Andropogon [p.
615; Figures 3 and 4, here Fig. 26 and 27, occupy all of pp. 613 and 614] and some other
rarer species of grasses (Setaria sp.) and also some rare shrubs (Cadaba rotundifolia, etc.).
At some points, but very limited in extension, I noticed stretches where the savannah thinned
out, until the vegetation resembled a thorn bushland of the type observed in the plains between
Keren and Tessenei.
79
80
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 24 (Fig. 1 in Pichi Sermolli 1940b). Baobab (Adansonia digitata) near Barentu.
In places where the plane was crossed by watercourses, the vegetation became denser and
formed two strips flanking the river, the appearance of which, however, was no longer that
of a forest, as we had found along the Barka and Gasc Rivers, but rather that of very dense
bush with evergreen leaves, mostly consisting of saplings and shrubs (Balanites, Zizyphus,
Tamarix, etc.).
Just beyond the confluence between the streams of Scie31 and Barek 32 , the plain ceased
and the first hills or mountains appeared, representing the base of the western ramparts of the
Abyssinian plateau. The road that we followed to go to Gondar ran for a long stretch through
this landscape, always maintaining an altitude ranging from 800 to 900 m.
As the morphology of the terrain changed, so did the appearance of the vegetation, and
from the savannah we moved on to deciduous woodland formed by a plant community of
sparse trees not very high (5-6 m), among which Boswellia papyrifera dominated, and with
an underlying layer of tall grasses and shrubs that were rather scattered (Fig. 5 [here Fig. 28]).
Plant communities of this type occupied the entire basal part of the western escarpment of the
Abyssinian Plateau between the Baker and Sua Rivers; being more dense or open according
31 The old Italian road crosses the Scie River at ca. 14° 05’ N, but the longitude is uncertain.
32 On the IGM (1934-1936: sheet 9) there is a stream called Barek just south of Scie River.
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
81
Fig. 25 (Fig. 2 in Pichi Sermolli 1940b). - Forest of Dum Palm (Hyphaene nodularia [Hyphaene thebaica]) along the
Barka River.
to the greater or lesser fertility of the substrate, while also the percentages of its components
changed. Apart from the above mentioned species, the vegetation consisted of various species
of Combretaceae. In some places I did see areas where Combretum hartmannianum was
completely dominant. Near Mai Agam, 33 as we got closer to Sua River [crossing at c. 13° 50’
N, 36 N, 36° 58’ E], I noticed some clumps of Oxytenanthera abyssinica; a species which
we shall see later on became very important in the landscape and vegetation.
In the vicinity of the Sua River, which carried water and ran through this territory, the
vegetation became denser and greener. Boswellia disappeared as the main component of the
woodland, and Combretaceae became more abundant, first of all Terminalia schimperiana.
In this stretch of the woodland, although made up of deciduous species, was very fresh and
green and almost all the trees had leaves.
Along the banks of the Sua River I noted a luxuriant and dense tree vegetation, while the
stony bed of the stream was sprinkled with bush-like plants of [p. 616] Kanahia laniflora.
In the immediate vicinity of this, the local people practiced agriculture with various crops
including cotton and durra.
33 The old Italian road crosses the Mai Agam at c. 13° 45’ N, 36 N, 36° 58’ E.
82
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 26 (Fig. 3 in Pichi Sermolli 1940b). Thorny bushland, mainly consisting of species of Acacia, between Barentu
and Tessenei.
Continuing from the Sua River, the vegetation was formed for a very long stretch by
Combretaceous woodland with very scarce presence of Boswellia while we were in the valley
of this stream. Despite the dry season (January) the trees all had leaves, but when we passed
on to the mountainous ridges the trees of the woodland were completely bare, although the
floristic composition of the plant community was the same. I noted, however, that generally
the woodland was denser where the hills were higher and cooler, and there the Combretaceae
were more abundant and Boswellia was scarcer.
All in all, the physiognomy of the landscape varied little along this chain of small
mountains, which the deciduous woodland covered uninterruptedly. In some places, and
especially in the valleys, one could also notice thickets of Oxytenanthera abyssinica.
Thus we reached the stream of Soroca, 34 which, as is also the case with the large rivers in
Eritrea, is bordered by two wide bands of fresh and dense shore vegetation. Beyond this stream
the road, which until now had continued at an altitude of about 800-850 m., tended to climb.
The Oxytenanthera abyssinica thickets became thicker and thicker and penetrated more
and more deeply into the deciduous woodland dominated by Terminalia; thus we passed
to the extensive Oxytenanthera thicket (Fig. 6 [here Fig. 29]), which covered the whole
34 The old Italian road crossed the Soroca at ca. 13° 20’ N, but the exact longitude of the crossing is
uncertain.
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
Fig. 27 (Fig. 4 in Pichi Sermolli 1940b). --Savana with Balanites aegyptiaca in the region of Om Ager.
territory between the stream of Soroca and the confluence between the streams of Sengia
and Tznate Feterat. 35 This vegetation was very dense and in some places even impenetrable;
trees were poorly represented in the Oxytenanthera thickets, being frequently very sporadic.
This species of bamboo rose to 6 or 8 m. above the ground and formed a layer under which
almost nothing but a few herbaceous species could grow. In the territory I travelled through,
vast thickets of pure Oxytenanthera bushland alternated with places where, together with
this species, there were also trees, mostly represented by Terminalia. In the stretch between
the streams of Bascura and Zagba the bamboo did not descend to the bottom of the narrow
valley where the Sangia was, flanked by lush vegetation, but was restricted to the upper slopes
of the valley. The lower parts of these slopes were covered by deciduous woodland, the main
components of which were Terminalia, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Gardenia lutea [Gardenia
ternifolia] and Boswellia papyrifera.
After the confluence of the stream of Tznate Feterat with the Sengia River, we went up to
slightly higher altitudes and found ourselves in an area of flat ground that we crossed through
its greatest length. Here the appearance of the vegetation was that of a wooded savannah
[wooded grassland], the tree stratum of which was dominated by [p. 619; Fig. 5 to 8, here
35 The Tznate Feterat River has not been traced on any map; it might be another name for the Angareb
River, although Angareb is a name widely used even on early maps. Sengia joins with Angareb at
ca. 13° 05’ N, 37° 23’ E; the mission crossed the Angareb River at ca. 13° 45’ N, 36° 57’ E (13.75° N,
36.95° E in decimal degrees).
83
84
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 28 (Fig. 5 in Pichi Sermolli 1940b). Convoy of vehicles travelling through deciduous and burnt CombretumTerminalia woodland near Casa Jesus.
Fig. 28-31, occupy all of pp. 617 and 618] Bauhinia thonningii [Piliostigma thonningii],
Gardenia lutea [Gardenia ternifolia], species of Acacia and Combretum and a herbaceous
layer of which was made up of high grasses, mostly species of Andropogoneae (Hyparrhenia),
but not forming a very dense ground cover (Fig. 9).
This stretch of vegetation was of limited extension, and soon the road began to climb again,
bringing us to a slightly higher altitude (1,100-1,300 m.) than that of the territories we had
crossed so far (900-1,100 m). The vegetation of this area up to the stream of Avellana had
the appearance of a slightly denser woodland than the one we had previously crossed, with a
richer shrub layer and trees of different height among which I noticed the usual Terminalia,
Combretum collinum, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Gardenia lutea [Gardenia ternifolia] and
Bauhinia thonningii. Along some very small streams that crossed this territory I noticed
some magnificent examples of Albizia.
The vegetation along the stream of Avellana was dense and green woodland consisting of
Anogeissus leiocarpa, which was the species almost exclusively represented in the upper tree
layer, and of Gardenia lutea [Gardenia ternifolia], which was abundant in the lower woody
layer, slightly exceeding the tall grasses and shrubs that covered the ground.
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
Fig. 29 (Fig. 6 in Pichi Sermolli 1940b). Oxytenanthera abyssinica thicket in the region of the stream of Soroca.
From this region we descended slightly and crossed again the Sengia River, the banks of
which were wonderfully covered by a green [p. 620] and dense vegetation (Fig. 7 [here Fig.
30]); the presence of water also made its beneficial action felt here.
The slope of the valley that we ascended after the Sengia was furrowed in many places
by torrents that carried water most of the year. The presence of these streams had a great
influence on the vegetation, which here no longer appeared dry and scattered, but green and
dense. The density of the vegetation and the richness of the undergrowth already suggested an
altitudinal limit that would mark the composition of the vegetation. There were still species
of Anogeissus, Combretum, Gardenia, etc., but in the undergrowth there were evergreen
species such as Carissa edulis [Carissa spinarum L.].
In the region of Checc, at an altitude of about 1,700 m, 36 the vegetation changed completely
and the bushland was replaced by evergreen tropical forest (Fig. 8 [here Fig. 31]). The
appearance of this vegetation was so lush and dense that one almost had the impression of
being in a rainforest. A small collection that I managed to make during a very short stop
allowed me to document some plants, among them the most abundant were Mimusops
kummel, Ficus riparia [F. sur], Gymnosporia schimperi [Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.)
36 Exact locality not traced, possibly just to the west of the area of Tucur Dinghia and below the watershed with the Lake Tana Basin.
85
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 30 (Fig. 7 in Pichi Sermolli 1940b). - Bank vegetation along the Sengia River.
R. Wilczek var. schimperi (A. Rich.) Fiori], Strychnos unguacha [Strychnos innocua],
Phoenix reclinata, etc. Here the soil was fertile and permanently moist thanks to the presence
of numerous small torrents that crossed this narrow valley. The dense forest that covered the
whole slope up to Tucur Dinghia, also embraced the basal part of the two steep and rocky
mountains above this village. In some places the forest had been destroyed by the local people
to be replaced with crops of cereals and edible plants.
Higher up, around 2,300 m., the vegetation was sparser and Acacia abyssinica, with
its umbrella-like crowns, made the landscape particularly beautiful and characteristic (Fig.
10 [here Fig. 33]).
Just above Tucur Dinghia, around 2,400 m., uninterrupted grasslands began to cover
the whole slope up to the crest of the Chercher Hill (ca. 2,730 m), which is located on
the watershed of the Tana basin. Throughout these grasslands, as in other regions of the
Ethiopian plateau in the lower part of the “dega”, there were sporadic trees, such as Olea
chrysophylla [Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata], Acacia abyssinica, Gymnosporia sp.,
Apodytes acutifolia [Apodytes dimidiata], Lachnopylis congesta [Nuxia congesta], etc.
Going higher up, the trees became more and more sparse, but in this part of the plateau we
did not reach grasslands completely without trees, as I have seen in other parts of Abyssinia,
as the place was not high enough. The vegetation consisted here as a more or less continuous
grass stratum, 30-60 cm high on average, with scattered shrubs and subshrubs. Among
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
Fig. 31 (Fig. 8 in Pichi Sermolli 1940b). Tropical evergreen forest in the region of Checc below Tucur Dinghia.
the species growing in this vegetation I [p. 621] noted: Rosa abyssinica, Carissa edulis
[Carissa spinarum L.], Pterocephalus frutescens, Echinops macrochaetus, Helichrysum
schimperi, Helichrysum hochstetteri, Hyparrhenia pseudocymbaria, Hyparrhenia
hirta, Pennisetum schimperi, etc.
At the end of these brief notes on the vegetation of the western slope of the Ethiopian
Plateau I want to address my thanks to the Royal Academy of Italy and to his excellency
Giotto Dainelli for having entrusted me with this research and for having supported the
publication of it.
List of species collected during the trip. 37
Checc region, evergreen tropical forest at the base of Mt. Gunidubba, about 1,800
m., 23.1.1937: Dryopteris schimperiana (Hochst.) C. Chr., Hyparrhenia cymbaria Stapf,
37 The names in this list are generally represented as originally presented by Pichi Sermolli; only minor
edits have been made. Generally, the text is not a verbatim translation and is therefor not in Italics.
The flowering plants can usually be found in chapter “5. Chronological list …”, and the modern synonyms for the outdated names can be found in “Indexes and Synonymy: (3) List of identifications of
names used by Pichi Sermolli…” The specimens of ferns mentioned in this list have not been found
at the herbarium FT, but some are mentioned by Friis (2015: Appendix 2, Ferns from the Lake Tana
expedition in the historical collection of Pichi Sermolli’s pteridophytes (FI-PS), p. 13-14).
87
88
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 32 (Fig. 9 in Pichi Sermolli 1940b). Savannah [wooded grassland] in the flat stretches of the ridge along the
Sengia River after its confluence with the stream of Tznate Feterat.
Hyparrhenia variabilis Stapf, Ficus riparia A. Rich., Gymnosporia serrata (Hochst.) Loes.
var. schimperi Fiori, Osyris abyssinica Hochst., Pterolobium exosum (J. F. Gmel.) Baker, Hyparrhenia variabilis Stapf var. typica Fiori, Gymnosporia serrata (Hochst.) Loes.
var. schimperi (Hochst.) Fiori, Hypericum quartinianum A. Rich., Combretum collinum
Fresen., Strychnos unguacha A. Rich. var. typica Gilg., Lachnopylis congesta (R. Br.) C.
A. Smith. [Nuxia congesta], Carissa edulis Vahl, Barleria ventricosa Nees, Hypoestes forskalei R. Br., Phaylopsis longifolia T. Thoms. in Speke [Phaulopsis imbricata (Forssk.)
Sweet], Phaylopsis parviflora Willd. [probably Phaulopsis imbricata (Forssk.) Sweet], ,
Vernonia hochstetteri Walp.
The Checc region, with dense woodland or almost forest of Acacia abyssinica on the
slopes of Mt. Gunidubba, at ca. 2,000 m., 23.1.1937: Hyparrhenia cymbaria (L.) Stapf,
Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf x Hyparrhenia umbrosa (Hochst.) Anderss., Dioscorea
abyssinica Kunth, Maesa lanceolata Forssk., Tephrosia interrupta Engl., Astragalus abyssinicus Steud., Hypericum quartinianum A. Rich., Mimusops kummel A. DC., Lachnopylis
congesta (R. Br.) C. A. Smith [Nuxia congesta], Guizotia scabra (Vis.) Chiov.
Tucur Dinghia, wooded grassland, at ca. 2,300 m., 24.1.1937: Dodonaea viscosa (L.)
Jacq. var. vulgaris Benth. forma burmanniana (DC.) Radlk., Otostegia integrifolia Benth.
in DC., Stereospermum kunthianum Cham.
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
Fig. 33 (Fig. 10 in Pichi Sermolli 1940b). Forest of Acacia abyssinica near Tucur Dinghia.
Surroundings of Tucur Dinghia in the tropical evergreen forest, at ca. 2,300 m.,
24.1.1937: Dryopteris schimperiana (Hochst.) C. Chr., Asplenium protensum Schrad.,
Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm. f.) Bech. , Loxoscaphe theciferum (HBK.) Moore subsp.
concinnum (Schrad.) Pich. Serm. var. schimperi (Hook.) Pich. Serm., comb. nova, Adiantum poiretii Wikstr., Pteris quadriaurita Retz. var. abyssinica (Hieron.) Pich. Serm.,
Loxogramme lanceolata (Sw.) Presl, Rhamnus prinoides L’Hérit. 38
Near the village of Bachiana (Tucur Dinghia), in wooded grassland, at ca. 2,400
m., 24.1.1937: Osyris abyssinica Hochst., Viscum nervosum A. Rich. var. angustifolium
Sprague, Rumex nervosus Vahl, Phytolacca dodecandra L’Hérit., Stephania abyssinica (A.
Rich.) Walp., Rosa abyssinica R. Br., Acacia abyssinica Benth., Albizia schimperiana Oliv.,
Cicer arietinum L., Ricinus communis L. var. africanus (Willd.) Mull. Arg. in DC. form.
subviridis Mull. Arg. in DC., Apodytes acutifolia A. Rich. [as “Hochst.”] Hochst., Rham-
38 Note by Pichi Sermolli: “Some authors consider Davallia concinna Schrad., Gött. gel. Anz., 918
(1818) as an independent species, but I think that it may be regarded as a subspecies of Davallia
thecifera HBK., Nov. Gen. et Sp., I, 23 (1815). Davallia schimperi Hook., Sp. fil, I, 193, tav. 50 A
(1846) is then to be considered as a variety of the subspecies D. concinna. When these taxa are transferred at the same ranks to the genus Loxoscaphe, they require the new combinations mentioned
above.”
89
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
nus prinoides L’Hérit., Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC., Buddleja polystachya Fresen.,
Carissa edulis Vahl, Ipomoea tenuirostris Choisy in DC., Micromeria biflora Benth. var.
punctata (R. Br.) Fiori, Leonotis velutina Fenzl. var. rugosa (Benth.) Baker, Achyranthes
argentea Lam., Phaylopsis parviflora Willd. [probably Phaulopsis imbricata (Forssk.)
Sweet], Gymnosporia serrata (Hochst.) Loes. var. schimperi (Hochst.) Fiori, Vernonia
quartiniana A. Rich., Vernonia hochstetteri Sch. Bip., Phagnalon hypoleucum Walp.
Northern slopes of the Chercher Hills, at ca. 2,600 m., 25-1-1937: Cheilanthes farinosa (Forssk.) Kaulf. forma sulphurea (Moore) Pich. Serm., comb, nova (Basionym:
Cheilanthes farinosa (Forssk.) Kaulf. var. sulphurea Moore, Ind. Fil.: 235 (1861), Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf, Hyparrhenia pseudocymbaria (Steud.) Anderss., Pennisetum
schimperi A. Rich., Carissa edulis Vahl var. cornifolia (Jaub. et Spach) Fiori. [erroneous
for Carissa edulis Vahl var. cornifolia (Jaub. et Spach) Martelli, the combination that antedates both the publication by Fiori and Pichi Sermolli; a synonym of Carissa spinarum
L.], Plantago lanceolata L. var. dubia (L.) Wahlenb. subvar. eudubia Pilger, Phagnalon
hypoleucum Sch. Bip., Pterocephalus frutescens A. Rich., Conyza stricta Willd., Echinops
macrochaetus Fresen., Gnaphalium unionis Oliv. & Hiern, Helichrysum hochstetteri (A.
Rich.) Hook. f., Helichrysum schimperi (A. Rich.) Moeser.
“Introduction” to the publication “Mission to the study of Lake Tana. Vol. 7. Botanical
researches. Part 1. Fanerogame …” (Pichi Sermolli 1951).
This chapter contains a translation of Pichi Sermolli’s introduction to the systematically arranged account of the collections of vascular plants made during the entire
mission for the study of Lake Tana, including collections made in Eritrea, in the western lowlands, on the western escarpment and in the Semien Mountains (Pichi Sermolli
1951: 11-18). The illustrations in this volume show photographs of individual species,
not landscapes studied during the field work, and none of the photographs are therefore reproduced here. Fig. 4, showing Acacia abyssinica near Tucur Dinghia, is identical with Fig. 10 in Pichi Sermolli (1940b). Grasslands of the “Dega” near Debarech. In
the foreground a mountainside with Echinops steudneri, Hypericum lanceolatum [Hypericum revolutum Vahl] and Rosa abyssinica.
[P. 11; title:] Introduction.
[P. 11] This first part of volume VII of the “Mission of study to the Lago Tana” is intended
to illustrate the results of the study of the Phanerogams collected by me during the time during
which I took part as a botanist in the expedition to Lake Tana, organized by the Centro Studi
A. O. I. 39 of the Royal Academy of Italy, under the direction of Giotto Dainelli.
As is already known from the first volume of this series of studies, 40 the expedition to Lake
Tana landed at Massawa on January 9 and stayed in Africa until 27 April 1937. During this
time, despite the main goal of the expedition being the scientific exploration of the hydrographic
basin of Lake Tana, I had the opportunity on the way out and on the way back, to collect
plants also in Eritrea, in the western lowland plain of the region of Tucur Dinghia and in
the highest parts of the Semien Mountains. The number of collections, including vascular
plants and lower plants, amounted to several thousand, which, when studied, will doubtlessly
represent one of the most conspicuous contributions to illustrate the territories I have visited.
39 The Study Center for Italian East Africa [Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia].
40 This is ”Missione di Studio al Lago Tana. Volume Primo. Relazioni preliminari.” See translation
of Pichi Sermolli’s contribution (Pichi Sermolli 1938a), “Botanical research” in chapter “3. Pichi
Sermolli’s field observations…
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
Furthermore, the numerous photographs and the notes made during the travels will provide
sufficient material to illustrate the main aspects of the vegetation and landscape of those
regions that were the object of my botanical research.
After we had landed at Massawa on January 9 [1937], we immediately moved to Asmara,
where we stayed for a week for preparation of the mission. During these days, I had the
opportunity to make three excursions in the surroundings of Asmara, two in the immediate
vicinity of the city and one to Daharo Kaulos. Given the knowledge that we already had of this
region, these excursions were not very interesting from the floristic point of view and yielded
only few specimens, which are listed at the end of this volume; but they [p. 12] provided a
useful element for comparison with regard to the vegetation and landscape.
Departing from Asmara on January 18, we descended the western slope of the Eritrean
Plateau through Keren, Agordat and Barentu to Tessenei. From there, we followed the road
to Om Ager, and then travelled first through the plain of the western lowland and then
obliquely uphill on the slope of the Ethiopian Plateau, crossing the valleys of the streams of
Baker, Sua, Soroca, Bascura, Avellana and Sengia, in order to get to the region of Checc and
then to Tucur Dinghia.
During this part of the journey, which was covered by motor vehicles without stops, it
was only possible for me to collect few plants, but I took numerous notes which allowed me to
get an idea of the vegetation and landscape and the succession of plant communities at the
various levels. In a preliminary note 41 I have already illustrated the characteristic aspects of
the vegetation and landscape of these regions.
During the three days that we stayed in Tucur Dinghia I made some excursions in the
surroundings, and I could collect plants in the forest and in the woodlands at the base of Mt.
Gunidubba (1,800-2,000 m), in the forest of Tucur Dinghia (2,300-2,400 m.) and in the
wooded grasslands near the village of Bachiana (2,400 m.). The number of these collections
was not very high, but they have provided several interesting plants. In fact they do include
three new species, one of which belongs to a genus not hitherto reported from Abyssinia, and
one species not previously listed in Ethiopian flora.
From Tucur Dinghia, located only a few kilometres from the watershed of the basin of
Lake Tana, we moved in a single day to Gondar, where the research began for the botanical
study of the region of the Lake Tana, studies which lasted from 26 January to 5 April.
We stayed in Gondar only for a short time, during which I botanized intensely on the slopes
between the city and the watershed of the Lake Tana hydrographic basin, more specifically on
Mt. Jabec, Mt. Coco and Mt. Guranghe. We then moved to the southern shore of the Lake to
the town of Bahar Dar, where we stayed from January 30 to February 11 [1937]. These days
were used to collect plants along the shores of the southern part of the lake, in the forest and
in the bushlands and woodlands along the shores of the Blue Nile immediately downstream
from the point where it originates from Lake Tana, [p. 13; see Fig 34 here] as well as in
the surrounding plains, which for many kilometres stretched to the south of the lake. I also
did an interesting botanical study of the island of Kebra Uddus Gabriel, covered by a dense
and luxuriant forest, and another excursion to the islets and small peninsulas covered with
papyrus and bordering the lake west of Bahar Dar. 42
41 Pichi Sermolli (1940b).
42 Pichi Sermolli’s footnote: “The island Kebra Uddus Gabriel is not marked in the attached map of E.
Minucci, but is reported on various other maps of Lake Tana (e.g. by Monandini (1940)). In some
maps, the name of this small island is found in a place about half the distance between Bahar Dar
and the tip of the Zeghie peninsula. It rises, in the form of a broad, cupula-shaped volcanic cone,
about hundred metres above the level of the lake and is completely covered with a lush and dense
forest. Not far from Kebra Uddus Gabriel there are two small islands (Kebra Jesus and Kain).”
91
92
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 34. The Blue Nile with wooded banks showing the river in the upstream direction at the ferry at Bahar Dar.
Photograph by Dainelli in Fondo Dainelli 501 0067.
The expedition then moved to Furie, i.e. the bay to the south of the Zeghie peninsula at
the place where the Zeghie market, the most important market in the entire region of Lake
Tana, is held weekly. From this place, where I stayed from the 12 to the 19 February, my first
concern was to explore the Zeghie Peninsula, both the part covered by dense forest under
which coffee was grown, and in the part where the forest had been cleared. I also made some
excursions along the shore of the lake and in the plains and hills behind. A very interesting
excursion was the one to the streams of Baimo and Umfras (in the map marked as Unfrasz),
which allowed me to study the vegetation of the watercourses of the plains near the lake, which
were partly bordered by a narrow strip of gallery forest and partly by plant communities
dominated by papyrus.
The next base of the expedition was Quonzela (on the map marked as Conzela)43 just
north of the mouth of the Little Abbai [“Piccolo Abbai” [Abai] in Italian, in Amharic
“Gilgel Abay”], is the largest river that flows into Lake Tana, rising at 10° 58’, 37° 12’ E, at
ca. 2,750 m., and entering the lake through a large estuary, shaped like a peninsula, at 11°
52’ N, 37° 07’ E.] We stayed there from the 20 th to the 28th of February. After I had explored
the shores of the lake, I pushed inland to study the flora of the plains behind the lake shore.
43 On the lake shore at 11° 53’ N, 57° 02’ E.
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
93
Fig. 35. The deep valley west of the town of Alefa, now known as Shawira or Shahura. This locality is to the west of
the western watershed of the Lake Tana Basin. The streams in the valley run directly to the Nile Valley, rather than
to Lake Tana. Photograph by Pichi Sermolli in Fondo Dainelli 501 834.
From Quonzela I also took a three-day hike to the western watershed of the Lake Tana basin
by visiting Alefa [historic region to the southwest of Lake Tana; the name has sometimes
been used for the small town of Shawira or Shahura at 11° 56’ N, 36° 52’ E, at ca. 2,250
m] and descending beyond the limit of the watershed to the hot spring of Fulluaha-Muhat. 44
This excursion was very interesting because it allowed me to collect some species that were
absent from the rest of the region of the lake. Two other very fruitful botanical collections were
made to the Deck Island [middle part of the island at ca. 11° 54’ N, 37° 16’ E] and Daga
Island [highest point of the island at ca. 11° 54’ N, 37° 18’ E, ca. 1,875 m], the first island
is flat and covered with bushland, the second mountainous and covered with dense forest:
two very interesting examples of vegetation on the islands in Lake Tana.
[P. 14] From Quonzela I moved on the 1st of March to Gorgora, where I stayed until
the 8th of March, spending this time on the study of the very characteristic flora of the plain
44 According to Survey Office Khartoum (1940; the sheet Dangila, 67A) at 11° 58’ N, 36° 39’ E, at ca.
2,100 m. “Muhat” is the name of the spring; “fulluaha”, usually transcribed “filwoha”, is Amharic
for ”hot spring”.
94
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
a little away from the lake, of the rocky hills (“Zefen tarara”) south of Gorgora, 45 of the lake
shore and on the small island of Birghida Mariam [12° 12’ N, 37° 17’ E] located south-east
of the peninsula of Gorgora at a short distance from the shore.
Another base for the Mission was Ifag, where we stopped from the 9th to 13th of March.
From there I made several excursions to study the vegetation of the plains with grasslands
and on the hills between the immediate hinterland of the lake and the base of the mountains
to the east that delimit the basin of Lake Tana; more precisely, I studied the plains, which
were visited to the northeast and east of Ifag, and a small, rocky mountain (Mt. Abba Bailu)
covered by vegetation, which was very interesting and characteristic. An excursion to Mt.
Quatele (2,200 m.) and another later (20-23 March), lasting 4 days, to Debra Tabor allowed
me to botanically explore the eastern slope of the Lake Tana basin. Although very short, and
despite I could not, for reasons beyond my control, reach the actual watershed in this part of
the Lake Tana Basin, this excursion was very interesting because it offered me the possibility
to make a comparison between the vegetation that covers this area and that on the slopes to
the north and west of the basin, which had already previously been studied, and which were
both so different with regard to the landscape, the vegetation and the floristic composition.
A last base camp at the church of Zara Enda Michael in Deroa [Fig. 36], was the point of
departure for various excursions between the 14th and the 19th March, which allowed me to
botanize in the area of the stream of Gueldo and in the hills of the hinterland, collecting not
a few interesting plants in the forest and in the bushland of this part of the Lake Tana basin.
On the 24th of March we arrived at Gondar, where I alternated between working with
the arrangement of my collections and some botanizing in the vicinity of the city.
The collections made during my stay in the Lake Tana Region, although made during
a time of the year which corresponded to the dry season, were abundant and interesting. In
fact, in the collection I made, it turned out that there were 16 new species, some new varieties,
and many species that had not yet been reported from Abyssinia. Maybe the number of new
taxonomic entities, so high in relation to the time in which I stayed in the region, may be due
to the fact that the research was carried out during a season in which Lake Tana had not
previously been visited by the few travellers that had botanised in the region; [p. 15] however,
the flora of the Lake Tana Basin remains with the parts of the country that are insufficiently
explored, and I am certain that it is considerably richer than my research proves. Miscellaneous
other new species await those who, luckier than me, will be able to explore the magnificent
flora that covers the region more in depth and during every season of the year.
At the beginning of April, having completed the work with making new collections,
having arranged all the previously collected material, and waiting for the other members of
the Mission to finalize their work, the Director of the Mission found it appropriate to send
the geologist, Eng. Minucci, and me to the Semien in order to make a brief exploration of
the upper part of this massif, which reaches the highest altitudes of the Ethiopian Plateau.
Coming from Gondar, we arrived in Debarech on the 6th of April, and from here we went
in two stages up the valley of the stream of Addeschie, touching the village of Micciubbi [Fig.
37], where we stopped, and following the right side of the valley of Mai Beleghes River, after
which we arrived at the village of Ambaras (3,610 m), where we spent the second night of our
hike. Leaving from Ambaras, we touched the Cennech pass and climbed the western slope
of Mt. Buahit (4,510 m), and then descending along the northern ridge and the high part of
the eastern side of the mountain up to the pass of Arcuasie (3,740 m). From there we went to
45 In the indications of the localities on Pichi Sermolli’s labels and in the main text of Pichi Sermolli
(1951) “Zefen tarara” is said to be the the highest hill west or south-west of Gorgora, towards the
central part of the peninsula. “Tarara” is Amharic for “hill”.
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
95
Fig. 36. Forest surrounding the church of Zara Michael. Photograph by Pichi Sermolli in Fondo Dainelli 501 947.
the village of Nori (3,560 m). During the following day, we climbed the summit of Mt. Selchi
(4,475 m.) from the western side and then crossed at middle height to Mt. Beroc Uaha and,
touching the pass of Arcuasie, and descended to the village of Atgheba Ghiorghis, (3,325 m),
where we stopped for the night. The day after, we descended the crest from this place to the
ford of Mai Schiaha (2,840 m; [Fig. 38]) and climbed up again the other side, which led us
to the village of Mecana Abbo (3,410 m). Here we left the bulk of the caravan and continued
with only two mules, climbing up to the Degien Pass (4,370 m.) where we pitched our tent.
The same day we visited Mt. Ualta (4,520 m.), and the following day we climbed Mt. Ancua
(4,610 m.) and also Mt. Degien (4,620 m. a.s.l), which is the highest of all the mountain
peaks in the Semien mountains, and of the entire Ethiopian Highlands. Afterwards, leaving
also the two mules, we covered in two stages the entire north-eastern ridge of the Semien,
touching the Metelal pass (3,860 m), Mt. Chiddis Arit (4,532 m), on the slopes of which
we bivouacked, Mt. Berge and Mt. Tacaruo (4,330 m.) and climbed to the summit of M.
Abba Jared (4,520 m. a.s.l). From there, we touched the pass below at an altitude of 4,280
m. and crossed between Mt. Selchi and Mt. Beroc Uaha (4,215 m), reaching on the same
day the plain (3,795 m.) [p. 16] along the road to Ataba from the mountains of Nori, where
we found our caravan that had reached there by another route. From this place, in only one
stage, touching first the village of Nori and then the village of Suohna, we followed the crest
below and reached Maccarebia, from where we continued along the valley of the river Anzia
96
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 37. The first specimens of Lobelia rhynchopetalum in Ericaceous bushland at the village of Micciubbi. Photograph
by Pichi Sermolli in Fondo Dainelli 501 1026.
[Ansia] to the Auasa. From there we continued on the same day to the town of Addi Arcai,
where we ended our journey.
This brief excursion was a very important supplement to the botanical research. Apart
from the interest to the study of the vegetation of which I have already spoken in a previous
note, 46 it will, together with an account of the plants of the Tana Basin, be the object of the
second part of this volume, 47 the botanical collections, although not very many, were very
interesting. In fact, 9 new species were collected and some species were only known from a
single specimen collected by Rüppel and Schimper.
Everything considered, hundreds of specimens of Phanerogams were collected by me; of
these a first series of 2649 [in fact 2742 including pteridophytes] specimens is kept in the
Herbarium Coloniale Florentinum [now Erbario Tropicale, ET] at the “Instituto Botanico”
of the University of Florence and various other duplicate series, which will be distributed to
major herbaria.
46 Pichi Sermolli (1939).
47 The second part never appeared.
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
Fig. 38. The valley of Mai Schiaha, seen from Atgheba. This deep valley divides the Semien in a western and
an eastern massif. Photograph by Pichi Sermolli in Fondo Dainelli 501 1101.
97
98
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
These specimens belong to 520 species collected in the hydrographic basin of Lake Tana,
133 species collected in the Semien and 143 brought back from Eritrea, the “Tucur Dinghia
Region” and the western lowland plains. These include a total of 28 species new to science.
The following pages [of Pichi Sermolli 1951] are arranged in a systematic order by family
and represent all the Phanerogams I have collected. A first list enumerates the species from the
Lake Tana basin, then follows a list of those from the Semien, then those of the region of “Tucur
Dinghia”, and last those of Eritrea and the western lowlands. I have found it appropriate to
divide the account of my collections according to the regions from where they come because
they belong to floras that are different from each other.
For each species I have indicated the name, the author, the bibliographers and the
bibliography, the altitude, the date and the number of the collection (in brackets), the
geographical distribution, the indigenous names [p. 17] and the uses of the plants. For each
new species described here, I have added a description, indication of the type, the origin of
the name and some observations in order to establish the systematic position in relation
to the other known species of the genus. In many cases, I have found it opportune to add
critical observations, especially for those entities that were imperfectly known or had been
misinterpreted. In addition, I have made some new combinations and proposed new names in
those cases in which the current international rules of botanical nomenclature has demanded
it. For these entities I have added the necessary synonymy. For those species from the Semien,
the region of Tucur Dinghia and Eritrea that had already been enumerated among the plants
of the Lake Tana Basin, I found it unnecessary to report bibliographic data and geographical
distribution.
Numerous figures, partly reproduced from herbarium specimens, but also partially
illustrating the habit in nature of the species and the environment in which it occurred,
complement the descriptions and the critical observations in the text. 48
A map of the basin of Lake Tana and another of the High Semien, this latter one drawn
by me 49 accompany this work and facilitate the identification of the localities of the individual
species.
I have found it unnecessary to present a description of the vegetation, even a brief one, first
of all because it has been done in my previous notes already referred to above, and secondarily
because the description of the plants in the landscape will be the subject of study in the second
part of this volume. 50
In closing this first part of my work, I would like to address my affectionate and grateful
greetings to Giotto Dainelli, Head of the expedition to Lake Tana, who made me part of the
expedition, [p. 18] and to all the companions with whom I shared the joys and exhaustions
of the study of the region of Lake Tana and the Semien Mountains.
I also send sincere and deep thanks to the British Council, a grant from which allowed me
to complete my research in the English herbaria, to the directors and conservators of the Kew
Herbarium, the herbarium of the British Museum, and to the herbaria of Paris and Geneva,
which all offered me cordial hospitality during my study stay at the said herbaria, to A.H.G.
Alston, S. Ballé, C.E.B. Bremekamp, B.L. Burtt, E.J. Dandy, A.W. Exell, L. Hauman, C.E.
Hubbard, E.D. Merrill, E. Milne-Redhead, E. Nelmes, W.R. Philipson, W. Rothmaler, N.Y.
48 Pichi Sermolli’s footnote: ”The figures that illustrate this volume are all derived from photographs
or drawings I have personally made in the laboratory or in the time when I was in Africa with the
Lake Tana expedition. The illustrations reproduced of the new species are always of the holotype.
In the explanations of the illustrations showing plants in nature, I have always indicated in parenthesis the number of the collection of the plant illustrated.”
49 Pichi Sermolli’s footnote: ”Published in Pichi Sermolli 1940 [1940b].”
50 The second part never appeared.
PICHI SERMOLLI’S FIELD OBSERVATIONS OF ETHIOPIAN VEGETATION
Sandwith, V.S. Summerhayes, and G. Taylor, to whom I owe the revisions or the primary
study of some samples of my collections, to all the botanists of the herbaria of Kew, British
Museum, Paris and Geneva, who have facilitated my research with advice and suggestions
and also to the Directors and personnel of the whole Botanical Institute and of the Erbario
Coloniale of the University of Florence that daily have been working hard to help.
Allow me at last to pass my heartfelt gratitude to the Accademia dei Lincei, which took
on the not-so-small burden of publication of this account, which is the fruits of many months
of assiduous work.
Rodolfo Pichi-Sermolli,
The Botanical Institute and Erbario Coloniale, of the University of Florence.
99
CHAPTER 4
Results: collections, new species, infraspecific taxa,
combinations, replacement names and their type material
The collections: incorporation in Erbario Tropicale (Centro Studi Erbario Tropicale) and
distribution of duplicates
As mentioned by Pichi Sermolli (1938a), the number of specimens brought to Florence was probably more than 25,000, which according to the introduction to Pichi
Sermolli (1951) represented 2649 collections of angiosperms and gymnosperms and,
according to the numerical list in Pichi Sermolli (1951: 277-306), 2742 collections of
angiosperms, gymnosperms, ferns and fern allies. Because of the very restricted or
completely missing archival material relating to the botanica collections arriving from
the Lake Tana mission, little is known about what happened to the collections in the
ten years between the time when they arrived in Italy in 1937 and the time in 1947,
when Pichi Sermolli prepared to study his material at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew,
and the British Museum (Natural History) in London (Friis 2009; Baldini 2011; Friis
2015). It seems probable that the material was stored in Florence, and Pichi Sermolli
presumably had access to it when in town. As mentioned in chapter “2. Pichi Sermolli:
before, on and after the mission …”, he was frequently away from Florence for long periods during the war, and lost his personal belongings and notes in 1943, but returned
in 1945 to his position at the Erbario Coloniale in Florence. Until the closing down of
the Centro Studi per l’Africa Orientale Italiana, the botanical collection from the mission to Lake Tana still formally belonged to that institution, but because of the suppression of the Reale Accademia d’Italia in 1944 and the transfer of all its property to
the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, the ownership of the collections must have been
somewhat complicated. On the specimens from the Lake Tana expedition, as they now
appear in the Centro studi Erbario Tropicale (FT), and the duplicates elsewhere, there
are large labels marked with the ownership as Reale Accademia d’Italia and smaller as-
Ib Friis, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Denmark, ibf@snm.ku.dk, 0000-0002-2438-1528
Sebsebe Demissew, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, sebseb.demissew@gmail.com, 0000-0002-0123-9596
Odile Weber, National Museum of Natural History, Luxemburg, odile.weber@mnhn.lu, 0000-0002-0861-2752
Paulo van Breugel, HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands, p.vanbreugel@gmail.com, 0000-0001-95790831
Referee List (DOI 10.36253/fup_referee_list)
FUP Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOI 10.36253/fup_best_practice)
Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew, Odile Weber, Paulo van Breugel, Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia. A new look at
Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results from the ‘Missione di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937, © 2022 Author(s), CC BY 4.0,
published by Firenze University Press, ISBN 978-88-5518-634-6 , DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-634-6
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 39. Label without printed locality number, but with typed locality on type material of
Diphasia dainellii. The forest around the church Zara Enda Michael was given locality number
101 (here T101). The current name of this species is Vepris dainellii.
sociated labels which state the ownership as Herbarium Coloniale Florentinum. Both
the larger and the smaller labels are also found on the duplicates that have been given
to other herbaria. According to Laura Settesoldi’s archival search, it seems possible to
state that the formal transfer of ownership of the collections took place only in 1951.
Probably shortly after the collections had formally become the property of the Herbarium Coloniale Florentinum [Centro Studi Erbario Tropicale], Pichi Sermolli started
distributing duplicates to other major herbaria with important East African collections. Nothing has been traced about how much of the entire material from the Lake
Tana expedition Pichi Sermolli brought with him on his visit to Kew and the British
Museum (Natural History) in 1947.
As mentioned, there are surprisingly few references to ferns and fern allies in the
publications. The monograph of the majority of the collections of vascular plants, Pichi
Sermolli (1951), is dedicated to gymnosperms and angiosperms, and “Pteropsida” is
only mentioned in the numerical list of collections, from which it appears that numbers for 102 collections of ferns and fern allies were set aside. There are also no collections of ferns from the Missione di Studio al Lago Tana in the Centro Studi Erbario
Tropicale (FT), where the collections of gymnosperms and angiosperms are almost
fully represented and preserved (see further about the ferns and fern allies in chapter 6. No ferns listed in the floristic account of the vegetation at Tucur Dinghia (Pichi
Sermolli 1940b; see list at the end of “Observations …” in chapter “3. Pichi Sermolli’s
field observations …”) are in fact found in the Centro Studi Erbario Tropicale (FT). It
is not known what happened to the specimens of ferns and fern-allies, except that 28
collections from the Lake Tana expedition have been found in the Pteridophyte herbarium of Pichi Sermolli in FI-PS.
RESULTS
Fig. 40. Typed label on type material of Brillantaisia grottanellii. The localities outside the Lake
Tana Basin were not given locality numbers, as can be seen here on a collection from west of
the watershed. Note that the localities outside the Lake Tana Basin have been corrected on
the additional labels. “Bacino del Lago Tana” has been corrected to “Tucur Dinghia.” The
additional label states that the specimen had been handed over to the Herbarium Coloniale
Florentinum (now Centro Studi Erbario Tropicale, FT), but not when this happened.
This overview compiles data about new taxa, combinations and names from both
Pichi Sermolli (1950b) and Pichi Sermolli (1951), both relating to the collections made
by Pichi Sermolli in Eritrea and Ethiopia on the Mission to Lake Tana (and the Semien) in 1937. The results in Pichi Sermolli (1950b) relate mainly to taxonomic changes
relating to previously described taxa; for these conclusions we have tried to trace as
much information about type material as possible from the literature and via Global
Plants in JSTOR.
Our search has shown that there are many duplicates of Pichi Sermolli’s collections from the Lake Tana mission at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K), but these
do not appear in public databases or lists. Smaller numbers of duplicates are found at
BR, L (some of these from WAG), MO, and W. The databased duplicates from BR, L
(WAG), MO, and W do not include ferns or fern allies from the Lake Tana expedition;
no specimen collected by Pichi Sermolli on the Lake Tana expedition has been seen in
the database of P. The databased collections at G include a few collections from Pichi
Sermolli’s field work in Libya in 1934, but no material from the Lake Tana expedition.
The new taxa, their types and other nomenclatural changes
The taxonomic and nomenclatural novelties in Pichi Sermolli (1951) are new taxa
described based on material collected by him on the Lake Tana expedition to Eritrea
103
104
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 41. Typed label on type material of Flacourtia afra. “Regione del Torrente Gueldo (Reg.
Fissa)” is inside the Lake Tana Basin and was given locality number 102, but not all duplicates
were provided with printed labels. Typed labels are normally not provided with locality
number.
and Ethiopia in 1937, and for these we have tried to trace as much about duplicates as
possible via Global Plants (https://plants.jstor.org/) and GBIF (https://www.gbif.
org/). For both, we have added the name accepted for the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea
in the right-hand column. A few taxa discussed by Pichi Sermolli (1950b), such as Cardamine trichopoda [error for trichocarpa] A. Rich. var. elegans Engl. (1892) and Vernonia thomsoniana Oliv. & Hiern var. livingstoniana (Oliv. & Hiern) Pic. Serm. (1950) are
included here although they are not among the identifications dealt with in Pichi Sermolli (1951). Pichi Sermolli seems nowhere to mention that he had collected Aspidotis
schimperi (Kunze) Pic. Serm. (accepted name in FEE) on the Lake Tana expedition,
but it is not possible to be certain because of the loss of fern material.
105
RESULTS
Family
Name in Pichi Sermolli (1951)
Type material - herbaria where
specimens are kept
Acanthaceae
Blepharis maderaspatensis (L.)
Heyne var. abyssinica (Hochst.)
Pic. Serm., comb. et stat. nov. –
Pichi Sermolli (1951: 257).1
Blepharis maderaspatensis (L.)
Type of basionym: EthioRoth
pia, Schimper III 1492 (BR,
BR0000008356772; G,
G00008580, G00008581,
G00008582; HAL, HAL0113929;
K, K000394271; M, M0109776;
TUB, TUB004341; W, W0006725,
all iso).
Acanthaceae
Brillantaisia grottanellii Pic. Serm., Type: Tucùr-Dinghià, Pichi Sersp. nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951:
molli 2099 (FT, FT003140, holo;
254, Tav. LVIII).
FT003141, iso)-
Acanthaceae
Dyschoriste broiloi Pic. Serm., sp.
nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 256,
Tav. LIX).
Acanthaceae
Hypoestes busii Pic. Serm., sp. nov. Type: Ifag, Pichi Sermolli 2097 (FT, Hypoestes triflora (Forssk.) RoFT003247, holo; K, K000379091, em. & Schult.
– Pichi Sermolli (1951: 142, Tav.
iso).
XXVI).
Acanthaceae
Phaulopsis inaequalis Pic. Serm.,
nom. nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1950b:
339). – Based on: Phaylopsis longifolia C.B. Cl. (1900), nom. Illeg.,
non Sims (1823).
Type of basionym: C.B. Clarke
cited specimens from all over Africa with his validating description in 1900; Pichi Sermolli cited
Schimper I 367 as the specimen
from which he had taken his replacement epithet, but did not select it as lectotype. This was done
by Cufodontis (1964) when citing as the only type: Mt. Scholoda, Schimper I 367 (K, lecto; FI,
FI009967; TUB, TUB004282,
TUB004283).
Amaranthaceae
Cyathula uncinulata (Schrad.)
Schinz var. abyssinica (Moquin)
Pic. Serm., comb. nov. – Pichi
Sermolli (1951: 37). – Basionym:
Cyathula globulifera Moquin var.
abyssinica Moquin (1849).
Cyathula uncinulata (Schrad.)
Type of basionym: Adua,
Schinz
Schimper I 392 (P, P00482807,
holo; BR, BR0000008357144;
ETH, ETH000000004,
ETH000000005; HBG,
HBG502330; HOH,
HOH009250; K, K000243623;
L, WAG0102639, WAG0000064;
M, M0107339, M0107340; S, S0712226, iso).
Anacardiaceae
Rhus amharica Pic. Serm., sp. nov. Type: East of Mt. Guranghè, north Rhus glutinosa A. Rich. subsp.
of Gondar, Pichi Sermolli 2337 (FT, glutinosa var. glutinosa
– Pichi Sermolli (1951: 81, Tav.
XIV).
FT002091, holo).
1
Name in Flora of Ethiopia and
Eritrea
Brillantaisia grottanellii Pic.
Serm.
Type: Near the village Bachianà, Dyschoriste multicaulis (A.
Pichi Sermolli 2126 (FT, FT003145, Rich.) O. Kuntze
holo).
Phaulopsis imbricata (Forssk.)
Sweet subsp. imbricata
The basionym of Pichi Sermolli’s combination, Blepharis abyssinica Hochst., is validated by a printed description on the label distributed with duplicates of the type collection. The combination Blepharis maderaspatensis (L.) Heyne var. abyssinica
(Hochst.) Fiori was validly published in Boschi e Piante Legnosae Eritrea (Fiori 1912: 346), earlier than by Pichi Sermolli
(1951).
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Family
Name in Pichi Sermolli (1951)
Anacardiaceae
Type of basionym: Eritrea, Acchelè Rhus quartiniana A. Rich. var.
Rhus huillensis Engl. var. erythraea (Fiori) Pic. Serm., comb. nov. Guzai: Mareb a Chenafenà, Fiori quartiniana
186 (FT, FT002096, FT002097).
– Pichi Sermolli (1950b: 336). –
Basionym: Rhus piroides [error for
pyroides] Burch. var. erythraea Fiori
(1911).
Apiaceae
Gymnosciadium pusillum Pic.
Serm., sp. nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 212, Tav. XLV [left
specimen]).
Type: Semien, SE slope of Mt.
Ualtà, Pichi Sermolli 2738 (FT,
FT002498, holo).
Pimpinella pimpinelloides
(Hochst.) Wollf
Apocynaceae
Carissa edulis Vahl var. cornifolia
(Jaub. et Spach) Pic. Serm., comb.
et stat. nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951:
253). – Basionym: Carissa cornifolia Jaub. et Spach (1857). 2
Type of basionym: Semien,
Sanfetch Mt., Schimper 1068
(BR, BR0000008359001; G,
G00008994; K, K000233563;
L, WAG0003944; P, P00413313,
P00413314, isolecto).
Carissa spinarum L.
Asparagaceae
Asparagus asiaticus L. var. amhari- Type: Zeghie peninsula, Pichi Ser- Asparagus africanus Lam.
cus Pic. Serm. var. nov. – Pichi Ser- molli 2027 (FT, FT000809, holo;
molli (1951: 194, Tav. XLI).
K, K000255647, iso).
Araceae
Amorphophallus gomboczianus Pic.
Serm., nom. nov. – Pichi Sermolli
(1951: 189). – Based on: Amorphophallus abyssinicus Gombocz
(1936); non Amorphophallus abyssinicus (A. Rich.) N.E. Brown
(1901). 3
Type of basionym: Ethiopia, Sida- Amorphophallus gomboczianus
mo, in old, open meadows in forest, Pic. Serm.
Sáska s.n. (inflorescences in December 1934, leaves June 1935 (BP,
syn., not seen).
Asteraceae
Anthemis semiensis Pic. Serm., nom.
nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1950b: 346).
– Pichi Sermolli (1951: 230). –
Based on: Anthemis pygmaea Oliv.
& Hiern (1877), nom. Illeg., non
Bertol. (1843).
Type of Basionym: Semien, Mt.
Dedschen, Schimper 220 (P,
P00092444, P00092445; S, S081520, iso).
Anthemis tigreensis A. Rich.
Asteraceae
Artemisia rehan Chiov. (1912)
– Pichi Sermolli (1950b: 346) –
Pichi Sermolli (1951: 163).4
Type: Entotto, 1896, Traversi s.n.
(FT, FT003793).
Artemisia absinthium L.
Asteraceae
Carduus semiensis Pic. Serm., sp.
nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 234,
Tav. LVI).
Type: Semien, Mt. Chiddis
Arit, Pichi Sermolli 2625 (FT,
FT003858, FT003859, holo not
indicated).
Carduus leptacanthus Fresen.
Asteraceae
Conyza messerii Pic. Serm., sp. nov. Type: Semien, Mt. Ualta, Pichi Ser- Conyza messeri Pic. Serm.
– Pichi Sermolli (1951: 226, Tav. molli 2636 (FT, FT003676, holo;
K000273897, iso).
LII).
Asteraceae
Echinops francinianus Pic. Serm.,
sp. nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951:
165, Tav. XXXIV).
2
3
4
Type material - herbaria where
specimens are kept
Type: Bahar Dar, Pichi Sermolli
2175 (FT, FT003846, holo).
Name in Flora of Ethiopia and
Eritrea
Echinops giganteus A. Rich.
When making this new combination, Pichi Sermolli had overlooked that the combination Carissa edulis var. cornifolia had
already been made by Martelli (1886: 53).
May be identical with Amorphophallus gallensis (Engl.) N.E. Br.
In both Pichi Sermolli (1950b) and Pichi Sermolli (1951, this species was considered distinct from Artemisia absinthium L.
107
RESULTS
Family
Name in Pichi Sermolli (1951)
Asteraceae
Echinops nistrii Pic. Serm., sp. nov. Type: Zeghie, Pichi Sermolli 2174
– Pichi Sermolli (1951: 167, Tav.
(FT, FT003845, holo).
XXXV).
Echinops giganteus A. Rich.
Asteraceae
Senecio degiensis Pic. Serm., sp. nov. Type: Semien, Mt. Degien, Pichi
– Pichi Sermolli (1951: 231, Tav.
Sermolli 2602 (FT, FT003820,
LIII).
holo).
Senecio farinaceus A. Rich.
Asteraceae
Tolpis virgata Bertol. (1803) – Pichi Type: Tunisia, Desfontaines s.n.
Sermolli (1950b: 347) pointed out (FI, FI006649, holo?).
that Tolpis virgata Bertol. is an earlier name for this species. 5
Tolpis virgata (Desf.) Bertol.
Asteraceae
Vernonia chiarugii Pic. Serm., sp.
nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 155,
Tav. XXX). 6
Type: Amba Covitta, near Bahar Dar, Pichi Sermolli 2426 (FT,
FT003656, holo).
Vernonia myriantha Hook. f.
Asteraceae
Vernonia francavillana Oliv. &
Hiern (1877). – Pichi Sermolli (1950b: 342). – Pichi Sermolli
(1951: 154, Tav. XXIX).7
Type: Gondar, Rochet d’Hericourt
s.n. (P, P024120, holo; K, photo).
Vernonia rueppellii Walp.
Asteraceae
Vernonia oliveriana Pic. Serm.,
Type of Vernonia podocoma: Ethio- Vernonia myriantha Hook. f.
nom. nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1950b: pia, Choa and Oudgerate, Petit (K,
345). – Syn.: Vernonia podocoma
lecto, P, isolecto, not found).
Oliv. & Hiern (1877), not Schweinfurth (1867).
Asteraceae
Vernonia richardiana (O. Kuntze) Type of basionym: Gondar, Quar- Vernonia theophrastifolia Oliv.
Pic. Serm., “nom. nov.” (in fact
tin Dillon s.n. (P, P024577, holo). & Hiern
comb. nov). – Pichi Sermolli (1950b: 340) – Pichi Sermolli
(1951: 154, Tav. XXVII). – Based
on: Vernonia myriocephala A.
Rich. (1848), nom. Illeg., non DC.
(1836). 8
Asteraceae
Vernonia rueppellii Walp. – Pichi
Sermolli (1950b: 341) – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 154, Tav. XXVIII). –
Syn.: Vernonia podocoma Vatke var.
glabrata Fiori (1940).9
5
6
7
8
9
Type material - herbaria where
specimens are kept
Name in Flora of Ethiopia and
Eritrea
Vernonia rueppellii Walp.
Type of Vernonia rueppellii: Between Halei and Tembien, June
1832, Rüppel s.n. (P, holo, not
seen; K, photo; FR, FR0030117,
FR0030118). Type of Vernonia
podocoma var. glabrata: Between
Uondo and Agere Salaam, Dec.
1937, Saccardo s.n.(FT, FT003650,
holo).
Pichi Sermolli (1950b) also pointed out that the epithet had first been used in the combination Crepis virgata Desf. (1792);
yet, in Pichi Sermolli (1951: 169) the authority is only indicated as Bertol.
According to Pichi Sermolli (1951) near to, but distinct from Vernonia oliveriana Pic. Serm.
The discussion in Pichi Sermolli’s two publications in fact make up a typification of the name by Oliv. & Hiern.
In fact, O. Kuntze had earlier renamed Vernonia myriocephala A. Rich. as Cacalia richardiana O. Kuntze (1891), and Pichi
Sermolli’s Vernonia richardiana is therefore a new combination.
Pichi Sermolli’s discussion is in fact a typification of the name by Walp., although the specimen at P does not appear to have
been reidentified and scanned as type. The correct authority of Vernonia podocoma is still debated.
108
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Family
Name in Pichi Sermolli (1951)
Type material - herbaria where
specimens are kept
Asteraceae
Vernonia thomsoniana Oliv. & Hiern var. genuina Pic. Serm., nom.
nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1950b:
340).10
Type of Vernonia thomsoniana Oliv. Vernonia thomsoniana Oliv. &
& Hiern var. thomsoniana: Uganda, Hiern
Madi, Grant s.n. (K, K000272975,
holo).
Brassicaceae
Arabis alpina L. var. meruensis
(Engl.) Pic. Serm., comb. et stat.
nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1950b: 330).
– Pichi Sermolli (1951: 203). – Basionym: Arabis cuneifolia Hochst.
forma meruensis Engl. ex O.E.
Schulz (1927).
Arabis alpina L.
Pichi Sermolli did not see type
material of Arabis cuneifolia forma
meruensis, but based his conclusion
on specimens at K identified by
O.E. Schulz.
Brassicaceae
Cardamine trichopoda [error for
trichocarpa] A. Rich. var. elegans
Engl. (1892). – Pichi Sermolli (1950b: 330). Syn.: Cardamine
talamontiana Chiov. (1911).11
Type of Cardamine trichocarpa var. Cardamine trichocarpa A. Rich.
elegans: Debra Tabor, Schimper
1162 (B, holo?, B100154805; BM,
iso, BM000583644, K, Z). Type of
Cardamine talamontana: Debarek,
Chiovenda 884, holo, FT001107).
Celastraceae
Gymnosporia castellii Pic. Serm.,
Type: Zeghie, Pichi Sermolli 2316
sp. nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 84, (FT, FT002103, holo).
Tav. XV).
Maytenus gracilipes (Oliv.) Exell
subsp. arguta (Loes.) Sebsebe
Celastraceae
Gymnosporia cortii Pic. Serm., sp.
nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 209,
Tav. XLIV).
Maytenus cortii (Pic. Serm.)
Cufod.
Type: Semien, Beleghes, west
of Ambaras, Pichi Sermolli 2599
(FT, FT002102, holo); 2598 (K,
K000035843, paratype).
Commelinaceae Commelina pyrrhoblepharis Forssk. Type: Along the stream of Alemsaform. glabra Pic. Serm., form. nov. ga near the road between Ifag and
Debra Tabor, Pichi Sermolli 2005
– Pichi Sermolli (1951: 192).
(FT, FT002900, holo).
Cucurbitaceae
Melothria ciprianii Pic. Serm., sp.
nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 259,
Tav. LX).
Type: Tucùr-Dinghià, Pichi Sermolli 2221 (FT, FT003514,
FT003515, which is holo?;
BR, BR0000008888754; K,
K000313425, MO, MO2267564;
iso).
Name in Flora of Ethiopia and
Eritrea
Commelina benhalensis L. Infraspecific taxa not specifically
mentioned in the Flora of Ethiopia
and Eritrea.
Zehneria scabra (L. f.) Sond.
10 In Pichi Sermolli (1951: 154) this taxon is simply named Vernonia thomsoniana Oliv. & Hiern var. thomsoniana. Another
new combination is made in connection with these discussions in Pichi Sermolli (1950b: 340), Vernonia thomsoniana Oliv.
& Hiern var. livingstoniana (Oliv. & Hiern) Pic. Serm., comb nov. Vernonia thomsoniana var. livingstoniana does not occur in Ethiopia and the combination was made to redefine the delimitation of Vernonia thomsoniana Oliv. & Hiern var.
thomsoniana.
11 No collection seems to have been made by Pichi Sermolli in 1937; this is simpli a taxonomic note pointing out that Cardamine
talamontiana Chiov. is a new synonym.
109
RESULTS
Family
Name in Pichi Sermolli (1951)
Type material - herbaria where
specimens are kept
Name in Flora of Ethiopia and
Eritrea
Cyperaceae
Coleochloa abyssinica (A. Rich.)
Gilly var. typica Pic. Serm. – Pichi
Sermolli (1950b: 347).
Type: Mt. Semaiata,
Schimper 233 (P, P00461989,
P00461990, P00461991, holo?, BM, BM000574871;
BR, BR0000008249852;
E, E00200233; FT, HOH,
HOH009121; K, K000363544,
K000363545; L, WAG0003661;
LG, LG0000090029530; MO,
MO-1515520; S, S06-4057, S064058; STU, STU000363, iso).
Coleochloa abyssinica (A. Rich.)
Gilly
Cyperaceae
Coleochloa abyssinica var. castanea
(C.B. Cl.) Pic. Serm., comb. nov.
– Pichi Sermolli (1950b: 347). –
Basionym: Eriospora abyssinica A.
Rich. var. castanea C.B. Cl. (1902).
Coleochloa abyssinica (A. Rich.)
Type of basionym: Chire border
du Haccayi, Shireh Province, Aug. Gilly
1840, Quartin-Dillon & Petit s.n.
(K, holo, P, iso).
Cyperaceae
Cyperus morandinii Pic. Serm., sp.
nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 185,
Tav. XXXVIII).
Type: Blue Nile at Bahar Dar ferry Cyperus penzoanus Pic. Serm.
crossing, Pichi Sermolli 1982 (FT,
FT000646, holo; K, K000321340;
MO, MO1626387; P, P00569081,
iso).
Cyperaceae
Cyperus penzoanus Pic. Serm., sp.
nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 183,
Tav. XXXVII).
Type: Shore of Lake Tana near
Cyperus penzoanus Pic. Serm.
Scimbit (Bahar Dar), Pichi Sermolli
1986 (FT, FT000647, holo).
Dipsacaceae
Dipsacus eremocephalus Pic. Serm., Type: Semien, Mt. Buahit, Pichi
sp. nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951:
Sermolli 2619 (FT, FT003505,
223, Tav. XLIX).
holo).
Dracaenaceae
Dracaena steudneri Engl. (1895).
Syn.: Dracaena papahu Engl.
(1895).12
Flacourtiaceae
Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr.
Flacourtia afra Pic. Serm., sp. nov. – Type: Fissa, Gueldo river, Pichi
Pichi Sermolli (1951: 97, Tav. XVII Sermolli 2039 (FT, FT002395,
& XVIII).
syntype; BR, BR0000006244019;
K, K000231255; L, L0010835;
MO, MO-357781; P017222, iso) &
2064 (FT, FT002396, syntype; A
00066697, iso).
Dipsacus pinnatifidus A. Rich.
Type of Dracaena steudneri: Gond- Dracaena steudneri Engl.
ar, Steudner 477 (B, holo, destroyed; BR, BR0000009888289,
K, photographs). No type indicated
for Dracaena papahu, but seems to
refer to a specimen from Tanzania, Holst 3260 (K, K000255936;
BR, BR0000009887664,
BR0000009888005 &
BR0000009887336 [photographs
of specimens at B]).
12 The two names were published contemporarily, but Pichi Sermolli (1950b) decided to sink D. papahu into synonymy of D.
steudneri.
110
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Family
Name in Pichi Sermolli (1951)
Type material - herbaria where
specimens are kept
Name in Flora of Ethiopia and
Eritrea
Iridaceae
Moraea schimperi (Hochst.) Pic.
Serm., comb. nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1950b: 349). – Pichi Sermolli
(1951: 242). – Basionym: Hymenostigma schimperi Hochst. (1844).
Moraea schimperi (Hochst.) Pic.
Type of basionym: Semien, Enschedcap, Schimper 1173 (B, holo; Serm.
BM; BR, BR0000008365040; F,
K, K000365919, K000365920; M,
M0107646; MO, M0107646; P, S,
S06-15599, iso).
Lamiaceae
Becium grandiflorum (Lam.) Pic.
Serm., comb. nov. – Pichi Sermolli
(1950b: 337). – Basionym: Ocimum
grandiflorum Lam. (1785)
Type of basionym cultivated in
Becium grandiflorum (Lam.) Pic.
Paris from seed collected by Bruce Serm.
in Ethiopia, specimen in Herb.
Lamarck (P, holo, not scanned).
Lamiaceae
Otostegia minuccii Pic. Serm., sp.
nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 122,
Tav. XXII).
Type: Mt. Delbangi near BaOtostegia tomentosa A. Rich.
har Dar, Pichi Sermolli 2514 (FT,
subsp. ambigens (Chiov.) Sebald
FT002936, holo; K, K000193182,
iso).
Lamiaceae
Satureja contardoi Pic. Serm., sp.
nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 218,
Tav. XLVII & XLVIII).
Type: Semien, slopes NW of Mt.
Buahit, Pichi Sermolli 2689 (FT,
FT002943, holo).
Lamiaceae
Satureja ovata (Benth.) Pic. Serm., Type: Abyssinia, Salt s.n. (BM,
comb. nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: BM000797490, holo).
124). – Basionym: Micromeria ovata Benth. (1832-36).
Lamiaceae
Satureja ovata (Benth.) Pic. Serm.
var. cinereo-tomentosa (A. Rich.)
Pic. Serm., comb. nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 124). – Basionym:
Micromeria ovata Benth. var. cinereo-tomentosa A. Rich. (1851).
Type of basionym: Memsah, Quar- Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq.
tin Dillon s.n., Upper rocky part of subsp. ovata (Benth.) Seybold
northern side of Mt. Selleuda near
Adua, Schimper I, 12 (P, holo, not
seen; BM, BM000910219; TUB,
TUB003871, TUB003872, iso).
Lamiaceae
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq.
var. rigida Pic. Serm., var. nov. –
Pichi Sermolli (1951: 125, Tav. XXIII [right-hand specimen]).
Type: Mt. Scholoda near Adua, Schimper I 45 (FI-WEBB,
holo, see Pichi Sermolli (1951:
Tav. XXIII [right-hand specimen]; FI, FI000231; BR,
BR0000008364982; HBG,
HBG504943, iso).
Leguminosae subfam.
Mimosoideae
Acacia bavazzanoi Pic. Serm., sp.
nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 54,
Tav. VII & VIII).
Acacia bavazzanoi Pic. Serm.
Type: Plain of Quami near
Gorgora, Pichi Sermolli 2253
(FT, FT001278, holo; A; K,
K000244248; MO, MO-954173;
W, iso); 2255 (W, W1961-0018994,
paratype).
Leguminosae subfam.
Mimosoideae
Acacia negrii Pic. Serm., sp. nov. –
Pichi Sermolli (1951: 55, Tav. IX
& X).
Acacia negrii Pic. Serm.
Type: Entoto, Negri 335 (FT,
FT001312, syn.); Addis Abeba,
Senni 383 (FT, not scanned?, syn.,
K000244257, isosyn), 1589 (FT,
FT001314, syn.; K, K000244257,
isosyn).
Leguminosae subfam.
Mimosoideae
Acacia pilispina Pic. Serm., sp. nov. Type: Semien, valley near the
– Pichi Sermolli (1951: 205, Tav. village Atgheba Giorghis, Pichi
XLIII).
Sermolli 2696 (FT, FT001324,
FT001325, holo not indicated).
Satureja imbricata (Forssk.) Briq.
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq.
subsp. ovata (Benth.) Seybold
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq.
var. rigida Pic. Serm.
Acacia pilispina Pic. Serm.
111
RESULTS
Family
Name in Pichi Sermolli (1951)
Type material - herbaria where
specimens are kept
Name in Flora of Ethiopia and
Eritrea
Leguminosae subfam.
Papilionoideae
Indigofera secundiflora Poir. var.
Type: Between Mt. Jabec and Mt. Indigofera secundiflora Poir. var.
gondarensis Pic. Serm. var. nov. – Cocò (north of Gondar), Pichi Ser- rubripilosa De Wild.
Pichi Sermolli (1951: 64, Tav. XI). molli 2265 (FT, FT001505, holo,
K, K000392730, iso).
Leguminosae subfam.
Papilionoideae
Lotononis platycarpa (Viv.) Pic.
Type of basionym was collected in Lotononis platycarpos (Viv.) Pic.
Serm., comb. nov. – Pichi Sermolli Egypt.
Serm.
(1950b: 331). – Basionym: Lotus
platycarpos Viv. (1830).
Leguminosae subfam.
Papilionoideae
Lotononis platycarpa (Viv.) Pic.
Serm. var. abyssinica (Hochst. ex
A. Rich.) Pic. Serm. comb. et stat.
nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1950b: 332).
– (Pichi Sermolli (1951: 268) – Basionym: Leobordea abyssinica A.
Rich. (1847).
Lotononis platycarpos (Viv.) Pic.
Type of basionym: On dry
Serm.
hills near Arna, Schimper III
1493 (P, syn., P00373852,
P373853, P373854; BM,
BR, BR000008376442;
AAL, HAL0120432; HEID,
HEID701656; K; MEL,
MEL306525; MPU, MPU021238,
UPS, iso).
Leguminosae subfam.
Papilionoideae
Lotus mearnsii De Wild. (1925),
nom. Illeg., non Lotus mearnsii
(Britton) Greene (1890). – Pichi
Sermolli (1950b: 332) did not
notice the earlier homonym for
an American species by Greene;
Pichi Sermolli (1951: 63). The next
available name is Lotus schoelleri
Schweinf. (1896). Sym.: Lotus corniculatus L. var. eremanthus Chiov.
(1935).
Lotus schoelleri Schweinf.
Type of Lotus schoelleri: Eritrea,
Kohaito, Schweinfurth 322 (B holo,
destroyed; K, K000226745, iso).
Type of Lotus corniculatus L.
var. eremanthus Chiov.: Kenya, Lake Naivasha, Mearns 811
(BR, BR0000006254285; BM,
BM000843178).
Loranthaceae
Loranthus scassellatii Chiov. var.
glabrescens Balle, var. nov. – Pichi
Sermolli (1951: 29).
Type: Gorgora, Pichi Sermolli 2492 Tapinanthus heteromorphus (A.
(FT, FT000947, holo). In FEE the Rich.) Danser
type of this taxon is indicated as
“2491”, and an isotype is indicated
to be at K, but “2491” is according
to Pichi Sermolli (1951: 28) a typical specimen of Loranthus globiferus, also from near Gorgora.
Malvaceae
Abutilon smenospermum Pic. Serm., Type: Gumbat Uddus Misp. nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 92, chael, Pichi Sermolli 2323 (FT,
Tav. XVI).
FT002058, holo).
Meliaceae
Trichilia volkensii Gürke var. bucha- Type of basionym: Malawi, BuLepidotrichilia volkensii (Gürke)
nani (C. DC.) Pic. Serm., comb. et chanan 155 (G, holo, G00014640). Leroy
stat. nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1950b:
333). – Basionym: Trichilia buchanani C. DC. (Sept. 1894).
Poaceae
Digitaria abyssinica (Hochst.) Stapf Type: Eritrea, Pappi [numerous
Digitaria pearsonii Stapf
var. velutina (Chiov.) Pic. Serm.,
syntypes, none seem to have been
comb. nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: scanned].
176).13
Abutilon cecilii N.E. Br.
13 Ascribed to Henr. (1950) in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, which reference thus antedates the publication by Pichi Sermolli
(1951).
112
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Family
Name in Pichi Sermolli (1951)
Type material - herbaria where
specimens are kept
Poaceae
Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf var.
podotricha (Hochst.) Pic. Serm.,
comb. et stat. nov. – Pichi Sermolli
(1951: 174). – Basionym: Andropogon podotrichus Hochst. [diagnosis
printed on label]
Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf
Type of basionym: Ethiopia,
Schimper II 1056 (FI, FI000941,
lecto; BM, BM000923522;
BR, BR0000008252357; E,
E00200272; G, G00022259,
G00022260; GH, GH00056581;
GOET, GOET006579;
HAL, HAL0107250; HEID,
HEID701872, HEID701873,
HEID701874; JE, JE00019261,
JE00019262; K, K000280320,
K000280321; L, L0044577,
L0044578, WAG0360211; M,
M0103801, M0103802; MPU,
MPU024299; REG, REG000364;
TUB, TUB006328, TUB006329;
LG, LG0000090035364, S, S1410468; W, W0028487, W0028488,
W18890263704, W19160027502;
WU, WU0029443, WU0029444;
all isolecto).
Poaceae
Loudetia arundinacea (Hochst.)
Steud. var. hensii (De Wild.) C.E.
Hubbard, comb. nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 180). – Basionym:
Trichopteryx elegans Hack. var. hensii De Wild. (1920).
Type of basionym: Congo, Kinshasa, Hens 281 (BR,
BR0000008758576, holo; P,
P00374340, iso).
Loudetia arundinacea (Hochst.)
Steud.
Proteaceae
Faurea rochetiana (A. Rich.) Pic.
Serm., comb. nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1950b: 327). – Pichi Sermolli
(1951: 26). – Basionym: Leucospermum rochetianum A. Rich. (1850).
Type of basionym: Abyssinie, au
bas de Lamalmon a Debbevar, M.
Rochet d’Hericourt s.n. 1850 (P, holo, P00734033).
Faurea speciosa Welw. – The acceptance of this name in the FEE
is an error; the publication of Leucospermum rochetianum A. Rich.
(1850) antedates the publication of
Faurea speciosa Welw. (1869)]
Proteaceae
Type: Plate in Bruce (1790: oppo- Protea gaguedi Gmel.
Protea gaguedi Gmel. (1796), ansite p. 52).
tedates Protea abyssinica Willd.
(1798). The latter is an illegitimate name because it is based on
the same type as Gmelin’s name. –
Pichi Sermolli (1950b: 327).
Rosaceae
Rosa abyssinica Lindl. forma microphylla (Crepin) Pic. Serm., comb.
nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 48) –
Basionym: Rosa abyssinica Lindl.
var. microphylla Crepin (1879).14
Type of Rosa abyssinica Lindl. var.
microphylla Crepin: Yemen, Botta
s.n (P, (P03204275, holo).
Type of Rosa abyssinica Lindl. var.
microphylla Almagia (1903), nom
Illeg.: Eritrea, Asmara, Terracciano & Pappi 173 (FT, FT001269,
syn.), 322 (FT, FT001270), 2569
(FT, FT001271), Pappi 3928 (FT,
FT001272), Schweinfurth & Riva
2104 (FT, FT001273, syn).
Name in Flora of Ethiopia and
Eritrea
Rosa abyssinica Lindl. – This
identification is according to the
FEE; however, the type seems to
differ considerably from Rosa abyssinica and has been named Rosa
bottaiana Bouleng. (1933).The
small leaved form of the Ethiopian species has been named Rosa
abyssinica Lindl. forma or var.
microphylla.
14 The type of Rosa abyssinica Lindl. var. microphylla Crepin (1879) seems to differ considerably from Rosa abyssinica and has
been named Rosa bottaiana Bouleng. (1933). The small leaved form of the Ethiopian species has been named Rosa abyssi-
113
RESULTS
Family
Name in Pichi Sermolli (1951)
Type material - herbaria where
specimens are kept
Name in Flora of Ethiopia and
Eritrea
Rubiaceae
Galium hochstetteri Pic. Serm.,
nom. nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1950b:
339). – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 223).
. – Based on: Galium simense A.
Rich. (1848), nom. Illeg., non Fresen. (1837).
Type of basionym: Semien, Mt.
Bachit, Schimper 548 (P, holo;
BM; BR, BR0000008359513,
BR0000008847072; HAL,
HAL0113517; K, K000422936,
K000422937, K000422938;
LG, LG0000090029714; M,
M0106197; MO, MO391262,
M0106198; iso).
Galium acrophyum Chiov.
Rubiaceae
Pavetta bremekampiana Pic. Serm., Type of basionym: Ethiopia,
nom. nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: Quartin Dillon & Petit s.n. (P,
148). Based on: Pavetta cinerascens P00553413, holo).
Bremekamp (1934), non Chiov.
(1911)
Rutaceae
Citrus limonia Osbeck var. abyssi- The type of the basionym was sent Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.)
nica (Riccobono) Pic. Serm., comb. [to PAL] by Col. Ameglio.
Swingle
nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 72). –
Basionym: Citrus limonum var. abyssinica Riccobono (1905).
Rutaceae
Diphasia dainellii Pic. Serm., sp.
nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 70,
Tav. 12).
Pavetta abyssinica Fresen. var.
bremekampiana (Pic. Serm.)
Bridson
Vepris dainellii (Pic. Serm.)
Type: Zara Enda Michael, Pichi
Kokwaro
Sermolli 2350 (FT, FT001770,
holo; BR, BR0000006276164;
FT, FT001771, FT001772; K,
K000199448; MO, MO260348; P,
P01044966, iso).
Scrophulariaceae Limosella semiensis Pic. Serm., sp.
nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 221,
Tab. XLV [right specimen]).
Type: Semien, Mt. Degien, Pichi
Sermolli 2651 (FT, FT003088,
holo).
?Limosella capensis Thunb.
Sinopteridaceae Aspidotis schimperi (Kunze) Pic.
Serm., comb. nov. – Pichi Sermolli
(1950b: 326). Basionym: Cheilanthes schimperi Kunze (1840).
Type: The holotype at LZ is destroyed. Tigray, Gafta, Schimper
II 1207, collected 14.9.1838 (K,
K000435548; S, S-P-748; WAG,
WAG0247458, almost certainly
isotypes.15
Aspidotis schimperi (Kunze) Pic.
Serm.
Solanaceae
Solanum mesodolichum (Bitter) Pic.
Serm., comb. et stat. nov. – Pichi
Sermolli (1951: 133) – Basionym:
Solanum indicum L. subsp. mesodolichum Bitter (1923).
Type of basionym: Gerra Abuna
Tekle Haimanot, Schimper 1129
(B, holo, possibly destroyed; K,
K000414021; US, US00027621,
iso).
Solanum anguivi Lam.
Solanaceae
Solanum orthocarpum Pic. Serm., Type: Furie near Zeghie, Pichi
sp. nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 129, Sermolli 2575 (FT, FT003032,
Tav. XXIV).
FT003033, not stated which of
these is the holo?).
Solanum anguivi Lam.
nica Lindl. var. microphylla Almagia (1903). Pichi Sermolli maintained that the “var. microphylla Almagia” is that very same
form.
15 The other specimen collected by Schimper, from Djeladjerane in Tigray, Schimper II 1651, collected 1.8.1840 (K,
K000435546; S, S-P-749) was collected too late to be part of the original material.
114
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Family
Name in Pichi Sermolli (1951)
Type material - herbaria where
specimens are kept
Name in Flora of Ethiopia and
Eritrea
Solanaceae
Type of basionym: Dessie, Gortani Solanum anguivi Lam.
Solanum uollense (Chiov.) Pic.
II 83 (FT, FT003034, holo).
Serm., comb. et stat. nov. – Pichi
Sermolli (1951: 131). – Basionym:
Solanum indicum L. subsp. mesodolichum Bitter var. uollense Chiov.
(1939).
Verbenaceae
Premna viburnoides A. Rich. var.
schimperi (Engl.) Pic. Serm.,
comb. et stat. nov. – Pichi Sermolli
(1950b: 336). – Premna schimperi
Engl. (1892).
Viscaceae
Korthalsella binii Pic. Serm., sp.
Type: Gorgora, Pichi Sermolli 2487 Korthalsella japonica (Thunb.)
nov. – Pichi Sermolli (1951: 31, Fig. (FT, FT000953, holo).
Engl.
1, Tav. II).
Premna schimperi Engl.
Type of basionym: River Reb,
Genna [Dschenna]-Abuna-Tekla-Haimamot, Schimper 1131 (B,
B100165139, B100165140; K,
K000192730; EA), EA000001115;
A, A00387897, A00387898;
NY, NY00137930; RSA,
RSA0006402; P, P00439996;
PRE, PRE0590360-0).
CHAPTER 5
Chronological list of collecting localities with update of
identification of species collected
Pichi Sermolli’s printed labels from the Lake Tana basin have normally a locality
number before the label texts indicating locality and habitat; these are always written
in Italian. However, collections also exist with typed or hand-written labels, where
locality-numbers have not been used. Locality-numbers were not used for collections
from Eritrea, the western escarpment of Ethiopia up to Gondar or for the collections
made in the Semien Mountains. Not all localities the Lake Tana basin were given locality numbers, and locality numbers are usually missing if only a few collections with
typed or hand-written labels were necessary for the collection. The locality numbers
were not cited in Pichi Sermolli’s final publication of the collections (Pichi Sermolli
1951), where the collections are named, sorted into systematic order and renumbered
according to a systematic sequence.
The locality numbers have been reconstructed here from the inspection of a large
number of labels in the collections in Centro Studi Erbario Tropicale (FT), where the
first set of the collections of angiosperms and gymnosperms is kept. The locality numbers are used to sort localities into sequence if several locality-numbers are recorded
from the same date. In the following chronological list we have attempted to arrange
localities without original locality-numbers into a complete sequence by arranging
originally unnumbered localities and marking them with the appropriate original locality-number followed by “a”, “b”, “c”, etc. Collections from the part of the journey
without original locality-numbers have been given new locality-numbers marked with
a prefix, “E” for localities in Eritrea, “NW” for localities on the western escarpment up
to Gondar, “T” for the Lake Tana Basin and “S” for the Semien Mountains. The same
numbering is used on the Maps no. 1 - 9. The Italian indications of the collecting localities are quoted, English translations are provided and variants of the Italian indications that appear on the labels and in Pichi Sermolli (1951) are quoted. Some of the
Ib Friis, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Denmark, ibf@snm.ku.dk, 0000-0002-2438-1528
Sebsebe Demissew, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, sebseb.demissew@gmail.com, 0000-0002-0123-9596
Odile Weber, National Museum of Natural History, Luxemburg, odile.weber@mnhn.lu, 0000-0002-0861-2752
Paulo van Breugel, HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands, p.vanbreugel@gmail.com, 0000-0001-95790831
Referee List (DOI 10.36253/fup_referee_list)
FUP Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOI 10.36253/fup_best_practice)
Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew, Odile Weber, Paulo van Breugel, Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia. A new look at
Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results from the ‘Missione di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937, © 2022 Author(s), CC BY 4.0,
published by Firenze University Press, ISBN 978-88-5518-634-6 , DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-634-6
116
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
localities are not readily identifiable on modern maps, but we have attempted the georeferencing of all place names using historical sources. The georeferencing has always
been discussed where it is not obvious.
The altitudes indicated as “(m. X,XXX; …)” or “(m. X,XXX circa or ca.)”, are quoted
directly from Pichi Sermolli (1951) except for the comma inserted for altitudes above
999 m. The collections were sometimes made at different altitudes on the same locality;
altitudes are therefore indicated at the individual collections, not at the locality. Note
that the altitudes indicated by Pichi Sermolli are frequently 100 – 200 m. too high in
relation the altitudes indicated nowadays.
The collections recorded in Pichi Sermolli (1951) are listed first, as they are used
to characterise the habitats of the localities. The numbers of the collections are indicated as “(…; n. YYYY)”, without a comma for all numbers, which makes it easier immediately to differentiate between altitudes and collection numbers. The names of the
identified collections in this chronological list are those used in the Flora of Ethiopia
and Eritrea. Because the numbers of all the collections are quoted, it is possible to find
Pichi Sermolli’s original identification (without authority) in the left-hand column in
the numerical list in chapter 6 and the current names in the right-hand column. Everywhere, an asterisk, “*”, identifies a collection that Pichi Sermolli could either not identify
or only identify with some uncertainty, and which it has not been possible to identify
subsequently. If we have managed to trace fern collections from the localities, the identification and number of these ferns are indicated at the end of the list of collections.
Near the end of the text about each locality we have attempted to summarise our
impression of the locality, based on topography, in some cases also Pichi Sermolli’s cited photographs, the list of species collected and our own impression of the localities,
which we have almost all visited since 2010. At the end of the text about each locality
we have quoted the photographs taken by Pichi Sermolli which can with reasonable
degree of certainty be referred to the localities.
11.-12.1.1937
Around Asmara.
Locality E1 – Presso Asmara
No locality-number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as E1 on Map 1.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near Asmara.
Georeferencing: Around Asmara there are areas indicated on IGM (1934-1936a: sheet
6, 1934-1926b) with altitudes above 2,400 m., the altitude at which these collections
are all stated to have been made. Areas with altitudes around or above 2,400 m. are to
the east of the town, approximately at 15.345293° N, 38.959430° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia etbaica Schweinf. subsp. etbaica (m. 2,400 circa; n. 601).
Acacia saligna (Labil.) Wendl. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 605, n. 606).
Aloe sp. cfr. A. abyssinica Lam.* (m. 2,400 circa; n. 2024).
Andrachne aspera Spreng. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 1697).
Argemone mexicana L. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 176).
Becium grandiflorum (Lam.) Pic. Serm. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 1411).
Carthamus lanatus L. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 856).
Clutia lanceolata Forssk. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 2469).
Commicarpus grandiflorus (A. Rich.) Standl. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 2055).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Cotula anthemoides L. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 1066).
Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forssk. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 1275).
Dodonaea angustifolia L. f. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 488).
Echinops pappii Chiov. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 845).
Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 807).
Heliotropium cinerascens DC. & A. DC. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 1274).
Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf (m. 2,400 circa; n. 80).
Hypoestes forskaolii (Vahl) R. Br. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 1486, n. 1488).
Jasminum grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum (Fresen.) P.S. Green (m. 2,400 circa; n.
1163).
Kalanchoe marmorata Baker (m. 2,400 circa; n. 802).
Launaea pseudoabyssinica (Chiov.) N. Kilian (m. 2,400 circa; n. 2156).
Lotononis platycarpos (Viv.) Pic. Serm. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 543).
Lotus quinatus (Forssk.) Gillett var. brachycarpus (A. Rich.) Gillett (m. 2,400 circa; n.
541, n. 577).
Meriandra dianthera (Roem. & Schult.) Briq. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 1404).
Monechma debile (Forssk.) Nees (m. 2,400 circa; n. 1513).
Oxalis corniculata L. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 2205).
Plectranthus ornatus Codd (m. 2,400 circa; n. 1408).
Polygonum plebeium R. Br. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 1563).
Psiadia punctulata (DC.) Vatke (m. 2,400 circa; n. 918).
Raphanus raphanistrum L. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 173).
Rumex nervosus Vahl (m. 2,400 circa; n. 1546).
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 1405).
Schinus molle L. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 470).
Solanum marginatum L. f. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 2544).
Themeda triandra Forssk. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 61).
Verbascum sinaiticum Benth. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 1289).
Vernonia schimperi DC. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 965).
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (m. 2,400 circa; n. 1305).
Xanthium spinosum L. (m. 2,400 circa; n. 940).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The species in the list contains one indigenous
species of Acacia, A. etbaica, which is characteristic of the dry Afromontane bushland of
Eritrea and northern Ethiopia (IF pers. obs.). Other trees are introduced (Acacia saligna, Schinus molle). The vegetation would appear to have been secondary open bushland
with ruderal species, derived from montane deciduous open bushland and grassland
with Acacia etbaica as the most prominent tree.
17.1.1937
Locality E2 – Daharo Kaulos presso Asmara
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as E2 on Map 1.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Daharo Kaulos near Asmara.
Georeferencing: A place named “Dahro Caulos” south west of Asmara is marked
on IGM (1934-1935a: sheet 6, 1934-1936b) and can also be found on a map in Guida
(1938: between p. 192 and p. 193). The area is now at the western edge of Asmara airport and partly built up because of the expansion of Asmara. The locality is approximately at 15.282629° N, 38.850430° E.
117
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Achyranthes aspera L. var. sicula L. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 1441).
Caylusea abyssinica (Fresen.) Fisch. & Mey. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 147).
Centaurea melitensis L. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 2138).
Chrysanthemum coronarium L. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 1007).
Clematis simensis Fresen. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 135).
Cyathula uncinulata (Schrad.) Schinz (m. 2,300 circa; n. 1446).
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 1887).
Echidnopsis sp.* (m. 2,300 circa; n. 1235).
Echinops pappii Chiov. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 844).
Echium plantagineum L. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 2129).
Galinsoga parviflora Cav. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 1009).
Gnaphalium unionis Oliv. & Hiern (m. 2,300 circa; n. 1023).
Hibiscus crassinervius A. Rich. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 216).
Jasminum grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum (Fresen.) P.S. Green (m. 2,300 circa; n.
1154).
Juncus bufonius L. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 1936).
Monechma debile (Forssk.) Nees (m. 2,300 circa; n. 1514).
Nicandra physaloides (L.) Gaertn. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 1303).
Osteospermum vaillantii (Decne.) T. Norl. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 1018).
Otostegia fruticosa (Forssk.) Schweinf. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 1401).
Otostegia integrifolia Benth. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 1471).
Pavonia burchellii (DC.) Dyer (m. 2,300 circa; n. 201).
Plantago coronopus L. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 2505).
Plantago lanceolata L. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 1455).
Pulicaria incisa (Lam.) DC. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 2070; n. 939).
Scleranthus annuus L. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 1565).
Solanum adoense A. Rich. (m. 2,300 circa; n. 2549).
Vernonia leopoldii (Walp.) Vatke (m. 2,300 circa; n. 949).
Fern cited in Pichi Sermolli (1957a):
Adiantum capillus-veneris L. (no alt.; n. 1805, not seen, cited as recorded from FI in
Pichi Sermolli (1957a: 680).
Vegetation; characteristic species: There are no trees in the list of species from
this locality. The woody shrubs include two species of Otostegia, and a range of small
woody-based subshrubs. The vegetation would appear to be secondary open bushland
with ruderal species, derived from montane deciduous open bushland and grassland.1
Western lowlands of Eritrea.
20.1.1937
Locality E3 – Bassipiano occidentale: Tessenei
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as E3 on Map 1.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Western lowland plain: Tessenei.
1
Photographic documentation: A photograph taken at Barentu, half way between Keren and
Tessenei, on 19.1.1937 shows a large Adansonia digitata (not collected). See archival font Dainelli
(501), image 696, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Georeferencing: The western lowland plains in Eritrea, with altitudes below ca. 600
m., are north-west of Tessenei, which is a small town in the western part of Eritrea at
the river Gash. On IGM 1934-1936a: sheet 5, a likely collecting locality is marked as
“Stretta di Tessenei”. It is approximately at 15.139246° N, 36.655256° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Cissus quadrangularis L. (m. 585; n. 438).
Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. (m. 585; n. 1295).
Vegetation; characteristic species: From only two collections, it is difficult to suggest any vegetation, but Cissus quadrangularis is according to FEE 3: 407 (Hedberg
et al. 1989) recorded from dry Acacia woodland and bushland, [dry] riverine forest
and scrub and semi-desert scrub, often on rocky slopes. Striga hermonthica is a semiparasitic herb on crops in dry farmland in northern Ethiopia and Eritrea (IF personal
observation). Pichi Sermolli (1938a) described the landscape as: “A spinose shrubby
vegetation with various species of Acacia and a very scarce herbaceous layer characterized this alluvial plain, which extended almost as far as Tessenei.”
Photographic documentation of localities and habitat where no collections were
made: On the same day, Pichi Sermolli took a photograph of black cotton soil with
Balanites aegyptiaca wooded grassland at Om Ager, near present day Humera. No collections were made at this locality.2
North-western lowlands of Ethiopia.
21.1.1937
Locality NW1 – Bassipiano occidentale: Nel letto di torrente Sua
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as NW1 on Map 1 & 2.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Western lowland plain: in the
river bed of Sua.
Georeferencing: The river Sua is a small north-eastern tributary to the Angareb River (via the river Casa). It is marked on IGM (1934-1936a: Sheet 9); according to this
map the road used by the Lake Tana expedition crossed the river at ca. 13° 45’ N, 36°
57’ E (13.75° N, 36.95° E). The correctly localised crossing of the modern road is 1’ to
the north and 1’ to the west of this; there is no evidence in the images of Google Earth
to suggest that the road has been relocated, so the coordinates from where the modern
road crosses the river have been used: 13.769868° N, 36.934994° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Kanahia laniflora (Forssk.) R. Br. (m. 850; n. 1248).
Vegetation; characteristic species: In northern Ethiopia, Kanahia laniflora is common in the beds of temporary streams and along permanent streams. Pichi Sermolli
(1940b) mentioned Kanahia laniflora in the bed of the Sua River: “Along the banks of
the Sua River, I noted a luxuriant and dense arboreal vegetation, while the stony bed
of the stream was sprinkled with bush like plants of [p. 616] Kanahia laniflora.”
Photographic documentation of habitat where no collection was made: On the
following day, 22.1.1937, Pichi Sermolli recorded the lowland bamboo (Oxytenanthera
2
See archival font Dainelli (501), image 697, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana. It is reproduced in Pichi Sermolli (1940: Fig. 4).
119
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
abyssinica) thicket at the stream, Torrente Arema Anzi; no collections were made at
this place. 3
Towards Gondar, north-west of the watershed.
23.1.1937
Locality NW2 – Regione di Alsei (Sengia)
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as NW2 on Map 2 & 3.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Western lowland plain: the
area of Alsei (Sengia).
Georeferencing: There is no indication of a locality or area named “Alsei” on IGM
(1934-1936a: Sheet 9) or in Guida (1938). On IGM (1934-1936a: Sheet 9), a “Torrente
Sengia” is marked as a tributary to the Angareb River, coming from higher ground
further south, and crossed by the road used by the Lake Tana expedition twice. The
southernmost crossing, at ca. 1,200 m. according to Google Earth, agrees best with the
altitude indicated by Pichi Sermolli for this locality. The crossing is therefore recorded
at approximately 12.845624° N, 37.366665° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Boswellia papyrifera (Del.) Hochst. (m. 1,200; n. 245).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The presence of Boswellia papyrifera indicates that
this locality must have been dry Combretum-Terminalia woodland (CTW). Pichi Sermolli (1940b) mentioned the presence of Boswellia papyrifera near this locality: “The
lower parts of these slopes [leading down to the narrow valley of the Sangia River]
were covered by deciduous woodland, the main components of which were Terminalia, Anogeissus leiocarpa, Gardenia lutea and Boswellia papyrifera.”
Locality T1 – Base di M.[onte] Ametria
Locality number 1 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T1 on Map 3.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Basal slopes of Mt. Ametria.
Variant indication of locality:
Base di M.[onte] Ametra (n. 2114).
Georeferencing: The name “M[onte] Ametria”, on one collection spelt “M[onte]
Ametra”, is not seen on any map. This and the following localities towards Gondar are
difficult to georeference exactly because of the number of relatively small mountain
peaks in this area that may have local names not indicated on IGM (1934-1936a: Sheet
9) or not widely known now.4 Assuming that “Mt. Ametria” is the first of the mountains encountered after crossing the Sengia River, Pichi Sermolli’s locality could be at
12.819888° N, 37.374330° E, on the slope of a mountain reaching a height of ca. 1610 m.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acanthus polystachius Del. (m. 1,600; n. 2114).
3
4
See archival font Dainelli (501), images 698, 699, 700, 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, 706, 707, in the
Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana. They are similar to, but not identical with the
photograph reproduced in Pichi Sermolli (1938a: Fig. 1). The last photograph in this sequence
(501/707) shows leafless trees in Combretum-Terminalia woodland.
An inquiry in 2021 at the Biology Department of the University of Gondar about Pichi Sermolli’s
locality names around Tucur Dinghia gave not result, except for Tucur Dinghia now being known
as the town called Tekeldengy (or other similar modern spellings).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 1,600; n. 1222).
Vernonia theophrastifolia Oliv. & Hiern (m. 1,600; n. 2419).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The species collected at this locality suggests
that the vegetation was secondary bushland, part of the complex referred to as DAF.
Pichi Sermolli (1951) indicated erroneously that the date of collection was “23.3.” for
n. 2114, collected at this locality.
Locality T2 – Base di M.[onte] Gunidubba
Locality number 2 on printed labels with this locality; label on one collection with this
locality, but no locality number. Marked as T2 on Map 3.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: At the base of Mt. Gunidubba.
Variant indication of locality:
Base di M.[onte] Gunidubba presso Tucur Dinghia (n. 1724, n. 2051).
Georeferencing: The name “Mt. Gunidubba” has not been seen on any map. There is a
2,400 m. tall mountain just west of the present town of “Tekeldengy”, Pichi Sermolli’s
Tucur Dinghia (see locality number 5); according to Google Earth this mountain still
has forest on its slopes. If this is “Mt. Gunidubba”, the slope is rather steep and localities at the different altitudes at the base and on the slope of “Mt. Gunidubba” (1,800
and 2,000 m.) are close to each other; Pichi Sermolli’s locality is quite likely at approximately 12.772005° N, 37.413083° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Barleria ventricosa Nees (m. 1,800; n. 1518).
Blepharis maderaspatensis (L.) Roth (m. 1,800; n. 2124).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 1,800; n. 1221).
Clematis hirsuta Guill. & Perr. (m. 1,800; n. 2358).
Combretum collinum Fresen. (m. 1,800; n. 741).
Ficus sur Forssk. (m. 2,000; n. 1724).
Hyparrhenia cymbaria (L.) Stapf (m. 1,800; n. 1223).
Hyparrhenia variabilis Stapf (m. 1,800; n. 119).
Hypericum quartinianum A. Rich. (m. 1,800; n. 196).
Hypoestes forskaolii (Vahl) R. Br. (m. 1,800; n. 1481).
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,800; n. 381, n. 385).
Nuxia congesta Fresen. (m. 1,800; n. 1228).
Osyris quadripartita Decn. (m. 1,800; n. 1616).
Pavetta sp.* (m. 1,800; n. 2051).
Phaulopsis imbricata (Forssk.) Sweet (m. 1,800; n. 1347, n. 1350).
Pterolobium stellatum (Forssk.) Brenan (m. 1,800; n. 642).
Strychnos innocua Del. (m. 1,800; n. 1280).
Vernonia hochstetteri Walp. (m. 1,800; n. 955).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The majority of the species collected at this locality suggests that the vegetation was secondary bushland, part of the complex referred to
as DAF, but the records of Combretum collinum and Strychnos innocua indicate that as
high as at 1,800 m. there was an admixture of species from the Combretum-Terminalia
woodland (CTW). The collection of Ficus sur (n. 1724) from ca. 2,000 m), has probably been made in riparian vegetation, and might, because of the altitude, have been
from the following locality.
121
122
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli took a photograph showing Monte
Gunidubba from a distance. 5
Locality T3 – Pendici di M.[onte] Gunidubba
Locality number 3 on printed labels; locality name both on printed and typed labels,
the latter without locality number. Marked as T3 on Map 3.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Slopes of Mt. Gunidubba.
Georeferencing: As for the previous locality, recorded at approximately 12.772005°
N, 37.413083° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Astragalus atropilosus (Hochst.) Bunge (m. 2,000; n. 529).
Clematis hirsuta Guill. & Perr. (m. 2,000; n. 2357).
Dioscorea abyssinica Kunth (m. 2,000; n. 1774).
Gnidia glauca (Fresen.) Gilg (m. 2,000; n. 2500).
Guizotia scabra (Vis.) Chiov. (m. 2,000; n. 999).
Hyparrhenia cymbaria (L.) Stapf (m. 2,000; n. 118).
Hyparrhenia rufa × umbrosa* (m. 2,000; n. 322).
Hypericum quartinianum A. Rich. (m. 2,000; n. 191).
Maesa lanceolata Forssk. (m. 2,000; n. 1097).
Mimusops kummel A. DC. (m. 2,000; n. 1075).
Nuxia congesta Fresen. (m. 2,000; n. 1227).
Pentas lanceolata (Forssk.) Deflers (m. 2,000; n. 2218).
Tephrosia interrupta Engl. (m. 2,000; n. 532).
Zehneria scabra (L. f.) Sond. (m. 2,000 circa; n. 2221 (FT, holotype of Melothria ciprianii Pic. Serm.).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Again, the majority of the species collected at this
locality suggests that the vegetation was secondary bushland, part of the complex referred to as DAF, but the presence of Mimusops kummel, one of the indicator species of
IAF (Intermediate evergreen Afromontane forest; Abiyot Berhanu et al. 2018) could
indicate that the original vegetation had similarity with IAF.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli took a photographs of Monte Gunidubba in the distance.6
No specimen from a locality number 4 has been traced.
24.1.1937
Locality T5 – Tucur Dinghia
Locality number 5 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T5 on Map 3.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: [At the village of] Tucur Dinghia.
Georeferencing: “Tucur Dinghia” is Pichi Sermolli’s rendering of Amharic words
which mean “black rock”. It is now a large village or small town. On IGM (1934-1936a:
Sheet 9), in the position of the present town of Tucur Dinghia, there is an area marked
as “R.[egione] Tucul Dinghia.” This variety of the name, which is also used in the Gui-
5
6
See archival font Dainelli (501), image 708, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
The same as the previous photograph.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
da (1938), means “round hut [of] stone.” Google Earth uses the form “Tekeldengy” for
the modern town, which is approximately at 12.741234° N, 37.418276° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Dodonaea angustifolia L. f. (m. 2,300; n. 491).
Otostegia integrifolia Benth. (m. 2,300; n. 1476).
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (m. 2,300; n. 1366, n. 1367).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Adiantum poiretii Wikstr. (No alt.; n. 1802, FI-PS 13945).
Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm. f.) Bech. (No alt., no. 1779, FI-PS 10651).
Asplenium protensum Schrad. (No alt.; n. 1828, FI-PS 10648).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Two of the three species collected at this locality
suggests that the vegetation was secondary bushland, part of the complex referred to as
DAF, but the record of Stereospermum kunthianum indicates that as high as at 2,300 m.
there was an admixture of species from the Combretum-Terminalia woodland (CTW).
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli took a number of photographs showing unspecified localities near Tucul Dinghia,7 but it is not possible to correlate these
photographs exactly with collecting localities.
No specimen from a locality number 6 has been traced.
24.1.1937
Locality T7 – Foresta di Tucur Dinghia
Locality number 7 on printed labels; locality name both on printed and typed labels,
the latter without locality number. Marked as T7 on Map 3.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Forest at Tucur Dinghia.
Georeferencing: As for “Tucur Dinghia”, see locality number 5. It is now difficult to
say where exactly the most forested area near “Tucur Dinghia” was in 1937, but today
there is a rather densely forested slope at 2,200 m. and upwards, which can easily be
reached from the modern small town of “Tekeldengy”; this locality is approximately
at 12.744099° N, 37.418948° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Brillantaisia grottanellii Pic. Serm. (m. 2,400; n. 2098, n. 2099 (FT, holotype of the
current name)).
Ficus sur Forssk. (m. 2,400; n. 2382).
Rhamnus prinoides L’Hérit. (m. 2,400; n. 418).
Ferns cited in Pichi Sermolli (1957a):
Adiantum poiretii Wikstr. (No alt.; n. 1802; not seen, cited in Pichi Sermolli 1957a: 688).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The fact that only three species are recorded from
this locality makes it difficult to classify the vegetation on a floristic basis, but all three
species are associated with forests and combined with the fact that Pichi Sermolli used
the word “Foresta” [Forest] for the locality makes it reasonable to classify the vegetation as DAF or IAF.
7
See archival font Dainelli (501), images 709, 710, 711, 712, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società
geografica italiana.
123
124
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Locality T8 & 9 – Presso il villaggio di Bachiana (Tucur Dinghia – Gondar)
Locality number 8 & 9 on printed labels; locality name both on printed and typed labels, the latter without locality number. Marked as T8 & 9 on Map 3.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near the village Bachiana [in
the vicinity of Tucur Dinghia and Gondar].
Georeferencing: The name “Bachiana” has not been traced on any map. Apart from the
peak west of “Tucur Dinghia” (Tekeldengy), there are very few localities higher than
2,000 m., and hardly any at 2,400 m. “Bachiana” is therefore presumably near locality
number 7, and probably approximately at 12.744099° N, 37.418948° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia abyssinica Benth. (m. 2,400; n. 589).
Acanthus polystachius Del. (m. 2,400; n. 2113).
Achyranthes aspera L. var. sicula L. (m. 2,400; n. 1440).
Albizia schimperiana Oliv. (m. 2,400; n. 1118).
Apodytes dimidiata Arn. var. acutifolia (A. Rich.) Boutique (m. 2,400; n. 348).
Buddleja polystachya Fresen. (m. 2,400; n. 1288).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 2,400; n. 1220).
Cicer arietinum L. (m. 2,400; n. 523).
Clutia lanceolata Forssk. (m. 2,400; n. 2466).
Crotalaria lachnocarpoides Engl. (m. 2,400; n. 2228).
Dyschoriste multicaulis (A. Rich.) O. Kuntze (m. 2,400; n. 2125, n. 2126 (FT, holotype
of Dyschoriste broiloi Pic. Serm.), n. 2127).
Gnidia glauca (Fresen.) Gilg (m. 2,400; n. 2499).
Inula paniculata (Klatt) Burtt Davy (m. 2,400; n. 2412).
Ipomoea tenuirostris Choisy (m. 2,400; n. 1333, n. 1334. n. 1335).
Laggera alata (D. Don) Oliv. (m. 2,400; n. 869).
Leonotis ocymifolia (Burm. f.) Iwarsson var. raineriana (Vis.) Iwarsson (m. 2,400; n.
1386, n. 1387).
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 2,400; n. 379).
Osyris quadripartita Decn. (m. 2,400; n. 1617).
Phagnalon abyssinicum A. Rich. (m. 2,400; n. 933).
Phaulopsis imbricata (Forssk.) Sweet (m. 2,400; n. 1344).
Phytolacca dodecandra L’Hérit. (m. 2,400; n. 1571, n. 1572).
Rhamnus prinoides L’Hérit. (m. 2,400; n. 417).
Ricinus communis L. (m. 2,400; n. 1702).
Rosa abyssinica Lindl. (m. 2,400; n. 663).
Rumex nervosus Vahl (m. 2,400; n. 1547).
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. (m. 2,400; n. 1464, n. 1468).
Solanum anguivi Lam. (m. 2,400; n. 2573).
Stephania abyssinica (A. Rich.) Walp. (m. 2,400; n. 130).
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. (m. 2,400; n. 815).
Vernonia congolensis De Wild. & Muschl. subsp. vernonioides (Walp.) C. Jeffrey (m.
2,400; n. 889).
Vernonia filigera Oliv. & Hiern (m. 2,400; n. 2447).
Vernonia hochstetteri Walp. (m. 2,400; n. 956).
Vernonia rueppellii Walp. (m. 2,400; n. 2427).
Viscum triflorum DC. subsp. nervosum (A. Rich.) M.G. Gilbert (m. 2,400; n. 1580).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The presence of the trees Acacia abyssinica, Albizia schimperiana, Apodytes dimidiata var. acutifolia and Syzygium guineense suggests that
the vegetation must have been some type of forest, due to the altitude and the promi-
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
nence of Acacia abyssinica probably DAF. A photograph of the locality is reproduced
in Pichi Sermolli (1940b: Map 4). The variety of shrubs and herbaceous and basally
woody species suggests also the presence of secondary bushland.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli photographed the Acacia abyssinica
woodland at Bachiana.8
Base camp established in Gondar, collections from the mountains north of the town.
25.1.1937
Locality T10 – Versante settentrionale del colle Chercher (Gondar)
Locality number 10 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T10 on Map 3.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Northern slopes of the Chercher
hills, in the vicinity of Gondar.
Georeferencing: On IGM (1934-1936a: Sheet 9), “Colle Cherecher” is marked with
this name and indicated with an altitude 2,738 m., forming the watershed between
the system of rivers running directly westwards to the Nile and the rivers running towards Lake Tana and the Blue Nile. Google Earth indicates that the highest point on
the watershed is at 2,720 m., and the locality is therefore assumed to be approximately
at 12.706899° N, 37.453691° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 2,500; n. 1196).
Conyza stricta Willd. (m. 2,500; n. 870).
Echinops macrochaetus Fresen. (m. 2,500; n. 846).
Gnaphalium unionis Oliv. & Hiern (m. 2,500; n. 1020; n. 1022).
Helichrysum schimperi (A. Rich.) Moeser (m. 2,500; n. 988).
Helichrysum stenopterum DC. (m. 2,500; n. 984).
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 2,500; n. 98).
Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf (m. 2,500; n. 68).
Hyparrhenia sp. aff. H. papillipes* (m. 2,500; n. 63).
Pennisetum sphacelatum (Nees) Th. Dur. & Schinz (m. 2,500; n. 36).
Plantago lanceolata L. (m. 2,500; n. 1454).
Pterocephalus frutescens A. Rich. (m. 2,500; n. 910).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The variety of shrubs and herbaceous and basally woody species suggests the presence of secondary bushland, presumably derived
from DAF.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli photographed the north-western slopes
of the Chercher hills.9
Locality T11 – Versante meridionale del colle Chercher (Gondar)
Locality number 11 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T11 – Map 3.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Southern slope of the Chercher
hills, in the vicinity of Gondar.
8
9
See archival font Dainelli (501), image 713, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
See archival font Dainelli (501), image 714, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
125
126
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Georeferencing: See the general remarks about locality number 10. Areas at the indicated height on the southern slope of the Chercher hills are located at 12.704897°
N, 37.446800° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia abyssinica Benth. (m. 2,400; n. 590).
Dodonaea angustifolia L. f. (m. 2,400; n. 490).
Otostegia integrifolia Benth. (m. 2,400; n. 1477).
Pterocephalus frutescens A. Rich. (m. 2,400; n. 913).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The presence of Acacia abyssinica and the evergreen shrubs suggests montane woodland and secondary bushland, presumably derived from DAF.
Still based in Gondar, Pichi Sermolli moved to collect within the drainage area of
Lake Tana.
26.1.1937
Locality T12 – Valle tra M.[onte] Iabec e M.[onte] Coco (nord di Gondar)
Locality number 12 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T12 on Map 3.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Valley between Mt. Jabec [Iabec]
and Mt. Coco, north of Gondar.
Variant indication of locality:
Valle tra Iabec e M.[onte] Coco (nord di Gondar) (n. 2265).
Georeferencing: The place names “Iabec” or “Jabec” and “Coco” have not been seen on
any map. The altitude suggests that the locality is near the watershed north of Gondar;
if Pichi Sermolli’s locality is near the pass now used for the road between Gondar and
Humera, then it is approximately at 12.710368° N, 37.445694° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia venosa Benth. (m. 2,400; n. 597).
Anthospermum pachyrrhizum Hiern (m. 2,400; n. 761).
Bidens camporum (Hutch.) Mesfin (m. 2,400; n. 2140).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 2,400; n. 1219).
Clematis hirsuta Guill. & Perr. (m. 2,400; n. 2372).
Conyza schimperi A. Rich. (m. 2,400; n. 871).
Crotalaria lachnocarpoides Engl. (m. 2,400; n. 2229).
Croton macrostachyus Del. (m. 2,400; n. 1641).
Dodonaea angustifolia L. f. (m. 2,400; n. 489, n. 493).
Helichrysum forsskahlii (J.F. Gmel.) Hilliard & B.L. Burtt (m. 2,400; n. 980).
Helichrysum stenopterum DC. (m. 2,400; n. 987).
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 2,400; n. 100).
Hyparrhenia sp. cfr. H. papillipes* (m. 2,400; n. 62).
Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf (m. 2,400; n. 67).
Hypericum quartinianum A. Rich. (m. 2,400; n. 192).
Indigofera secundiflora Poir. (m. 2,400; n. 2265 (FT, holotype of Indigofera secundiflora
var. gondarensis Pic. Serm.).
Jasminum grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum (Fresen.) P.S. Green (m. 2,400; n. 1162).
Lactuca inermis Forssk. (m. 2,400; n. 2147).
Maesa lanceolata Forssk. (m. 2,400; n. 1096).
Myrica salicifolia A. Rich. (m. 2,400; n. 1676).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Myrsine africana L. (m. 2,400; n. 1101).
Olea europaea L. subsp. cuspidata (G. Don) Cif. (m. 1,400 [error for 2,400 m?]; n. 1179).
Osyris quadripartita Decn. (m. 2,400; n. 1618).
Otostegia integrifolia Benth. (m. 2,400; n. 1478).
Pennisetum sphacelatum (Nees) Th. Dur. & Schinz (m. 2,400; n. 32).
Protea gaguedi J.F. Gmel. (m. 2,400; n. 1593).
Pterocephalus frutescens A. Rich. (m. 2,400; n. 914).
Rhus vulgaris Meikle (m. 2,400; n. 456, n. 462).
Rosa abyssinica Lindl. (m. 2,400; n. 662).
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. (m. 2,400; n. 1459).
Tolpis virgata (Desf.) Bertol. (m. 2,400; n. 863).
Wahlenbergia abyssinica (A. Rich.) Thulin (m. 2,400; n. 1051).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The presence of the trees Croton macrostachyus and
Olea europaea L. subsp. cuspidata suggests that the vegetation is DAF, but Acacia venosa
is a species that is mainly distributed in Combretum-Terminalia woodland at lower altitudes (IF personal observation), and this locality is the highest record of the species.
The many species of evergreen shrubs and herbs suggests that the vegetation can best
be characterised as montane woodland and secondary bushland derived from DAF.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs of Otostegia integrifolia
near Gondar probably belong to this locality.10
No specimen from a locality number 13 has been traced.
27.1.1937
Locality T14, 15 & 16 – Pendici orientali di M.[onte] Guranghe (nord di Gondar)
Locality number 14, 15 & 16 on printed labels, including the variants mentioned below; locality name both on printed and typed labels, the latter without locality number. Marked as T14, T15 & T16 on Map 3.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Eastern slopes of Mt. Guranghe, north of Gondar.
Variant indication of locality:
Pendici orient. di monte Guranghe (nord di Gondar) (n. 2112).
Pendici orientali di Guranghe (nord di Gondar) (n. 1181).
Georeferencing: The place name “Guranghe” has not been seen on any map. All collections were made at m. 2,400, except Salix subserrata, n. 1740, which was made at
m. 2,500; it is unclear why three locality numbers have been recorded for this place;
the localities are very close together and must all approximately be georeferenced at
12.721863° N, 37.508489° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia abyssinica Benth. (m. 2,400; n. 586).
Acanthus polystachius Del. (m. 2,400; n. 2112).
Alysicarpus ferrugineus A. Rich. (m. 2,400; n. 525).
Bidens setigera (Walp.) Sherff (m. 2,400; n. 2141).
Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth. (m. 2,400; n. 629).
10 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 715, 716, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
127
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 2,400; n. 1217, n. 1218).
Clutia lanceolata Forssk. (m. 2,400; n. 2470).
Croton macrostachyus Del. (m. 2,400; n. 1642).
Daucus carota L. (m. 2,400; n. 675).
Dodonaea angustifolia L. f. (m. 2,400; n. 498).
Echinops macrochaetus Fresen. (m. 2,400; n. 849).
Ficus sur Forssk. (m. 2,400; n. 2383).
Helichrysum schimperi (A. Rich.) Moeser (m. 2,400; n. 990).
Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham. & Schltdl. var. abyssinica (A. Rich.) Wolff
(m. 2,400; n. 700).
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 2,400; n. 102).
Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf (m. 2,400; n. 69).
Indeterminabile* (m. 2,400; n. 2322).
Juniperus procera Endl. (m. 2,400; n. 24).
Lactuca inermis Forssk. (m. 2,400; n. 2150).
Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka (m. 2,400; n. 57).
Myrica salicifolia A. Rich. (m. 2,400; n. 1677).
Myrsine africana L. (m. 2,400; n. 1102).
Olea europaea L. subsp. cuspidata (G. Don) Cif. (m. 2,400; n. 1181).
Osyris quadripartita Decn. (m. 2,400; n. 1619).
Pennisetum sphacelatum (Nees) Th. Dur. & Schinz (m. 2,400; n. 35).
Plantago lanceolata L. (m. 2,400; n. 1451).
Rhus glutinosa A. Rich. subsp. glutinosa var. glutinosa (m. 2,400; n. 2337 (FT, holotype
of Rhus amharica Pic. Serm.), n. 2348).
Rhus vulgaris Meikle (m. 2,400; n. 454, n. 455).
Salix subserrata Willd. (m. 2,500; n. 1740).
Satureja abyssinica (Benth.) Briq. (m. 2,400; n. 1406).
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. (m. 2,400; n. 1458).
Tapinanthus globiferus (A. Rich.) Tiegh. (m. 2,400; n. 1595).
Tolpis virgata (Desf.) Bertol. (m. 2,400; n. 861).
Vernonia leopoldii (Walp.) Vatke (m. 2,400; n. 951).
Vernonia rueppellii Walp. (m. 2,400; n. 2425).
Viscum tuberculatum A. Rich. (m. 2,400; n. 1586).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The presence of Acacia abyssinica, Calpurnia aurea, Ficus sur, Heteromorpha arborescens var. abyssinica, Juniperus procera, Olea europaea
subsp. cuspidata, and species of Rhus suggest a mixed DAF with both Acacia abyssinica woodland and patches of DAF forest with Juniperus procera and Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata. The varied flora of shrubs and herbs suggest that a mosaic of secondary
Afromontane bushland and grassland was also present.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli photographed the bushland and the
open Olea woodland on Mount Guranghe [in the photographic archive spelt Monte
Gunanghe].11
Locality T16a – Gondar
Handwritten labels with this locality, but no locality number. Marked as T16a on Map 3.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: [In or at the town of] Gondar
11 See archival font Dainelli (501), image 717, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Georeferencing: Suitable central parts of the old Gondar, in 1937 far from the completely built up town of today, are approximately at 12.608801° N, 37.469975° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Pterocephalus frutescens A. Rich. (m. 2,280; n. 912).
Vernonia amygdalina Del. (m. 2,280; n. 898).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The shrub or small tree Vernonia amygdalina and
the subshrub Pterocephalus frutescens suggest that the vegetation may have been secondary Afromontane bushland.
Base camp moved from Gondar to Bahar Dar at the southernmost point of Lake
Tana.
29.1.1937
Locality T17 – Sponde del Nilo Azzurro al traghetto per Bahar Dar
Locality number 17 on printed labels with this locality; locality name both on printed
and typed labels, the latter without locality number. Marked as T17 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Bank of the Blue Nile at the
ferry to Bahar Dar.
Georeferencing: According to a contemporary map in 1:100,000 available at IGM
in Florence (Comando Truppe del R. Governo Amara. Goggiam F2. Bahar Dar. 1938),
the ferry seemed already in 1938 to be replaced by a bridge near the location of the
present bridge across the Blue Nile just E of Bahar Dar, while Guida (1938: 382) mentions the “traghetto di Bahar Dar.” The current bridge is at 1,790 m. and at 11.605236°
N, 37.409444° E. It is highly likely that Pichi Sermolli’s localities at the ferry are near
this place, both the ones at 1820 and the ones at 1825 m.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Ceratophyllum demersum L. (m. 1,820; n. 1739).
Cyperus papyrus L. (m. 1,820; n. 1953).
Cyperus penzoanus Pic. Serm. (m. 1,820; n. 1982 (FT, holotype of Cyperus morandinii
Pic. Serm.)).
Hibiscus diversifolius Jacq. (m. 1,825; n. 211).
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet (m. 1,820; n. 1323).
Persicaria setosula (A. Rich.) K. Wilson (m. 1,820; n. 1541).
Pistia stratiotes L. (m. 1,820; n. 1732).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Thelypteris confluens (Thunb.) Morton (No alt.; n. 1857, FI-PS 10628).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The species collected in this locality are herbs either growing at the shore of the river or in shallow water.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli recorded on the 29.1. a number of
photographs from papyrus swamps around Bahar Dar.12 Enzo Minucci photographed
on the 29.1.1937 the vegetation along the Abay at the ferry and the ferry boat itself.13
12 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 722, 723, 724, 725, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società
geografica italiana.
13 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 67 and 498, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana. See Fig. 34 in this work.
129
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 42. View of the modern town of Bahar Dar and the Blue Nile leaving in a southernly direction. Seen from a hill
south of the town just east of the river. Evergreen scrub in the foreground with Pterolobium stellatum. Photograph
by Ib Friis, 2016.
31.1.1937
Locality T18 – Riva del lago ad est di Bahar Dar
Locality number 18 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T18 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Shore of Lake Tana to the east
of Bahar Dar.
Georeferencing: Presumably between the old centre of Bahar Dar and one of the outlets from Lake Tana to the Blue Nile, approximately at 11.599132° N, 37.395861° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acanthus sennii Chiov. (m. 1,825; n. 2123).
Barleria ventricosa Nees (m. 1,825; n. 1519).
Capparis tomentosa Lam. (m. 1,825; n. 166).
Ficus ovata Vahl (m. 1,825; n. 2388).
Jasminum grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum (Fresen.) P.S. Green (m. 1,825; n. 1171).
Justicia schimperiana (Nees) T. Anders. (m. 1,825; n. 1504).
Kalanchoe lanceolata (Forssk.) Pers. (m. 1,825; n. 792).
Lantana trifolia L. (m. 1,825; n. 1417).
Maytenus arbutifolia (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,825; n. 2279).
Phragmanthera regularis (Sprague) M.G. Gilbert (m. 1,825; n. 1606).
Phyllanthus ovalifolius Forssk. (m. 1,825; n. 2452).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Plicosepalus acaciae (Zucc.) Wiens & Polhill (m. 1,825; n. 1613).
Plumbago zeylanica L. (m. 1,825; n. 1036).
Rhus sp.[2]* (m. 1,825; n. 453).
Setaria incrassata (Hochst.) Hack. (m. 1,825; n. 307).
Solanum campylacanthum A. Rich. (m. 1,825; n. 2559).
Tapinanthus globiferus (A. Rich.) Tiegh. (m. 1,825; n. 2486).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only tree mentioned from this locality is Ficus ovata, which grows in a wide range of habitats; the remaining species are shrubs
(three parasites) or herbs that may grow on the lake shore or in grassland near the lake.
Locality T18a – Bahar Dar
Locality number 18 with this locality; handwritten label with this locality name and
locality number. Number 18 also used for “Riva del lago ad est di Bahar Dar”; therefore
this locality is here numbered T18a. Marked as 18a on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: [In or at the town of] Bahar Dar
Georeferencing: Presumably inside the old part of Bahar Dar, approximately at
11.594706° N, 37.389800° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Dracaena steudneri Engl. (m. 1,825; n. 2015).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Dracaena steudneri is an indigenous tree, but it is
commonly planted as an ornamental; Pichi Sermolli made no note about this.
Locality T19 – Rive del lago ad ovest di Bahar Dar
Locality number 19 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T19 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Shores of Lake Tana to the
west of Bahar Dar.
Georeferencing: In riparian forest and scrub west of Bahar Dar and on the long peninsula surrounded by a brim of papyrus [“piccole penisolette coperti di Papiri che fiancheggiano il Lago ad ovest di Bahar Dar”], approximately at 11.612607° N, 37.376881° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acanthus polystachius Del. (m. 1,825; n. 2111).
Albuca abyssinica Jacq. (m. 1,825; n. 1755).
Capparis sepiaria L. var. boscioides (Pax) Kers (m. 1,825; n. 171).
Capparis tomentosa Lam. (m. 1,825; n. 167).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 2,400 [probably erroneous for 1,825 m]; n. 1216).
Cissus petiolata Hook. f. (m. 1,825; n. 437).
Clematis hirsuta Guill. & Perr. (m. 1,825; n. 2359).
Cordia africana Lam. (m. 1,825; n. 1255).
Cussonia ostinii Chiov. (m. 1,825; n. 674).
Euphorbia abyssinica Gmel. (m. 1,825; n. 1658).
Ficus vasta Forssk. (m. 1,825; n. 2377).
Hippocratea africana (Willd.) Loes. var. schimperiana (A. Rich.) Cufod. (m. 1,825; n.
366).
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 1,825; n. 97).
Hyparrhenia sp. cfr. H. gazensis* (m. 1,825; n. 330).
Indeterminabile* (m. 1,825; n. 2134).
Indigofera arrecta A. Rich. (m. 1,825; n. 539).
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet (m. 1,825; n. 1324).
Kalanchoe lanceolata (Forssk.) Pers. (m. 1,825; n. 793).
Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet (m. 1,825; n. 515).
131
132
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Mimusops kummel A. DC. (m. 1,825; n. 1076).
Pavetta sp.* (m. 1,825; n. 756).
Phragmanthera regularis (Sprague) M.G. Gilbert (m. 1,825; n. 1607).
Plumbago zeylanica L. (m. 1,825; n. 1037).
Pterolobium stellatum (Forssk.) Brenan (m. 1,825; n. 651).
Rhoicissus tridentata (L. f.) Wild & Drummond (m. 1,825; n. 393).
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock (m. 1,825; n. 563).
Solanum campylacanthum A. Rich. (m. 1,825; n. 2560).
Teclea nobilis Del. (m. 1,825; n. 2058).
Vernonia adoensis Walp. (m. 1,825; n. 961).
Viscum tuberculatum A. Rich. (m. 1,825; n. 1581).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees collected from this locality are Cordia
africana, Cussonia ostinii, Euphorbia abyssinica, Ficus vasta, Mimusops kummel, Senna
singueana and Teclea nobilis. Together, they form a mixed assembly of trees of the lake
shore and IAF (Mimusops kummel), trees in Afromontane woodland of the DAF (Cordia africana, Cussonia ostinii, Euphorbia abyssinica, Ficus vasta, Senna singueana) and
species that occur in clumps of forest or secondary scrub (Teclea nobilis). This impression is confirmed by the smaller shrubs and the herbs.
1.2.1937
Locality T20 – Amba Covitta (Bahar Dar)
Locality number 20 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T20 on Map 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: [The hill of] Amba Covitta
([south of] Bahar Dar).
Variant indication of locality:
Amba Covitta (n. 616).
Georeferencing: “Amba” is the Amharic word for a mountain, usually flat-topped,
because the mountain is derived by erosion from a larger, flat plateau. The place name
“Covitta” has not been seen on any map; there are several small hills south and southwest of Bahar Dar, now nearly all inside the built up area of the town. The “amba” with
the most suitable height to the south-west of the town is approximately at 11.517453°
N, 37.331545° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Albizia malacophylla (A. Rich.) Walp. (m. 1,900; n. 1195).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 1,900; n. 1197, n. 1198).
Clematis hirsuta Guill. & Perr. m. 1900 (m. 1,900; n. 2370).
Combretum molle G. Don (m. 1,900; n. 729).
Croton macrostachyus Del. (m. 1,900; n. 1643).
Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn. (m. 1,900; n. 546).
Dolichos oliveri Schweinf. (m. 1,900; n. 509).
Echinops giganteus A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 2173).
Erythrina abyssinica DC. (m. 1,900; n. 517).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 1,900;
n. 832).
Gnidia involucrata A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 1531).
Grewia mollis A. Juss. (m. 1,900; n. 266).
Guizotia sp.* (m. 1,900; n. 2163).
Helinus mystacinus (Ait.) Steud. (m. 1,900; n. 404).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Hyparrhenia (?) variabilis* (m. 1,900; n. 52).
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 1,900; n. 99).
Hyparrhenia cymbaria (L.) Stapf (m. 1,900; n. 117).
Hyparrhenia sp.* (m. 1,900; n. 317).
Laggera braunii Vatke (m. 1,900; n. 2177).
Lippia adoensis Walp. (m. 1,900; n. 1418).
Ocimum trichodon Gürke (m. 1,900; n. 2475).
Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (m. 1,900; n. 616).
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock (m. 1,900; n. 562, n. 573).
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (m. 1,900; n. 1369).
Terminalia schimperiana Hochst. (m. 1,900; n. 714, n. 718).
Vernonia cylindrica Walp. (m. 1,900; n. 2444).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees in this locality include a majority of species normally associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Albizia malacophylla,
Combretum molle, Erythrina abyssinica, Gardenia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis, Grewia
mollis, Piliostigma thonningii, Stereospermum kunthianum, Terminalia schimperiana).
Fewer are species associated with secondary evergreen scrub (Carissa spinarum, Helinus mystacinus) or Afromontane woodland (Croton macrostachyus).
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli took two photographs on this date
showing the mosaic of cultivations and patches of semi-natural vegetation near the
lake shore near Bahar Dar and the plains south of the small town.14
Locality T21 – Pianura alla base di Amba Covitta (Bahar Dar)
Locality number 21 on printed labels; locality name both on printed and typed labels,
the latter without locality number. Marked as T21 on Map 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Plain at the base of Amba Covitta ([south of] Bahar Dar).
Georeferencing: As for locality number 20, approximately at 11.517453° N, 37.331545° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Combretum molle G. Don (m. 1,850; n. 728).
Cordia africana Lam. (m. 1,850; n. 1254).
Hygrophila schulli (Hamilt.) M.R. & S.M. Almeida (m. 1,850; n. 1363).
Hygrophila spiciformis Lindau (m. 1,850; n. 1341).
Trichodesma zeylanicum (Burm. f.) R. Br. (m. 1,850; n. 1276).
Vernonia congolensis De Wild. & Muschl. subsp. vernonioides (Walp.) C. Jeffrey (m.
1,850; n. 888).
Vernonia myriantha Hook. f. (m. 1,850; n. 2426 (FT, holotype of Vernonia chiarugii
Pic. Serm.).
Vernonia rueppellii Walp. (m. 1,850; n. 2737).
Vegetation; characteristic species: As this locality is in the plains below Amba Covitta it is not surprising that there are species of trees also found in Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Combretum molle, Cordia africana). Since these plains south of the
town are sometimes flooded, it is also to be expected that there are moisture-loving
herbs or subshrubs (Hygrophila schulli, Hygrophila spiciformis).
14 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 726, 727, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
133
134
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
2.2.1937
Locality T22 – Sciunra Apu lungo la riva del lago ad ovest di Bahar Dar
Locality number 22 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T22 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Sciunra Apu along the shore of
Lake Tana to the west of Bahar Dar.
Variant indication of locality:
Sciaunra Apu lungo la riva del lago ad ovest di Bahar Dar (n. 1121, n. 1146, n. 1170).
Georeferencing: The place name “Sciunra Apu” has not been seen on any map, nor
has the alternative spelling “Sciaunra Apu”. Most likely, it is a small village on the shore
of Lake Tana between Bahar Dar and Zegie, but no village can now be pointed out as
the suitable locality for this name. Assuming that Sciunra Apu is relatively close to the
old part of Bahar Dar, but now inside the partly built-up outskirts of the town in direction of the airport, the locality could be approximately at 11.616247° N, 37.348191° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Arundo donax L. (m. 1,825; n. 1943).
Barleria ventricosa Nees (m. 1,825; n. 1517).
Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth. (m. 1,825; n. 628).
Capparis sepiaria L. var. boscioides (Pax) Kers (m. 1,825; n. 172).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 1,825; n. 1215).
Clematis simensis Fresen. (m. 1,825; n. 134).
Conyza pyrrhopappa A. Rich. (m. 1,825; n. 877).
Cordia africana Lam. (m. 1,825; n. 1256).
Croton macrostachyus Del. (m. 1,825; n. 1644).
Dicliptera maculata Nees (m. 1,825; n. 1498).
Dioscorea schimperiana Kunth (m. 1,825; n. 1772).
Diospyros abyssinica (Hiern) F. White (m. 1,825; n. 1121).
Echinochloa stagnina (Retz.) P. Beauv. (m. 1,825; n. 49).
Euclea racemosa Murray subsp. schimperi (A. DC.) F. White (m. 1,825; n. 1146).
Ficus vasta Forssk. (m. 1,825; n. 1712).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 1,825;
n. 833).
Hygrophila spiciformis Lindau (m. 1,825; n. 1339).
Hyparrhenia sp. cfr. H. gazensis* (m. 1,825; n. 325).
Indeterminabile* (m. 1,825; n. 2133, n. 2182).
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet (m. 1,825; n. 1325).
Jasminum grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum (Fresen.) P.S. Green (m. 1,825; n. 1170).
Lannea schimperi (A. Rich.) Engl. (m. 1,825; n. 481).
Lippia adoensis Walp. (m. 1,825; n. 1429).
Maytenus arbutifolia (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,825; n. 2319).
Millettia ferruginea (Hochst.) Bak. (m. 1,825; n. 507).
Mimusops kummel A. DC. (m. 1,825; n. 1077, n. 1078).
Panicum subalbidum Kunth (m. 1,825; n. 44).
Pavetta sp.* (m. 1,825; n. 754).
Phoenix reclinata Jacq. (m. 1,825; n. 2003).
Polystachya bennettiana Rchb. f. (m. 1,825; n. 2537, n. 2539).
Pterolobium stellatum (Forssk.) Brenan (m. 1,820; n. 643).
Rhoicissus tridentata (L. f.) Wild & Drummond (m. 1,825; n. 403).
Rhus vulgaris Meikle (m. 1,825; n. 452).
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock (m. 1,825; n. 560).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Vernonia congolensis De Wild. & Muschl. subsp. vernonioides (Walp.) C. Jeffrey (m.
1,825; n. 887).
Ximenia americana L. (m. 1,825; n. 359).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Some of the trees recorded from this locality are
associated with forest, probably at the lake shore (Mimusops kummel, Phoenix reclinata),
others probably in clumps in more open Afromontane woodland (Cordia africana, Croton macrostachyus, Diospyros abyssinica, Euclea racemosa subsp. schimperi, Lippia adoensis, Maytenus arbutifolia, Millettia ferruginea, Pterolobium stellatum, Rhus vulgaris, Senna
singueana), yet others are typical of Afromontane woodland (Gardenia ternifolia subsp.
jovis-tonantis, Lannea schimperi, Ximenia americana). Some of the herbaceous species
are associated with swampy ground, and therefore probably found near the shoreline
of the lake; others away from the lake in Afromontane grassland.
Locality T23 – Presso Bahar Dar
Locality number 23 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T23 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near Bahar Dar.
Georeferencing: There is very little information to go by for georeferencing this locality, except that the floristic composition indicates relatively dry ground away from the
lake. Since the locality was visited on the same day as no. 22, which is said to be to the
west of Bahar Dar, it is likely that the locality is now inside the outskirts of the modern
town; possibly approximately at 11.613346° N, 37.363908° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Amorphophallus gomboczianus Pic. Serm. (m. 1,825; n. 1988).
Barleria ventricosa Nees (m. 1,825; n. 1520).
Caylusea abyssinica (Fresen.) Fisch. & Mey. (m. 1,825; n. 146).
Coffea arabica L. (m. 1,825; n. 767, n. 768).
Commelina benghalensis L. (m. 1,825; n. 1752, n. 1753).
Datura stramonium L. (m. 1,825; n. 1301).
Diaphananthe tenuicalcar Summerh. (m. 1,825; n. 2526).
Kalanchoe lanceolata (Forssk.) Pers. (m. 1,825; n. 791).
Phytolacca dodecandra L’Hérit. (m. 1,825; n. 1567).
Podocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) Mirb. (m. 1,825; n. 30).
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock (m. 1,825; n. 561).
Solanum campylacanthum A. Rich. (m. 1,825; n. 2561).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Asplenium theciferum (H.B.K.) Mett. (No alt.; n. 1854, FI-PS 10624).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only proper tree collected in this locality is
Podocarpus falcatus; Pichi Sermolli (1951: 19) wrote about this species: “In the Lake
Tana basin I have seen this species only in the vicinity of houses, churches and villages.
It is certainly cultivated and exclusively so for ornamental purposes. The seedlings in
the first years after planting are defended against animals and other enemies by means
of fences and cages made of intertwined branches.” Another cultivated tree or shrub
is Coffea arabica. Most of the remaining species indicate grassland with scattered secondary scrub. Diaphananthe tenuicalcar is an epiphytic orchid that must have grown
on a tree or a shrub of Coffea.
135
136
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Photographic documentation: Two photographs taken on this day show the semi-natural vegetation with Euphorbia abyssinica and papyrus swamps, both near Bahar Dar.15
Locality T23a – Coltivato presso Bahar Dar
No locality number on hand-written label with this locality. Marked as T23a on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Cultivated near Bahar Dar.
Georeferencing: Presumably collected near locality number 23 and therefore here recorded as T23a; a likely location would be approximately at 11.613346° N, 37.363908° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. (m. 1,825; n. 2541).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The tomato is a very commonly cultivated herb
in home gardens.
3.2.1937
(In Pichi Sermolli (1951) the collection of Oryza longistaminata, n. 1873 from locality
number 24, is said to have been collected on “5. feb.”, almost certainly an error for 3.2.).
Locality T24 – Riva del lago in corrispondenza di Scimbit (Bahar Dar)
Locality number 24 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T24 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Shore of Lake Tana at Scimbit,
near Bahar Dar.
Georeferencing: The village Scimbit is marked on the map in 1:100,000 by the Ufficio Topografico del R. Governo Amara (ca. 1938: Sheet F2, “Bahar Dar”) and a church
named Shimbat Mikhael [Shimbat Michael] is indicated on the map in 1:250,000 by
the Egyptian-Sudanese mapping Authority (ca. 1940; Sheet 67A, Dangila). It is immediately west of the peninsula west of Bar Dar mentioned under locality 19. There are
now two churches in this area; Pichi Sermolli’s locality is presumable near 11.617270°
N, 37.366629° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Aeschynomene schimperi A. Rich. (m. 1,825; n. 2267, n. 2268).
Cyperus longus L. (m. 1,825; n. 1959).
Cyperus papyrus L. (m. 1,825; n. 1956).
Cyperus penzoanus Pic. Serm. (m. 1,820; n. 1986 (FT, holotype of Cyperus penzoanus
Pic. Serm.).
Dyschoriste nagchana (Nees) Bennett (m. 1,825; n. 1355).
Echinochloa pyramidalis (Lam.) Hitchc. & Chase (m. 1,825; n. 51).
Ficus ovata Vahl (m. 1,825; n. 2389).
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet (m. 1,825; n. 1326).
Maytenus arbutifolia (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,825; n. 2282).
Oryza longistaminata A. Chev. & Roehr. (m. 1,820; n. 1873).
Persicaria setosula (A. Rich.) K. Wilson (m. 1,820; n. 1542).
Phoenix reclinata Jacq. (m. 1,825; n. 1996).
Polystachya bennettiana Rchb. f. (m. 1,825; n. 2536).
Rhus quartiniana A. Rich. (m. 1,825; n. 2340; n. 2342).
15 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 728, 729, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
137
Fig. 43. Patch of Cyperus papyrus and grasses on the shore of Lake Tana to the west of Bahar Dar. Forest in
the background. Photograph by Ib Friis, 2015.
Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. var. nubica Chiov. (m. 1,825; n. 2521).
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. (m. 1,825; n. 817).
Tacazzea (?) apiculata* (m. 1,825; n. 2131).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The three indigenous species of trees collected
in this locality (Ficus ovata, Phoenix reclinata, Syzygium guineense) occur typically in
the forest communities on the lake shore. Many of the herbs and subshrubs are also
typically associated with swampy ground near the lake shore (Aeschynomene schimperi,
Cyperus longus, Cyperus papyrus, Cyperus penzoanus, Echinochloa pyramidalis, Ipomoea
cairica, Oryza longistaminata, Persicaria setosula, Sesbania sesban var. nubica).
Photographic documentation: Photographs taken on this day show a “tanqua” (reed
boat of papyrus) on the lake and papyrus swamps.16
Locality T24a – A sud di Bahar Dar presso il villaggio di Sabatami
No locality number on typed label with this locality. Marked as T24a on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: South of Bahar Dar near the
village of Sabatami.
16 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 730, 731, 732, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
138
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Georeferencing: The exact spelling of a place name as “Sabatami” has not been seen
on any map; the map in 1:100,000 by the Ufficio Topografico del R. Governo Amara (ca.
1938: Sheet F2, “Bahar Dar”) has a village “Sevatamit” at 11° 33’ N, 37° 25’ E, the map
on p. 176 in Miss. Studi al Lago Tana, vol. 2, has a place along the Blue Nile named
“Samatami” and the map by Demelie Arega (no year) indicates a place named “Sebat amet” along the Blue Nile near that same place. The locality has not been given a
number, but is here recorded as T23a. Presumably the locality should be mapped as at
11.538236° N, 37.400289° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Chrozophora plicata (Vahl) A. Juss. (m. 1,850; n. 1695).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The recording of Chrozophora plicata from this
locality would suggest moist, disturbed ground.
4.2.1937
Excursion by boat or tanqua [papyrus-boat] from Bahar Dar to Kebra Uddus Gabriel, a forested island with a monastery in Lake Tana.
Locality T25 – Kebra Uddus Gabriel
Locality number 25 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T25 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: [On the island of] Kebra Uddus Gabriel.
Georeferencing: “Uddus” or ”kuddus” are Amharic words referring to the sainthood
of a person and “kebra” means “glory”; the name refers to the monastery on a small island in the southernmost part of Lake Tana. The map on p. 176 in Miss. Studi al Lago
Tana, vol. 2, indicates the name “I[sola] Kuddus Gabriel” as the largest and northernmost of the small islands with monasteries in the Lake near Bahar Dar. On the map
by Demelie Arega (no year) this island is marked as “Kibran Gabriel”. Pichi Sermolli’s
“Kebra Uddus Gabriel” is therefore the largest of the steep-sided island with a monastery in the southern part of Lake Tana. The highest point of the island is approximately
at 11.651935° N, 37.364102° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Abutilon mauritianum (Jacq.) Medic. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 221).
Achyranthes aspera L. var. pubescens (Moq.) C.C. Townsend (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1438).
Ageratum conyzoides L. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1062).
Albizia schimperiana Oliv. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1117).
Arundo donax L. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1949).
Barleria ventricosa Nees (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1521).
Celosia schweinfurthiana Schinz (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 2504).
Celosia trigyna L. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1449).
Celtis africana Burm. f. (m. 1,850-1,900; n. 1685).
Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 250).
Coffea arabica L. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 769, n. 770).
Cordia africana Lam. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1258).
Cordia monoica Roxb. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 2404, n. 2409).
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1884).
Cyperus cyperoides (L.) Kuntze (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1952).
Cyperus fischerianus A. Rich. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1967).
Dicliptera maculata Nees (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1495).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Diospyros abyssinica (Hiern) F. White (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1122).
Dombeya torrida (J.F. Gmel.) P. Bamps (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 235).
Ficus thonningii Bl. (m. 1,850-1,900; n. 1666).
Gossypium hirsutum L. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 204).
Graminacee indeterminabili* (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 338).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 285, n. 286).
Guizotia villosa Sch. Bip. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1005).
Hibiscus calyphyllus Cavan. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 209).
Hippocratea africana (Willd.) Loes. var. schimperiana (A. Rich.) Cufod. (m. 1,8201,900; n. 371).
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1328).
Juniperus procera Endl. (m. 1,850-1,900; n. 18).
Justicia schimperiana (Nees) T. Anders. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1505).
Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 511).
Laggera crispata (Vahl) Hepper & Wood (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 929, n. 931, n. 932).
Millettia ferruginea (Hochst.) Bak. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 508).
Mimusops kummel A. DC. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1079).
Olea europaea L. subsp. cuspidata (G. Don) Cif. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1172).
Pennisetum unisetum (Nees) Benth. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 39).
Phoenix reclinata Jacq. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1997).
Phytolacca dodecandra L’Hérit. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1573).
Plumbago zeylanica L. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1038).
Rhamnus prinoides L’Hérit. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 416).
Rumex nervosus Vahl (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1554).
Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. var. nubica Chiov. (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 2522, n. 2523).
Tragia cinerea (Pax) M.G. Gilbert & Radcl.-Smith (m. 1,820-1,900; n. 1691).
Fern collections in FI-PS and cited in Pichi Sermolli (1957b):
Adiantum poiretii Wikstr. (No alt.; n. 1801, not seen, cited from Pichi Sermolli 1957a:
688).
Asplenium theciferum (H.B.K.) Mett. (No alt.; n. 1848, FI-PS 29347, a duplicate at LUX
marked MNHNL47671/LUX058536).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The majority of trees collected from this locality
(Albizia schimperiana, Celtis africana, Cordia africana, Dombeya torrida, Ficus thonningii,
Juniperus procera, Millettia ferruginea, Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata) indicate the forest on the island, which is protected by the presence of St. Gabriel’s monastery; the
combination of species indicate that the forest can be classified as DAF or IAF. Mimusops kummel and Phoenix reclinata may have occurred in the forest on the lake shore
or further inland.
Photographic documentation: Some of Pichi Sermolli’s photographs from the excursion to Kebra Uddus Gabriel show the lake shore and the forest, while the photographs
from 501/737 to 501/743 show inside and outside of the church on the island.17 Photographs from the lake show vegetation on the Zegi peninsula.18 A photograph taken by
17 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 733, 734, 735, 736, 737, 738, 739, 740, 741, 742, 743, in the
Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
18 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 7744, 745, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
139
140
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Dainelli on 5.2.1937 shows the lakeshore vegetation of the place on Kebra Uddus Gabriel, where the boat from Bahar Dar landed; most of the shrubs are a species of Sesbania.19
6.2.1937
A collection from near Bahar Dar.
Locality T25a – Bahar Dar
No locality number on handwritten label with this locality. Marked as T25a on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: [At or in the town of] Bahar Dar.
Georeferencing: There is very little information to go by to georeference this locality,
but the ecology of the collected species would indicate that it is away from the lake shore
and swampy ground. Possibly south of the old town in an area now built up; according to this, Pichi Sermolli’s locality is approximately at 11.580069° N, 37.395075° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Amorphophallus gomboczianus Pic. Serm. (m. 1,825; n. 1990).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only recorded species is characteristic of
Afromontane grassland or edges of secondary scrub.
7.2.1937
Excursion to the south of Bahar Dar and to the ferry on the Abay River to the east of
the town.
Photographic documentation of unspecified habitats on the 7.2.1937: Among the
photographs taken on that day only (501/749), showing riverine forest with Phoenix
reclinata, has direct relation to the characteristics of the vegetation.20
Locality T25b – A sud di Bahar Dar
No locality number on handwritten label with this locality. Marked as T25b on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: South of Bahar Dar.
Georeferencing: This locality could be at a large and swampy area in old streambeds
along the Blue Nile to the south of the old centre of Bahar Dar; it can be seen on the
map in 1:100,000 by the Ufficio Topografico del R. Governo Amara (ca. 1938: Sheet F2,
“Bahar Dar”), but is now reduced in size by draining. According to this, Pichi Sermolli’s locality is approximately at 11.540919° N, 37.406997° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Kanahia laniflora (Forssk.) R. Br. (m. 1,850; n. 1249).
Vegetation; characteristic species: In northern Ethiopia, Kanahia laniflora is common in the beds of temporary streams and along permanent streams.
19 See archival font Dainelli (501), image 96, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
20 See archival font Dainelli (501), image 746, 747, 748, 749, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società
geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Locality T26 – Pianura a sud di Bahar Dar
Locality number 26 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T26 on Map 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Small plain south of Bahar Dar.
Variant indication of locality:
Piana a sud di Bahar Dar (n. 287, n. 332, n. 451, n. 480, n. 618, n. 632, n. 1587, n. 1608,
n. 1614, n. 1645, n. 1655, n. 1711, n. 2101, n. 2149, n. 2159, n. 2162, n. 2399, n. 2400,
n. 2562).
Piana a sud del Bahar Dar (n. 1161).
Piana sud di Bahar Dar (n. 1660).
Georeferencing: There are extensive areas with level ground south of Bahar Dar, and it
is difficult to identify a specific place where the collections have been made. A suitable
place for Pichi Sermolli’s locality could be approximately at 11.501653° N, 37.426270° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acanthus polystachius Del. (m. 1,850; n. 2100; n. 2101).
Aloe macrocarpa Tod. (m. 1,850; n. 1761).
Aristida adoensis Hochst. (m. 1,850; n. 332).
Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth. (m. 1,850; n. 632).
Capparis tomentosa Lam. (m. 1,850; n. 168).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 1,825; n. 1202).
Clematis hirsuta Guill. & Perr. (m. 1,850; n. 2360).
Combretum molle G. Don (m. 1,850; n. 732).
Cordia africana Lam. (m. 1,850; n. 1257).
Croton macrostachyus Del. (m. 1,850; n. 1645, n. 1655).
Echinochloa pyramidalis (Lam.) Hitchc. & Chase (m. 1,850; n. 50).
Eragrostis sp.* (m. 1,850; n. 1881).
Ethulia conyzoides L. f. (m. 1,850; n. 942).
Euphorbia schimperiana Scheele (m. 1,850; n. 1660).
Ferula communis L. (m. 1,850; n. 692).
Ficus sycomorus L. (m. 1,850; n. 2399, n. 2400).
Ficus vasta Forssk. (m. 1,850; n. 1711).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 1,850;
n. 834).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 287).
Guizotia sp.* (m. 1,850; n. 2159, n. 2162).
Hygrophila schulli (Hamilt.) M.R. & S.M. Almeida (m. 1,850; n. 1362).
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 1,850; n. 101).
Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf (m. 1,850; n. 77, n. 79).
Indigofera secundiflora Poir. (m. 1,850; n. 535).
Jasminum grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum (Fresen.) P.S. Green (m. 1,850; n. 1161).
Lactuca inermis Forssk. (m. 1,850; n. 2149).
Lannea schimperi (A. Rich.) Engl. (m. 1,850; n. 480).
Lippia adoensis Walp. (m. 1,850; n. 1420).
Phragmanthera regularis (Sprague) M.G. Gilbert (m. 1,850; n. 1608).
Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (m. 1,850; n. 618).
Plicosepalus acaciae (Zucc.) Wiens & Polhill (m. 1,850; n. 1614).
Rhus sp.[2]* (m. 1,850; n. 451).
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock (m. 1,850; n. 568).
Setaria atrata Hack. (m. 1,850; n. 308).
Solanum campylacanthum A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 2562).
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (m. 1,850; n. 1368).
141
142
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Vernonia adoensis Walp. (m. 1,850; n. 959).
Vernonia congolensis De Wild. & Muschl. subsp. vernonioides (Walp.) C. Jeffrey (m.
1,850; n. 886).
Vernonia cylindrica Walp. (m. 1,850; n. 2445).
Vernonia rueppellii Walp. (m. 1,850; n. 2424).
Viscum tuberculatum A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 1587).
Wahlenbergia abyssinica (A. Rich.) Thulin (m. 1,850; n. 1052).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The floristic composition of the collections indicates woodland vegetation with species associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Combretum molle, Gardenia ternifolia, Lannea schimperi, Piliostigma thonningii,
Stereospermum kunthianum) other species the presence of secondary bushland (Calpurnia aurea, Capparis tomentosa, Grewia ferruginea, Senna singueana), some species
indicate disturbance.
Locality T27 – Traghetto del Nilo Azzurro
Locality number 27 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T27 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: At the ferry on the Blue Nile.
Georeferencing: See also notes on locality number 17, at 1,790 m. These collected
species are plants growing in swamps and open water and must be from the river itself,
approximately at 11.604488° N, 37.407862° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Bridelia micrantha (Hochst.) Baill. (m. 1,820; n. 2460).
Echinochloa pyramidalis (Lam.) Hitchc. & Chase (m. 1,820; n. 339).
Hydrocotyle ranunculoides L. f. (m. 1,820; n. 707).
Mimosa pigra L. (m. 1,820; n. 582).
Nymphaea lotus L. (m. 1,820; n. 122).
Pistia stratiotes L. (m. 1,820; n. 1733).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The list includes the shrub or small tree Bridelia
micrantha; the remaining species are herbs or subshrubs growing typically in moist
places or in shallow water.
Locality T27 – continued – Presso Bahar Dar al traghetto del Nilo Azzurro
No locality number on typed label with this locality. Marked as T27 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near Bahar Dar at the ferry
across the Blue Nile.
Georeferencing: The ecology of the collection would indicate slightly drier ground than
the previous habitat numbered T27, but presumably both are near the ferry. Therefore,
the two habitats are considered part of the same locality, and Pichi Sermolli’s locality
is therefore also numbered T27 and approximately at 11.604488° N, 37.407862° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Echinops giganteus A. Rich. (m. 1,825; n. 2175 (FT, holotype of Echinops francinianus
Pic. Serm.)).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only species recorded here, Echinops giganteus, grows typically in Afromontane woodland, often at margins of scrub.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
8.2.1937
Excursion to the shores of Lake Tana to the west of Bahar Dar.
Locality T28 – Boscaglia ad ovest del villaggio di Selcien (Bahar Dar)).
Locality number 28 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T28 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Bushland to the west of the village of Selcien, near Bahar Dar.
Georeferencing: A village named “Selcen” is marked on the map in 1:100,000 by the
Ufficio Topografico del R. Governo Amara (ca. 1938: Sheet F2, “Bahar Dar”) at 11° 37’
N, 37° 21’ E, which is marked as being near the lake shore. A village with a church, “Salachun”, is indicated on the map in 1:250,000 by the Egyptian-Sudanese mapping Authority (ca. 1940; Sheet 67A, Dangila). A church named “Selchen Michael” is marked
near this position on the map by Demelie Arega (no year); presuming that this is the
right church, Pichi Sermolli’s locality is approximately at 11.636738° N, 37.319965° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Asparagus africanus Lam. (m. 1,850; n. 1767).
Capparis tomentosa Lam. (m. 1,850; n. 155).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 1,850; n. 1199).
Caylusea abyssinica (Fresen.) Fisch. & Mey. (m. 1,825; n. 143).
Clematis hirsuta Guill. & Perr. (m. 1,850; n. 2371).
Convolvulus sagittatus Thunb. (m. 1,850; n. 1307, n. 1308).
Conyza pyrrhopappa A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 876).
Cordia africana Lam. (m. 1,850; n. 1260).
Croton macrostachyus Del. (m. 1,850; n. 1647, n. 1654).
Echinops giganteus A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 2171).
Entada abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 621, n. 623).
Ethulia conyzoides L. f. (m. 1,850; n. 944).
Ficus thonningii Bl. (m. 1,850; n. 1663).
Ficus vasta Forssk. (m. 1,850; n. 1705, n. 1715).
Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr. (m. 1,850; n. 2044).
Foeniculum vulgare Miller (m. 1,850; n. 694).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 1,850;
n. 837).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 284).
Guizotia sp.* (m. 1,850; n. 2166).
Guizotia villosa Sch. Bip. (m. 1,850; n. 2165).
Helinus mystacinus (Ait.) Steud. (m. 1,850; n. 407).
Hibiscus cannabinus L. (m. 1,850; n. 218).
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 1,850; n. 84).
Hyparrhenia (?) rufa* (m. 1,850; n. 64).
Hyparrhenia sp.* (m. 1,850; n. 326).
Indeterminabile* (m. 1,850; n. 2199).
Indigofera secundiflora Poir. (m. 1,850; n. 533).
Jasminum grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum (Fresen.) P.S. Green (m. 1,850; n. 1166).
Justicia ladanoides Lam. (m. 1,850; n. 1338).
Lactuca inermis Forssk. (m. 1,850; n. 2153, n. 2154).
Lannea schimperi (A. Rich.) Engl. (m. 1,850; n. 477).
Lippia adoensis Walp. (m. 1,850; n. 1419).
Maytenus arbutifolia (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,850; n. 2283).
143
144
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka (m. 1,850; n. 54).
Millettia ferruginea (Hochst.) Bak. (m. 1,850; n. 504).
Mimusops kummel A. DC. (m. 1,850; n. 1082).
Ocimum urticifolium Roth (m. 1,850; n. 2479).
Otostegia tomentosa A. Rich. subsp. ambigens (Chiov.) Sebald (m. 1,850; n. 2515).
Phragmanthera macrosolen (A. Rich.) M.G. Gilbert (m. 1,850; n. 2485).
Phragmanthera regularis (Sprague) M.G. Gilbert (m. 1,850; n. 1604).
Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (m. 1,850; n. 613).
Plicosepalus acaciae (Zucc.) Wiens & Polhill (m. 1,850; n. 1611).
Pterolobium stellatum (Forssk.) Brenan (m. 1,850; n. 649).
Rhus vulgaris Meikle (m. 1,850; n. 446).
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock (m. 1,850; n. 564).
Solanum campylacanthum A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 2551).
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (m. 1,850; n. 1374).
Tapinanthus heteromorphus (A. Rich.) Danser (m. 1,850; n. 1610).
Tephrosia elata Deflers (m. 1,850; n. 2259).
Vernonia adoensis Walp. (m. 1,850; n. 958, n. 962).
Vernonia amygdalina Del. (m. 1,850; n. 901).
Vernonia congolensis De Wild. & Muschl. subsp. vernonioides (Walp.) C. Jeffrey (m.
1,850; n. 882, n. 891).
Viscum tuberculatum A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 1585).
Ximenia americana L. (m. 1,850; n. 357).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Pichi Sermolli terms this locality as “boscaglia”,
vegetation with trees and shrubs. The trees at this locality are Cordia africana, Croton
macrostachyus, Entada abyssinica, Ficus thonningii, Ficus vasta, Flacourtia indica, Gardenia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis, Grewia ferruginea, Millettia ferruginea, Mimusops
kummel, Piliostigma thonningii, Stereospermum kunthianum, Ximenia americana). Some
are typical woodland species (Entada abyssinica, Gardenia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis, Piliostigma thonningii, Stereospermum kunthianum, Ximenia americana), while others
are associated with the forest on the lake shore or IAF (Mimusops kummel), or clumps
of trees in Afromontane woodland (Millettia ferruginea). Also the composition of the
list of shrubs and herbs indicate a mosaic of forests and woodland.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs from Selcien show vegetation in shallow water, Afromontane bushland and wooded grassland and papyrus
swamps. 21
Locality T29 – Sulle rive del lago in corrispondenza di Selcien (Bahar Dar)
Locality number 29 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T29 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: On the shores of the lake [Lake
Tana] opposite the village of Selcien, near Bahar Dar.
Variant indication of locality:
Sulle rive del lago in corrispondenza di Selcien (Bahar Dar) foresta (n. 1123).
Presso le rive del lago in corrispondenza di Selcien (Bahar Dar) (n. 766).
Lungo le rive del lago in corrispondenza di Selcien (Bahar Dar) (n. 788).
Lungo la costa del lago in corrispondenza di Selcien (Bahar Dar) (n. 1734).
21 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 750, 751, 752, 753, 754, 755, 756, 757, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Georeferencing: See notes about “Selcien” under locality number 28. To judge from
the floristic composition of the collections, which includes species growing in water, this
locality includes some of the lake shore, but also some forest-like vegetation, possibly
coffee-forest, further inland. It must be approximately at 11.644689° N, 37.320040° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Abutilon mauritianum (Jacq.) Medic. (m. 1,825; n. 220).
Albizia schimperiana Oliv. (m. 1,825; n. 1120).
Barleria ventricosa Nees (m. 1,825; n. 1522).
Bridelia micrantha (Hochst.) Baill. (m. 1,825; n. 2453).
Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth. (m. 1,850; n. 631).
Coffea arabica L. (m. 1,825; n. 766).
Conyza pyrrhopappa A. Rich. (m. 1,825; n. 874).
Diospyros abyssinica (Hiern) F. White (m. 1,850; n. 1123).
Ethulia conyzoides L. f. (m. 1,825; n. 945).
Hygrophila spiciformis Lindau (m. 1,825; n. 1340).
Hyparrhenia rufa x umbrosa[2]* (m. 1,825; n. 320).
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet (m. 1,825; n. 1321).
Justicia schimperiana (Nees) T. Anders. (m. 1,825; n. 1506).
Kalanchoe lanceolata (Forssk.) Pers. (m. 1,825; n. 788).
Ludwigia leptocarpa (Nutt.) H. Hara (m. 1,825; n. 2196, n. 2197).
Mimusops kummel A. DC. (m. 1,820; n. 1080).
Phaulopsis imbricata (Forssk.) Sweet (m. 1,825; n. 1352).
Plumbago zeylanica L. (m. 1,825; n. 2079).
Sapium ellipticum (Krauss) Pax (m. 1,825; n. 1694).
Setaria megaphylla (Steud.) Th. Dur. & Schinz (m. 1,825; n. 47).
Typha latifolia L. (m. 1,825; n. 1734).
Vallisneria spiralis L. (m. 1,825; n. 1736).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Pichi Sermolli stated that this locality was on the
lake shore as can also be seen from some of the species in the list. The trees and large
shrubs are Albizia schimperiana, Bridelia micrantha, Calpurnia aurea, Coffea arabica (presumably cultivated), Diospyros abyssinica, Mimusops kummel, Sapium ellipticum. These
are typical of clumps of trees in DAF, which is otherwise dominated by Afromontane
woodland, but Mimusops kummel is typically associated with forests on lake shores and
IAF. The smaller shrubs and herb are characteristic of DAF woodland and grassland or
growing in shallow water near the lake shore (Hygrophila spiciformis, Ipomoea cairica,
Ludwigia leptocarpa, Typha latifolia, Vallisneria spiralis).
Locality T29 – continued – Riva del lago in corrispondenza di Selcien (Bahar Dar)
No locality number on a typed label with this locality. Marked as T29 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: On the shore of the lake opposite Selcien, near Bahar Dar.
Georeferencing: Like the collections with locality number 29 on the label, this species
grows at the lake shore, probably in the water, near locality number 28, and its locality
has therefore been recorded as a continuation of T29; approximately at 11.644689°
N, 37.3200400° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Persicaria setosula (A. Rich.) K. Wilson (m. 1,820; n. 1543).
Vegetation; characteristic species: This species is typically growing in swamps or
in shallow water.
145
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Locality T29 – continued – Riva occidentale del lago in corrispondenza di Selcien,
sugli scogli basaltici
No locality number on labels with this locality. Marked as T29 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: On the western shore of the
lake [Lake Tana] opposite Selcien, on basaltic rocks in the lake.
Georeferencing: Like the collections with locality number 29 on the label, this species grows at the lake shore, probably on rocks in the water, near locality number 28,
and its locality has therefore been recorded as a continuation of T29; approximately
at 11.644689° N, 37.320040° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Tristicha trifaria (Willd.) Spreng. (m. 1,820; n. 2066, n. 2067).
Vegetation; characteristic species: This species is typically growing on rocks in shallow water, but usually in running water.
Excursion by boat to the island of Kain (possibly misdated).
Locality T29a – Isola Kain
No locality number; handwritten label with no locality number; a collection date
on 4.2., with the collections from Kebra Uddus Gabriel, the bigger island near Kain.
Marked as T29a on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: The island of Kain [in Lake Tana].
Georeferencing: According to Pichi Sermolli (1951, p. 13) a small island near the island
of Kebra Uddus Gabriel: “Poco distante da Kebra Uddus Gabriel si trovano due piccole
isole (Kebra Jesus e Kain).” [A short distance from Kebra Uddus Gabriel there are two
small islands, Kebra Jesus and Kain]. A collection date on the 4.2. would seem more
likely for this locality. The highest point of the island is at 11.645699° N, 37.368017° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Kanahia laniflora (Forssk.) R. Br. (m. 1,820; n. 1250).
Vegetation; characteristic species: In northern Ethiopia, Kanahia laniflora is common in the beds of temporary streams and along permanent streams, but some of Pichi
Sermolli’s records are also from lake shores.
9.2.1937
Excursions to the shores of Lake Tana to the east of Bahr-Dar.
Locality T30 – Riva del lago a est di Bahar Dar
Locality number 30 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T30 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: On the shore of Lake Tana to
the east of Bahar Dar.
Variant indication of locality:
Rive del lago ad est di Bahar Dar (n. 1621).
Georeferencing: This may be a supplementary visit, following up on the more intensive collecting activity on the 31st of January (locality number 18). The imprecisely
indicated locality could be near the place where the Blue Nile leaves the lake, approximately at 11.618411° N, 37.404059° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acanthus polystachius Del. (m. 1,825; n. 2104).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Ficus ovata Vahl (m. 1,825; n. 2390).
Guizotia (?) villosa* (m. 1,825; n. 2160).
Helinus mystacinus (Ait.) Steud. (m. 1,825; n. 406).
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,850; n. 386).
Osyris quadripartita Decn. (m. 1,825; n. 1621).
Tacazzea apiculata Oliv. (m. 1,825; n. 2136).
Ximenia americana L. (m. 1,825; n. 358).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only tree mentioned from this locality is Ficus ovata, which was also recorded from locality number 18; it grows in a wide range of
habitats; the remaining species are common and widespread shrubs or herbs that may
grow on the lake shore or in grassland or bushland near the lake.
10.2.1937
Excursions to the forest and bushland around the ferry on the Abay River and a hill
south of town, Mt. Debangi.
Locality T31 – Foresta sulla sponda orientale del Nilo Azzurro al traghetto
Locality number 31 on printed labels with this locality; locality name also on typed
label with no locality number. Marked as T31 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Forest on the eastern shore of
the Blue Nile near the ferry across the river.
Variant indication of locality:
Foresta sulla sponda orientale del Nilo Azzurro, al traghetto (n. 753).
Foresta della sponda orientale del Nilo Azzurro al traghetto (n. 370).
Foresta sulla sponda orientale del Nilo Azzurro al traghetto per Bahar Dar (n. 1351).
Sponda orientale del Nilo Azzurro al traghetto (n. 2456).
Georeferencing: See discussion for locality number 17; probably approximately at
11.605236° N, 37.409444° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Aerangis brachycarpa (A. Rich.) Th. Dur. & Schinz (m. 1,820; n. 2530, n. 2531).
Apodytes dimidiata Arn. var. acutifolia (A. Rich.) Boutique (m. 1,820; n. 349).
Bridelia micrantha (Hochst.) Baill. (m. 1,820; n. 2456).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 1,820; n. 1205).
Cyperus longus L. (m. 1,820; n. 1960).
Cyperus penzoanus Pic. Serm. (m. 1,820; n. 1983).
Desmodium salicifolium (Poir.) DC. (m. 1,820; n. 527).
Dicliptera maculata Nees (m. 1,820; n. 1497).
Ethulia conyzoides L. f. (m. 1,820; n. 943).
Euclea racemosa Murray subsp. schimperi (A. DC.) F. White (m. 1,820; n. 1144, n. 1145).
Ficus vasta Forssk. (m. 1,825; n. 1706).
Hibiscus diversifolius Jacq. (m. 1,825; n. 215).
Hippocratea africana (Willd.) Loes. var. schimperiana (A. Rich.) Cufod. (m. 1,820; n.
370).
Hypoestes triflora (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult. (m. 1,820; n. 1342).
Indeterminabile* (m. 1,820; n. 2062).
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet (m. 1,820; n. 1320).
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,820; n. 384).
Millettia ferruginea (Hochst.) Bak. (m. 1,820; n. 502).
147
148
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Mimosa pigra L. (m. 1,820; n. 580).
Mimusops kummel A. DC. (m. 1,820; n. 1081, n. 1083).
Pavetta sp.* (m. 1,820; n. 753).
Phaulopsis imbricata (Forssk.) Sweet (m. 1,820; n. 1351).
Phoenix reclinata Jacq. (m. 1,820; n. 1998).
Pittosporum abyssinicum Del. (m. 1,825; n. 244).
Polystachya bennettiana Rchb. f. (m. 1,820; n. 2535).
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. (m. 1,820; n. 816).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Pichi Sermolli characterised this locality as forest,
but some species indicate the presence of scrub and Afromontane woodland. Widespread forest trees or large shrubs are Apodytes dimidiata var. acutifolia, Bridelia micrantha, Millettia ferruginea. Trees associated with forest on lake shores or IAF are Mimusops
kummel, Phoenix reclinata, Syzygium guineense. Epiphytic orchids on forest trees are
Aerangis brachycarpa, Polystachya bennettiana. Species associated with Afromontane
woodland are Euclea racemosa subsp. schimperi, Ficus vasta, Pittosporum abyssinicum.
Subshrubs and herbs associated with swamps and shallow water are Cyperus longus,
Cyperus penzoanus, Mimosa pigra.
Photographic documentation: One photograph is from this date and site, showing
the riverine vegetation, dominated by Phoenix reclinata.22
No specimen from a locality number 32 has been traced.
Locality T33 – Boscaglia internamente alla foresta della sponda orientale del Nilo Azzurro al traghetto
Locality number 33 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T33 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Patch of bushland inside the
forest on the eastern shore of the Blue Nile near the ferry across the river.
Variant indication of locality:
Boscaglia internamente alla sponda orientale del Nilo Azzurro al traghetto (n. 92).
Georeferencing: See discussion for locality number 17; probably approximately at
11.605236° N, 37.409444° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acanthus polystachius Del. (m. 1,830; n. 2103).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 1,830; n. 1204).
Croton macrostachyus Del. (m. 1,820; n. 1646).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 1,830;
n. 836).
Guizotia sp.* (m. 1840; n. 2167).
Hyparrhenia (?) umbrosa* (m. 1,830; n. 66).
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 1,830; n. 92).
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet (m. 1,830; n. 1322).
Ipomoea sp.* (m. 1,830; n. 2128).
Ipomoea tenuirostris Choisy (m. 1,830; n. 1332, n. 1336).
Ocimum trichodon Gürke (m. 1,830; n. 2474).
Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (m. 1,830; n. 612).
22 See archival font Dainelli (501), image 758, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Rhus vulgaris Meikle (m. 1,830; n. 447).
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock (m. 1,830; n. 565).
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (m. 1,830; n. 1372).
Triumfetta pilosa Roth (m. 1,830; n. 298).
Vernonia congolensis De Wild. & Muschl. subsp. vernonioides (Walp.) C. Jeffrey (m.
1,830; n. 884).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Pichi Sermolli specified that this locality was
scrub-vegetation inside the forest represented by locality number T31. Shrubs that
agree with the characteristic of growing in scrub are Acanthus polystachius, Carissa
spinarum, Rhus vulgaris, Senna singueana. However, the list also includes trees that are
widespread in Combretum-Terminalia woodland (CTW) Croton macrostachyus, Gardenia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis, Piliostigma thonningii, Stereospermum kunthianum,
and the vegetation should therefore most likely be characterised as a mosaic of secondary scrub and CTW.
Photographic documentation: A photograph by E. Minucci shows the “ferry” and
the vegetation on the shore of the Abay River. 23
Locality T34 – M.[onte] Debangi (Bahar Dar)
Locality number 34 on printed labels with this locality; locality name also on typed
labels without locality number. Marked as T34 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Mt. Debangi, near Bahar Dar.
Georeferencing: Presumably, this is the same as the hill which is marked “Debengi”
on the map in Pichi Sermolli (1951: behind title page). A hill named “Devanghi”, which
must be the same locality, is marked on the map in 1:100,000 by the Ufficio Topografico
del R. Governo Amara (ca. 1938: Sheet 2, “Bahar Dar”). This hill, consisting of loose,
red volcanic gravel, has now been nearly dug away and used for road material; the area
is now partly covered by the suburbs of Bahar Dar; Pichi Sermolli’s locality must be
approximately at 11.589001° N, 37.358861° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acanthus polystachius Del. (m. 1,900; n. 2115).
Albizia malacophylla (A. Rich.) Walp. (m. 1,900; n. 1190).
Alysicarpus ferrugineus A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 524).
Clematis hirsuta Guill. & Perr. (m. 1,900; n. 2365, n. 2369).
Clerodendrum umbellatum Poir. (m. 1,900; n. 1430).
Combretum molle G. Don (m. 1,900; n. 730, n. 736).
Crotalaria hyssopifolia Klotzsch (m. 1,900; n. 2231).
Cussonia ostinii Chiov. (m. 1,900; n. 673).
Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn. (m. 1,900; n. 547).
Dodonaea angustifolia L. f. (m. 1,900; n. 494, n. 497).
Dombeya quinqueseta (Del.) Exell (m. 1,900; n. 232).
Entada abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 2277).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 1,900;
n. 835).
Gnidia involucrata A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 1532).
Grewia mollis A. Juss. (m. 1,900; n. 265).
23 See archival font Dainelli (501), image 498, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana. See also Fig. 34 in this work.
149
150
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham. & Schltdl. var. abyssinica (A. Rich.) Wolff
(m. 1,900; n. 701).
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 1,900; n. 93).
Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf (m. 1,900; n. 74).
Hypericum quartinianum A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 193).
Jasminum grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum (Fresen.) P.S. Green (m. 1,900; n. 1157).
Laggera crassifolia (A. Rich.) Oliv. & Hiern (m. 1,900; n. 924).
Lannea schimperi (A. Rich.) Engl. (m. 1,900; n. 478).
Lepidagathis hamiltoniana Wall. subsp. collina (Endl.) J.K. Morton (m. 1,900; n. 1527).
Lippia adoensis Walp. (m. 1,900; n. 1428).
Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell (m. 1,900; n. 2296).
Melinis ambigua Hack. (m. 1,900; n. 305).
Osyris quadripartita Decn. (m. 1,900; n. 1620).
Otostegia tomentosa A. Rich. subsp. ambigens (Chiov.) Sebald (m. 1,900; n. 2514 (FT,
holotype, K, isotype of Otostegia minuccii Pic. Serm.)).
Otostegia integrifolia Benth. (m. 1,900; n. 1475).
Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (m. 1,900; n. 619).
Plicosepalus acaciae (Zucc.) Wiens & Polhill (m. 1,900; n. 1615).
Rhus vulgaris Meikle (m. 1,900; n. 458).
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. (m. 1,900; n. 1460).
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (m. 1,900; n. 1371).
Tephrosia elata Deflers (m. 1,900; n. 2258).
Tolpis virgata (Desf.) Bertol. (m. 1,900; n. 864).
Triumfetta pilosa Roth (m. 1,900; n. 299).
Vernonia adoensis Walp. (m. 1,900; n. 957).
Vernonia congolensis De Wild. & Muschl. subsp. vernonioides (Walp.) C. Jeffrey (m.
1,900; n. 883).
Vernonia cylindrica Walp. (m. 1,900; n. 2443).
Ximenia americana L. (m. 1,900; n. 2037).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The list of species from this locality contains many
trees characteristic of Combretum-Terminalia woodland (CTW), Albizia malacophylla,
Combretum molle, Cussonia ostinii, Dombeya quinqueseta, Entada abyssinica, Gardenia
ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis, Grewia mollis, Heteromorpha arborescens var. abyssinica,
Maytenus senegalensis, Piliostigma thonningii, Stereospermum kunthianum. A number of
shrubby species occur in Afromontane scrub, and the vegetation should therefore most
likely be characterised as a mosaic of secondary scrub and CTW.
Locality T35 – Base del M.[onte] Debangi (Bahar Dar)
Locality number 35 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T35 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Base of Mt. Debangi, near Bahar Dar.
Variant indication of locality:
Base del monte Debangi (Bahar Dar) (n. 1603).
Georeferencing: See notes about locality number 34; the two localities must be very
close. Although most of the hill is now dug away, is seems probable that Pichi Sermolli’s locality was approximately at 11.589001° N, 37.358861° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Ficus sycomorus L. (m. 1,850; n. 2403).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 280).
Indigofera secundiflora Poir. (m. 1,850; n. 534).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Phragmanthera regularis (Sprague) M.G. Gilbert (m. 1,850; n. 1603).
Rhus vulgaris Meikle (m. 1,850; n. 448).
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock (m. 1,850; n. 576).
Terminalia schimperiana Hochst. (m. 1,850; n. 715).
Vegetation; characteristic species: In the vegetation at the base of the hill occurred
two more trees characteristic of and widespread in Combretum-Terminalia woodland,
Ficus sycomorus and Terminalia schimperiana, as well as shrubby species that typically
occur in Afromontane scrub; the vegetation is therefore best characterised as a mosaic
of secondary scrub and CTW.
Locality T36 – Presso Bahar Dar
Locality number 36 on printed labels with this locality name; on a hand written label
of Amorphophallus gamboczianus the locality name and number are given as “36. Bahar Dar”. Marked as T36 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near [the town of] Bahar Dar.
Georeferencing: There is very little information to go by for this locality, except that
the floristic composition indicates relatively dry ground. It is likely that Pichi Sermolli
made the collections inside what is now the outskirts of the modern town, possibly approximately at 11.613346° N, 37.363908° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Albizia schimperiana Oliv. (m. 1,825; n. 1119).
Amorphophallus gomboczianus Pic. Serm. (m. 1,825; n. 1987, n. 1989).
Dracaena steudneri Engl. (m. 1,825; n. 2010).
Kalanchoe lanceolata (Forssk.) Pers. (m. 1,830; n. 795).
Phragmanthera regularis (Sprague) M.G. Gilbert (m. 1,825; n. 1602).
Vegetation; characteristic species: It is difficult to characterise the vegetation of this
locality. Albizia schimperiana and Dracaena steudneri are often forest trees, but also left
in open, grazed areas, which would seem suitable habitats for Amorphophallus gomboczianus and Kalanchoe lanceolata.
12.2.1937
The base camp is moved to the Zege (Zeghie) Peninsula on the south-western shore
of Lake Tana.
Locality T37 – Riva del lago presso Furie (Zeghie)
Locality number 37 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T37 on Map 5.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Shore of Lake Tana near the
village of Furie, near the Zege peninsula.
Variant indication of locality:
Rive del lago presso Furie (Zeghie) (n. 479).
Georeferencing: “Furie” is a place, probably sometimes the name for a settlement or
village south of - and now fused with - the village or small town is called “Zege” on most
modern maps. Guida (1938: 384) mentions Furie as a plain just outside “Zeghie.” On
the map in 1:250,000 by the Egyptian-Sudanese mapping Authority (ca. 1940; Sheet
67A, Dangila) the plain and the settlement are indicated as “Zegi”. Pichi Sermolli’s locality is therefore probably at 11.688015° N, 37.315315° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Aeschynomene schimperi A. Rich. (m. 1,825; n. 2266).
151
152
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Astragalus atropilosus (Hochst.) Bunge (m. 1,825; n. 530).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 1,825; n. 1203).
Combretum molle G. Don (m. 1,825; n. 726).
Diplolophium africanum Turcz. (m. 1,825; n. 696).
Gnidia involucrata A. Rich. (m. 1,825; n. 1533).
Hyparrhenia gazensis (Rendle) Stapf forma* (m. 1,825; n. 314).
Indeterminabile* (m. 1,825; n. 2185).
Indigofera emarginella A. Rich. (m. 1,825; n. 540).
Lannea schimperi (A. Rich.) Engl. (m. 1,825; n. 479).
Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell (m. 1,825; n. 2297).
Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (m. 1,820; n. 609).
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock (m. 1,825; n. 570).
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (m. 1,825; n. 1370).
Terminalia schimperiana Hochst. (m. 1,825; n. 712, n. 719).
Ziziphus abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 1,825; n. 425).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees and large shrubs from this locality are
characteristic of CTW (Combretum molle, Lannea schimperi, Maytenus senegalensis,
Piliostigma thonningii, Stereospermum kunthianum, Terminalia schimperiana, Ziziphus
abyssinica).
Locality T37a – Furie
No locality number on label with this locality. Marked as T37a on Map 5.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Furie [near the church].
Variant indication of locality:
Furie, presso la Chiesa (n. 1364).
Presso la Chiesa di Furie (Zeghie) (n. 1662).
Georeferencing: On the map by Demelie Arga (no year), there is a church named “Fure
Mariam”, which is indicated as being just south of Zege. On the map in 1:250,000 by
the Egyptian-Sudanese mapping Authority (ca. 1940; Sheet 67A, Dangila) there is a
church in the same place named “Fure Maryam.” A church on a small peninsula just
south of the village is located at 11.686135° N, 37.316438° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Euphorbia nubica N.E. Br. (m. 1,825; n. 1662).
Hygrophila schulli (Hamilt.) M.R. & S.M. Almeida (m. 1,825; n. 1364).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Hygrophila schulli was probably collected on moist
ground near the lake shore; Euphorbia nubica is a succulent scrub much used as a hedge
plant, and was probably planted.
Locality T37b – Costa del lago a Furie
No locality number on handwritten label with this locality. Marked as T37b on Map 5.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Shore of the lake [Lake Tana]
at Furie.
Georeferencing: See notes about locality number 37. Pichi Sermolli’s locality is probably at 11.688015° N, 37.315315° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Nymphaea nouchali Burm. f. var. caerulea (Sav.) Verdc. (m. 1,820; n. 121).
Vegetation; characteristic species: This species was probably collected in the shallow water near the lake shore at Furie.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
13.2.1937
Excursions at or on the Zege Peninsula.
Locality T38 – Pianura ad ovest di Zeghie
Locality number 38 on printed labels with this locality; locality name also on typed
label without locality number. Marked as T38 on Map 5.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Small plain west of the Zege
peninsula.
Georeferencing: On the map in 1:250,000 by the Egyptian-Sudanese mapping Authority (ca. 1940; Sheet 67A, Dangila) both a peninsula and the small village at the base
of the peninsula are named “Zegi.” There are open areas with grassland and scattered
trees to the west of the forest on the Zegie peninsula and the village of the same name.
Some of this area may now be an extended market square. Guida (1938: 384) mentions “Zeghie” as one of the most important market villages around lake Tana. Pichi
Sermolli’s locality is approximately at 11.696162° N. 37.308505° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acanthus sennii Chiov. (m. 1,850; n. 2120).
Alternanthera nodiflora R. Br. (m. 1,850; n. 1579).
Bersama abyssinica Fresen. (m. 1,850; n. 361).
Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth. (m. 1,850; n. 626).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 1,850; n. 1214).
Cissus petiolata Hook. f. (m. 1,850; n. 434).
Convolvulus sagittatus Thunb. (m. 1,850; n. 1309).
Cordia africana Lam. (m. 1,850; n. 1259).
Crotalaria spinosa Benth. (m. 1,850; n. 542).
Croton macrostachyus Del. (m. 1,850; n. 1648).
Dioscorea schimperiana Kunth (m. 1,850; n. 1771).
Entada abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 2275).
Erythrina abyssinica DC. (m. 1,850; n. 518, n. 519).
Euclea racemosa Murray subsp. schimperi (A. DC.) F. White (m. 1,850; n. 1147).
Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq. (m. 1,850; n. 1723).
Ficus vasta Forssk. (m. 1,850; n. 1728).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 273, n. 288).
Guizotia scabra (Vis.) Chiov. (m. 1,850; n. 998).
Guizotia sp.* (m. 1,850; n. 2161).
Helinus mystacinus (Ait.) Steud. (m. 1,850; n. 405).
Hyparrhenia rufa x umbrosa[2]* (m. 1,850; n. 327).
Jasminum grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum (Fresen.) P.S. Green (m. 1,850; n. 1168).
Lactuca inermis Forssk. (m. 1,850; n. 2152, n. 2155).
Osyridocarpus schimperianus (A. Rich.) A. DC. (m. 1,850; n. 1635).
Phragmanthera regularis (Sprague) M.G. Gilbert (m. 1,850; n. 1601).
Phyllanthus ovalifolius Forssk. (m. 1,850; n. 2450).
Phytolacca dodecandra L’Hérit. (m. 1,850; n. 1566).
Plantago lanceolata L. (m. 1,850; n. 1453).
Plumbago zeylanica L. (m. 1,825; n. 2078).
Pterolobium stellatum (Forssk.) Brenan (m. 1,850; n. 646).
Rhoicissus tridentata (L. f.) Wild & Drummond (m. 1,850; n. 397).
Rhus glutinosa A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 2346).
Rhus vulgaris Meikle (m. 1,850; n. 450).
153
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PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Rhynchosia resinosa (A. Rich.) Bak. (m. 1,850; n. 634).
Rumex abyssinicus Jacq. (m. 1,850; n. 1562).
Salvia merjamie Forssk. (m. 1,850; n. 1403).
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock (m. 1,850; n. 553).
Solanum anguivi Lam. (m. 1,850; n. 2575 (FT, holotype of Solanum orthocarpum Pic.
Serm.).
Solanum campylacanthum A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 2563).
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (m. 1,850; n. 1373).
Tapinanthus globiferus (A. Rich.) Tiegh. (m. 1,850; n. 2490).
Verbascum sinaiticum Benth. (m. 1,850; n. 1291).
Vernonia congolensis De Wild. & Muschl. subsp. vernonioides (Walp.) C. Jeffrey (m.
1,850; n. 885).
Vernonia rueppellii Walp. (m. 1,850; n. 2423).
Ziziphus abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 426).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees and large shrubs from this locality indicate a vegetation that seems to be mainly Combretum-Terminalia woodland (CTW), but
mixed with secondary scrub associated with DAF. The species associated with CTW
are: Entada abyssinica, Erythrina abyssinica, Euclea racemosa subsp. schimperi, Ficus ingens, Ficus vasta, Stereospermum kunthianum, Ziziphus abyssinica. The mainly shrubby
species associated with DAF are: Calpurnia aurea, Carissa spinarum, Bersama abyssinica,
Cordia africana, Croton macrostachyus, Grewia ferruginea, Rhus glutinosa, Rhus vulgaris.
Photographic documentation: A sequence of photographs from this date and various
sites show bushland, grassland and large trees of Ficus in the relatively open vegetation
outside the coffee forests.24
14.2.1937
Locality T39 – Parte meridionale della Penisola di Zeghie
Locality number 39 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T39 on Map 5.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Southern part of the Zege
peninsula.
Georeferencing: Not a very exact indication of the locality on the Zegie peninsula.
Pichi Sermolli’s locality is probably between the south shore and the central clearing
in the forest that covers most of the peninsula. An approximate position could be at
11.687779° N, 37.334411° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Achyranthes aspera L. var. pubescens (Moq.) C.C. Townsend (m. 1,900; n. 1437).
Achyranthes aspera L. var. sicula L. (m. 1,900; n. 1442, n. 1443).
Ageratum conyzoides L. (m. 1,900; n. 1064).
Albizia schimperiana Oliv. (m. 1,900; n. 1112, n. 1113).
Arundo donax L. (m. 1,900; n. 1951).
Asparagus africanus Lam. (m. 1,900; n. 2028, n. 2029).
Barleria ventricosa Nees (m. 1,900; n. 1516, n. 1523).
Capparis tomentosa Lam. (m. 1,900; n. 151).
Celosia schweinfurthiana Schinz (m. 1,900; n. 2503).
24 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 759, 760, 761, 762, 763, 764, in the Archivio fotografico of the
Società geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Celtis africana Burm. f. (m. 1,900; n. 1679).
Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle (m. 1,900; n. 251).
Citrus aurantium L. (m. 1,900; n. 252).
Clematis hirsuta Guill. & Perr. (m. 1,900; n. 2361).
Coffea arabica L. (m. 1,900; n. 764, n. 765).
Conyza pyrrhopappa A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 879).
Croton macrostachyus Del. (m. 1,900; n. 1639).
Cyathula uncinulata (Schrad.) Schinz (m. 1,900; n. 1447).
Cyperus fischerianus A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 1963).
Dalbergia lactea Vatke (m. 1,900; n. 2271).
Dicliptera laxata C.B. Cl. (m. 1,900; n. 2095).
Dicliptera maculata Nees (m. 1,900; n. 1492).
Dicliptera verticillata (Forssk.) C. Chr. (m. 1,900; n. 1490).
Diospyros abyssinica (Hiern) F. White (m. 1,900; n. 1134).
Dracaena steudneri Engl. (m. 1,900; n. 2012).
Ehretia cymosa Thonn. (m. 1,900; n. 1271).
Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman (m. 1,900; n. 1778).
Euclea racemosa Murray subsp. schimperi (A. DC.) F. White (m. 1,900; n. 1142, n. 1143).
Ficus ovata Vahl (m. 1,900; n. 2393).
Foeniculum vulgare Miller (m. 1,900; n. 695).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 289).
Guizotia villosa Sch. Bip. (m. 1,900; n. 997).
Hippocratea africana (Willd.) Loes. var. schimperiana (A. Rich.) Cufod. (m. 1,900; n.
369).
Hypoestes triflora (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult. (m. 1,900; n. 1343).
Indeterminabile* (m. 1,900; n. 2092).
Indigofera arrecta A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 537).
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet (m. 1,900; n. 1319).
Jasminum abyssinicum DC. (m. 1,900; n. 1151).
Justicia schimperiana (Nees) T. Anders. (m. 1,900; n. 1507).
Kalanchoe lanceolata (Forssk.) Pers. (m. 1,900; n. 787).
Laggera crispata (Vahl) Hepper & Wood (m. 1,900; n. 928).
Lantana trifolia L. (m. 1,900; n. 1416).
Leucas urticifolia (Vahl) Sm. (m. 1,900; n. 1399).
Linociera (?) latipetala* (m. 1,900; n. 2090).
Maytenus gracilipes (Oliv.) Exell subsp. arguta (Loes.) Sebsebe (m. 1,900; n. 2315, n.
2316 (FT, holotype of Gymnosporia castellii Pic. Serm.), n. 2317).
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,900; n. 2307, n. 2308, n. 2318).
Millettia ferruginea (Hochst.) Bak. (m. 1,900; n. 503).
Mimusops kummel A. DC. (m. 1,900; n. 1084).
Myrsine africana L. (m. 1,900; n. 1103).
Ocimum basilicum L. (m. 1,900; n. 1415).
Ocimum urticifolium Roth (m. 1,900; n. 2478, n. 2484).
Oxalis corniculata L. (m. 1,900; n. 2200).
Panicum monticola Hook. f. (m. 1,900; n. 304).
Pavetta sp.* (m. 1,900; n. 758).
Phaulopsis imbricata (Forssk.) Sweet (m. 1,900; n. 1348).
Phyllanthus ovalifolius Forssk. (m. 1,900; n. 2451).
Phytolacca dodecandra L’Hérit. (m. 1,900; n. 1574).
Podocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) Mirb. (m. 1,900; n. 31).
155
156
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Pterolobium stellatum (Forssk.) Brenan (m. 1,900; n. 647, n. 648).
Ritchiea albersii Gilg (m. 1,900; n. 2326).
Rothmannia urcelliformis (Hiern) Robyns (m. 1,900; n. 2212, n. 2213, n. 2214, n. 2215).
Ruta chalepensis L. (m. 1,900; n. 256).
Ruttya speciosa (Hochst.) Engl. (m. 1,900; n. 1529).
Solanum anguivi Lam. (m. 1,900; n. 2564, n. 2570).
Vangueria sp.* (m. 1,900; n. 2036).
Vernonia hochstetteri Walp. (m. 1,900; n. 954).
Vernonia rueppellii Walp. (m. 1,900; n. 2433).
Zehneria scabra (L. f.) Sond. (m. 1,900; n. 819).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Among the trees in the list of collections from this
locality, there is a notable element forest species: Albizia schimperiana, Celtis africana,
Linociera (?) latipetala* (very likely Chionanthus mildbraedii), Millettia ferruginea, Mimusops kummel, Ritchiea albersii, Rothmannia urcelliformis. There is also the forest liana,
Dalbergia lactea, and cultivated or escaped trees that grow best in forest habitats: Citrus
aurantifolia, Citrus aurantium, Coffea arabica, Podocarpus falcatus (probably planted).
Photographic documentation: A number of photographs from the Zegi peninsula
taken on this day show the forest and the understory of Coffea arabica, as well as the
negadras of Zegi, the appointed leader of Zegi’s coffee market.25
Locality T40 – Fascia diboscata nella parte meridionale della Penisola di Zeghie
Locality number 40 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T40 on Map 5.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Streak of ground where the forest has been cleared in the southern part of the Zege peninsula.
Georeferencing: Presently, only a narrow southwestern zone of the Zegie peninsula near the shore and a central clearing are without trees. In the narrow zone near
the southern shore, Pichi Sermolli’s locality could approximately be at 11.686867° N,
37.326180° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Cordia africana Lam. (m. 1,900; n. 1261).
Cyperus longus L. (m. 1,900; n. 1961).
Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq. (m. 1,900; n. 1722).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 1,900;
n. 825).
Helinus mystacinus (Ait.) Steud. (m. 1,900; n. 408).
Hyparrhenia cymbaria (L.) Stapf (m. 1,900; n. 112).
Hyparrhenia gazensis (Rendle) Stapf forma* (m. 1,900; n. 318).
Kanahia laniflora (Forssk.) R. Br. (m. 1,900; n. 1246).
Pennisetum petiolare (Hochst.) Chiov. (m. 1,900; n. 37).
Solanum giganteum Jacq. (m. 1,900; n. 2579).
Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke (m. 1,900; n. 1296).
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. (m. 1,900; n. 810).
Tacazzea apiculata Oliv. (m. 1,900; n. 2137 ).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees Ficus ingens, Gardenia ternifolia subsp.
jovis-tonantis, suggest that the vegetation has similarity with Combretum-Terminalia
25 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 765, 766, 767, 768, 769, in the Archivio fotografico of the
Società geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
woodland (CTW); Syzygium guineense suggests that there are remnants of lake shore
forest, and it is likely that Kanahia laniflora was growing on the lake shore.
15.2.1937
Locality T41 – Riva del lago a sud di Furie (Zeghie)
Locality number 41 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T41 on Map 5.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Shore of the lake [Lake Tana]
to the south of the village of Furie.
Variant indication of locality:
Rive del lago a sud di Furie (Zeghie) (n. 1085, n. 2488).
Georeferencing: See notes on locality number 37. Pichi Sermolli’s collecting locality
is probably at 11.683429° N, 37.316482° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Bridelia micrantha (Hochst.) Baill. (m. 1,825; n. 2455).
Diaphananthe tenuicalcar Summerh. (m. 1,825; n. 2527).
Euclea racemosa Murray subsp. schimperi (A. DC.) F. White (m. 1,825; n. 1141).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 1,825; n. 274).
Hippocratea africana (Willd.) Loes. var. schimperiana (A. Rich.) Cufod. (m. 1,825; n.
367).
Hymenodictyon floribundum (Hochst. & Steud.) Robinson (m. 1,825; n. 747).
Indeterminabile* (m. 1,825; n. 2132).
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet (m. 1,825; n. 1327).
Jasminum grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum (Fresen.) P.S. Green (m. 1,825; n. 1169).
Kalanchoe petitiana A. Rich. (m. 1,830; n. 797, n. 799).
Korthalsella japonica (Thunb.) Engl. (parasita su Syzygium guineense; m. 1,820; n. 2488).
Mimusops kummel A. DC. (m. 1,825; n. 1085).
Osyridocarpus schimperianus (A. Rich.) A. DC. (m. 1,825; n. 1636).
Pavetta oliveriana Hiern (m. 1,825; n. 755).
Pennisetum (?) giganteum* (m. 1,825; n. 333).
Persicaria setosula (A. Rich.) K. Wilson (m. 1,820; n. 1544).
Plectranthus barbatus Andrews (m. 1,825; n. 1410).
Polygonum sp.* (m. 1,820; n. 1564).
Rhus quartiniana A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 2345).
Rhus vulgaris Meikle (m. 1,825; n. 441).
Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. var. nubica Chiov. (m. 1,825; n. 2520).
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. (m. 1,825; n. 811, n. 812).
Tacazzea apiculata Oliv. (m. 1,825; n. 2135).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Pyrrosia schimperiana (Kuhn) Alston (No alt.; n. 1836, FI-PS 10639).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees recorded from this locality include species of the lake shore forest (Mimusops kummel, Sesbania sesban var. nubica, Syzygium
guineense), and forest which could be represented by clumps of trees and large shrubs
further inland (Bridelia micrantha, Grewia ferruginea, Pavetta oliveriana), but also species of more open woodland (Euclea racemosa subsp. schimperi, Hymenodictyon floribundum, Rhus quartiniana, Rhus vulgaris). The listed herbs include both species that grow
in shallow water and swamps (Persicaria setosula) and in grassland and at edges of scrub
(Kalanchoe petitiana, Osyridocarpus schimperianus, Plectranthus barbatus). Diaphananthe
tenuicalcar is an epiphytic orchid, probably on the trees in the lake shore forest.
157
158
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
16.2.1937
Locality T41a – Nel mercato di Zeghie
No locality number on typed label with this locality. Marked as T41a on Map 5.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: In the market place of Zege.
Georeferencing: See notes at locality number 38 about the Zegie market. Market places in Ethiopia have often a big fig tree. There is a large fig tree visible on Google Earth
at 11.692627° N, 37.316678° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Ficus vasta Forssk. (m. 1,830; n. 1729).
Vegetation; characteristic species: A big fig tree in the middle of an open space in
a village.
Photographic documentation: This is very likely the fig tree shown in the photograph
of the market place in function, taken by Giotto Dainelli already on 5.2.26
Locality T42 – Pendici diboscate sotto la Chiesa di Techle Aimanot (Zeghie)
Locality number 42 on printed labels with this locality; the locality name can be found
both on printed and typed labels, the latter sometimes with the text: “Pendici diboscate
a valle della Chiesa di Techlé Aimanot (Penisola di Zeghie)” – This may indicate a
slightly different locality nearer to or at the following locality. Marked as T42 on Map 5.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Slopes of valley below the church
of Tekle Haimanot on the Zege peninsula, where the forest has been cleared.
Georeferencing: This is almost certainly the well-known Zege church marked as “Yiganda Tekle Haimanot” on the map of Lake Tana by Demelie Arega (no year). The
altitude of the cleared area south of this church ranges from 1,880 to 1,970 m. These
coordinates for the central part of the cleared area are 11.697398° N, 37.336079° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Albizia malacophylla (A. Rich.) Walp. (m. 2,000; n. 1193).
Caylusea abyssinica (Fresen.) Fisch. & Mey. (m. 2,000; n. 145).
Guizotia sp.* (m. 2,000; n. 2164).
Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet (m. 2,000; n. 512, n. 514).
Rumex nervosus Vahl (m. 2,000; n. 1557).
Verbascum sinaiticum Benth. (m. 2,000; n. 1292).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only tree recorded from this locality, Albizia
malacophylla, is a characteristic species of Combretum-Terminalia woodland (CTW).
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli took two photographs showing the
cleared vegetation.27
Locality T42 – continued – Pendici diboscate a valle della Chiesa di Techle
Aimanot (Zeghie) .
Locality number 42 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T42a on Map 5.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Slopes of the valley at the church
of Tekle Haimanot on the Zege peninsula, where the forest has been cleared.
26 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 102, 103, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
27 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 772, 773, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Variant indication of locality:
Pendici diboscate a valle della Chiesa di Techle Aimanot (Penisola di Zeghie) (n. 2174).
Georeferencing: See notes on locality number 42. Pichi Sermolli’s locality, with reference to the Techle Haimanot Church, is probably in the northern part of the cleared
area at 11.698425° N, 37.336171° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Cordia africana Lam. (m. 1,830; n. 1262).
Buddleja polystachya Fresen. (m. 2,000; n. 1285).
Clematis hirsuta Guill. & Perr. (m. 2,000; n. 2362).
Crepis rueppellii Sch. Bip. (m. 2,000; n. 866).
Echinops giganteus A. Rich. (m. 2,000; n. 2174 (FT, holotype of Echinops nistrii Pic.
Serm.)).
Entada abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 2,000; n. 2270, n. 624).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 1,830;
n. 824).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 2,000; n. 275).
Hyparrhenia sp.* (m. 2,000; n. 329).
Hyparrhenia variabilis Stapf (m. 2,000; n. 116).
Ipomoea tenuirostris Choisy (m. 2,000; n. 1331).
Lactuca inermis Forssk. (m. 2,000; n. 2146, n. 2148).
Launaea taraxacifolia (Willd.) C. Jeffrey (m. 2,000; n. 2145).
Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka (m. 2,000; n. 56).
Nelsonia canescens (Lam.) Spreng. (m. 2,000; n. 1357).
Ocimum urticifolium Roth (m. 1,830; n. 2477).
Phytolacca dodecandra L’Hérit. (m. 2,000; n. 1575).
Solanum incanum L. (m. 2,000; n. 2550).
Sopubia ramosa (Hochst.) Hochst. (m. 2,000; n. 2088).
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (m. 2,000; n. 1377).
Tephrosia elata Deflers (m. 2,000; n. 2260).
Vernonia adoensis Walp. (m. 2,000; n. 960).
Vernonia amygdalina Del. (m. 2,000; n. 899).
Vernonia congolensis De Wild. & Muschl. subsp. vernonioides (Walp.) C. Jeffrey (m.
2,000; n. 895).
Vegetation; characteristic species: A number of trees from this locality are typical of
Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Entada abyssinica, Gardenia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis, Stereospermum kunthianum); one shrub occurs in forest or secondary Afromontane scrub (Grewia ferruginea). The herbs and subshrubs seem to indicate the presence
of patches of grassland.
Locality T43 – Foresta presso Techle Aimanot (Zeghie)).
Locality number 43 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T43 on Map 5.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Forest near [the church of] Tecle
Haimanot, on the peninsula of Zege.
Variant indication of locality:
Foresta presso Tachle Aimanot (Zeghie) (n. 1524).
Foresta presso Techle Aimanot (penisola di Zeghie) (n. 2027).
Georeferencing: See notes on locality number 42. As the church is to the north of the
deforested expanses, the forested area mentioned for locality number 43 is probably to
the north of the church, approximately at 11.700020° N, 37.335602° E.
159
160
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 44. Forest on the Zegie peninsula with undergrowth of coffee (Coffea arabica). The trees with white flowers
(withering brown) in the middle stratum of the canopy are Dombeya torrida, not collected from the Zegie peninsula
by Pichi Sermolli. Photograph by Sebsebe Demissew, 2011.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Achyranthes aspera L. var. pubescens (Moq.) C.C. Townsend (m. 1,900; n. 1436).
Asparagus africanus Lam. (m. 2,000; n. 2027 (FT, holotype of Asparagus asiaticus L.
var. amharicus Pic. Serm.)).
Barleria ventricosa Nees (m. 1,900; n. 1524).
Celtis africana Burm. f. (m. 1,950; n. 1678).
Clematis longicauda A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 2352).
Clematis simensis Fresen. (m. 1,900; n. 136, n. 137).
Dalbergia lactea Vatke (m. 1,900; n. 2272, n. 2273).
Ehretia cymosa Thonn. (m. 1,900; n. 1270).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 268, n. 279).
Hypoestes forskaolii (Vahl) R. Br. (m. 1,900; n. 1480).
Jasminum abyssinicum DC. (m. 1,900; n. 1149, n. 1152).
Kalanchoe lanceolata (Forssk.) Pers. (m. 1,900; n. 794).
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,900; n. 2305, n. 2306).
Panicum monticola Hook. f. (m. 1,900; n. 303).
Phaulopsis imbricata (Forssk.) Sweet (m. 1,900; n. 1346).
Pittosporum abyssinicum Del. (m. 1,950; n. 240).
Pluchea dioscoridis (L.) DC. (m. 1,900; n. 920).
Ruttya speciosa (Hochst.) Engl. (m. 1,900; n. 1530).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Sida ternata L. f. (m. 1,900; n. 198).
Solanum anguivi Lam. (m. 1,900; n. 2574).
Vernonia rueppellii Walp. (m. 1,900; n. 2434).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Pichi Sermolli described this locality as forest but
there are only two forest tree (Celtis africana, Ehretia cymosa), one forest liana (Dalbergia
lactea) and a few shrubs, including Grewia ferruginea and Pittosporum abyssinicum, that
are associated with forest. Panicum monticola is a shade-loving forest grass, but other
species, including Kalanchoe lanceolata, indicate open areas with grass.
Locality T44 – Fascia diboscata nella parte meridionale della Penisola di Zeghie
presso il mercato
Locality number 44 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T44 on Map 5.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Streak of ground where the forest has been cleared in the southern part of the Zege peninsula, near the market place.
Georeferencing: See notes on locality number 40. Presently, only a narrow southwestern zone of the Zegie peninsula near the shore and a central clearing are without trees; now, and probably also previously, the open area along the southern shore
is widest near the market place. Probably, Pichi Sermolli’s locality is approximately at
11.693196° N, 37.319724° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Capparis tomentosa Lam. (m. 1,900; n. 158).
Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf (m. 2,000; n. 65).
Hyparrhenia variabilis Stapf (m. 1,830; n. 115).
Justicia schimperiana (Nees) T. Anders. (m. 1,830; n. 1508).
Rumex nervosus Vahl (m. 1,850; n. 1556).
Vegetation; characteristic species: As indicated by Pichi Sermolli with the words “fascia diboscata”, this locality was devoid of forest and represents one of the cleared sites on
the peninsula. There are no trees collected from this locality, only shrubs and grasses.
Locality T45 – Presso il villaggio di Furie (Zeghie)
Locality number 45 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T45 on Map 5.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near the village of Furie, near
the Zege peninsula.
Georeferencing: See notes on Furie at locality number 37. Pichi Sermolli’s locality is
probably at 11.682438° N, 37.314526° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Ageratum conyzoides L. (m. 1,830; n. 1063).
Brassica carinata A. Br. (m. 1,850; n. 175).
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (m. 1,825; n. 1888).
Datura stramonium L. (m. 1,830; n. 2074).
Diospyros abyssinica (Hiern) F. White (m. 1,825; n. 1124, n. 1125).
Foeniculum vulgare Miller (m. 1,830; n. 693).
Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don (m. 1,850; n. 2191).
Juniperus procera Endl. (m. 1,830; n. 15).
Ocimum basilicum L. (m. 1,830; n. 1413, n. 1414).
Origanum majorana L. (m. 1,830; n. 2083).
Persicaria senegalensis (Meisn.) Soják (m. 1,820; n. 2502).
Ricinus communis L. (m. 1,830; n. 1701).
Tragia cinerea (Pax) M.G. Gilbert & Radcl.-Smith (m. 1,830; n. 1692).
161
162
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Vegetation; characteristic species: There are a few trees in the collection from this
locality, including Diospyros abyssinica, the cultivated and introduced Jacaranda mimosifolia, and Juniperus procera, which may quite likely have been cultivated near a church.
The herbaceous species are cultivated or weeds.
Locality T45 – continued – Coltivato presso il villaggio di Furie
No locality number on label with this locality. Marked as T45 on Map 5.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Cultivated near the village of
Furie.
Georeferencing: See notes on Furie at locality number 37. Pichi Sermolli’s locality is
probably at 11.682438° N, 37.314526° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. (m. 1,830; n. 2542).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The tomato was presumably cultivated in a home
garden.
17.2.1937
Locality T45 – continued – Furie
No locality number on hand-written label with this locality. Marked as T45 on Map 5.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: [At the village of] Furie.
Georeferencing: See notes on Furie at locality number 37. Pichi Sermolli’s locality is
probably in the open areas of Furie at 11.682438° N, 37.314526° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Erythrina abyssinica DC. (m. 1,850; n. 516).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only collection represents a tree of Combretum-Terminalia or Afromontane woodland, often used as an ornamental in villages
and home gardens.
Locality T46 – Foresta presso Techle Aimanot (Zeghie)
Locality number 46 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T46 on Map 5.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Forest near the church of Tecle
Haimanot, on the peninsula of Zege.
Variant indication of locality:
Foresta presso Techle Aimanot (penisola di Zeghie) (n. 25).
Georeferencing: See notes on the church of Techle Aimanot at locality number 43,
particularly regarding the forested area at the church. Pichi Sermolli’s locality is probably at 11.700020° N, 37.335602° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Ekebergia capensis Sparrm. (m. 1,950; n. 364).
Jasminum abyssinicum DC. (m. 1,950; n. 1150).
Juniperus procera Endl. (m. 1,950; n. 25).
Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kalkm. (m. 1,950; n. 904).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm. f.) Bech. (no. alt.; n. 1782, FI-PS 10489).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The combination of trees collected in this locality are indigenous forest trees, but Juniperus procera is often cultivated as an ornamental around churches.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Photographic documentation: One photograph from this date shows a view from
the highest point of the Zegie Peninsula.28 A sequence of photographs show the forest
around the church of Techle Aimanot, some images from inside the church and the
lake shore nearby.29
Locality T47 – Pendici diboscate a valle della Chiesa di Techle Aimanot (Zeghie)
Locality number 47 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T47 on Map 5.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Slopes of the valley at the church
of Tekle Haimanot on the Zege peninsula, where the forest has been cleared.
Variant indication of locality:
Pendici diboscate sotto la Chiesa di Techle Aimanot (Zeghie) (n. 578, n. 1555).
Georeferencing: See notes on locality number 42, particularly regarding the deforested area at the church. Pichi Sermolli’s locality is probably in the northern part of
the cleared area at 11.698425° N, 37.336171° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Buddleja polystachya Fresen. (m. 2,000; n. 1284).
Capparis tomentosa Lam. (m. 2,000; n. 154).
Echinops giganteus A. Rich. (m. 2,000; n. 2410).
Ferula communis L. (m. 2,000; n. 689).
Ficus sur Forssk. (m. 1,950; n. 2384).
Indigofera arrecta A. Rich. (m. 2,000; n. 536).
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet (m. 2,000; n. 1329).
Lupinus albus L. (m. 2,000; n. 578).
Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka (m. 2,000; n. 55).
Mimosa pigra L. (m. 2,000; n. 579).
Otostegia tomentosa A. Rich. subsp. ambigens (Chiov.) Sebald (m. 2,000; n. 2511).
Rhus glutinosa A. Rich. (m. 2,000; n. 467, wrongly indicated as “4671” in Pichi Sermolli 1951, p. 80).
Ricinus communis L. (m. 2,000; n. 1698).
Rumex nervosus Vahl (m. 2,000; n. 1555).
Solanum campylacanthum A. Rich. (m. 2,000; n. 2554).
Sopubia ramosa (Hochst.) Hochst. (m. 2,000; n. 2087).
Steganotaenia araliacea A. Rich. (m. 2,000; n. 681).
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (m. 2,000; n. 1376).
Vernonia congolensis De Wild. & Muschl. subsp. vernonioides (Walp.) C. Jeffrey (m.
2,000; n. 890).
Vigna membranacea A. Rich. (m. 2,000; n. 625).
Wahlenbergia abyssinica (A. Rich.) Thulin (m. 2,000; n. 1053).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees collected from this locality include the
riparian forest tree Ficus sur, but there are two trees typical of Combretum-Terminalia
woodland (Steganotaenia araliacea, Stereospermum kunthianum), as well as shrubs typical of Afromontane secondary scrub (Buddleja polystachya, Capparis tomentosa, Rhus
glutinosa) and Mimosa pigra, which is normally a species of scrub at swamps.
28 See archival font Dainelli (501), image 773, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
29 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 774, 775, 776, 777, 778, 779, in the Archivio fotografico of the
Società geografica italiana. Image 779 is reproduced here as Fig. 6.
163
164
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Locality T47 – continued – Coltivata nell’Orto Botanico di Firenze da semi
provenienti dalla regione di Zeghie
No date or locality number on label with this information with imprecise locality data.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Cultivated in the Florence botanical garden from seeds collected in the region of Zegie.
Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. (No altitude; n. 2192).
19.2.1937
The following localities are from an excursion to the south-western shores of Lake
Tana to the south of Furie and the Zege (Zeghie) Peninsula.
Locality T48 & 49 – Presso il torrente Baimo lungo la via tra Zeghie e Bahar Dar
Locality number 48 & 49 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T48 & 49 on
Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near the stream of Baimo along
the road between the Zege peninsula and Bahar Dar.
Georeferencing: The place name “Baimo” has not been seen on any map, and there
are many trails and streams between Bahar Dar and Zegie; a possible position for this
Pichi Sermolli locality could be at 11.603588° N, 37.283230° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Aloe macrocarpa Tod. (m. 1,850; n. 1759, n. 1762).
Cyperus dives Del. (m. 1,850; n. 1957).
Desmodium salicifolium (Poir.) DC. (m. 1,850; n. 528).
Ficus palmata Forssk. (m. 1,850; n. 1730).
Leonotis ocymifolia (Burm. f.) Iwarsson var. raineriana (Vis.) Iwarsson (m. 1,850; n.
1396).
Oenanthe palustris (Chiov.) Norman (m. 1,850; n. 676).
Ottelia ulvifolia (Planch.) Walp. (m. 1,850; n. 1737).
Steganotaenia araliacea A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 680).
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. (m. 1,850; n. 2060, n. 2061).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Bolbitis heudelotii (Fée) Alston (No alt.; n. 1970 [on the label, this plant is stated to grow
in the Baimo River], FI-PS 11486, FI-PS 13229; also cited in Pichi Sermolli (1969: 392),
where the collection is also stated to be present in “FI”).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees collected at this locality includes species associated with riparian vegetation (Ficus palmata, Syzygium guineense) and Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Steganotaenia araliacea). Almost all the herbs grow in
or beside water (Cyperus dives, Ottelia ulvifolia, Oenanthe palustris), apart from the succulent Aloe macrocarpa.
Locality T50 – Pianura tra M.[onte] Cicia e M.[onte] Vuoghelsa (Zeghie)
Locality number 50 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T50 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Small plain between Mt. Cicia
and Mt. Vuoghelsa, near the Zege peninsula.
Variant indication of locality:
Pianura tra M.[onte] Vicia a M.[onte] Vuoghelsa (Zeghie) (n. 1713).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
165
Fig. 45. Degraded lake shore forest with trees of Syzygium guineense growing right to the edge of the lake and
sometimes in shallow water. These three trees were photographed on the eastern lake shore near Corata, but
Syzygium guineense occurs in lake shore forests around most of the lake, except on very flat or very steep lake shores.
Photograph by Ib Friis, 2011.
Georeferencing: “Uoghelsa” is the name of a hill marked on the map in Pichi Sermolli
(1951). The place name “Cicia” or “Vicia” has not been seen on any map; a plain between
two hills, one of them identifiable with Mt. Vuoghelsa is at 11.618091° N, 37.279774° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Capparis tomentosa Lam. (m. 1,850; n. 156).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 1,850; n. 1200).
Combretum molle G. Don (m. 1,850; n. 725).
Croton macrostachyus Del. (m. 1,850; n. 1686).
Dombeya quinqueseta (Del.) Exell (m. 1,850; n. 231).
Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq. (m. 1,850; n. 1720).
Ficus vasta Forssk. (m. 1,850; n. 1713).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 1,850;
n. 826).
Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell (m. 1,900; n. 2285, n. 2289).
Phragmanthera regularis (Sprague) M.G. Gilbert (m. 1,850; n. 1605).
Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (m. 1,850; n. 611).
Plicosepalus acaciae (Zucc.) Wiens & Polhill (m. 1,850; n. 1612).
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock (m. 1,850; n. 567, n. 575).
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (m. 1,850; n. 1375).
166
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Viscum tuberculatum A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 1582).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees collected at this locality include species associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Combretum molle, Dombeya
quinqueseta, Gardenia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis Maytenus senegalensis, Piliostigma
thonningii, Stereospermum kunthianum). Other species combine woodland and secondary Afromontane scrub (Capparis tomentosa, Carissa spinarum, Croton macrostachyus).
Ficus ingens and Ficus vasta occur in open grassland.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs from around Monte Vuoghelsa show mostly open woodland with patches of secondary Afromontane
bushland. 30
Locality T51 – Torrente Umfras presso il villaggio di Vuoghelsa (Zeghie)
Locality number 51 on printed labels with this locality, also on typed label with the
same locality name, but without locality number. Marked as T51 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: The stream of Umfras near the
village of Voughelsa, [also] near the Zege peninsula.
Georeferencing: Both the stream Umfras and the Voughelsa village are shown on the
map in Pichi Sermolli (1951). Pichi Sermolli’s locality must be very near locality number 50, approximately at 11.639507° N, 37.294963° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Ceratophyllum demersum L. (m. 1,850; n. 1738).
Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott (m. 1,850; n. 1751).
Commelina benghalensis L. (m. 1,850; n. 2006).
Commelina diffusa Burm. f. (m. 1,850; n. 2004).
Cyperus dives Del. (m. 1,850; n. 1958).
Cyperus papyrus L. (m. 1,850; n. 1954).
Cyperus penzoanus Pic. Serm. (m. 1,850; n. 1985).
Hygrophila asteracanthoides Lindau (m. 1,850; n. 1358).
Nymphaea nouchali Burm. f. var. caerulea (Sav.) Verdc. (m. 1,850; n. 120).
Pistia stratiotes L. (m. 1,850; n. 1746).
Potamogeton schweinfurthii A. Benn. (m. 1,850; n. 1978, n. 1979).
Rotala repens (Hochst.) Koehne (m. 1,850; n. 262).
Vallisneria spiralis L. (m. 1,850; n. 1735).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Bolbitis heudelotii (Fée) Alston (No alt.; n. 1971, FI-PS 11485, also cited in Pichi Sermolli (1969: 392), n. 2523, FI-PS 13228, also cited in Pichi Sermolli (1969: 392), where
it is stated also to be present in “FI”, but in Pichi Sermolli (1951) no. 2523 is listed as
a species of Sesbania).
Vegetation; characteristic species: A number of the species collected at this locality
grow in open water (Ceratophyllum demersum, Nymphaea nouchali var. caerulea, Pistia
stratiotes, Potamogeton schweinfurthii, Rotala repens, Vallisneria spiralis). Others grow
in swamps or along rivers (Colocasia esculenta, Cyperus dives, Cyperus papyrus, Cyperus
penzoanus, Hygrophila asteracanthoides), and two on damp ground (Commelina benghalensis, Commelina diffusa).
30 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 783, 784, 785, 786, 787, 788, 789, in the Archivio fotografico
of the Società geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs from the stream of Umfras (on the photographs spelt Enfas) show papyrus swamps, dense bushland along the
stream and patches of vegetation with tall trees. 31
Locality T51 – continued – Sorgente Usueni
Locality number 51 on printed labels with this locality; locality name and number also
on hand-written label. Marked as T51a on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: [At and in the] spring of Usueni.
Georeferencing: The place name “Usueni” has not been seen on any map and is not
mentioned in the introduction to Pichi Sermolli (1951); presumably it is a spring between the Umfras River and Voughelsa. Pichi Sermolli’s locality is presumably slightly
east of locality number 50, and hence approximately at 11.635693° N. 37.294963° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Rotala repens (Hochst.) Koehne (m. 1,850; n. 2664).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only species from this locality, Rotala repens,
grows in slowly running water.
Locality T52 – M[onte]. Cicia presso il villaggio di Vuoghelsa (Zeghie)
Locality number 52 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T52 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Mt Cicia near the village of
Vuoghelsa, near the Zege peninsula.
Georeferencing: Very near locality number 50, and hence presumably at 11.613494°
N, 37.281273° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Combretum molle G. Don (m. 1,900; n. 731).
Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn. (m. 1,900; n. 545).
Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (m. 1,900; n. 614).
Solanum campylacanthum A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 2553).
Tapinanthus heteromorphus (A. Rich.) Danser (m. 1,850; n. 1609).
Terminalia schimperiana Hochst. (m. 1,900; n. 717).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees collected at this locality include species associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Combretum molle, Piliostigma
thonningii, Terminalia schimperiana).
Locality T53 – M.[onte] Vuoghelsa (Zeghie)
Locality number 53 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T53 on Map 4.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Mt. Vuogelsa near the Zege
Peninsula.
Variant indication of locality:
M.[onte] Vuoghelsa (n. 927).
M.[onte] Vuoghelsa (Zeghie), nei campi presso il villaggio (n. 1277).
Georeferencing: Very near locality number 50, and hence presumably at 11.613494°
N, 37.281273° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acanthus polystachius Del. (m. 1,950; n. 2102).
31 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 790, 791, 792, 793, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società
geografica italiana.
167
168
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Becium obovatum (Benth.) N.E. Br. (m. 1,950; n. 1412).
Bidens setigera (Walp.) Sherff (m. 1,950; n. 2142).
Clematis hirsuta Guill. & Perr. (m. 1,950; n. 2364).
Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn. (m. 1,950; n. 548, n. 549).
Dombeya quinqueseta (Del.) Exell (m. 1,950; n. 233).
Echinops giganteus A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 2172).
Entada abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 622).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 1,950;
n. 822).
Gnidia involucrata A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 1534, n. 1535).
Gomphocarpus abyssinicus Decne. (m. 1,950; n. 1243).
Grewia mollis A. Juss. (m. 1,950; n. 264).
Helichrysum schimperi (A. Rich.) Moeser (m. 1,950; n. 991).
Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham. & Schltdl. var. abyssinica (A. Rich.) Wolff
(m. 1,950; n. 702).
Hyparrhenia sp.* (m. 1,950; n. 328).
Hypericum quartinianum A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 195).
Jasminum grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum (Fresen.) P.S. Green (m. 1,950; n. 1156,
n. 1158).
Laggera braunii Vatke (m. 1,950; n. 2176).
Laggera crispata (Vahl) Hepper & Wood (m. 1,950; n. 927).
Lannea schimperi (A. Rich.) Engl. (m. 1,950; n. 472).
Lefeburea abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 678).
Lepidagathis hamiltoniana Wall. subsp. collina (Endl.) J.K. Morton (m. 1,950; n. 1528).
Lippia adoensis Walp. (m. 1,950; n. 1422).
Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell (m. 1,950; n. 2284, n. 2286, n. 2287, n. 2288).
Osyris quadripartita Decn. (m. 1,950; n. 1622).
Otostegia tomentosa A. Rich. subsp. ambigens (Chiov.) Sebald (m. 1,950; n. 2509, n. 2510).
Otostegia integrifolia Benth. (m. 1,950; n. 1473, n. 1474).
Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (m. 1,950; n. 610).
Rhus glutinosa A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 2347).
Rhynchosia nyasica Bak. (m. 1,950; n. 2263, n. 2264).
Rumex nervosus Vahl (m. 1,950; n. 1559).
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. (m. 1,950; n. 1461, n. 1462).
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (m. 1,950; n. 1379).
Terminalia schimperiana Hochst. (m. 1,950; n. 709).
Trichodesma zeylanicum (Burm. f.) R. Br. (m. 1,950; n. 1277).
Vernonia adoensis Walp. (m. 1,950; n. 963).
Vernonia cylindrica Walp. (m. 1,950; n. 2440, n. 2441).
Viscum tuberculatum A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 1583).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees collected at this locality include species associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Dombeya quinqueseta, Entada
abyssinica, Gardenia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis, Grewia mollis, Heteromorpha arborescens var. abyssinica, Lannea schimperi, Maytenus senegalensis, Piliostigma thonningii,
Stereospermum kunthianum, Terminalia schimperiana). A number of shrubs are associated with evergreen Afromontane scrub (Acanthus polystachius, Dichrostachys cinerea,
Otostegia tomentosa subsp. ambigens, Otostegia integrifolia, Rhus glutinosa).
Locality T54 – Tra la collina Atahunsa ed il villaggio di Furie (Zeghie)
Locality number 54 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T54 on Map 4 & 5.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Between the hill of Atahunsa
and the village of Furie, near the Zege peninsula.
Variant indication of locality:
Fra la collina Atahunsa ed il villaggio di Furie (Zeghie) (n. 2435).
Georeferencing: “Atahunsa” is a hill marked on the map in Pichi Sermolli (1951); it is
slightly further north than Monte Vuoghelsa, and Pichi Sermolli’s locality is therefore
probably at 11.663253° N, 37.278559° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia abyssinica Benth. (m. 1,850; n. 592).
Albizia malacophylla (A. Rich.) Walp. (m. 1,850; n. 1194).
Buddleja polystachya Fresen. (No altitude; n. 1286).
Clematis simensis Fresen. (m. 1,850; n. 138).
Ficus sycomorus L. (m. 1,850; n. 2396, n. 2402).
Osyris quadripartita Decn. (m. 1,850; n. 1624).
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. (m. 1,850; n. 1070).
Vernonia rueppellii Walp. (m. 1,850; n. 2435).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees collected from this locality appear of
mixed association; Albizia malacophylla is associated with Combretum-Terminalia
woodland, Acacia abyssinica with Afromontane woodland, Ficus sycomorus with both
vegetation types, and Syzygium guineense with the lake shore forest or riparian vegetation along a small stream.
Photographic documentation: One photograph shows the bushland at Atahunsa. 32
22.2.1937
Excursions by boat or tanqua to two islands in Lake Tana: Daga, which is forested
and steeply rising out of the lake, only inhabited by monks, and Deck, which is flat,
mostly farmed and with a number of villages.
Locality T55 – Isola Daga
Locality number 55 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T55 on Map 3.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: The island of Daga [in Lake
Tana].
Georeferencing: The smaller of the two islands in the south western part of Lake Tana;
only inhabited by the monks of the Daga Estefanos monastery. The highest point of
the island, a likely position for Pichi Sermolli’s locality, is at approximately 11.895193°
N, 37.310487° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Abutilon longicuspe A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 223).
Acanthus sennii Chiov. (m. 1,900; n. 2118).
Achyranthes aspera L. var. pubescens (Moq.) C.C. Townsend (m. 1,900; n. 1433).
Albizia schimperiana Oliv. (m. 1,900; n. 1110).
Arundo donax L. (m. 1,900; n. 1948).
Barleria ventricosa Nees (m. 1,900; n. 1515).
Bidens pilosa L. (m. 1,900; n. 1067).
32 See archival font Dainelli (501), image 794, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
169
170
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Capparis sepiaria L. var. boscioides (Pax) Kers (m. 1,900; n. 169).
Celosia trigyna L. (m. 1,900; n. 1450).
Celtis africana Burm. f. (m. 1,900; n. 1680, n. 1681, n. 1682).
Citrus aurantium L. (m. 1,900; n. 254).
Coffea arabica L. (m. 1,900; n. 763).
Cordia africana Lam. (m. 1,900; n. 2406).
Cynodon dactylon?* (m. 1,900; n. 1883).
Cyperus fischerianus A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 1965).
Diaphananthe tenuicalcar Summerh. (m. 1,900; n. 2528).
Dicliptera maculata Nees (m. 1,900; n. 1493, n. 1496).
Diospyros abyssinica (Hiern) F. White (m. 1,900; n. 1126, n. 1131).
Dracaena steudneri Engl. (m. 1,900; n. 2013).
Dyschoriste nagchana (Nees) Bennett (m. 1,900; n. 1354).
Ficus ovata Vahl (m. 1,900; n. 2392).
Ficus thonningii Bl. (m. 1,900; n. 1674).
Ficus vasta Forssk. (m. 1,900; n. 1714).
Graminacee indeterminabili* (m. 1,900; n. 336).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 283).
Hibiscus calyphyllus Cavan. (m. 1,900; n. 210).
Hibiscus diversifolius Jacq. (m. 1,900; n. 214).
Hippocratea africana (Willd.) Loes. var. schimperiana (A. Rich.) Cufod. (m. 1,900; n.
368).
Hypoestes forskaolii (Vahl) R. Br. (m. 1,900; n. 1479).
Indeterminabile* (m. 1,900; n. 2034, n. 2089, n. 2091, n. 2202, n. 2203, n. 2204).
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet (m. 1,900; n. 1316).
Juniperus procera Endl. (m. 1,900; n. 26).
Justicia schimperiana (Nees) T. Anders. (m. 1,900; n. 1511).
Kanahia laniflora (Forssk.) R. Br. (m. 1,900; n. 1252).
Millettia ferruginea (Hochst.) Bak. (m. 1,900; n. 506).
Mimusops kummel A. DC. (m. 1,900; n. 1089).
Olea europaea L. subsp. cuspidata (G. Don) Cif. (m. 1,900; n. 1175).
Paullinia pinnata L. (m. 1,900; n. 486).
Phytolacca dodecandra L’Hérit. (m. 1,900; n. 1576).
Plumbago zeylanica L. (m. 1,900; n. 2080).
Podocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) Mirb. (m. 1,830; n. 29).
Prunus persica (L.) Batch (m. 1,900; n. 909).
Punica granatum L. (m. 1,900; n. 804).
Rhamnus prinoides L’Hérit. (m. 1,900; n. 2035).
Ritchiea albersii Gilg (m. 1,900; n. 2324, n. 2328).
Rumex nervosus Vahl (m. 1,900; n. 1560).
Senna petersiana (Bolle) Lock (m. 1,900; n. 2223).
Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. var. nubica Chiov. (m. 1,900; n. 2519).
Solanum giganteum Jacq. (m. 1,900; n. 2577).
Tacazzea venosa Decne. (m. 1,900; n. 1236).
Vangueria sp.* (m. 1,900; n. 2207, n. 2208, n. 2209).
Vernonia rueppellii Walp. (m. 1,900; n. 2432).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Like the island of Kebra Uddus Gabriel (locality
number 25), all land of this island belongs to a monastery, mostly forested with DAF
and IAF, and only very little is cultivated. The forest trees collected from this island
are Albizia schimperiana, Celtis africana, Diospyros abyssinica, Dracaena steudneri, Ficus
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
171
Fig. 46. The island of Daga, seen from the south-west. The island is completely covered by forest and only inhabited
by the monks of the Daga Estefanos monastery. Photograph by Ib Friis, 2011.
ovata, Ficus thonningii, Grewia ferruginea, Juniperus procera, Millettia ferruginea, Mimusops kummel, Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, Podocarpus falcatus, Ritchiea albersii). It
is not certain if Mimusops kummel occurred in the forest (as in IAF) or in the lake shore
forest, but the collected specimen was recorded at an altitude of m. 1900, which would
be well above the lake shore, but notably, Kanahia laniflora, a typical lake shore plant,
was also recorded from m. 1900 (Syzygium guineense was not collected from this locality). Citrus aurantium, Prunus persica and Punica granatum were cultivated or naturalised, and the same possibly applied to Coffea arabica.
Photographic documentation: One photograph shows the lakeshore vegetation from
the northern shore of the island; the remaining photographs show the forests on the
steep slopes of the ascent to the Daga Estefanos monastery. 33
Locality T56 – Isola Deck nella parte meridionale di essa
Locality number 56 on printed labels with this locality; locality name also on typed
labels without locality number. Marked as T56 on Map 3.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: In the southern part of the island of Dek.
33 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 796, 797, 798, 799, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società
geografica italiana.
172
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Georeferencing: The designation “Isola Deck nella parte meridionale di essa” [The
Island of Deck, in its southern part] refers to the part of the island where there were
patches of woodland. The western, northern, central and part of the southern parts of
the island are intensely cultivated, apart from narrow patches relatively close to the
southwestern and western shore and the partly natural vegetation in the eastern part.
For a few species in Pichi Sermolli (1951) the locality has been indicated as “… nella
parte meridionale …” [… in the southern part …], but that does not always agree with
the labels. The southern part of the island with border between farmland and natural
vegetation is approximately at 11.894901° N, 37.270619° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Capparis tomentosa Lam. (m. 1,830; n. 159).
Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq. (m. 1,830; n. 1717).
Rotala repens (Hochst.) Koehne (m. 1,820; n. 263).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The selection of species from this part of the island is not informative with regard to natural vegetation; only Rotala repens indicates
the presence of a slowly running stream.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli photographed Rotala repens in a small
stream on the island of Dek. 34 The remaining photographs from the island show farmland, secondary bushland and papyrus swamps. 35
Locality T56 – Isola Deck nella parte orientale di essa
Locality number 56 on printed labels with this locality; locality name also on typed
labels without locality number. Marked as T56a on Map 3.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: In the eastern part of the island of Dek.
Variant indication of locality:
Isola Deck nella parte orientale (n. 2429).
Isola Deck, nella parte orientale di essa (n. 857).
Georeferencing: See the previous note on locality number 56. The eastern part of the
island of the Island of Deck has patches of dense woodland. Most species were collected
in the eastern part of the island, where an area around 11.907103° N, 37.292101° E seems
to represent more natural vegetation than the farmland that covers most of the island.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acanthus sennii Chiov. (m. 1,830; n. 2121).
Carthamus lanatus L. (m. 1,830; n. 857).
Caylusea abyssinica (Fresen.) Fisch. & Mey. (m. 1,825; n. 144).
Cordia africana Lam. (m. 1,830; n. 2405).
Echinops macrochaetus Fresen. (m. 1,830; n. 847).
Ficus ovata Vahl (m. 1,830; n. 2391).
Ficus thonningii Bl. (m. 1,830; n. 1671).
Ficus vasta Forssk. (m. 1,830; n. 1710).
Gossypium hirsutum L. (m. 1,830; n. 207).
Hibiscus diversifolius Jacq. (m. 1,830; n. 212).
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet (m. 1,830; n. 1317).
34 See archival font Dainelli (501), image 808, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
35 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 800, 801, 802, 8033, 804, 805, 806, 807, 809, 810, 811, in
the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Ocimum urticifolium Roth (m. 1,900; n. 2476).
Rhus vulgaris Meikle (m. 1,830; n. 444).
Ricinus communis L. (m. 1,830; n. 1703).
Salix subserrata Willd. (m. 1,830; n. 1742).
Senna petersiana (Bolle) Lock (m. 1,830; n. 2224).
Solanum dasyphyllum Schumach. (m. 1,830; n. 2543).
Solanum giganteum Jacq. (m. 1,830; n. 2578).
Trichodesma zeylanicum (Burm. f.) R. Br. (m. 1,830; n. 1278).
Triumfetta pilosa Roth (m. 1,830; n. 300).
Vernonia amygdalina Del. (m. 1,830; n. 900).
Vernonia rueppellii Walp. (m. 1,830; n. 2429).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The tree species recorded from this part of the
island Deck are associated with Afromontane forest (DAF, IAF), Afromontane woodland or secondary scrub (Cordia africana, Ficus ovata, Ficus thonningii, Ficus vasta);
similarly with the shrubs (Acanthus sennii, Rhus vulgaris). Salix subserrata is usually
associated with riparian vegetation. Some weedy species have been collected, including Ricinus communis.
23.2.1937
Base camp moved to Consuela [Consela, Quonzela] on the south-western shore of
Lake Tana.
Locality T57 – Ilca tarara (ovest di Quonzela)
Locality number 57 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T57 on Map 6.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Ilca tarara [Ilca hill] to the west
of the town of Quonzela [Consuela, Consela].
Variant indication of locality:
Il tarara (ovest di Quonzela) (n. 677).
Ilca tarara (a ovest di Quonzela) (n. 555, 572).
Ilca tarara (ad ovest di Quonzela) (n. 208, n. 301, n. 400, n. 423, n. 550, n. 635, n. 724,
n. 1238, n. 1625, n. 2106, n. 2276, n. 2295, n. 2449).
Ilca tarara (colline ad ovest di Quonzela) (n. 1640, n. 1650).
Georeferencing: The small town of Quonzela is on the south-western shore of Lake
Tana. On Africa 1:250,000, Sheet 67A, Dangla, by the Survey Office of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, the place is named “Cansela.” In Guida (1938: 370) it is named “Conzela o
Quinzela.” On the map of Lake Tana by Demelle Arega (no date) it is called “Kunzila.”
The place name “Ilca Tarara” has not been seen on any map. “Tarara” is an Amharic
word meaning “hill” or “small mountain”. A hill that would fit the position in relation
to Quonzela is located at 11.868690° N, 37.005708° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia seyal Del. (m. 1,900; n. 2232, n. 2240).
Acanthus polystachius Del. (m. 1,900; n. 2106).
Aloe macrocarpa Tod. (m. 1,900; n. 1760, n. 1763).
Buchnera hispida Buch.-Ham. (m. 1,900; n. 1298).
Clematis hirsuta Guill. & Perr. (m. 1,900; n. 2366).
Combretum molle G. Don (m. 1,900; n. 724).
Convolvulus sagittatus Thunb. (m. 1,850; n. 1306).
Croton macrostachyus Del. (m. 1,850; n. 1640, n. 1650).
173
174
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn. (m. 1,900; n. 550).
Entada abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 2276).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 1,850;
n. 840).
Gossypium hirsutum L. (m. 1,900; n. 208).
Guizotia scabra (Vis.) Chiov. (m. 1,900; n. 1002).
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 1,900; n. 86).
Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf (m. 1,900; n. 78).
Hyparrhenia sp.* (m. 1,900; n. 2030).
Indigofera arrecta A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 538).
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet (m. 1,850; n. 1318).
Ipomoea eriocarpa R. Br. (m. 1,850; n. 1330).
Jasminum grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum (Fresen.) P.S. Green (m. 1,900; n. 1167).
Laggera alata (D. Don) Oliv. (m. 1,900; n. 867).
Lefeburea abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 677).
Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell (m. 1,900; n. 2295).
Osyris quadripartita Decn. (m. 1,900; n. 1623, n. 1625).
Phyllanthus ovalifolius Forssk. (m. 1,850; n. 2449).
Rhoicissus tridentata (L. f.) Wild & Drummond (m. 1,900; n. 400).
Rhus sp.[1]* (m. 1,900; n. 459).
Rhus vulgaris Meikle (m. 1,900; n. 445, n. 463).
Rhynchosia resinosa (A. Rich.) Bak. (m. 1,850; n. 635).
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock (m. 1,900; n. 555, n. 572).
Solanum campylacanthum A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 2555).
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (m. 1,900; n. 1380).
Tacazzea venosa Decne. (m. 1,850; n. 1238).
Trichodesma zeylanicum (Burm. f.) R. Br. (m. 1,850; n. 1279).
Triumfetta pilosa Roth (m. 1,900; n. 301).
Vernonia congolensis De Wild. & Muschl. subsp. vernonioides (Walp.) C. Jeffrey (m.
1,850; n. 881).
Vernonia cylindrica Walp. (m. 1,900; n. 2437).
Ziziphus abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 423).
Vegetation; characteristic species: A number of tree species recorded from this locality are associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Acacia seyal, Combretum
molle, Entada abyssinica, Gardenia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis, Maytenus senegalensis, Stereospermum kunthianum). Other species seem more associated with Afromontane woodland or scrub (Croton macrostachyus, Dichrostachys cinerea, Rhus vulgaris).
Locality T58 – Presso Quonzela
Locality number 58 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T58 on Map 6.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near the town of Quonzela
[Consuela, Consela].
Georeferencing: See notes about Quonzela at locality number 57. A representative
location with woodland and bushland suitable for the species collected in this locality
is at 11.879805° N, 37.027349° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. (m. 1,850; n. 639).
Cordia africana Lam. (m. 1,850; n. 1263).
Ficus thonningii Bl. (m. 1,850; n. 1672, n. 1673).
Indigofera atriceps Hook. f. (m. 1,850; n. 2222).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Kickxia elatine (L.) Dumort. subsp. crinita (Mabille) Greuter (m. 1,850; n. 1299).
Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet (m. 1,850; n. 513).
Rhamnus prinoides L’Hérit. (m. 1,850; n. 415).
Tephrosia elata Deflers (m. 1,850; n. 2261).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The few trees recorded from this locality seem
to represent Afromontane forest (DAF and IAF) and Afromontane woodland (Cordia africana, Ficus thonningii).
Photographic documentation: Two photographs represent grassland and a small hill,
perhaps Ilca tarara, west of Quonzela. 36
Locality T59 – Presso la Chiesa di Kuddus Ghigar (Quonzela)
Locality number 59 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T59 on Map 6.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near the church of St. Gigar,
near the town of Quonzela [Consuela, Consela].
Georeferencing: On Africa 1:250,000, Sheet 67A, Dangla, by the Survey Office of the
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, there is a “Kuddus Jigga” just south of Quonzela [Consuela]
and on Google Earth there is an unnamed church in the same position, on a peninsula
and surrounded by tall trees. Assuming that “Kuddus Jigga” is identical with the church
of St. Gigar, the locality is at 11.889818° N, 37.021980° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Achyranthes aspera L. var. sicula L. (m. 1,850; n. 1444).
Albizia isenbergiana (A. Rich.) Fourn. (m. 1,850; n. 2274).
Celtis africana Burm. f. (m. 1,850; n. 1684).
Ehretia cymosa Thonn. (m. 1,850; n. 1272).
Euclea racemosa Murray subsp. schimperi (A. DC.) F. White (m. 1,850; n. 1139).
Juniperus procera Endl. (m. 1,850; n. 27).
Justicia schimperiana (Nees) T. Anders. (m. 1,850; n. 1510).
Millettia ferruginea (Hochst.) Bak. (m. 1,850; n. 505).
Mimusops kummel A. DC. (m. 1,850; n. 1088).
Rothmannia urcelliformis (Hiern) Robyns (m. 1,850; n. 2216).
Vegetation; characteristic species: From the collections listed there seems to have
been an Afromontane forest near the church, probably with the character of IAF (Albizia isenbergiana, Celtis africana, Ehretia cymose, Juniperus procera, Millettia ferruginea,
Mimusops kummel, Rothmannia urcelliformis). The presence of Euclea racemosa subsp.
schimperi indicated Afromontane secondary scrub. Juniperus procera was probably planted at the church, and Mimusops kummel may have been part of the lake shore forest.
Locality T60 – Pianura ad ovest di Quonzela
Locality number 60 on printed labels with this locality; locality name also on typed
labels with no locality number. Marked as T60 on Map 6.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Small plane to the west of the
town of Quonzela [Consuela, Consela].
Georeferencing: According to Google Earth there is a suitable-looking small plain at
11.875721° N, 37.020836° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acanthus polystachius Del. (m. 1,850; n. 2105).
36 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 812, 813, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
175
176
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Capparis tomentosa Lam. (m. 1,850; n. 160).
Carthamus lanatus L. (m. 1,850; n. 854).
Chrozophora plicata (Vahl) A. Juss. (m. 1,850; n. 1696).
Cordia africana Lam. (m. 1,850; n. 1264).
Cussonia ostinii Chiov. (m. 1,850; n. 672).
Cynodon dactylon?* (m. 1,850; n. 1891).
Echinops hispidus Fresen. (m. 1,850; n. 851).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 1,850;
n. 843).
Guizotia sp.* (m. 1,850; n. 1003).
Heliotropium supinum L. (m. 1,850; n. 1273).
Hygrophila schulli (Hamilt.) M.R. & S.M. Almeida (m. 1,850; n. 1365).
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 1,850; n. 85).
Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf (m. 1,850; n. 71).
Hypericum quartinianum A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 197).
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,850; n. 378).
Ocimum urticifolium Roth (m. 1,850; n. 2483).
Pavonia burchellii (DC.) Dyer (m. 1,850; n. 202).
Protea gaguedi J.F. Gmel. (m. 1,850; n. 1594).
Rhus quartiniana A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 2344).
Rumex nervosus Vahl (m. 1,850; n. 1558).
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock (m. 1,850; n. 566).
Solanum campylacanthum A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 2552).
Tephrosia elata Deflers (m. 1,850; n. 2262).
Terminalia schimperiana Hochst. (m. 1,850; n. 721).
Vernonia congolensis De Wild. & Muschl. subsp. vernonioides (Walp.) C. Jeffrey (m.
1,850; n. 892).
Vegetation; characteristic species: A number of tree species recorded from this locality are associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Cussonia ostinii, Gardenia
ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis, Terminalia schimperiana). Cordia africana occurs both
in woodland and forest. Some large shrubs seem to represent patches of Afromontane
scrub (Acanthus polystachius, Capparis tomentosa, Hypericum quartinianum, Maytenus
serrata, Protea gaguedi (also in woodland), Rhus quartiniana). Several herbs are associated with moist ground in grassland (Hygrophila schulli, Chrozophora plicata).
24.2.1937
Excursions from Quonzela [Consuela, Consela].
Locality T61 – Quonzela in riva al lago
Locality number 61 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T61 on Map 6.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Quonzela [Consuela, Consela],
at the shore of the lake [Lake Tana].
Variant indication of locality:
Quonzela, in riva al lago (n. 1253).
Georeferencing: A suitable place along the lake shore could be at 11.877202° N,
37.036413° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Kanahia laniflora (Forssk.) R. Br. (m. 1,830; n. 1253).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Tacazzea venosa Decne. (m. 1,830; n. 1237).
Vegetation; characteristic species: These two species are associated with moist ground
near water or in shallow water.
Photographic documentation: Two photographs of species of Asclepiadaceae were
taken at Quonzela, probably the specimens from this site: Kanahia laniflora in water
near lake shore. 37 An unidentified species, almost certainly the specimen of Tacazzea
venosa collected from the site, was growing on the shore. 38
25.2.1937
Locality T62 – Penisoletta dove è la Chiesa di Kuddus Gheorghis Quonzela[
Locality number 62 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T62 on Map 6.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Small peninsula where the
church of St. George Quonzela [Consuela, Consela] is located.
Variant indication of locality:
Penisoletta della Chiesa di Kuddus Gheorghis Quonzela (n. 2130).
Penisoletta dove si trova la Chiesa di Kuddus Gheorghis Quonzela (n. 157, n. 239).
Penisoletta dove sorge la Chiesa di Kuddus Gheorghis Quonzela (n. 28, n. 627, n. 650, n.
789, n. 1173, n. 1174).
Georeferencing: Almost certainly the isolated church dedicated to Kuddus Gheorghis (St. George) on a peninsula northwest of the town; a church with this position
is indicated as “Kuzial Giorgis” on the map of Lake Tana by Demelie Arega (no year);
the church is surrounded by a rather extensive wooded grove with forest trees; most
of the peninsula is at 1800-1830 m. The locality can be georeferenced at approximately
11.889448° N, 37.021230° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Arundo donax L. (m. 1,900; n. 1945).
Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth. (m. 1,850; n. 627).
Capparis tomentosa Lam. (m. 1,850; n. 157).
Cyphostemma adenocaule (A. Rich.) Wild & Drummond (m. 1,850; n. 432).
Dodonaea angustifolia L. f. (m. 1,830; n. 492).
Euclea racemosa Murray subsp. schimperi (A. DC.) F. White (m. 1,900; n. 1140).
Euphorbia nubica N.E. Br. (m. 1,850; n. 1661).
Ficus thonningii Bl. (m. 1,850; n. 1669).
Ficus vasta Forssk. (m. 1,850; n. 1707).
Glycine wightii (Wight & Arn.) Verdc. (m. 1,900; n. 522).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 276, n. 290).
Helinus mystacinus (Ait.) Steud. (m. 1,850; n. 409).
Indeterminabile* (m. 1,900; n. 2047, n. 2181).
Indeterminabile* (m. 1,900; n. 2130).
Jasminum grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum (Fresen.) P.S. Green (m. 1,900; n. 1159,
n. 1160).
Juniperus procera Endl. (m. 1,850; n. 28).
37 See archival font Dainelli (501), image 839, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
38 See archival font Dainelli (501), image 840, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
177
178
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Justicia schimperiana (Nees) T. Anders. (m. 1,900; n. 1509).
Kalanchoe lanceolata (Forssk.) Pers. (m. 1,850; n. 789).
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,850; n. 387).
Mimusops kummel A. DC. (m. 1,900; n. 1086, n. 1087).
Olea europaea L. subsp. cuspidata (G. Don) Cif. (m. 1,900; n. 1173, n. 1174).
Pavetta sp.* (m. 1,900; n. 759).
Pittosporum abyssinicum Del. (m. 1,850; n. 239).
Pterolobium stellatum (Forssk.) Brenan (m. 1,850; n. 650).
Rhoicissus tridentata (L. f.) Wild & Drummond (m. 1,850; n. 399).
Rhus quartiniana A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 2339).
Rhus sp.[4]* (m. 1,850; n. 457).
Rhynchosia resinosa (A. Rich.) Bak. (m. 1,900; n. 637).
Steganotaenia araliacea A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 682).
Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke (m. 1,900; n. 1297).
Ziziphus abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 424).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Only a few of the trees typically planted or natural in the small forest groves around churches have been recorded from this locality
(Juniperus procera, Ficus thonningii, Mimusops kummel, Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata).
Present are also a small number of Afromontane woodland species (Ficus vasta, Steganotaenia araliacea, Ziziphus abyssinica). Some shrubs represent Afromontane secondary scrub (Calpurnia aurea, Capparis tomentosa, Dodonaea angustifolia, Euclea racemosa
subsp. schimperi, Grewia ferruginea, Helinus mystacinus, Justicia schimperiana, Maytenus
serrata, Pterolobium stellatum, Rhus quartiniana).
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli took a number of photographs that
show the wooded peninsula with the church of Kuddus Georgis. 39
Locality T63 – Paduletto alla base di Ilca tarara (Quonzela)
Locality number 63 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T63 on Map 6.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Small swamp / swampy ground
at the base of the Ilca tarara [Ilca hill] Quonzela [Consuela, Consela].
Georeferencing: Close to locality number 57, but with moist ground, it is therefore a
site probably towards the lake; a probable location is at 11.881965° N, 37.009867° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Graminacee indeterminabili* (m. 1,830; n. 335).
Hibiscus diversifolius Jacq. (m. 1,850; n. 213).
Persicaria setosula (A. Rich.) K. Wilson (m. 1,850; n. 1540).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Pichi Sermolli characterised this locality as a small
swamp, and Persicaria setosula grows typically in swamps or shallow water.
26.2.1937
Excursion to the high ground west of Lake Tana around Alefa.
Locality T64 – Da Quonzela ad Amberas Jesus lungo la strada per Alefa
Locality number 64 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T64 on Map 6.
39 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 814, 815, 816, 817, 818, 819, in the Archivio fotografico of the
Società geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
English translation of Italian indication of locality: From Quonzela [Consuela,
Consela] towards Amberas Jesus along the road to Alefa.
Variant indication of locality:
Da Quonzela ad Amberas Jesus lungo la via per Alefa (n. 83).
Da Quonzela ad Ambera Jesus lungo la strada per Alefa (n. 476, n. 554, n. 569, n. 594, n.
608, n. 620, n. 710, n. 711, n. 893, n. 894, n. 1599, n. 1995, n. 2056, n. 2108, n. 2235, n.
2236, n. 2237, n. 2247, n. 2248, n. 2249).
Georeferencing: The place name “Amberas Jesus” has not been seen on any map. In the
book from 1951, the spelling of “Amberas Jesus” is sometimes without an “s” at the end
of “Amberàs”, as “Ambera Jesus”. At the time of Pichi Sermolli’s visit the road between
Consuela and Alefa (now mostly known as Shawira) was in a more southerly position
than the present road via Degel Ber. The road is marked on the map Africa 1:250,000,
Sheet 67A, Dangla by the Survey Office of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. On Google Map
there are several churches in the general area, mostly at altitudes of 2,000 m. or above.
A church along the disused track is at 11.875289° N, 36.962690° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia abyssinica Benth. (m. 1,950; n. 2246, n. 594).
Acacia bavazzanoi Pic. Serm. (m. 1,950; n. 2247, n. 2248, n. 2249).
Acacia seyal Del. (m. 1,950; n. 2235, n. 2236, n. 2237).
Acanthus polystachius Del. (m. 1,950; n. 2108).
Cordia africana Lam. (m. 1,950; n. 1265).
Entada abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 620).
Exotheca abyssinica (A. Rich.) Anderss. (m. 1,950; n. 43, n. 83).
Ficus vasta Forssk. (m. 1870; n. 1727).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 1,950;
n. 823, n. 841).
Guizotia scabra (Vis.) Chiov. (m. 1,950; n. 1000).
Hygrophila schulli (Hamilt.) M.R. & S.M. Almeida (m. 1,950; n. 1361).
Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf (m. 1,950; n. 73).
Indeterminabile* (m. 1,950; n. 2056).
Lannea schimperi (A. Rich.) Engl. (m. 1,950; n. 476).
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (No altitude; n. 377).
Pennisetum ramosum (Hochst.) Schweinf. (m. 1,950; n. 784).
Phoenix reclinata Jacq. (m. 1,950; n. 1995).
Phragmanthera regularis (Sprague) M.G. Gilbert (m. 1,950; n. 1599).
Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (m. 1,950; n. 608).
Rhus vulgaris Meikle (m. 1,950; n. 440).
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock (m. 1,950; n. 554, n. 569).
Setaria incrassata (Hochst.) Hack. (m. 1,950; n. 311).
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (m. 1,950; n. 1378).
Terminalia schimperiana Hochst. (m. 1,950; n. 710, n. 711).
Vernonia congolensis De Wild. & Muschl. subsp. vernonioides (Walp.) C. Jeffrey (m.
1,950; n. 893, n. 894).
Ziziphus abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 422).
Ziziphus mucronata Willd. (m. 1,950; n. 427).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees recorded from this locality include a
number of Combretum-Terminalia woodland species (Acacia seyal, Entada abyssinica, Ficus vasta, Gardenia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis, Lannea schimperi, Piliostigma
thonningii, Stereospermum kunthianum, Terminalia schimperiana), but also species that
are predominantly associated with Afromontane woodland (Acacia abyssinica, Acacia
179
180
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
bavazzanoi, and species that occur in several vegetation types (Cordia africana). Some
shrubs represent Afromontane secondary scrub (Maytenus serrata, Rhus vulgaris, Senna singueana). A few species indicate local moist habitats (Hygrophila schulli, Phoenix
reclinata).
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs taken on this date show
wooded grasslands west of Quonzela.40 A sequence of photographs showing wooded
grassland with clumps of trees towards Alefa [Shahura].41 Another sequence of photographs show clumps of Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata and Acacia abyssinica, species
occurring in the vegetation of this general area, but it is not possible to associate these
photographs with specific localities.42
Locality T65 – Pianura presso il villaggio di Scenti (Quonzela)
Locality number 65 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T65 on Map 6.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Small plain near the village of
Scenti, in the vicinity of Quonzela [Consuela, Consela].
Georeferencing: A place name spelt exactly like “Scenti” has not been seen on any map,
but on the map Africa 1:250,000, Sheet 67A, Dangla, by the Survey Office of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, there is a church, “Shanti Mariam”, at 11.886983° N, 36.960100°
E; the position of this church would agree with the information about this locality.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia bavazzanoi Pic. Serm. (m. 1,900; n. 2250).
Acacia venosa Benth. (m. 1,900; n. 599).
Acanthus polystachius Del. (m. 1,950; n. 2107).
Ethulia conyzoides L. f. (m. 1,900; n. 941).
Ficus sycomorus L. (m. 1,900; n. 2401).
Guizotia scabra (Vis.) Chiov. (m. 1,900; n. 1001).
Terminalia schimperiana Hochst. (m. 1,900; n. 2407).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees recorded from this locality suggest a
vegetation with woodland species (Acacia bavazzanoi, Acacia venosa, Ficus sycomorus,
Terminalia schimperiana).
Locality T66 – M.[onte] Masciungulit Scientiber presso Scenti (Quonzela)
Locality number 66 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T66 on Map 6.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Mt. Masciungulit Scientiber
near Scenti, in the vicinity of Quonzela [Consuela, Consela].
Georeferencing: Place names spelt exactly like “Masciungulit Scientibér” and “Scenti”
have not seen on any map. It is probably a hill near the previous locality, perhaps the
hill on which the church stands, at 11.887548° N, 36.951601° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Combretum (?) gallabatense* (m. 1,950; n. 2053).
Ferula communis L. (m. 1,950; n. 687).
Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell (m. 1,950; n. 2294).
40 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 820, 821, 822, 823, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società
geografica italiana.
41 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 824, 825, 826, 827, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società
geografica italiana.
42 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 828, 829, 830, 831, 832, in the Archivio fotografico of the
Società geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Vegetation; characteristic species: The few trees recorded from this locality suggest a
vegetation with woodland species (Combretum (?) gallabatense*, Maytenus senegalensis).
Locality T67 – Strada tra Quonzela ed Alefa, tratto tra Masciungulit Scientiber
ed il torrente Taquan
Locality number 67 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T67 on Map 6.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Road between Quonzela [Consuela, Consela] and Alefa. Area between Masciungulit Scientiber and the stream of
Taquan.
Variant indication of locality:
Strada tra Quonzela ed Alefa; tratto tra Masciungulit Scientiber ed il torrente Taquan (n.
465).
Strada tra Quonzela ed Alefa tratto tra Masciungulit Scientiber ed il torrente Taquan (n.
1638).
Strada tra Quonzela ed Alefa - tratto tra Masciungulit Scientiber ed il torrente Taquan (n.
742).
Georeferencing: Place names spelt exactly like “Masciungulit Scientibér” (see previous locality) or “Taquan” (see subsequent locality) have not been seen on any map;
there is a stream near the assumed position of locality 66 and 69, possibly Taquan,
and likely coordinates for locality 67 could therefore be 11.887548° N, 36.951601° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Combretum molle G. Don (m. 1,950; n. 742).
Croton macrostachyus Del. (m. 1,950; n. 1638).
Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell (m. 1,950; n. 2293).
Pittosporum abyssinicum Del. (m. 1,950; n. 241).
Rhus vulgaris Meikle (m. 1,850; n. 465).
Setaria (?) phragmitoides* (m. 1,950; n. 309).
Steganotaenia araliacea A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 683).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The few trees recorded from this locality suggest a
vegetation with species associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Combretum
molle, Maytenus senegalensis, Steganotaenia araliacea). Croton macrostachyus occurs in
several vegetation types, and Rhus vulgaris is a species of mainly Afromontane scrub.
Photographic documentation: The photographs taken by Pichi Sermolli around
Alefa [Shahura] show Dry Afromontane Forest (DAF), with Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, Afromontane wooded grassland and frequently small patches of riparian vegetation with Phoenix reclinata. However, the exact locations of these photographs are
not well specified.43
Locality T68 – Presso il torrente Taquan lungo la via tra Quonzela ed Alefa
Locality number 68 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T68 on Map 6.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near the stream of Taquan
along the road from Quonzela [Consuela, Consela] to Alefa.
Georeferencing: A possible location above the stream at the right altitude and near
the old road to Alefa or “Shawira” [Shahura] would be at ca. 2,100 m. (slightly higher
than Pichi Sermolli indicated) and at ca. 11.902724° N, 36.921976° E.
43 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 826, 827, 828, 829, 830, 831, 832, in the Archivio fotografico
of the Società geografica italiana.
181
182
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn. (m. 2,000; n. 2256).
Echinops longifolius A. Rich. (m. 2,000; n. 852).
Inula paniculata (Klatt) Burtt Davy (m. 2,000; n. 2415).
Olea europaea L. subsp. cuspidata (G. Don) Cif. (m. 2,000; n. 1177).
Otostegia tomentosa A. Rich. subsp. ambigens (Chiov.) Sebald (m. 2,000; n. 2516).
Phoenix reclinata Jacq. (m. 2,000; n. 1993, n. 1994).
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. (m. 2,000; n. 813).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The presence of Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata
might suggest DAF or IAF, but that is not supported by other species, which are associated with Afromontane scrub (Dichrostachys cinerea, Otostegia tomentosa subsp.
ambigens). The presence of Phoenix reclinata and Syzygium guineense suggest a riparian
vegetation along the stream of Taquan.
Locality T69 – Pianura di Dukulcan Jesus (Alefa)
Locality number 69 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T69 on Map 6.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Small plain of Dukulcan Jesus,
near the town of Alefa [“Shawira” , “Shahura”].
Georeferencing: On the sheet 67A (Dangila) of Africa in 1:250,000, by the Survey
Office of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, there is a church called “Dukulcan Jesus” just SE
of the town now called “Shawira”, or Shahura; presuming that “Shawira” is the town
called “Alefa” by Pichi Sermolli, then this locality is at ca. 2,200 m. and at 11.924261°
N, 36.904158° N.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Apodytes dimidiata Arn. var. acutifolia (A. Rich.) Boutique (m. 2,200; n. 347).
Combretum molle G. Don (m. 2,200; n. 734).
Cussonia ostinii Chiov. (m. 2,200; n. 671).
Ekebergia capensis Sparrm. (m. 2,200; n. 363).
Entada abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 2,200; n. 2269).
Gnidia glauca (Fresen.) Gilg (m. 2,200; n. 2497).
Hypericum quartinianum A. Rich. (m. 2,200; n. 187).
Leonotis ocymifolia (Burm. f.) Iwarsson var. raineriana (Vis.) Iwarsson (m. 2,200; n.
1391).
Maytenus obscura (A. Rich.) Cufod. (m. 2,200; n. 390).
Protea gaguedi J.F. Gmel. (m. 2,200; n. 1590).
Rhoicissus tridentata (L. f.) Wild & Drummond (m. 2,200; n. 395).
Rosa abyssinica Lindl. (m. 2,200; n. 661).
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (m. 2,200; n. 1381).
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. (m. 2,200; n. 814).
Terminalia schimperiana Hochst. (m. 2,200; n. 722).
Vernonia congolensis De Wild. & Muschl. subsp. vernonioides (Walp.) C. Jeffrey (m.
2,200; n. 897).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees recorded from this locality includes a
number of Combretum-Terminalia woodland species (Combretum molle, Cussonia ostinii, Entada abyssinica, Stereospermum kunthianum, Terminalia schimperiana). Other
species are associated with forest (Apodytes dimidiata var. acutifolia, Ekebergia capensis),
but most with Afromontane scrub (Gnidia glauca, Hypericum quartinianum, Leonotis
ocymifolia var. raineriana, Maytenus obscura, Protea gaguedi, Rosa abyssinica). It is not
certain if Syzygium guineense indicates riparian vegetation or may be subsp. macrocarpum characteristic of the western woodlands in Ethiopia.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
27.2.1937
Excursion from Alefa to the watershed to the west of Lake Tana.
Locality T70 – Presso la Chiesa di Sciaura Mariam Alefa
Locality number 70 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T70 on Map 6.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near the church of Sciaura
Mariam (Alefa; also known as “Shawira”, or “Shahura”).
Variant indication of locality:
Presso la Chiesa di Sciaunra Mariam Alefa (n. 1176).
Georeferencing: The name of a church called “Sciaura Mariam” has not been seen on
any map, but on the sheet 67A (Dangila) of Africa in 1:250,000, by the Survey Office
of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, there is a church named “Shahura Maryam”. Assuming
that “Alefa” is the small town now called “Shawira”, or Shahura or Sciaura, then this
locality is approximately at ca. 2,200 m. and at 11.935397° N, 36.870904° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Abutilon longicuspe A. Rich. (m. 2,200; n. 224).
Barleria ventricosa Nees (m. 2,200; n. 1526).
Brucea antidysenterica J.F. Mill. (m. 2,200; n. 342).
Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth. (m. 2,200; n. 630).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 2,200; n. 1206).
Clausena anisata (Willd.) Benth. (m. 2,200; n. 247).
Clematis longicauda A. Rich. (m. 2,200; n. 2353).
Crepis rueppellii Sch. Bip. (m. 2,200; n. 865).
Dombeya torrida (J.F. Gmel.) P. Bamps (m. 2,200; n. 236).
Gnidia glauca (Fresen.) Gilg (m. 2,200; n. 2498).
Indeterminabile* (m. 2,200; n. 2043).
Juniperus procera Endl. (m. 2,200; n. 17).
Justicia schimperiana (Nees) T. Anders. (m. 2,200; n. 1512).
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 2,200; n. 383, n. 2313).
Olea europaea L. subsp. cuspidata (G. Don) Cif. (m. 2,200; n. 1176).
Pterolobium stellatum (Forssk.) Brenan (m. 2,200; n. 645).
Rumex nervosus Vahl (m. 2,200; n. 1552).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees recorded from the surrounding of this
church indicate the presence of a grove of trees associated with DAF or IAF (Dombeya
torrida, Juniperus procera, Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata), as often seen around churches, and a number of species associated with Afromontane scrub (Brucea antidysenterica,
Calpurnia aurea, Carissa spinarum, Clausena anisata, Gnidia glauca, Justicia schimperiana, Maytenus serrata, Pterolobium stellatum).
Locality T71 – Pianura a sud di Alefa
Locality number 71 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T71 on Map 6.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Small plain south of the town
of Alefa.
Georeferencing: Assuming that “Alefa” is the small town now called “Shawira”, or
Shahura or Sciaura, then this locality is at approximately 11.923394° N, 36.883587° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia abyssinica Benth. (m. 2,100; n. 588, n. 593).
Acacia seyal Del. (m. 2,100; n. 2239).
Acanthus polystachius Del. (m. 2,100; n. 2110).
183
184
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Apodytes dimidiata Arn. var. acutifolia (A. Rich.) Boutique (m. 2,100; n. 345).
Croton macrostachyus Del. (m. 2,100; n. 1649, n. 1651).
Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf (m. 2,100; n. 70).
Hyparrhenia umbrosa (Hochst.) Schweinf. & Aschers. (m. 2,100; n. 103).
Maytenus undata (Thunb.) Blakelock (m. 2,100; n. 374).
Themeda triandra Forssk. (m. 2,100; n. 60).
Vernonia congolensis De Wild. & Muschl. subsp. vernonioides (Walp.) C. Jeffrey (m.
2,100; n. 896).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees from this locality includes one species
from Afromontane woodland (Acacia abyssinica), but also a widespread species from
Combretum-Terminalia woodland and other vegetation types (Acacia seyal), a species
that occurs in several vegetation types (Croton macrostachyus), as well as a species associated with Afromontane forest (Apodytes dimidiata var. acutifolia) and species associated with Afromontane scrub (Acanthus polystachius, Maytenus undata).
27.2.1937 (the month “1” on one collection error for “2”).
Locality T72 – Ciglione sopra la sorgente calda di Full-uaha-Muhat (Alefa)
Locality number 72 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T72 on Map 3.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Brink above the hot spring of
Fulluaha-Muhat, near the town of Alefa [also known as “Shawira”, or “Shahura”].
Variant indication of locality:
Ciglione sopra la sorgente calda di Fulluahat-Muhat (Alefa) (no. 919).
Ciglione sopra la sorgente calda Fullaha-Muhat (Alefa) (n. 2395).
Ciglione sopra la sorgente calda Fulluaha-Muhat (n. 737).
Ciglione sopra la sorgente calda Fulluaha-Muhat (Alefa) (n. 598).
Georeferencing: The world “Fulluaha” is an Italian transcription of the Amharic
“fil woha”, meaning “hot water”, and “Muhat” must be a local place name for the hot
spring. The place name “Full-uaha-Muhat” or variants of this name has not been seen
on any map, nor have the components of the name. On the map of the Lake Tana Basin
in Pichi Sermolli (1951: unnumbered page next to title page), there is an indication of
“Aqua termale” [hot water] at 1,180 m., near the western end of the loop formed by the
route of the expedition W of “Alefa” approximately 12 km. W of the town. This locality is said to be at 1,900 m., presumably more than 500 m. above the hot spring. On the
sheet 67A (Dangila) of Africa in 1:250,000 by the Survey Office of the Anglo-Egyptian
Sudan, there is a “Warm spring” marked below a church on a hill of the plateau at ca.
36° 41´E, which agrees with the information on the map in Pichi Sermolli (1951: unnumbered page next to title page. Assuming that “Alefa” is the small town now called
“Shawira”, the edge of the plateau at ca. 1,900 m. is about 12 km. to the W of that town
and the locality can be approximately georeferenced at 11.950690° N, 36.751832° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia venosa Benth. (m. 1,900; n. 598).
Albizia malacophylla (A. Rich.) Walp. (m. 1,900; n. 1189).
Amorphophallus gomboczianus Pic. Serm. (m. 1,900; n. 1992).
Blumea axillaris (Lam.) DC. (m. 1,900; n. 919).
Capparis tomentosa Lam. (m. 1,900; n. 161).
Combretum molle G. Don (m. 1,900; n. 737).
Crinipes abyssinicus (A. Rich.) Hochst. (m. 1,900; n. 1872).
Dombeya quinqueseta (Del.) Exell (m. 1,900; n. 230).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Ficus sycomorus L. (m. 1870; n. 2395).
Galinsoga parviflora Cav. (the date “27.1.” is an error for 27.2.; m. 1,900; n. 1010).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 1,900;
n. 842).
Hyparrhenia cymbaria (L.) Stapf (m. 1,900; n. 109).
Hyparrhenia gazensis (Rendle) Stapf forma* (m. 1,900; n. 316).
Indeterminabile* (m. 1,900; n. 2201).
Lannea schimperi (A. Rich.) Engl. (m. 1,900; n. 475).
Osyridocarpus schimperianus (A. Rich.) A. DC. (m. 1,900; n. 1637).
Osyris quadripartita Decn. (m. 1,900; n. 1627, n. 1634).
Sterculia setigera Del. (m. 1,900; n. 238).
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (m. 1,900; n. 1382).
Ximenia americana L. (m. 1,800; n. 356).
Ziziphus abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 421).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm. f.) Bech. (No alt.; n. 1793, FI-PS 10649).
Vegetation; characteristic species: A long range of the trees collected from this locality are associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Acacia venosa, Albizia malacophylla, Combretum molle, Dombeya quinqueseta, Ficus sycomorus, Gardenia ternifolia
subsp. jovis-tonantis, Lannea schimperi, Sterculia setigera, Stereospermum kunthianum,
Ximenia americana, Ziziphus abyssinica). The only shrubs associated with Afromontane
scrub are Osyridocarpus schimperianus and Osyris quadripartita. The herbs seem to be
characteristic of grassland typical of Afromontane woodland.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli apparently did not photograph the
hot spring itself, but has images of the valley to the west of Alefa with Combretum-Terminalia deciduous woodland.44 However, there exists a photograph of the hot spring
taken by Enzo Minucci.45
28.2.1937
Excursions around Alefa and return to Quonzela (Consuela, Consela).
Locality T73 – Pianura di Dukulcan Jesus (Alefa)
Locality number 73 on printed labels with this locality; locality name also on typed
label with no locality number. Marked as T73 on Map 6.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Small plain at Dukulcan Jesus,
near the town of Alefa [also known as “Shawira”, or “Shahura”].
Variant indication of locality:
Pianura a sud di Dukulkan Jesus (Alefa) (n. 346).
Georeferencing: The same as for locality number 69, at 11.924261° N, 36.904158° N.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acanthus sennii Chiov. (m. 2,200; n. 2119).
Albizia malacophylla (A. Rich.) Walp. (m. 2,200; n. 1191).
44 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 833, 834, 835, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana. Image 834 is reproduced in this work as Fig. 35.
45 See archival font Dainelli (501), image 560, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
185
186
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Apodytes dimidiata Arn. var. acutifolia (A. Rich.) Boutique (m. 2,200; n. 346).
Buddleja polystachya Fresen. (m. 2,200; n. 1287).
Clematis hirsuta Guill. & Perr. (m. 2,200; n. 2373).
Combretum molle G. Don (m. 2,200; n. 738).
Dicrocephala integrifolia (L. f.) Kuntze (m. 2,200; n. 1056).
Dodonaea angustifolia L. f. (m. 2,200; n. 496).
Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr. (“27.2.” must be an error for “28.2.; m. 2,200; n. 2040).
Gnaphalium unionis Oliv. & Hiern (m. 2,200; n. 1021).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 2,200; n. 277).
Osyris quadripartita Decn. (m. 2,200; n. 1626).
Pittosporum abyssinicum Del. (m. 2,000; n. 242).
Protea gaguedi J.F. Gmel. (m. 2,200; n. 1589).
Rosa abyssinica Lindl. (m. 2,200; n. 665).
Vernonia theophrastifolia Oliv. & Hiern (m. 2,200; n. 2420, n. 2421).
Vegetation; characteristic species: A few trees are associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Albizia malacophylla, Combretum molle). A single tree is associated with Afromontane forest (Apodytes dimidiata var. acutifolia). A larger number are
associated with Afromontane scrub (Acanthus sennii, Buddleja polystachya, Dodonaea
angustifolia, Flacourtia indica, Grewia ferruginea, Osyris quadripartite, Pittosporum abyssinicum, Protea gaguedi, Rosa abyssinica).
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs show vegetation observed on the return to Lake Tana at Quonzela, and again it is not possible to associate the photographs with specific localities.46
Locality T74 – Pendii sovrastanti il torrente Taquan lungo la via tra Alefa e
Quonzela
Locality number 74 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T74 on Map 6.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Slopes overhanging the stream
of Taquan along the road between Alefa [also known as “Shawira”, or “Shahura”] and
Quonzela [Consuela, Consela].
Variant indication of locality:
Pendici sovrastanti il torrente Taquan lungo la via tra Alefa e Quonzela (n. 668).
Pendii sovrastanti il torrente Taquan lungo la strada tra Alefa e Quonzela (n. 484).
Pendii sovrastanti il torrente Taquan lungo la via tra Quonzela ed Alefa (n. 2501).
Georeferencing: This is very close to locality number 68 and the rounded-off geographical coordinates are the same, at 11.902724° N, 36.921976° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Bridelia micrantha (Hochst.) Baill. (m. 2,100; n. 2459).
Faurea speciosa Welw. (m. 2,100; n. 2501).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 2,100;
n. 838).
Lannea schimperi (A. Rich.) Engl. (m. 2,100; n. 484).
Pennisetum ramosum (Hochst.) Schweinf. (m. 2,100; n. 783).
Polyscias farinosa (Del.) Harms (m. 2,100; n. 668).
Polystachya bennettiana Rchb. f. (m. 2,100; n. 2538).
Protea gaguedi J.F. Gmel. (m. 2,100; n. 1588).
46 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 836, 837, 838, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Vegetation; characteristic species: A number of large shrubs or trees collected from
this locality are associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Faurea speciosa,
Gardenia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis, Lannea schimperi, Polyscias farinosa). A few
are associated with Afromontane forest (Bridelia micrantha) or Afromontane scrub
(Protea gaguedi).
2.3.1937
Base camp moves to Gorgora on a peninsula at the northern shore of Lake Tana.
Locality T75 – Lungo le rive del lago a Gorgora
Locality number 75 on printed labels with this locality; locality name also on typed
labels without locality number. Marked as T75 on Map 7.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Along the shores of the lake
[Lake Tana] at Gorgora.
Variant indication of locality:
Lungo la riva del lago a Gorgora (n. 2341).
Georeferencing: Gorgora is now a small town with a harbour; it is marked on almost
any map. A wooded area along the lake shore near the harbour of Gorgora is at ca. 1,800
m. and at 12.239404° N, 37.301631° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Albizia schimperiana Oliv. (m. 1,820; n. 1116).
Arundo donax L. (m. 1,825; n. 1947).
Cyperus longus L. (m. 1,825; n. 1962).
Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq. (m. 1,825; n. 1718).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 1,825; n. 281).
Hygrophila asteracanthoides Lindau (m. 1,825; n. 2077).
Korthalsella japonica (Thunb.) Engl. (m. 1,820; n. 2487 (FT, holotype of Korthalsella
binii Pic. Serm.)).
Lotus schoelleri Schweinf. (m. 1,825; n. 2230).
Mimusops kummel A. DC. (m. 1,825; n. 1090).
Rhus quartiniana A. Rich. (m. 1,825; n. 2341).
Sauromatum venosum (Ait.) Kunth (m. 1,825; n. 1748).
Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. var. nubica Chiov. (m. 1,825; n. 2518).
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. (m. 1,825; n. 808).
Tacazzea venosa Decne. (m. 1,825; n. 1240).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees collected from this locality include Mimusops kummel and Syzygium guineense, both species characteristic of lake shore forests. Associated with Afromontane forest are Albizia schimperiana, Ficus ingens and
Sesbania sesban var. nubica. A number of larger or smaller shrubs are associated with
Afromontane scrub (Grewia ferruginea, Rhus quartiniana). The herbs are associated
with grassland in Afromontane woodland (Sauromatum venosum) or moist ground
(Cyperus longus, Hygrophila asteracanthoides, Lotus schoelleri).
3.3.1937
Locality T76 – Collina a sud del villaggio di Gorgora
Locality number 76 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T76 on Map 7.
187
188
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 47. Shoreline of Lake Tana south of Gorgora. In the foreground a tanqua (reed boat). Photograph by Ib Friis,
2011.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Hill south of the village of
Gorgora.
Variant indication of locality:
Collina sud del villaggio di Gorgora (n. 1392).
Colline a sud del villaggio di Gorgora (n. 354, n. 355, n. 615, n. 1183, n. 1187, n. 1629, n.
1675, n. 1719, n. 1725, n. 1941, n. 2374).
Georeferencing: A hilly promontory south of Gorgora with several hills, the highest
at ca. 1,840 m., is at 12.234635° N, 37.300605° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia seyal Del. (m. 1,900; n. 2233).
Albizia malacophylla (A. Rich.) Walp. (m. 1,950; n. 1187).
Aloe sp. cfr. A. abyssinica* (m. 1,900; n. 2021).
Bulbostylis densa (Wall.) Hand.-Mazz. subsp. afromontana (Lye) R. Haines (m. 1,900;
n. 1980).
Cissus petiolata Hook. f. (m. 1,900; n. 435).
Combretum molle G. Don (m. 1,900; n. 733, n. 743).
Cordia africana Lam. (m. 1,900; n. 1266).
Cyphostemma adenocaule (A. Rich.) Wild & Drummond (m. 1,900; n. 430).
Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn. (m. 1,900; n. 544).
Drimia altissima (L. f.) Ker-Gawl. (m. 1,900; n. 1756).
Erythrina abyssinica DC. (m. 1,900; n. 520).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Ficus glumosa Del. (m. 1,900; n. 1725, n. 2374).
Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq. (m. 1,900; n. 1719).
Ficus thonningii Bl. (m. 1,900; n. 1675).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 1,900;
n. 839).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 271, n. 282).
Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham. & Schltdl. var. abyssinica (A. Rich.) Wolff
(m. 1,900; n. 703).
Hymenodictyon floribundum (Hochst. & Steud.) Robinson (m. 1,900; n. 745).
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 1,900; n. 87).
Hyparrhenia sp. cfr. H. gazensis* (m. 1,900; n. 315, n. 323).
Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf (m. 1,900; n. 72).
Hyparrhenia variabilis Stapf (m. 1,900; n. 111).
Lannea schimperi (A. Rich.) Engl. (No altitude; n. 474).
Leonotis ocymifolia (Burm. f.) Iwarsson var. raineriana (Vis.) Iwarsson (m. 1,900; n.
1392).
Loudetia arundinacea (A. Rich.) Steud. (m. 1,900; n. 1938; m. 1,900; n. 1941).
Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell (m. 1,900; n. 2298).
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,900; n. 389).
Mimusops kummel A. DC. (m. 1,900; n. 1091).
Osyris quadripartita Decn. (m. 1,900; n. 1629).
Otostegia fruticosa (Forssk.) Schweinf. (m. 1,900; n. 1400).
Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (m. 1,900; n. 615).
Rhoicissus tridentata (L. f.) Wild & Drummond (m. 1,900; n. 429).
Schrebera alata (Hochst.) Welw. (m. 1,900; n. 1183).
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock (m. 1,900; n. 558).
Solanum anguivi Lam. (m. 1,900; n. 2568, n. 2569).
Steganotaenia araliacea A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 684).
Tapinanthus heteromorphus (A. Rich.) Danser (m. 1,900; n. 2492 (FT, holotype of Loranthus scasellatii Chiov. var. glabrescens Balle in Pic. Serm.).
Terminalia schimperiana Hochst. (m. 1,900; n. 723).
Vernonia cylindrica Walp. (m. 1,900; n. 2438).
Ximenia americana L. (m. 1,900; n. 354, n. 355).
Ziziphus abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 420).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Cheilanthes erythraea Pich. Serm. (No alt.; n. 1973, FI-PS 11484)47
Pellaea viridis (Forssk.) Prantl (No alt.; n. 1810, FI-PS 10635).
Arthropteris monocarpa (Cordem.) C. Chr. (No alt.; n. 1807, not seen, cited in Pichi
Sermolli (1978: 132) as located in “FI”).
Vegetation; characteristic species: A number of large shrubs or trees collected from
this locality are associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Acacia seyal, Albizia
malacophylla, Combretum molle, Erythrina abyssinica, Ficus glumosa, Ficus ingens, Gar47 Cheilanthes erythraea Pich. Serm. (Pichi Sermolli 1973: 420 & 422) is a narrowly distributed species described on two collections from Eritrea; the species is restricted to Eritrea and northern
Ethiopia. For the account of the species in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, Friis (2009: 63-64) saw
two specimens from the Semien Mountains in northern Ethiopia (Chiovenda 849, 3044) and mentioned two considerably smaller specimens from the Lake Tana expeditions, Pichi Sermolli 1972,
1973, presumably forms from more open habitats than the locatlities in Eritrea and the Semien. Of
the collections from Gorgora, only n. 1973 has been seen for this stydy.
189
190
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 48. Shoreline with dry vegetation just south of Gorgora. Photograph by Ib Friis, 2015.
denia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis, Heteromorpha arborescens var. abyssinica, Hymenodictyon floribundum, Lannea schimperi, Maytenus senegalensis, Piliostigma thonningii,
Steganotaenia araliacea, Terminalia schimperiana, Ximenia americana, Ziziphus abyssinica). Cordia africana occurs both in woodland and forest; Ficus thonningii mainly in
forest. Mimusops kummel is characteristic of lake shore forest. Some species are associated with Afromontane secondary scrub (Dichrostachys cinerea, Grewia ferruginea,
Leonotis ocymifolia var. raineriana, Maytenus serrata, Osyris quadripartite, Otostegia
fruticosa, Schrebera alata, Senna singueana).
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs taken on this date show
low hills with woodland and wooded grassland, one with view over Lake Tana.48 On the
same date, two photographs were taken in Acacia wooded grassland near the church
of Debra Sina Mariam at the lake shore.49
48 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 841, 842, 843, 844, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società
geografica italiana.
49 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 845, 846, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
4.3.1937
Excursions from Gorgora.
Locality T77 – Alla base di Zefen tarara (ovest di Gorgora)
Locality number 77 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T77 on Map 7.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: At the base of Zefen tarara (Zefen hill) to the west of Gorgora.
Variant indication of locality:
Alla base delle colline di Zefen tarara (ovest di Gorgora) (n. 551, n. 559, n. 2109).
Alla base delle Zefen tarara (colline ad ovest di Gorgora) (n. 443).
Alla base di Zefen tarara (ovest di Quonzela [error for Gorgora]) (n. 964).
Alla base delle Zefen tarara (ovest di Gorgora) (n. 353, n. 697, n. 704, n. 740, n. 1394, n.
1878, n. 2086, n. 2170, n. 2238, n. 2473).
Alla base di Zefen tarara (Gorgora) (n. 829).
Georeferencing: The word “tarara” is Amharic for “hill.” The name “Zefen” has not
been seen on any map, but undoubtedly this locality is at the base of the E slope of the
ca. 2,010 m. high hill(s) west of the town of Gorgora. The year after Pichi Sermolli’s
visit, a tall and massive, still standing monument for the Italian occupation of Gondar
and Lake Tana was erected on the highest point of these hills, which – as noted by Pichi
Sermolli - was named “Vetta Mussolini” [or “Cima Mussolini”], the Mussolini peak.
Locally in Gorgora, the monument on top of the Zefen tarara was still in 2016 referred
to as “Hawelti Mussolini”, “Mussolini’s stele.” From the altitude indicated, the locality
is approximately at 12.240659° N, 37.282768° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia seyal Del. (m. 1,850; n. 2238).
Acanthus polystachius Del. (m. 1,850; n. 2109).
Chloris gayana Kunth (m. 1,850; n. 1878).
Combretum collinum Fresen. (m. 1,950; n. 740).
Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn. (m. 1,850; n. 551).
Diplolophium africanum Turcz. (m. 1,850; n. 697).
Echinops giganteus A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 2170).
Erythrina abyssinica DC. (m. 1,950; n. 521).
Ferula communis L. (m. 1,850; n. 690).
Ficus sycomorus L. (m. 1,850; n. 2397).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 1,850;
n. 829).
Gnidia involucrata A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 1537).
Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham. & Schltdl. var. abyssinica (A. Rich.) Wolff
(m. 1,850; n. 704).
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 1,850; n. 91).
Hyparrhenia gazensis (Rendle) Stapf forma* (m. 1,850; n. 313).
Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf (m. 1,850; n. 75).
Jasminum grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum (Fresen.) P.S. Green (m. 1,850; n. 1165).
Laggera crassifolia (A. Rich.) Oliv. & Hiern (m. 1,950; n. 926).
Lannea schimperi (A. Rich.) Engl. (m. 1,850; n. 485).
Leonotis ocymifolia (Burm. f.) Iwarsson var. raineriana (Vis.) Iwarsson (m. 1,950; n. 1394).
Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell (m. 1,900; n. 2292).
Ocimum trichodon Gürke (m. 1,950; n. 2473).
Rhus vulgaris Meikle (m. 1,850; n. 443).
191
192
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Rhynchosia resinosa (A. Rich.) Bak. (m. 1,950; n. 638).
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock (m. 1,850; n. 559).
Sopubia ramosa (Hochst.) Hochst. (m. 1,850; n. 2086).
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (m. 1,850; n. 1383).
Vernonia adoensis Walp. (m. 1,850; n. 964).
Vernonia cylindrica Walp. (m. 1,850; n. 2439).
Ximenia americana L. (m. 1,850; n. 353).
Vegetation; characteristic species: A number of large shrubs or trees collected
from this locality are associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Acacia seyal, Combretum collinum, Erythrina abyssinica, Gardenia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis,
Heteromorpha arborescens var. abyssinica, Lannea schimperi, Maytenus senegalensis, Stereospermum kunthianum, Ximenia americana). Some species are associated with Afromontane secondary scrub (Acanthus polystachius, Dichrostachys cinerea, Leonotis ocymifolia
var. raineriana, Rhus vulgaris, Senna singueana).
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli took a number of photographs of the
woodland, wooded grassland and bushland on the hills of the Zefen tarara to the west
of Gorgora. 50
Locality T78 – Versante orientale di Zefen tarara (ovest di Gorgora)
Locality number 78 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T78 on Map 7.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Eastern slope of the Zefen tarara (Zefen hill) to the west of Gorgora.
Variant indication of locality:
Versante orientale di Zefen tarara (colline a ovest di Gorgora) (n. 596).
Versante orientale delle Zefen tarara (ovest di Gorgora) (n. 686, n. 705, n. 2241).
Versante orientale di Zefen tarara (colline ad ovest di Gorgora) (n. 401, n. 468, n. 483, n.
552, n. 716, n. 727, n. 739, n. 803, n. 1465, n. 1628, n. 2073, n. 2257, n. 2291).
Georeferencing: See locality number 77, approximately at 12.237210° N, 37.280832° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia bavazzanoi Pic. Serm. (m. 1,950; n. 2257).
Acacia seyal Del. (m. 1,950; n. 2234?, n. 2241).
Acacia venosa Benth. (m. 1,950; n. 596).
Capparis tomentosa Lam. (m. 1,950; n. 165).
Combretum molle G. Don (m. 1,950; n. 727).
Combretum rochetianum A. Juss. (m. 1,950; n. 739).
Datura stramonium L. (m. 1,950; n. 1302).
Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn. (m. 1,950; n. 552).
Dregea schimperi (Decne.) Bullock (m. 1,950; n. 1241).
Ferula communis L. (m. 1,950; n. 688).
Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham. & Schltdl. var. abyssinica (A. Rich.) Wolff
(m. 1,950; n. 705).
Hymenodictyon floribundum (Hochst. & Steud.) Robinson (m. 1,950; n. 746).
Hyparrhenia cymbaria (L.) Stapf (m. 1,950; n. 90).
Hyparrhenia sp.* (m. 1,950; n. 324).
Hypoestes forskaolii (Vahl) R. Br. (m. 1,950; n. 1487).
Indeterminabile* (m. 1,950; n. 2188).
50 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 847, 848, 849, 850, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società
geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Jasminum grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum (Fresen.) P.S. Green (m. 1,950; n. 1164).
Laggera crassifolia (A. Rich.) Oliv. & Hiern (m. 1,950; n. 922).
Lannea schimperi (A. Rich.) Engl. (m. 1,950; n. 483).
Loudetia arundinacea (A. Rich.) Steud. (m. 1,950; n. 1939, n. 1940).
Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell (m. 1,950; n. 2291).
Nicandra physaloides (L.) Gaertn. (m. 1,950; n. 1304).
Osyris quadripartita Decn. (m. 1,950; n. 1628).
Ozoroa insignis Del. (m. 1,950; n. 803).
Pentas lanceolata (Forssk.) Deflers (m. 1,950; n. 750).
Plectranthus barbatus Andrews (m. 1,950; n. 1409).
Rhoicissus tridentata (L. f.) Wild & Drummond (m. 1,950; n. 2073, n. 401).
Rhus glutinosa A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 468).
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. (m. 1,950; n. 1465).
Solanum campylacanthum A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 2556).
Steganotaenia araliacea A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 686).
Terminalia schimperiana Hochst. (m. 1,950; n. 716).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Arthropteris monocarpa (Cordem.) C. Chr. (No alt.; n. 1806, FI-PS 10632, also cited
in Pichi Sermolli (1978: 132) and also stated to be located in “FI”).
Vegetation; characteristic species: A number of large shrubs or trees collected from
this locality are associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Acacia bavazzanoi,
Acacia seyal, Acacia venosa, Combretum molle, Combretum rochetianum, Heteromorpha
arborescens var. abyssinica, Hymenodictyon floribundum, Lannea schimperi, Loudetia
arundinacea, Maytenus senegalensis, Ozoroa insignis, Steganotaenia araliacea, Terminalia schimperiana). A relatively small number of species are associated with Afromontane secondary scrub (Capparis tomentosa, Dichrostachys cinerea, Osyris quadripartita,
Rhus glutinosa).
Locality T78 – continued – Versante meridionale di Zefen tarara (colline a ovest
di Gorgora
Locality number 78 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T78 on Map 7.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Southern slope of the Zefen tarara (Zefen hill) to the west of Gorgora.
Georeferencing: This is the only collection from the southern slope of the tarara (hill)
of Zefen; see the previous locality also numbered 78, both must be approximately at
12.237210° N, 37.280832° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq. (m. 1,950; n. 1716).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Ficus ingens is, as many trees on the eastern slope
of Zefen, associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland.
Locality T78a – Presso la Chiesa di Debra Sina Mariam (Gorgora)
No locality number on handwritten label with this locality. Marked as T78a on Map 7.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near the church of Debra Sina
Mariam in Gorgora.
Georeferencing: Debra Sina Mariam is a large 17th century church very close to the
shore of Lake Tana at 12.242354° N, 37.301669° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 293).
Ritchiea albersii Gilg (m. 1,850; n. 2336).
193
194
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 49. The eastern slope of Zefen tarara near Gorgora. The vegetation is mainly evergreen bushland and grassland.
The monument on the highest point is the now partly ruined Faro della Vittoria [lighthouse of the victory], erected
the year after Pichi Sermolli studied the vegetation of the hills. Photograph by Ib Friis, 2015.
Vegetation; characteristic species: These two species are associated with DAF or
IAF and secondary Afromontane scrub.
Locality T78b – Pianura presso Debra Sina Mariam (Gorgora)
No locality number on typed labels with this place name. [Marked as T78b on Map 7].
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Small plain near the church of
Debra Sina Mariam in Gorgora.
Georeferencing: Same as previous, at 12.242359° N, 37.301142° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia bavazzanoi Pic. Serm. (m. 1,850; n. 2251, n. 2252).
Acacia seyal Del. (m. 1,850; n. 602).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The two trees, Acacia bavazzanoi and Acacia seyal,
are mainly associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland, similar to the vegetation
on the nearby eastern slope of the Zenfen hill.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli took two photographs of the woodland
near the lake shore at Debra Sina. 51
51 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 851, 852, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
No specimen from a locality number 79 has been traced.
5.3.1937
Locality T80 – Pianura di Quami presso Gorgora
Locality number 80 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T80 on Map 7.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Small plain of Quami near
Gorgora.
Georeferencing: The place name “Quami” has not been seen on any map. Plains
are most common to the north of Gorgora, and an approximate location would be at
12.242359° N, 37.301142° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia abyssinica Benth. (m. 1,850; n. 587).
Acacia bavazzanoi Pic. Serm. (m. 1,850; n. 2253 (FT, holotype of Acacia bavazzanoi
Pic. Serm.), n. 2254, n. 2255).
Capparis tomentosa Lam. (m. 1,850; n. 164).
Ethulia conyzoides L. f. (m. 1,850; n. 946).
Ficus thonningii Bl. (m. 1,850; n. 1665).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 270).
Hygrophila schulli (Hamilt.) M.R. & S.M. Almeida (m. 1,850; n. 1360).
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet (m. 1,850; n. 1313).
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,850; n. 375).
Rhus pyroides Burch. var. gracilis (Engl.) Burtt Davy* (m. 1,850; n. 2338).
Setaria incrassata (Hochst.) Hack. (m. 1,850; n. 310).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees or larger shrubs from this locality are
associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Acacia abyssinica, Acacia bavazzanoi), or associated with Afromontane secondary scrub (Capparis tomentosa, Grewia
ferruginea, Maytenus serrata). Ficus thonningii is mainly a forest tree, but may occur in
other vegetation types; it is not certain what the identification Rhus pyroides var. gracilis stands for. Hygrophila schulli indicates presence of moist grassland, almost certainly
near the lake.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs from the location Quami, a name not seen elsewhere, show large specimens of Acacia abyssinica and other
species of Acacia in grassland that went right down to the lake shore. 52
Locality T81 – Pianura presso Debra Sina Mariam alle base di Zefen tarara
(Gorgora)
Locality number 81 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T81 on Map 7.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Small plain near the church of
Debra Sina Mariam at the base of the Zefen hill, near Gorgora.
Georeferencing: As locality 78, approximately at 12.241955 N, 37.290836 E. The area west of the church of Debra Sina Mariam, towards the hills, is now built up as part
of the town of Gorgora.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Aloe sp. cfr. A. abyssinica* (m. 1,850; n. 2022).
52 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 856, 857, 858, 859, 860, 861, in the Archivio fotografico of the
Società geografica italiana.
195
196
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Vegetation; characteristic species: It is not certain in which habitat this species was
found.
Locality T81 – continued – Pianura presso Debra Sina Mariam (Gorgora)
No locality number on typed labels seen with this place name; variants are derived
from Pichi Sermolli (1951). [Marked as T81 on Map 7].
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Small plain near the church of
Debra Sina Mariam in Gorgora.
Variant indication of locality:
Pianura presso Debra Sina Mariam (n. 1875).
Pianura presso Gorgora (n. 1708).
Georeferencing: At the church of Debra Sina Mariam close to the shore of Lake Tana
at 12.242359° N, 37.301142° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia seyal Del. (No altitude; n. 603).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 1,850; n. 1207).
Chloris gayana Kunth (m. 1,850; n. 1875).
Ficus vasta Forssk. (m. 1,850; n. 1708).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 1,850;
n. 828).
Gomphocarpus abyssinicus Decne. (m. 1,850; n. 1245).
Hyparrhenia (?) umbrosa* (m. 1,850; n. 104).
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 1,850; n. 88).
Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf (m. 1,850; n. 76).
Lannea schimperi (A. Rich.) Engl. (m. 1,850; n. 482).
Ocimum trichodon Gürke (m. 1,850; n. 2472).
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock (m. 1,850; n. 556, n. 557, n. 571).
Setaria (?) incrassata* (m. 1,850; n. 42).
Terminalia schimperiana Hochst. (m. 1,850; n. 713).
Ximenia americana L. (m. 1,850; n. 350).
Ziziphus abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 1,850; n. 419).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Most of the large shrubs or trees collected from
this locality are associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Acacia seyal, Ficus
vasta, Gardenia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis, Lannea schimperi, Terminalia schimperiana, Ximenia americana, Ziziphus abyssinica). A smaller number of species are associated with Afromontane secondary scrub (Carissa spinarum, Senna singueana).
Locality T82 – Versante orientale di Zefen tarara (colline ad ovest di Gorgora)
Locality number 82 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T82 on Map 7.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Eastern slope of the Zefen tarara (Zefen hill) west of Gorgora.
Variant indication of locality:
Versante orientale delle Zefen tarara (colline a ovest di Gorgora) (n. 2376).
Versante orientale di Zefen tarara (ovest di Gorgora) (n. 469, n. 1770, n. 2386, n. 2491).
Georeferencing: As locality 78, approximately at 12.237210° N, 37.280832° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Dioscorea quartiniana A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 1770).
Ficus glumosa Del. (m. 1,950; n. 1726, n. 2376).
Ficus ovata Vahl (m. 1,950; n. 2386).
Gnidia involucrata A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 1536).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,950; n. 382).
Rhus sp.[3]* (m. 1,950; n. 469).
Tapinanthus globiferus (A. Rich.) Tiegh. (m. 1,950; n. 2491).
Vegetation; characteristic species: These collections supplement what was found on
the almost identical locality number 78 on 4.3.1937. Ficus glumosa is mainly associated
with Combretum-Terminalia woodland, Ficus ovata with forest, and Maytenus serrata
with secondary Afromontane scrub.
6.3.1937
Further excursions from Gorgora.
Locality T83 – Collina a sud del villaggio di Gorgora
Locality number 83 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T83 on Map 7.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Hill south of the village of
Gorgora.
Variant indication of locality:
Collina sud del villaggio di Gorgora (n. 1395).
Colline a sud del villaggio di Gorgora (n. 2375).
Georeferencing: Unspecified hill or hills near the lake shore south of the town of Gorgora; approximately at 12.234635° N, 37.300605° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Ampelocissus schimperiana (A. Rich.) Planch. (m. 1,900; n. 439).
Asparagus racemosus Willd. (m. 1,900; n. 1764).
Bulbostylis pusilla (A. Rich.) C.B. Cl. subsp. congolensis (De Wild.) R. Haines (m. 1,900;
n. 1981).
Ficus glumosa Del. (m. 1,900; n. 2375).
Leonotis ocymifolia (Burm. f.) Iwarsson var. raineriana (Vis.) Iwarsson (m. 1,900; n.
1395).
Sauromatum venosum (Ait.) Kunth (m. 1,900; n. 1750).
Tagetes erecta L. (m. 1,900; n. 1008).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Pellaea viridis (Forssk.) Prantl (No alt.; n. 1811, FI-PS 29348).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Apart from Ficus glumosa, a tree mostly associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland, and Leonotis ocymifolia var. raineriana with
secondary Afromontane scrub, the herbs have rather unspecified association with explicit vegetation types.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli took a number of photographs from
the top of the hill south of Gorgora, showing typical open woodland without species
of Acacia. 53
53 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 863, 864, 865, 866, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società
geografica italiana.
197
198
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
7.3.1937
Excursion by boat or tanqua to Birghida Mariam, island in Lake Tana, and presumably to the Mendaba monastery on a peninsula nearby.
Locality T84 – Birghida Mariam (isola presso Gorgora)
Locality number 84 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T84 on Map 7.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Birghida Mariam, an island [in
Lake Tana] near Gorgora.
Variant indication of locality:
Birghida Mariam (n. 1659).
Georeferencing: Birghida Mariam is a small island in Lake Tana south-east of Gorgora
and near the peninsula on which the monastery of Mendaba is located; highest point
of the island is at 1800 m. The island is named from a church on the island dedicated
to St. Mary and located approximately at 12.212865° N, 37.295004° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Abutilon bidentatum (Hochst.) A. Rich. (m. 1,825; n. 203).
Albizia schimperiana Oliv. (m. 1,825; n. 1115).
Albuca abyssinica Jacq. (m. 1,825; n. 1754).
Aloe sp. cfr. A. eru* (m. 1,825; n. 2023).
Artemisia absinthium L. (m. 1,825; n. 2139).
Arundo donax L. (m. 1,825; n. 1946).
Capparis sepiaria L. var. boscioides (Pax) Kers (m. 1,825; n. 170).
Capparis tomentosa Lam. (m. 1,825; n. 163).
Celosia trigyna L. (m. 1,825; n. 1448).
Chenopodium opulifolium Koch & Ziz. (m. 1,825; n. 1578).
Cissus petiolata Hook. f. (m. 1,825; n. 436).
Commiphora schimperi (Berg) Engl. (m. 1,825; n. 344).
Cordia africana Lam. (m. 1,825; n. 1267).
Cymbopogon sp.* (m. 1,825; n. 1871).
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (m. 1,825; n. 1889, n. 1890).
Cyperus digitatus Roxb. subsp. auricomus (Spreng.) Kük. (m. 1,825; n. 1984).
Cyperus papyrus L. (m. 1,825; n. 1955).
Cyphostemma adenocaule (A. Rich.) Wild & Drummond (m. 1,825; n. 431).
Dicliptera verticillata (Forssk.) C. Chr. (m. 1,825; n. 1491).
Dioscorea schimperiana Kunth (m. 1,825; n. 1773).
Diospyros abyssinica (Hiern) F. White (m. 1,825; n. 1128, n. 1132).
Echinochloa (?) pyramidalis* (m. 1,825; n. 334).
Euclea racemosa Murray subsp. schimperi (A. DC.) F. White (m. 1,825; n. 1137, n. 1138).
Euphorbia abyssinica Gmel. (m. 1,825; n. 1659).
Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq. (m. 1,825; n. 1721).
Ficus thonningii Bl. (m. 1,825; n. 1667, n. 2408).
Ficus vasta Forssk. (m. 1,825; n. 1704).
Gossypium hirsutum L. (m. 1,825; n. 205, n. 206).
Helinus mystacinus (Ait.) Steud. (m. 1,825; n. 411).
Hymenodictyon floribundum (Hochst. & Steud.) Robinson (m. 1,825; n. 744).
Hyparrhenia (?) umbrosa* (m. 1,825; n. 106).
Hyparrhenia sp.* (m. 1,825; n. 107).
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet (m. 1,825; n. 1310; n. 1314).
Kanahia laniflora (Forssk.) R. Br. (m. 1,825; n. 1251).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Lannea schimperi (A. Rich.) Engl. (m. 1,825; n. 473).
Loudetia arundinacea (A. Rich.) Steud. (m. 1,825; n. 1937).
Melinis ambigua Hack. (m. 1,825; n. 306).
Mimusops kummel A. DC. (m. 1,825; n. 1093).
Ocimum urticifolium Roth (m. 1,825; n. 2482).
Olea europaea L. subsp. cuspidata (G. Don) Cif. (m. 1,825; n. 1178).
Pennisetum petiolare (Hochst.) Chiov. (m. 1,825; n. 38).
Persicaria setosula (A. Rich.) K. Wilson (m. 1,820; n. 1545).
Plumbago zeylanica L. (m. 1,825; n. 2082).
Polystachya steudneri Rchb. f. (m. 1,825; n. 2533).
Ritchiea albersii Gilg (m. 1,825; n. 2332, n. 2333).
Sauromatum venosum (Ait.) Kunth (m. 1,825; n. 1749).
Steganotaenia araliacea A. Rich. (m. 1,825; n. 679).
Tacazzea venosa Decne. (m. 1,825; n. 1239).
Teclea nobilis Del. (m. 1,825; n. 249).
Vernonia unionis Walp. (m. 1,825; n. 2180).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Most of the large shrubs or trees collected from
this locality are associated with Afromontane forest (Albizia schimperiana, Diospyros
abyssinica, Ficus ingens, Ficus thonningii, Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, Ritchiea albersii, Teclea nobilis). Mimusops kummel is a characteristic component in the forest on lake
shores, in which there is also Kanahia laniflora. Fewer are associated with CombretumTerminalia woodland (Ficus vasta, Lannea schimperi, Steganotaenia araliacea).
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs from Birghida Mariam
show papyrus swamp, woody vegetation and buildings belonging to the church and
monastery on the island. 54
Locality T85 – Presso la Chiesa di Medina Alem (Gorgora)
Locality number 85 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T85 on Map 7.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near the church of Medhane
Alem, near Gorgora.
Georeferencing: Almost certainly the church here named “Medina Alem” is a church
which is part of the monastery of Mendaba on a peninsula south of Gorgora; that church
is named Medhane Alem, and it would have been natural for Pichi Sermolli to visit
this locality in connection with a visit to the island of Birghida Mariam; the location
of the church of Medhane Alem is at ca. 1,800 m. and approximately at 12.201010° N,
37.278524° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Plumbago zeylanica L. (m. 1,825; n. 2081).
Sauromatum venosum (Ait.) Kunth (m. 1,825; n. 1747).
Vegetation; characteristic species: These two collections are not sufficient to indicate the vegetation around the church and monastery of Medhane Alem, which, in the
absence of the usual grove of trees around ecclesiastical buildings, is likely to be secondary Afromontane scrub.
54 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 872, 873, 874, 875, 876, 877, 878, 879, 880, 881, 882, in the
Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
199
200
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
9.3.1937
Base camp moving to Ifag near the north-eastern point of Lake Tana, passing the small
village of Guramba on the way.
Locality T85a – Presso Guramba nelle vicinanze di una Chiesa Copta
No locality number on labels with this locality. Marked as T85a on Map 3.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near Guramba in the neighbourhood of a coptic church.
Variant indication of locality:
Presso Curamba nelle vicinanze di una Chiesa Copta (n. 1114).
Presso Guramba nelle vicinanze di una Chiesa (n. 805).
Georeferencing: Guramba is a market town north-east of Gorgora near “torrente
Meagasc” on the map in Pichi Sermolli (1951: at title page). The map by Demelie Arega (no year) indicates several churches at or near Guramba, even one called Guramba Bet [“The house of Guramba”]. The church referred to here is most likely Guramba
Michael, which is at 12.376553° N, 37.359685° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Albizia schimperiana Oliv. (m. 1,850; n. 1114).
Arundo donax L. (m. 1,850; n. 1950).
Eucalyptus tereticornis Smith (m. 1,850; n. 805).
Merremia pterygocaulos (Choisy) Hall. f. (m. 1,850; n. 1337).
Mimusops kummel A. DC. (m. 1,850; n. 1092).
Nelsonia canescens (Lam.) Spreng. (m. 1,850; n. 1356).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees collected from this locality (Albizia
schimperiana, Eucalyptus tereticornis, Mimusops kummel) suggest a mixed grove around
the church, including two indigenous forest species (perhaps IAF) and one introduced
species of Eucalyptus.
Base camp moved to Ifag.
Specimens from a locality no. “86” have not been traced.
Locality T87 & 88 – Presso Ifag
Locality number 87, 88 on printed labels with this locality; locality name also on typed
labels without locality number. These labels are found on a few collections which seem to
have been made on 9.3., more were made on 10.3. with locality number 87, 88. Marked
as T87 & 88 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near the village [or small town]
of Ifag.
Georeferencing: Ifag is at ca. 1,850 m., at 12.086855° N, 37.731135° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 1,880;
n. 827).
Tapinanthus globiferus (A. Rich.) Tiegh. (m. 1,880; n. 1597).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only tree collected from this locality, Gardenia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis, suggests that the vegetation could be woodland.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
10.3.1937
Locality T87 & 88 – continued – Presso Ifag
Locality number 87, 88 on printed labels with this locality; locality name also on
typed labels without locality number. A few collections seem to have been made on
9.3., more were made with this locality name and number on 10.3. Marked as T87 &
88 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near the village [or small town]
of Ifag.
Georeferencing: Ifag is at ca. 1,850 m., at 12.086855° N, 37.731135° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia sieberiana DC. var. woodii (Burtt Davy) Keay & Brenan (m. 1,880; n. 583).
Cardiospermum halicacabum L. (m. 1,880; n. 500).
Ficus palmata Forssk. (m. 1,880; n. 1731).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 1,880; n. 269).
Helinus mystacinus (Ait.) Steud. (m. 1,880; n. 410).
Hypoestes triflora (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult. (m. 1,880; n. 2097 (FT, holotype of Hypoestes busii Pic. Serm.)).
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet (m. 1,880; n. 1315).
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,880; n. 2052, n. 388).
Phoenix reclinata Jacq. (m. 1,880; n. 2002).
Phyllanthus ovalifolius Forssk. (m. 1,880; n. 2448).
Pterolobium stellatum (Forssk.) Brenan (m. 1,880; n. 641, n. 644).
Rubus apetalus Poir. (m. 1,880; n. 667(“10.2” must be an error for “10.3.”)).
Senna petersiana (Bolle) Lock (m. 1,880; n. 2226).
Solanum campylacanthum A. Rich. (m. 1,880; n. 2557).
Tapinanthus globiferus (A. Rich.) Tiegh. (m. 1,880; n. 1596).
Tragia mitis Muell. Arg. (m. 1,880; n. 1688).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The larger shrubs and trees collected from this
locality show association mainly with secondary Afromontane scrub (Ficus palmata,
Grewia ferruginea, Helinus mystacinus, Maytenus serrata, Pterolobium stellatum, Senna
petersiana). Associated with woodland is only Acacia sieberiana var. woodii; no species
is associated with forest.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs from this area show a
small stream, from where villagers collected water, and that Phoenix reclinata was common in the area where the mission had its camp. 55 Another photograph from this area
shows a plant, Cardiospermum halicacabum, which was also collected as n. 500 and the
specimens subsequently identified. 56
Locality T89 – M.[onte] Abba Bailu (Regione di Ciucia-Ifag)
Locality number 89 on printed labels with this locality; locality name also occurs on
typed labels with no locality number. Marked as T89 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Mt. Abba Bailu in the area of
Ciucia-Ifag.
Variant indication of locality:
M.[onte] Abba Bailu (Ifag) (n. 1882).
55 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 910, 911, 912, 913, 914, 915, in the Archivio fotografico of the
Società geografica italiana.
56 See archival font Dainelli (501), image 916, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
201
202
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Georeferencing: The place names “Abba Bailu” or “Ciucia” have not been seen on
any map. Unnamed hills ca. 3 km. NW of Ifag have heights that exceed 2,000 m. and
are still well covered by vegetation; they are localised at approximately 12.094021° N,
37.708924° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Albizia malacophylla (A. Rich.) Walp. (m. 2,000; n. 1188, n. 1192).
Brachiaria brizantha (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 2,000; n. 45).
Capparis tomentosa Lam. (m. 2,000; n. 162).
Cissus petiolata Hook. f. (m. 2,000; n. 433).
Clematis hirsuta Guill. & Perr. (m. 2,000; n. 2363).
Coleochloa abyssinica (A. Rich.) Gilly (m. 2,000; n. 1968, n. 1969).
Combretum molle G. Don (m. 2,000; n. 735).
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (m. 1,900; n. 1882).
Cyperus fischerianus A. Rich. (m. 2,000; n. 1964).
Diospyros abyssinica (Hiern) F. White (m. 2,000; n. 1127, n. 1133, n. 1135).
Dolichos oliveri Schweinf. (m. 2,000; n. 510).
Dyschoriste multicaulis (A. Rich.) O. Kuntze (m. 2,000; n. 1353).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 2,000;
n. 830).
Gnidia involucrata A. Rich. (m. 2,000; n. 1538).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 2,000; n. 278).
Helinus mystacinus (Ait.) Steud. (m. 2,000; n. 412).
Heracleum abyssinicum (Boiss.) Norman (m. 2,000; n. 2219).
Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham. & Schltdl. var. abyssinica (A. Rich.) Wolff
(m. 2,000; n. 699).
Hibiscus ludwigii Eckl. & Zeyh. (m. 2,000; n. 200).
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 2,000; n. 89).
Hyparrhenia cymbaria (L.) Stapf (m. 2,000; n. 108, n. 110, n. 113).
Indeterminabile* (m. 2,000; n. 2045, n. 2063).
Justicia schimperiana (Nees) T. Anders. (m. 2,000; n. 1500).
Laggera alata (D. Don) Oliv. (m. 2,000; n. 921).
Leonotis ocymifolia (Burm. f.) Iwarsson var. raineriana (Vis.) Iwarsson (m. 2,000; n.
1393).
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 2,000; n. 376).
Nuxia congesta Fresen. (m. 2,000; n. 1226).
Ochrocephala imatongensis (Philipson) Dittrich (m. 2,000; n. 2411).
Ocimum trichodon Gürke (m. 2,000; n. 2471).
Otostegia fruticosa (Forssk.) Schweinf. (m. 2,000; n. 2096).
Panicum maximum Jacq. (m. 2,000; n. 59).
Pennisetum unisetum (Nees) Benth. (m. 2,000; n. 40).
Pentas lanceolata (Forssk.) Deflers (m. 2,000; n. 748).
Phoenix reclinata Jacq. (m. 2,000; n. 2001).
Pseudarthria (?) confertiflora* (m. 2,000; n. 2524).
Rhoicissus tridentata (L. f.) Wild & Drummond (m. 2,000; n. 394).
Rhynchosia resinosa (A. Rich.) Bak. (m. 2,000; n. 636).
Ricinus communis L. (m. 2,000; n. 1699).
Ritchiea albersii Gilg (m. 2,000; n. 2327).
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. (m. 2,000; n. 1457).
Schrebera alata (Hochst.) Welw. (m. 2,000; n. 1184).
Senna petersiana (Bolle) Lock (m. 2,000; n. 2227).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Solanum campylacanthum A. Rich. (m. 2,000; n. 2558).
Stephania abyssinica (A. Rich.) Walp. (m. 2,000; n. 129).
Vernonia cylindrica Walp. (m. 2,000; n. 2446).
Vernonia sp.* (m. 2,000; n. 903).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The larger shrubs and trees collected from this locality show association with secondary Afromontane scrub (Ficus palmata, Grewia ferruginea, Helinus mystacinus, Maytenus serrata, Pterolobium stellatum, Senna petersiana)
or with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Albizia malacophylla, Combretum molle).
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli took a number of photographs from
Monta Abba Bailu, showing riverine forest, bushland and grassland. 57
11.3.1937
Locality T90 – Pianura a nord-est di Ifag
Locality number 90 on printed labels with this locality; locality name also on typed
labels with no locality number. Marked as T90 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Small plain north-east of [the
village or small town of] Ifag.
Georeferencing: A plain northeast of Ifag is extended around this point at 12.088382°
N, 37.729919° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia abyssinica Benth. (m. 1,880; n. 591).
Acacia bavazzanoi Pic. Serm. (m. 1,880; n. 2245).
Acacia lahai Benth. (m. 1,880; n. 607).
Acacia sieberiana DC. var. woodii (Burtt Davy) Keay & Brenan (m. 1,880; n. 584).
Acacia seyal Del. (m. 1,850; n. 604).
Acacia venosa Benth. (m. 1,880; n. 600).
Alysicarpus ferrugineus A. Rich. (m. 1,880; n. 526).
Asparagus africanus Lam. (m. 1,880; n. 1768).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 1,880; n. 1201, n. 1208).
Carthamus lanatus L. (m. 1,880; n. 855).
Centella asiatica (L.) Urban (m. 1,880; n. 708).
Chloris gayana Kunth (m. 1,880; n. 1876).
Conyza pyrrhopappa A. Rich. (m. 1,880; n. 872, n. 873).
Cordia africana Lam. (m. 1,880; n. 1268).
Croton macrostachyus Del. (No altitude; n. 1652).
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (m. 1,880; n. 1885).
Drimia indica (Roxb.) Jessop (m. 1,880; n. 2007).
Echinops longifolius A. Rich. (m. 1,880; n. 853).
Helinus mystacinus (Ait.) Steud. (m. 1,880; n. 413).
Hibiscus panduriformis Burm. f. (m. 1,880; n. 217).
Hygrophila schulli (Hamilt.) M.R. & S.M. Almeida (m. 1,880; n. 1359).
Hyparrhenia rufa x umbrosa[2]* (m. 1,880; n. 321).
Kalanchoe lanceolata (Forssk.) Pers. (m. 1,880; n. 790).
Lactuca inermis Forssk. (m. 1,880; n. 2151).
57 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 887, 888, 889, 890, 891, 892, 893, in the Archivio fotografico
of the Società geografica italiana.
203
204
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Launaea rueppellii (Oliv. & Hiern) Boulos (m. 1,880; n. 1055).
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,880; n. 380).
Ocimum urticifolium Roth (m. 1,880; n. 2481).
Premna schimperi Engl. (m. 1,880; n. 2046).
Rhus quartiniana A. Rich. (m. 1,880; n. 2343).
Rhus vulgaris Meikle (m. 1,880; n. 442).
Salix subserrata Willd. (m. 1,880; n. 1741).
Senna petersiana (Bolle) Lock (m. 1,880; n. 2225).
Solanum campylacanthum A. Rich. (m. 1,880; n. 2566).
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. (m. 1,880; n. 809).
Tragia mitis Muell. Arg. (m. 1,880; n. 1687).
Vernonia thomsoniana Oliv. (m. 1,880; n. 2417).
Ximenia americana L. (m. 1,880; n. 351, n. 352).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Some of the larger shrubs and trees collected
from this locality show association with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Acacia sieberiana var. woodii, Acacia seyal, Acacia venosa), other woody species show association
with secondary Afromontane scrub (Carissa spinarum, Helinus mystacinus, Maytenus
serrata, Ocimum urticifolium, Premna schimperi, Rhus quartiniana, Senna petersiana). A
number of herbaceous species are associated with Afromontane grassland. Salix subserrata is associated with riparian vegetation. Syzygium guineense is associated with forest
on lake shores and Hygrophila schulli is associated with moist ground near lake shores.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli took a number of photographs from
this area showing wooded grassland with Acacia lahai. 58
Locality T91 – Pianura a nord-ovest di Ifag
Locality number 91 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T91 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Small plain north-west of [the
village or small town of] Ifag.
Georeferencing: As locality number 90, approximately at 12.088382° N, 37.729919° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Tapinanthus globiferus (A. Rich.) Tiegh. (m. 1880; n. 1598).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only collection from this locality is an epiphytic and parasitic species of the Loranthaceae; the tree it was growing on is not mentioned.
Photographic documentation: A photo by Pichi Sermolli said to be taken on 13.3.1937
on a locality near Ifag shows a species of Loranthaceae, perhaps Tapinanthus globiferus,
on a mimosoid tree. 59
12.3.1937
Excursion along a now disused road from Ifag to Debre Tabor.
Locality T92 – Lungo la strada tra Debra Tabor a 12 chilometri da Ifag
Locality number 92 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T92 on Maps 3 & 8.
58 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 917, 918, 919, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
59 See archival font Dainelli (501), image 920, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Along the road to [the town of]
Debra Tabor, 12 km. from [the village or small town of] Ifag.
Georeferencing: The road used by Pichi Sermolli from Ifag to Debra Tabor is now
disused and replaced by a more southerly road starting just north of Wareta (Uoreta). Localised by measuring the distance from Ifag, approximately at 12.024827° N,
37.820259° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Polystachya steudneri Rchb. f. (m. 1,950; n. 2534).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only collection from this locality is an epiphytic orchid; the tree on which it was growing is not mentioned.
Locality T93 – Lungo il torrente Alemsaga presso la strada tra Ifag e Debra Tabor
Locality number 93 on printed labels with this locality; locality name also on typed
labels with no locality number. Marked as T93 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Along the stream of Alemsaga on
the road between [the village or small town of] Ifag and [the small town of] Debra Tabor.
Variant indication of locality:
Presso il torrente Alemsaga lungo la strada tra Debra Tabor ed Ifag (n. 13).
Lungo il torrente Alensaga presso la strada tra Ifag e Debra Tabor (n. 1483).
Georeferencing: The place name “Alemsaga” has not been seen on any map. A locality where a road, possibly part of the disused road from Ifag to Debra Tabor, crosses an
unnamed stream is at 12.047305° N, 37.983893° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Achyranthes aspera L. var. pubescens (Moq.) C.C. Townsend (m. 1,900; n. 1439).
Alchemilla cryptantha A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 13).
Asparagus africanus Lam. (m. 1,900; n. 2026).
Bersama abyssinica Fresen. (m. 1,900; n. 360).
Capparis tomentosa Lam. (m. 1,900; n. 149).
Cardamine africana L. (m. 1,900; n. 174).
Clausena anisata (Willd.) Benth. (m. 1,900; n. 246).
Commelina benghalensis L. (m. 1,900; n. 2005 (FT, holotype of Commelina pyrroblepharis
Hassk. forma glabra Pic. Serm.).
Crassocephalum macropappum (A. Rich.) S. Moore (m. 1,900; n. 1058).
Dicrocephala integrifolia (L. f.) Kuntze (m. 1,900; n. 1057).
Digitaria abyssinica (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 1,900; n. 58).
Ficus thonningii Bl. (m. 1,900; n. 1668).
Geranium arabicum Forssk. subsp. arabicum (m. 1,900; n. 261).
Graminacee indeterminabili* (m. 1,900; n. 337).
Guizotia villosa Sch. Bip. (m. 1,900; n. 1004).
Hippocratea africana (Willd.) Loes. var. schimperiana (A. Rich.) Cufod. (m. 2,000; n.
365).
Hypoestes forskaolii (Vahl) R. Br. (m. 1,900; n. 1482, n. 1483).
Jasminum abyssinicum DC. (m. 1,900; n. 1148).
Laggera crispata (Vahl) Hepper & Wood (m. 1,900; n. 930).
Leucas stachydiformis (Benth.) Briq. (m. 1,900; n. 1398).
Maesa lanceolata Forssk. (m. 1,900; n. 1100).
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,900; n. 2314).
Pavonia schimperiana A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 225).
Phytolacca dodecandra L’Hérit. (m. 1,900; n. 1568).
Ricinus communis L. (m. 1,900; n. 1700).
205
206
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Ritchiea albersii Gilg (m. 1,900; n. 2331).
Salix subserrata Willd. (m. 1,900; n. 1743).
Schrebera alata (Hochst.) Welw. (m. 1,900; n. 1185).
Sida ternata L. f. (m. 1,900; n. 199).
Solanum anguivi Lam. (m. 1,900; n. 2565, n. 2571).
Urera hypselodendron (A. Rich.) Wedd. (m. 1,900; n. 1744).
Vernonia amygdalina Del. (m. 1,900; n. 902).
Vernonia hochstetteri Walp. (m. 1,900; n. 953).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The larger shrubs and trees collected from this
locality show association with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Acacia sieberiana
var. woodii, Acacia seyal, Acacia venosa, Ximenia americana), others with secondary
Afromontane scrub (Carissa spinarum, Helinus mystacinus, Maytenus serrata, Ocimum
urticifolium, Premna schimperi, Rhus quartiniana, Rhus vulgaris, Senna petersiana). Cordia africana and Croton macrostachyus are associated with both forest and woodland. A
number of herbaceous species are associated with Afromontane grassland. Salix subserrata is associated with riparian vegetation. Syzygium guineense is associated with forest
on lake shores and Hygrophila schulli is associated with moist ground near lake shores.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli took photographs from near the stream
of Alemsaga showing Afromontane scrub and open and dense woodland with large
specimens of Acacia abyssinica, but the trees were not collected.60
Locality T94 – M.[onte] Quatele presso il villaggio di Tata
Locality number 94 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T94 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Mt. Quatele near the village
of Tata.
Variant indication of locality:
M.[onte] Guatele presso il villaggio di Tata (n. 34).
Monte Quatele presso il villaggio di Tata (n. 585).
Georeferencing: Neither the place name “Quatele”, nor the name “Tata” has been seen
on any map (in the book from 1951 “Quatele” is sometimes misspelt as “Guatele”). The
altitudes indicated for the locality are high in comparison with the localities closer to
Lake Tana; based on the altitudes of the terrain along the disused road from Ifag to
Debra Tabor, the locality is assumed to be at 11.998790° N, 38.003781° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia abyssinica Benth. (m. 2,200; n. 585).
Acanthus sennii Chiov. (m. 2,200; n. 2116).
Aira caryophyllea L. (m. 2,000; n. 1880).
Anthospermum pachyrrhizum Hiern (m. 2,000; n. 760).
Asparagus africanus Lam. (m. 2,200; n. 1766).
Brucea antidysenterica J.F. Mill. (m. 2,200; n. 343).
Buddleja polystachya Fresen. (m. 2,000; n. 1283).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 2,000; n. 1210).
Clematis hirsuta Guill. & Perr. (m. 2,000; n. 2368).
Clutia lanceolata Forssk. (m. 2,000; n. 2468).
Conyza pyrrhopappa A. Rich. (m. 2,000; n. 878).
Croton macrostachyus Del. (m. 2,200; n. 1656).
60 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 907, 908, 909, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana. Image 909 is reproduced in Pichi Sermolli (1938a: Fig. 4).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Diplolophium africanum Turcz. (m. 2,200; n. 698).
Dodonaea angustifolia L. f. (m. 2,200; n. 495).
Dombeya torrida (J.F. Gmel.) P. Bamps (m. 2,200; n. 237, n. 2054).
Ferula communis L. (m. 2,200; n. 691).
Helichrysum schimperi (A. Rich.) Moeser (m. 2,000; n. 993).
Helichrysum stenopterum DC. (m. 2,000; n. 982).
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 2,000; n. 95).
Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf (m. 2,000; n. 81).
Hypericum quartinianum A. Rich. (m. 2,200; n. 189).
Indeterminabile* (m. 2,200; n. 2048, n. 2049).
Inula paniculata (Klatt) Burtt Davy (m. 2,000; n. 2416).
Justicia schimperiana (Nees) T. Anders. (m. 2,000; n. 1501).
Laggera alata (D. Don) Oliv. (m. 2,000; n. 868).
Laggera crassifolia (A. Rich.) Oliv. & Hiern (m. 2,000; n. 923).
Leonotis ocymifolia (Burm. f.) Iwarsson var. raineriana (Vis.) Iwarsson (m. 2,000; n.
1389).
Lippia adoensis Walp. (m. 2,000; n. 1424, n. 1426, n. 1427).
Maytenus arbutifolia (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 2,200; n. 2321).
Nuxia congesta Fresen. (m. 2,000; n. 1224, n. 1225, n. 1232).
Olea europaea L. subsp. cuspidata (G. Don) Cif. (m. 2,200; n. 1180).
Osyris quadripartita Decn. (m. 2,200; n. 1632).
Otostegia integrifolia Benth. (m. 2,000; n. 1472).
Pennisetum sphacelatum (Nees) Th. Dur. & Schinz (m. 2,000; n. 34).
Phagnalon abyssinicum A. Rich. (m. 2,000; n. 934).
Phragmanthera regularis (Sprague) M.G. Gilbert (m. 2,000; n. 1600).
Pimpinella hirtella (Hochst.) A. Rich. (m. 2,200; n. 2031).
Rhus vulgaris Meikle (m. 2,200; n. 460, n. 464).
Ritchiea albersii Gilg (m. 2,200; n. 2329).
Rosa abyssinica Lindl. (m. 2,200; n. 656).
Rumex nervosus Vahl (m. 2,200; n. 1552).
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. subsp. ovata (Benth.) Seybold (m. 2,000; n. 2069).
Stephania abyssinica (A. Rich.) Walp. (m. 2,200; n. 128).
Vernonia rueppellii Walp. (m. 2,000; n. 2428).
Viscum tuberculatum A. Rich. (m. 2,200; n. 1584).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Dryopteris schimperiana (A. Br.) C. Chr. (No alt.; n. 1838, FI-PS 10630).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The larger shrubs and trees collected from this
locality show association with secondary Afromontane scrub (Carissa spinarum, Helinus mystacinus, Maytenus serrata, Ocimum urticifolium, Premna schimperi, Rhus quartiniana, Rhus vulgaris, Senna petersiana).
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs from Quatele show
secondary Afromontane scrub with shrubs of Otostegia being frequent and with scattered trees.61
61 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 901, 902, 903, 904, 905, 906, in the Archivio fotografico of
the Società geografica italiana.
207
208
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Locality T95 – A meta costa del M.[onte] Quatele lungo la strada tra Ifag e Debra Tabor
Locality number 95 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T95 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Halfway up Mt. Quatele, along
the road between [the village or small town of] Ifag and [the small town of] Debra Tabor.
Variant indication of locality:
A meta costa di M.[onte] Quatele lungo la strada tra Ifag e Debra Tabor (n. 33, n. 935, n.
1209, n. 1233, n. 1385, n. 1463, n. 2496).
Georeferencing: As for locality number 94, approximately at 11.998790° N, 38.003781° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acanthus sennii Chiov. (m. 2,100; n. 2117).
Athrixia rosmarinifolia (Walp.) Oliv. & Hiern (m. 2,100; n. 935).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 2,100; n. 1209).
Clutia lanceolata Forssk. (m. 1,950; n. 2464).
Gnidia glauca (Fresen.) Gilg (m. 2,200; n. 2496).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 2,400; n. 292).
Inula paniculata (Klatt) Burtt Davy (m. 2,100; n. 2413, n. 2414).
Leonotis ocymifolia (Burm. f.) Iwarsson var. raineriana (Vis.) Iwarsson (m. 2,100; n.
1385).
Lippia adoensis Walp. (m. 2,100; n. 1423, n. 1425).
Myrsine africana L. (m. 1,950; n. 1104).
Nuxia congesta Fresen. (m. 2,100; n. 1233).
Osyris quadripartita Decn. (m. 2,000; n. 1631).
Pennisetum sphacelatum (Nees) Th. Dur. & Schinz (m. 2,100; n. 33).
Pittosporum abyssinicum Del. (m. 2,200; n. 243).
Premna schimperi Engl. (m. 2,100; n. 2517).
Rhoicissus tridentata (L. f.) Wild & Drummond (m. 2,400; n. 396).
Rhus vulgaris Meikle (m. 2,400; n. 449).
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. (m. 2,100; n. 1463).
Vernonia leopoldii (Walp.) Vatke (m. 2,100; n. 952).
Ferns cited in Pichi Sermolli (1957a):
Adiantum poiretii Wikstr. (No alt.; n. 1797, not seen, cited from Pichi Sermolli 1957a:
688).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The larger shrubs and trees collected from this
locality show association with secondary Afromontane scrub (Acanthus sennii, Carissa spinarum, Clutia lanceolata, Gnidia glauca, Grewia ferruginea, Leonotis ocymifolia
var. raineriana, Lippia adoensis, Myrsine africana, Nuxia congesta, Osyris quadripartita,
Rhus vulgaris).
Locality T95a – Sotto il villaggio di Tata lungo la strada tra Ifag e Debra Tabor
No locality number on labels with this locality. Marked as T95a on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Below the village of Tata at the
road between [the village or small town of] Ifag and [the small town of] Debra Tabor.
Georeferencing: The place name “Tata” has not been seen on any map; based on
the assumptions about locality 94 & 95, it is probably near the previous localities at
11.998790° N, 38.003781° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Solanum marginatum L. f. (m. 2,000; n. 2548).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only collection from this locality is a weedy
subshrub associated with open, heavily grazed areas, usually at higher altitudes than
indicated for this specimen.
14.3.1937
Excursion to flat areas, partly the plains called Foghera, along the eastern shore of
Lake Tana south of Ifag.
Locality T96 – Presso il villaggio di Uoreta (Ifag)).
Locality number 96 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T96 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near the village of Uoreta, in
the vicinity of [the village or small town of] Ifag.
Georeferencing: The place name “Uorreta” is indicated on the official map in Pichi Sermolli (1951); it is now a large village or small town called Woreta in the plains of Foghera (locality number 97); the locality is approximately at 11.938924° N, 37.702308° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Chloris gayana Kunth (m. 2,300; n. 1879).
Conyza pyrrhopappa A. Rich. (m. 2,300; n. 875).
Echinops hispidus Fresen. (m. 2,300; n. 850).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 2,300; n. 272).
Guizotia sp.* (m. 2,300; n. 2158).
Rhoicissus tridentata (L. f.) Wild & Drummond (m. 2,300; n. 402).
Rubia cordifolia L. (m. 2,300; n. 762).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only shrub or tree recorded from this locality is Grewia ferruginea, which may indicate that the vegetation in this locality was degraded Afromontane scrub.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs from the surroundings
of Uoreta show mostly cultivations and grassy planes with scattered trees, the first one
along the Reb River between Ifag and Uoreta.62
Locality T97 – Pianura di Foghera (Ifag)
Locality number 97 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T97 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Plains of Foghera, in the vicinity of [the village or small town of] Ifag.
Georeferencing: This is the frequently flooded plains along the east shore of Lake Tana,
shown on the official map in Pichi Sermolli (1951); the locality is presumably on the
plains to the west of Uoreta [Woreta], approximately at 11.940020° N, 37.641328° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Pennisetum ramosum (Hochst.) Schweinf. (m. 1,880; n. 785).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only collection from this locality, the grass
Pennisetum ramosum, is almost everywhere known to be associated with vertisol (‘black
cotton soil’) in moist habitats.
62 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 923, 924, 925, 926, 927, in the Archivio fotografico of the
Società geografica italiana.
209
210
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Fig. 50. The plains of Foggera [Foghera] along the eastern shore of Lake Tana. These plains are flat and have often
been flooded. Now they are almost completely cultivated. Photograph by Ib Friis, 2011.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs from this area show
grassy plains with cultivation. 63
Locality T98 – Regione di Uoreta (Ifag)
Locality number 98 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T98 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: In the area of [the village of]
Uoreta [Woreta], in the vicinity of [the village or small town of] Ifag.
Georeferencing: As for locality 96, this locality is approximately at 11.938924° N,
37.702308° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Carthamus tinctorius L. (m. 2,300; n. 858).
Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten. (m. 2,300; n. 1006).
Ficus sycomorus L. (m. 2,300; n. 2398).
Ficus vasta Forssk. (m. 2,300; n. 1709).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only two species of trees collected from this
locality, Ficus sycomorus and Ficus vasta, are both mostly associated with open woodland.
63 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 926, 927, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli took a photograph of a large specimen
of Ficus, possibly F. vasta, near Uoreta.64 Another photograph from this area shows
cultivation.65
15.3.1937
Base camp moved to area at the church of Zara Enda Michael near the south-eastern
shore of Lake Tana.
Locality T99 & 100 – Collina Mucara presso Zara Enda Michael
Locality number 99 & 100 on printed labels with this locality; locality name also on
printed and typed labels, the latter with no locality number. Marked as T99 & 100 on
Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Mucara hill near the church of
Zara Enda Michael.
Georeferencing: The name “Mucara” has not been seen on any map. “Zara Michael”
is a church indicated on the official map in Pichi Sermolli (1951). The church is near
the top of a forested hill at 11.846149° N, 37.631009° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Ageratum conyzoides L. (m. 1,950; n. 1065).
Amorphophallus gomboczianus Pic. Serm. (m. 1,950; n. 1991).
Asparagus africanus Lam. (m. 1,950; n. 1765).
Bersama abyssinica Fresen. (m. 1,950; n. 362).
Clematis hirsuta Guill. & Perr. (m. 1,950; n. 2367).
Eriosema robustum Bak. (m. 1,950; n. 1186).
Ficus ovata Vahl (m. 1,950; n. 2385).
Ficus sycomorus L. (m. 1,950; n. 2394).
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc. (m. 1,950;
n. 831).
Gnidia involucrata A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 1539).
Gomphocarpus abyssinicus Decne. (m. 1,950; n. 1244).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 291).
Grewia mollis A. Juss. (m. 1,950; n. 267).
Helinus mystacinus (Ait.) Steud. (m. 1,950; n. 414).
Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham. & Schltdl. var. abyssinica (A. Rich.) Wolff
(m. 1,950; n. 706).
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 1,950; n. 96).
Hyparrhenia cymbaria (L.) Stapf (m. 1,950; n. 114).
Hyparrhenia gazensis (Rendle) Stapf forma* (m. 1,950; n. 319).
Hyparrhenia rufa x umbrosa[2]* (m. 1,950; n. 331).
Hypericum quartinianum A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 188, n. 194).
Indeterminabile* (m. 1,950; n. 2183).
Ipomoea eriocarpa R. Br. (m. 1,950; n. 2033).
64 See archival font Dainelli (501), image 924, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
65 See archival font Dainelli (501), image 925, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
211
212
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Jasminum grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum (Fresen.) P.S. Green (m. 1,950; n. 1153).
Laggera crassifolia (A. Rich.) Oliv. & Hiern (m. 1,950; n. 925).
Lannea schimperi (A. Rich.) Engl. (m. 1,950; n. 471).
Leonotis ocymifolia (Burm. f.) Iwarsson var. raineriana (Vis.) Iwarsson (m. 1,950; n.
1388).
Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell (m. 1,950; n. 2299).
Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka (m. 1,950; n. 53).
Osyris quadripartita Decn. (m. 1,950; n. 1630).
Otostegia tomentosa A. Rich. subsp. ambigens (Chiov.) Sebald (m. 1,950; n. 2512, n. 2513).
Pentas lanceolata (Forssk.) Deflers (m. 1,950; n. 749).
Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh. (m. 1,950; n. 617).
Protea gaguedi J.F. Gmel. (m. 1,950; n. 1592).
Rhoicissus tridentata (L. f.) Wild & Drummond (m. 1,950; n. 398).
Rhus glutinosa A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 2349).
Rhus vulgaris Meikle (m. 1,950; n. 466).
Schrebera alata (Hochst.) Welw. (m. 1,950; n. 1182).
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock (m. 1,950; n. 574).
Steganotaenia araliacea A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 685).
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. (m. 1,950; n. 1384).
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. (m. 1,950; n. 1069).
Terminalia schimperiana Hochst. (m. 1,950; n. 720).
Triumfetta pilosa Roth (m. 1,950; n. 302).
Vernonia congolensis De Wild. & Muschl. subsp. vernonioides (Walp.) C. Jeffrey (m.
1,950; n. 880).
Vernonia cylindrica Walp. (m. 1,950; n. 2442).
Vernonia purpurea Walp. (m. 1,950; n. 948).
Vernonia theophrastifolia Oliv. & Hiern (m. 1,950; n. 2422).
Vegetation; characteristic species: Some of the large shrubs and trees collected in
this locality are associated with Combretum-Terminalia woodland (Ficus sycomorus,
Gardenia ternifolia subsp. jovis-tonantis, Grewia mollis, Heteromorpha arborescens var.
abyssinica, Lannea schimperi, Maytenus senegalensis, Piliostigma thonningii, Steganotaenia araliacea, Stereospermum kunthianum, Terminalia schimperiana). Ficus ovata represents species associated with forest. Syzygium guineense may represent forest on the lake
shore. A number of species represent secondary Afromontane scrub (Bersama abyssinica, Grewia ferruginea, Leonotis ocymifolia var. raineriana, Osyris quadripartite, Otostegia tomentosa subsp. ambigens, Protea gaguedi, Rhus glutinosa, Rhus vulgaris, Schrebera
alata, Senna singueana).
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs from this area show open
woodland with low trees and tall grass.66
Locality T101 – Zara Enda Michael
Locality number 101 on printed labels with this locality; locality name also on printed
and typed labels, the latter with no locality number. Marked as T101 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: [At the church of] Zara Enda
Michael.
66 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 930, 931, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
213
Fig. 51. ”Church forest” east of Lake Tana, a forested hill in the middle of which is a church. Photograph by Ib Friis,
2011.
Variant indication of locality:
Nei campi presso la foresta di Zara Enda Michael (n. 820).
Nei campi presso Zara Enda Michael (n. 821).
Georeferencing: As for locality 99, this locality is approximately at 11.846149° N,
37.631009° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Chloris gayana Kunth (m. 1,950; n. 1877).
Cucumis ficifolius A. Rich. (m. 1,950; n. 820).
Cucurbitaceae sp.* (m. 1,950; n. 2220).
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf (m. 1,950; n. 94).
Momordica foetida Schumach. (m. 1,940; n. 821).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The species from this or these localities at Zara
Enda Michael are grasses and Cucurbitaceae that indicated that they were collected
in a moderately open habitat.
16.3.1937
Locality T101 – continued – Foresta della Chiesa Zara Enda Michael
Locality number 101 on printed labels with this locality; printed and typed labels with
this locality name, the latter without locality number. Marked as T101 on Maps 3 & 8.
214
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Forest of the church of Zara
Enda Michael.
Variant indication of locality:
Foreste della Chiesa di Zara Enda Michael (n. 126, n. 1434).
Georeferencing: As for locality 99, the southern slope of the hill is wooded and this
locality is approximately at 11.846149° N, 37.631009° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Achyranthes aspera L. var. pubescens (Moq.) C.C. Townsend (m. 1,940; n. 1434).
Albizia schimperiana Oliv. (m. 1,940; n. 1111).
Arundo donax L. (m. 1,940; n. 1944).
Capparis tomentosa Lam. (m. 1,940; n. 152, n. 153).
Cardiospermum halicacabum L. (m. 1,940; n. 499).
Celtis africana Burm. f. (m. 1,940; n. 1683).
Chionanthus mildbraedii (Gilg & Schellenb.) Stearn (m. 1,940; n. 2059, n. 2189, n. 2190).
Citrus aurantium L. (m. 1,940; n. 253).
Coffea arabica L. (m. 1,940; n. 772).
Cordia africana Lam. (m. 1,940; n. 1269).
Dicliptera maculata Nees (m. 1,940; n. 1494).
Diospyros abyssinica (Hiern) F. White (m. 1,940; n. 1129, n. 1130).
Dracaena steudneri Engl. (m. 1,940; n. 2014).
Ficus ovata Vahl (m. 1,950; n. 2387).
Ficus thonningii Bl. (m. 1,940; n. 1664).
Hippocratea africana (Willd.) Loes. var. schimperiana (A. Rich.) Cufod. (m. 1,940; n.
372).
Indeterminabile* (m. 1,940; n. 2187).
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet (m. 1,940; n. 1311, n. 1312).
Juniperus procera Endl. (m. 1,940; n. 19, n. 22).
Justicia schimperiana (Nees) T. Anders. (m. 1,940; n. 1499, n. 1502).
Lepidotrichilia volkensii (Gürke) Leroy (m. 1,940; n. 2198).
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,940; n. 2309, n. 2310, n. 2311).
Millettia ferruginea (Hochst.) Bak. (m. 1,940; n. 501).
Mimusops kummel A. DC. (m. 1,940; n. 1072).
Ocimum urticifolium Roth (m. 1,940; n. 2480).
Oplismenus compositus (L.) P. Beauv. (m. 1,940; n. 46).
Oxyanthus speciosus DC. (m. 1,940; n. 2210, n. 2211).
Pavetta sp.* (m. 1,940; n. 757).
Pavonia schimperiana A. Rich. (m. 1,940; n. 228).
Phoenix reclinata Jacq. (m. 1,940; n. 2000).
Phytolacca dodecandra L’Hérit. (m. 1,940; n. 1570).
Pterolobium stellatum (Forssk.) Brenan (m. 1,940; n. 640).
Pycnostachys abyssinica Fresen. (m. 1,940; n. 1407).
Ritchiea albersii Gilg (m. 1,940; n. 2184, n. 2334, n. 2335).
Solanum anguivi Lam. (m. 1,940; n. 2567, n. 2572).
Stephania abyssinica (A. Rich.) Walp. (m. 1,940; n. 126).
Teclea nobilis Del. (m. 1,940; n. 248).
Tragia cinerea (Pax) M.G. Gilbert & Radcl.-Smith (m. 1,940; n. 1690).
Vepris dainellii (Pic. Serm.) Kokwaro (m. 1,940; n. 2350 (FT, holotype, BR, K, P isotypes of Diphasia dainellii Pic. Serm.), n. 2351).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Loxogramme abyssinica (Baker) M.G. Price (No alt.; n. 1868, FI-PS 10638).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Vegetation; characteristic species: The majority of trees and larger shrubs collected
from this locality indicate that the vegetation is forest that can be classified as DAF or
IAF (Albizia schimperiana, Celtis africana, Chionanthus mildbraedii, Cordia africana,
Diospyros abyssinica, Dracaena steudneri, Ficus ovata, Ficus thonningii, Juniperus procera (probably planted in the church grove or forest), Lepidotrichilia volkensii, Millettia ferruginea, Oxyanthus speciosus, Ritchiea albersii, Teclea nobilis, Vepris dainellii). The
presence of Mimusops kummel and Phoenix reclinata suggest that the forest has similarity with IAF. A number of species represent secondary Afromontane scrub (Capparis
tomentosa, Justicia schimperiana, Maytenus serrata). Some trees are either cultivated or
naturalised (Citrus aurantium, Coffea arabica).
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s own photographs, taken 17.3.1937,
show a locally open, but well developed church forest with tall canopy and epiphytes
on the branches of the trees.67 Other photographs show Ficus, Syzygium and Phoenix
reclinata along a small stream.68
Locality T101a – Lungo la costa in corrispondenza di Zara Enda Michael
No locality number on hand-written label with this locality. Marked as T101a on Maps
3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Along the shore [of Lake Tana]
opposite the church of Zara Enda Michael.
Georeferencing: The shore of Lake Tana due west of Zara Enda Michael is approximately at 11.845970° N, 37.521357° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Nymphaea lotus L. (m. 1,820; n. 123).
Vegetation; characteristic species: This collection was made in shallow water of the
lake.
18.3.1937
Locality T102 – Regione del Torrente Gueldo (Reg. Fissa)
Locality number 102 on printed labels with this locality; printed and typed labels
with this locality name, the latter without locality number. Marked as T102 on Map 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Area around the stream of
Gueldo in the region of Fissa.
Variant indication of locality:
Regione del torrente Gueldo (Regione di Fissa) (n. 219, 428, 461,1074, 1108, 1155, 1247,
1525, 1693, 1999, 2186, 2280, 2281).
Regione del torrente Guelfo (Regione di Fissa) (n. 226).
Regione del torrente Gueldo (Regione Fissa) (n. 1068, 1071, 1212, 1213, 2381).
Regione del torrente Gueldo (Regione Fissa), lungo un corso d’acqua nella foresta (n. 2529).
Regione del torrente Queldo (Regione di Fissa) (n. 294, n. 296, n. 1136, n. 2278).
67 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 935, 936, 937, 938, 939, 940, 941, 942, 943, 944, 945, 946,
947, 948, 949, 950, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana. Image 947 is reproced
here as Fig. 36.
68 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 963, 964, 965, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
215
216
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Georeferencing: The place names “Gueldo” and “Fissa” have not been seen on any map.
On Google Earth there is a small village named “Fisa” near a small, unnamed stream.
The general altitude of this area is 1850 m; currently forested places along the stream
are at 11.730142° N, 37.460739° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Barleria ventricosa Nees (m. 1,900; n. 1525).
Bridelia micrantha (Hochst.) Baill. (m. 1,900; n. 2454, n. 2457, n. 2458).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 1,900; n. 1212, n. 1213).
Clematis longicauda A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 2354, n. 2355).
Euclea racemosa Murray subsp. schimperi (A. DC.) F. White (m. 1,900; n. 1136, n. 2278).
Ficus sur Forssk. (m. 1,900; n. 2378, n. 2379, n. 2380, n. 2381).
Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr. (m. 1,900; n. 2038, n. 2039 (FT, male syntype, BR,
K, L, MO, P male isosyntypes of Flacourtia afra Pic. Serm.), n. 2064 (FT, female syntype, A, L female isosyntypes of Flacourtia afra Pic. Serm.).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 294, n. 296).
Indeterminabile* (m. 1,900; n. 2186; m. 1,900; n. 2529).
Jasminum grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum (Fresen.) P.S. Green (m. 1,900; n. 1155).
Kanahia laniflora (Forssk.) R. Br. (m. 1,900; n. 1247).
Kosteletzkya grantii (Mast.) Garcke (m. 1,900; n. 219).
Maytenus arbutifolia (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,900; n. 2280, n. 2281).
Mimusops kummel A. DC. (m. 1,900; n. 1074).
Myrsine africana L. (m. 1,900; n. 1108).
Pavonia schimperiana A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 226).
Phoenix reclinata Jacq. (m. 1,900; n. 1999).
Rhoicissus tridentata (L. f.) Wild & Drummond (m. 1,900; n. 428).
Rhus vulgaris Meikle (m. 1,900; n. 461).
Sapium ellipticum (Krauss) Pax (m. 1,900; n. 1693).
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC. (m. 1,900; n. 1068, n. 1071).
Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston (m. 1,900; n. 2057).
Vegetation; characteristic species: A limited number of trees and larger shrubs collected from this locality indicate that the vegetation is forest that can be classified as
DAF or IAF (Bridelia micrantha, Ficus sur, Flacourtia indica, Myrsine africana, Sapium
ellipticum). The presence of Mimusops kummel, Phoenix reclinata and Syzygium guineense
suggest that the forest has similarity with IAF; the species may also be riparian. A
number of species represent secondary Afromontane scrub (Carissa spinarum, Euclea
racemosa subsp. schimperi, Grewia ferruginea, Maytenus arbutifolia, Rhus vulgaris). One
species of tree was either cultivated or naturalised (Syzygium jambos).
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs from this area indicate
that there were also tall specimens of Albizia in the vegetation.69
Locality T103 – Foresta della Chiesa di Gumbat Uddus Michael
Locality number 103 on printed labels with this locality; typed labels with this locality name, but without locality number. Marked as T103 on Map 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Forest of the church of Gumbat Uddus [Saint] Michael.
69 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 963, 964, 955, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Georeferencing: A church SE of Korata (Corata) is called “Gombat Michael” on the
map of Lake Tana by Demelle Arega (no date); it is also marked on the sheet produced
by the Survey Office Khartoum (1940: sheet Dangila) and is located on a densely forested hill at approximately 11.694909° N, 37.498455° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Abutilon cecilii N.E. Br. (m. 1,900; n. 2323 (FT, holotype of Abutilon smenospermum
Pic. Serm.)).
Achyranthes aspera L. var. pubescens (Moq.) C.C. Townsend (m. 1,900; n. 1435).
Arundo donax L. (m. 1,900; n. 1942).
Capparis tomentosa Lam. (m. 1,900; n. 148, n. 150).
Citrus aurantium L. (m. 1,900; n. 255).
Clematis longicauda A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 2356).
Coffea arabica L. (m. 1,900; n. 771).
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (m. 1,900; n. 1886).
Cyperus fischerianus A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 1966).
Dracaena steudneri Engl. (m. 1,900; n. 2016).
Ficus thonningii Bl. (m. 1,900; n. 1670).
Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr. (m. 1,900; n. 2041, n. 2042).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 295).
Juniperus procera Endl. (m. 1,900; n. 23).
Justicia schimperiana (Nees) T. Anders. (m. 1,900; n. 1503).
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 1,900; n. 2312).
Mimusops kummel A. DC. (m. 1,900; n. 1073).
Pavonia schimperiana A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 227).
Phaulopsis imbricata (Forssk.) Sweet (m. 1,900; n. 1345, 1349).
Phytolacca dodecandra L’Hérit. (m. 1,900; n. 1569).
Prunus persica (L.) Batch (m. 1,900; n. 908).
Rosa x richardii Rehd. (m. 1,900; n. 655).
Setaria megaphylla (Steud.) Th. Dur. & Schinz (m. 1,900; n. 48).
Sida schimperiana A. Rich. (m. 1,900; n. 229).
Solanum giganteum Jacq. (m. 1,900; n. 2576).
Stephania abyssinica (A. Rich.) Walp. (m. 1,900; n. 127).
Tragia cinerea (Pax) M.G. Gilbert & Radcl.-Smith (m. 1,900; n. 1689).
Vernonia rueppellii Walp. (m. 1,900; n. 2436).
Vegetation; characteristic species: A limited number of trees and larger shrubs collected from this locality indicate that the vegetation is forest that at least previously
should be classified as DAF or IAF (Dracaena steudneri, Ficus thonningii, Flacourtia
indica, Juniperus procera). The presence of Mimusops kummel suggest that the forest
has similarity with IAF. A number of species represent secondary Afromontane scrub
(Capparis tomentosa, Grewia ferruginea, Justicia schimperiana, Maytenus serrata). Some
species of trees or large shrubs were either cultivated or naturalised (Citrus aurantium,
Coffea arabica, Prunus persica, Rosa x richardii). The herb Cyperus fischerianus suggests
that moist ground was present.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs, taken 18.3.1937, show
the church surrounded by trees and a tall canopy in the forest.70
70 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 956, 957, 958, 959, 960, 961, 962, in the Archivio fotografico
of the Società geografica italiana.
217
218
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
19.3.1937
Excursion to Amba Libo, mountain area north-east of Lake Tana, made by the geologist of the mission, Enzo Minucci.
Locality T103a – Amba Libo
All collections from this locality have typed labels with locality and no locality number. Marked as T103a on Map 3.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Amba Libo – a mountain visited by the geologist of the expedition, E. Minucci, who collected plants for Pichi Sermolli in this locality.
Georeferencing: Amba Libo is shown on the official map in Pichi Sermolli (1951),
and on IGM (1934-1936a: sheet 9) and IGM (1934-1936b: sheet Asmara ND37), but
a suitable topography is difficult to identify on Google Earth; the altitude and topography seen on Google Earth would seem to indicate a position at 2,950 m. at the coordinates 12.186714 N, 37.867175 E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Alchemilla sp. cfr. A. fischeri* (tra m. 2,850 e 2,950; n. 10, n. 11).
Athrixia rosmarinifolia (Walp.) Oliv. & Hiern (tra m. 2,850 e 2,950; n. 936).
Clutia lanceolata Forssk. (tra m. 2,850 e 2,950; n. 2461).
Drimia simensis (Hochst.) Stedje (tra m. 2,850 e 2,950; n. 2008).
Erica arborea L. (tra m. 2,850 e 2,950; n. 1046).
Hagenia abyssinica (Bruce) J.F. Gmel. (tra m. 2,850 e 2,950; n. 652).
Helichrysum schimperi (A. Rich.) Moeser (tra m. 2,850 e 2,950; n. 992).
Helichrysum stenopterum DC. (tra m. 2,850 e 2,950; n. 985).
Hypericum quartinianum A. Rich. (tra m. 2,850 e 2,950; n. 190).
Hypericum revolutum Vahl (tra m. 2,850 e 2,950; n. 181).
Juniperus procera Endl. (m. 2,850-2,950; n. 21).
Kalanchoe petitiana A. Rich. (m. 2,850-2,950; n. 798).
Macowania ericifolia (Forssk.) B.L. Burtt & Grau (tra m. 2,850 e 2,950; n. 2178, n. 2179).
Maesa lanceolata Forssk. (tra m. 2,850 e 2,950; n. 1099).
Myrsine africana L. (tra m. 2,850 e 2,950; n. 1107).
Nuxia congesta Fresen. (tra m. 2,850 e 2,950; n. 1230).
Protea gaguedi J.F. Gmel. (m. 2,850-2,950; n. 1591).
Rhabdotosperma scrophulariifolia (A. Rich.) Hartl (tra m. 2,850 e 2,950; n. 2032).
Rumex nervosus Vahl (m. 2,850-2,950; n. 1548).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn (m. 2,850-2,950; n. [E. Minucci in Pichi Sermolli]
1867, FI-PS 10627).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The small trees or large shrubs collected from this
locality (Clutia lanceolata, Erica arborea, Hagenia abyssinica, Hypericum quartinianum,
Hypericum revolutum, Juniperus procera, Myrsine africana, Nuxia congesta, Protea gaguedi) suggest a species-rich flora where the uppermost zone of the Afromontane forest
meets Hypericum woodland and Ericaceous Belt. The two most characteristic species
in the uppermost zone of the Afromontane forest, Hagenia abyssinica and Hypericum
revolutum, were observed together here.
Photographic documentation: The only photographs that Minucci seems to have
taken on Amba Libo show heavily grazed Afromontane grassland used as the market
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
place for villages on Amba Libo.71 A few photographs by Nistri show the mountain
slopes near Amba Libo and they indicate that the vegetation there seems to have been
derived Afromontane bushland.72
22.3.1937
Visits to Debra Tabor in the mountains east of Lake Tana.
Locality T104 – Presso il villaggio di Debra Tabor
Locality number 104 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T104 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near the village [or small town]
of Debra Tabor.
Georeferencing: Debra Tabor is shown on the official map in Pichi Sermolli (1951)
and is now a large town. A suitable locality outside the old Debra Tabor would be at
approximately 11.879704° N, 38.016948° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Brucea antidysenterica J.F. Mill. (m. 2,940; n. 340).
Clutia lanceolata Forssk. (m. 2,940; n. 2465).
Haplocarpha schimperi (Sch. Bip.) P. Beauv. (m. 2,940; n. 1015).
Indeterminabile* (m. 2,950; n. 2084)
Rumex nepalensis Spreng. (m. 2,940; n. 1561).
Rumex nervosus Vahl (m. 2,940; n. 1550).
Salvia nilotica Jacq. (m. 2,940; n. 1402).
Sida schimperiana A. Rich. (m. 2,940; n. 1054).
Stephania abyssinica (A. Rich.) Walp. (m. 2,940; n. 131).
Tacazzea conferta N.E. Br. (m. 2,940; n. 2195).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only two species of woody plants recorded
from this locality (Brucea antidysenterica, Clutia lanceolata) may suggest that the vegetation was degraded Afromontane scrub. Some of the herbs recorded also suggest
open areas with grassland.
Locality T105 & 106 – M.[onte] Jesus Tabor
Locality number 105 & 106 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T105 & 106
on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Mt. Jesus Tabor.
Variant indication of locality:
Monte Jesus Tabor (n. 182, n. 183, n. 1047, n. 2242).
Georeferencing: The exact place name “Monte Jesus Tabor” has not been seen on any
map, but other information confirms that it is a prominent hill with a church of the
name “Debre Tabor Eyesus” ca. 2 km. south of the centre of Debre Tabor. This is the
highest point in the surroundings of Debre Tabor and the highest point of this hill is at
ca. 2,900 m. Note that the height indicated by Pichi Sermolli for the peak is probably
71 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 595, 596, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
72 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 3948, 3949, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
219
220
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
50-100 m. too high. A suitable collecting site near the church would be at 11.836913°
N, 38.003040° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia negrii Pic. Serm. (m. 3,050; n. 2242).
Alchemilla (?) abyssinica* (m. 3,050; n. 12, n. 14).
Athrixia rosmarinifolia (Walp.) Oliv. & Hiern (m. 3,050; n. 937, n. 938).
Campanula edulis Forssk. (m. 3,050; n. 1048).
Chiliocephalum schimperi Benth. (m. 3,050; n. 1024, erroneously indicated as 1937 on
p. 159 in Pichi Sermolli 1951).
Clutia lanceolata Forssk. (m. 3,050; n. 2462, n. 2463).
Colutea abyssinica Kunth & Bouché (m. 3,050; n. 531).
Crepis rueppellii Sch. Bip. (m. 3,050; n. 2157).
Dipsacus pinnatifidus A. Rich. (m. 3,050; n. 915, n. 916).
Erica arborea L. (m. 3,050; n. 1047).
Exotheca abyssinica (A. Rich.) Anderss. (m. 3,050; n. 82).
Gerbera piloselloides (L.) Cass. (m. 3,050; n. 859, n. 860).
Gnidia glauca (Fresen.) Gilg (m. 3,050; n. 2493).
Habenaria lefebureana (A. Rich.) Th. Dur. & Schinz (m. 3,000; n. 2532).
Hebenstreitia angolensis Rolfe (m. 3,050; n. 1432).
Helichrysum foetidum (L.) Moench var. microcephalum A. Rich. (m. 3,050; n. 976).
Helichrysum forsskahlii (J.F. Gmel.) Hilliard & B.L. Burtt (m. 3,050; n. 977, n. 979, n.
981).
Helichrysum schimperi (A. Rich.) Moeser (m. 3,050; n. 994).
Helichrysum stenopterum DC. (m. 3,050; n. 983, n. 986).
Hyparrhenia (?) umbrosa* (m. 3,050; n. 105).
Hypericum quartinianum A. Rich. (m. 3,050; n. 186).
Hypericum revolutum Vahl (m. 3,050; n. 182, n. 183).
Hypoestes forskaolii (Vahl) R. Br. (m. 3,050; n. 1484, n. 1485).
Indeterminabile* (m. 3,000; n. 2085).
Kalanchoe lanceolata (Forssk.) Pers. (m. 3,000; n. 796).
Lactuca inermis Forssk. (m. 3,050; n. 2143).
Leucas stachydiformis (Benth.) Briq. (m. 3,050; n. 1397).
Lippia adoensis Walp. (m. 3,050; n. 1421, n. 2025).
Maytenus gracilipes (Oliv.) Exell subsp. arguta (Loes.) Sebsebe (m. 3,050; n. 2300, n.
2301).
Myrsine africana L. (m. 3,050; n. 1106).
Myrsine melanophloeos (L.) R. Br. (m. 3,050; n. 1095).
Osyris quadripartita Decn. (m. 3,000; n. 1633).
Otostegia tomentosa A. Rich. subsp. steudneri (Schweinf.) Sebald (m. 3,050; n. 2506,
n. 2507; n. 2508).
Pavetta abyssinica Fresen. (m. 3,050; n. 752).
Pentas schimperiana (A. Rich.) Vatke (m. 3,050; n. 751).
Polygala steudneri Chod. (m. 3,050; n. 139).
Rosa abyssinica Lindl. (m. 3,000; n. 658).
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. (m. 3,050; n. 1456, n. 1466, n. 1467, n. 1469, n. 1470).
Solanum anguivi Lam. (m. 3,000; n. 2540).
Sonchus bipontini Asch. (m. 3,050; n. 996).
Sparmannia ricinocarpa (Eckl. & Zeyh.) O. Kuntze (m. 3,050; n. 297).
Stephania abyssinica (A. Rich.) Walp. (m. 3,050; n. 132).
Tolpis virgata (Desf.) Bertol. (m. 3,050; n. 862).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Vernonia leopoldii (Walp.) Vatke (m. 3,050; n. 947, n. 950).
Wahlenbergia silenoides A. Rich. (m. 3,050; n. 1049).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Adiantum poiretii Wikstr. (No alt.; n. 1798, FI-PS 13944, also cited in Pichi Sermolli
1957a: 688).
Dryopteris schimperiana (A. Br.) C. Chr. (No alt.; n. 1847, FI-PS 10629, FI-PS 12102).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The woody plants from this locality include Acacia negrii, Clutia lanceolata, Colutea abyssinica, Erica arborea, Maytenus gracilipes subsp.
arguta, Myrsine africana, Myrsine melanophloeos, Osyris quadripartita, Otostegia tomentosa subsp. steudneri, Rosa abyssinica. This seems to indicate a mosaic of Afromontane
wooded grassland and Ericaceous Belt.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs from this locality, taken
on 22.3.1937, show mainly bushland, stated to be with low Erica scrub.73 A photograph
shows the view of and from the summit of Mt. Jesus Tabor.74
Locality T107 – Vetta di M.[onte] Jesus Tabor presso la Chiesa
Locality number 107 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T107 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Peak of Mt. Jesus Tabor, near
the church.
Variant indication of locality:
Vetta di M.[onte] Jesus Tabor (n. 1293).
Georeferencing: As for locality number 105 & 106, at 11.836913° N, 38.003040° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Conyza spinosa Oliv. & Hiern (m. 3,050; n. 995).
Juniperus procera Endl. (m. 3,050; n. 20).
Maytenus obscura (A. Rich.) Cufod. (m. 3,050; n. 391).
Solanum marginatum L. f. (m. 3,050; n. 2547).
Verbascum sinaiticum Benth. (m. 3,050; n. 1293).
Vegetation; characteristic species: This locality includes planted Juniperus procera
close to the church (I. Friis pers. obs.) and secondary Afromontane scrub.
Locality T108 – Debra Tabor
Locality number 108 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T108 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: [At or in the small town of]
Debra Tabor.
Georeferencing: As for locality number 104, but at a lower altitude. A suitable locality
outside the old Debra Tabor would be at approximately 11.853666° N, 38.007486° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Euphorbia ampliphylla Pax (m. 2,490 [probably error for 2,940]; n. 1657).
Hypericum revolutum Vahl (m. 2,940; n. 185).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The two woody species recorded from this locality, Euphorbia ampliphylla and Hypericum revolutum, are not enough for a reconstruction of the vegetation, particularly because Euphorbia ampliphylla is recorded from an
altitude of 2490 m. and Hypericum revolutum from an altitude of 2940 m. Inside what
73 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 973, 974, 975, 976, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società
geografica italiana.
74 See archival font Dainelli (501), image 977, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
221
222
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
was in 1937 the much smaller town of Debra Tabor, there are very few places at altitudes
below 2,600 m., so 2,490 m. is probably an error for 2,940 m., and altitudes as high as
that are almost all around churches on hills. It is quite likely that both the candelabrashaped Euphorbia ampliphylla and Hypericum revolutum could have occurred together
in a wooded grove near a church.
Locality T109 – Collina dove è la Chiesa di Medania Alem (Debra Tabor)
Locality number 109 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T109 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Hill where the church of Medhane Alem of Debra Tabor stands [in Italian ‘is located’ / ‘is elevated’].
Variant indication of locality:
Collina dove sorge la Chiesa di Medania Alem (Debra Tabor) (n. 801, n. 1445).
Georeferencing: The name of the church of Medania [Medhane?] Alem at Debre Tabor has not been seen on any map, but it is marked on Google Earth and a church of
that name still exists in the eastern part of the modern town; the highest point of the
hill on which the church is localised is at 2,750 m., so Pichi Sermolli’s figure is nearly
200 m. too high. A forested point on the hill is at 11.853496° N, 38.021651° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acanthus sennii Chiov. (m. 2,950; n. 2122).
Brucea antidysenterica J.F. Mill. (m. 2,950; n. 341).
Buddleja polystachya Fresen. (m. 2,950; n. 1282).
Cyathula uncinulata (Schrad.) Schinz (m. 2,950; n. 1445).
Discopodium penninervium Hochst. (m. 2,950; n. 1300).
Dombeya torrida (J.F. Gmel.) P. Bamps (m. 2,950; n. 234).
Echinops macrochaetus Fresen. (m. 2,950; n. 848).
Hagenia abyssinica (Bruce) J.F. Gmel. (m. 2,950; n. 653, n. 654).
Haplocarpha schimperi (Sch. Bip.) P. Beauv. (m. 2,950; n. 1016, n. 1017).
Kalanchoe petitiana A. Rich. (m. 2,950; n. 800, n. 801).
Maesa lanceolata Forssk. (m. 2,950; n. 1098, n. 2050).
Maytenus gracilipes (Oliv.) Exell subsp. arguta (Loes.) Sebsebe (m. 2,950; n. 2304).
Phytolacca dodecandra L’Hérit. (m. 2,950; n. 1577).
Plantago lanceolata L. (m. 2,950; n. 1452).
Rumex nervosus Vahl (m. 2,950; n. 1549).
Senecio myriocephalus A. Rich. (m. 2,950; n. 1061(“29.3.” must be error for “23.3.”)).
Solanum marginatum L. f. (m. 2,950; n. 2545).
Stephania abyssinica (A. Rich.) Walp. (m. 2,950; n. 124).
Tacazzea conferta N.E. Br. (m. 2,950; n. 2193).
Verbascum sinaiticum Benth. (m. 2,950; n. 1290, n. 1294).
Zehneria scabra (L. f.) Sond. (m. 2,950; n. 818).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees collected from this locality include species of secondary Afromontane scrub (Acanthus sennii, Brucea antidysenterica, Buddleja
polystachya, Discopodium penninervium, Maesa lanceolata, Maytenus gracilipes subsp.
arguta). A few forest species (DAF), associated with the higher zones of these forests,
were also collected (Dombeya torrida, Hagenia abyssinica, Senecio myriocephalus).
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli took a number of photographs show
the vegetation on the hill of the church of Medania Alem in Debre Tabor.75 When these
75 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 978, 979, 980, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
photographs were taken, there were hardly any buildings around the hill, which is now
entirely incorporated in the urban area of Debre Tabor. The village around the church
of Medania Alem was also photographed by Pichi Sermolli.76
23.3.1937
Locality T110 – Presso la Chiesa di Medania Alem (Debra Tabor)
Locality number 110 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T110 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near the church of Medhane
Alem at [the small town of] Debra Tabor].
Georeferencing: As for locality number 109, at 11.853496° N, 38.021651° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (m. 2,950; n. 806).
Juniperus procera Endl. (m. 2,950; n. 16).
Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kalkm. (m. 2,950; n. 907).
Vernonia rueppellii Walp. (m. 2,950; n. 2430, n. 2431).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Asplenium theciferum (H.B.K.) Mett. (No alt.; n. 1851, FI-PS 10625).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees collected from this locality suggest that
the church grove consisted of planted trees, primarily the indigenous Juniperus procera
and the introduced Eucalyptus globulus.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli photographed a tall Eucalyptus globulus near the church. This may be the very tree that was also collected.77
Locality T111 – Lungo la strada per Ifag a km. 4 da Debra Tabor
Locality number 111 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T111 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Along the road to [the village
or small town of] Ifag, 4 km. from [the then small town of] Debra Tabor.
Variant indication of locality:
Lungo la strada per Ifag a 4 chilometri da Debra Tabor (n. 222, n. 595, n. 1489, n. 1551,
n. 1745, n. 1776, n. 2330).
Lungo la strada tra Ifag e Debra Tabor a 4 chilometri da questa ultima (n. 660, n. 906).
Georeferencing: Can be localised on the official map in Pichi Sermolli (1951) by measuring the distance from Debra Tabor. All collections from this locality are indicated
to be from an altitude of 2,800 m., but the highest point found on Google Map in the
area is from ca. 2,600 m., located ca. 5 km. from the centre of Debre Tabor in the direction of Ifag, not far from the present road. We assume that this is the point of collection because Pichi Sermolli’s altitudes are often indicated with an altitude ca. 200
m. too high. The point is approximately at 11.884170° N, 38.018880° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Abutilon longicuspe A. Rich. (m. 2,800; n. 222).
Acacia abyssinica Benth. (m. 2,800; n. 595).
Acacia negrii Pic. Serm. (m. 2,800; n. 2243).
76 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 967, 968, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
77 See archival font Dainelli (501), image 966, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
223
224
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochst.) Radlk. (m. 2,800; n. 487).
Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth. (m. 2,800; n. 633).
Carissa spinarum L. (m. 2,800; n. 1211).
Croton macrostachyus Del. (m. 2,800; n. 1653).
Hypoestes forskaolii (Vahl) R. Br. (m. 2,800; n. 1489).
Maytenus gracilipes (Oliv.) Exell subsp. arguta (Loes.) Sebsebe (m. 2,800; n. 2303).
Maytenus obscura (A. Rich.) Cufod. (m. 2,800; n. 392, n. 2290).
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek (m. 2,800; n. 2302).
Myrsine africana L. (m. 2,800; n. 1105).
Nuxia congesta Fresen. (m. 2,800; n. 1231).
Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kalkm. (m. 2,800; n. 905, n. 906).
Ritchiea albersii Gilg (m. 2,800; n. 2325, n. 2330).
Rosa abyssinica Lindl. (m. 2,800; n. 659, n. 660).
Rumex nervosus Vahl (m. 2,800; n. 1551).
Scadoxus multiflorus (Martyn) Raf. (m. 2,800; n. 1776).
Urera hypselodendron (A. Rich.) Wedd. (m. 2,800; n. 1745).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees collected from this locality include species of Afromontane wooded grassland (Acacia abyssinica, Acacia negrii) and secondary
Afromontane scrub (Allophylus abyssinicus, Calpurnia aurea, Carissa spinarum, Maytenus gracilipes subsp. arguta, Maytenus obscura, Maytenus serrata, Myrsine africana, Nuxia
congesta, Rosa abyssinica). A few forest species (DAF) were also collected (Prunus africana, Ritchiea albersii). Croton macrostachyus occurs in several vegetation types, both
in forests and woodland.
Locality T111 – continued – Coltivata nell’Orto Botanico di Firenze da bulbi
raccolti nei pressi di Debra Tabor (esemplare n. 1776 sopra citato ), ottobre 1937
(n. 1775)
No locality number or specific locality on the label of this collection, but the bulbs may
have originated from a locality 4 km. from Debra Tabor along the road to Ifag. Marked
as T111 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Cultivated in the botanical
garden of Florence from bulbs collected at Debra Tabor (wild collection, Pichi Sermolli 1776).
Scadoxus multiflorus (Martyn) Raf. (m. 2,800; n. 1775).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The record of Scadoxus multiflorus alone does not
make it possible to identify the vegetation.
Photographic documentation: The plant was photographed in the wild on the
23.3.1937.78
Specimens from a locality number 112 have not been traced.
Locality T113 – Pianura a nord di Debra Tabor
Locality number 113 on printed labels with this locality. Marked as T113 on Maps 3 & 8.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Small plain north of [small
town of] Debra Tabor].
78 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 981, 982, 983, 984, 985, in the Archivio fotografico of the
Società geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Georeferencing: The landscape to the north of Debra Tabor is undulated, and several
altitudes are indicated from this locality. One of the few high-altitude plains at Debra
Tabor is at 11.900893°N, 38.025935° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia negrii Pic. Serm. (m. 2,940; n. 2244).
Asparagus africanus Lam. (m. 2,950; n. 1769).
Bromus leptoclados Nees (m. 2,940; n. 1874).
Dipsacus pinnatifidus A. Rich. (m. 2,940; n. 917).
Helichrysum forsskahlii (J.F. Gmel.) Hilliard & B.L. Burtt (m. 2,940; n. 978).
Hypericum revolutum Vahl (m. 2,940; n. 184).
Leonotis ocymifolia (Burm. f.) Iwarsson var. raineriana (Vis.) Iwarsson (m. 2,940; n. 1390).
Maytenus obscura (A. Rich.) Cufod. (m. 2,800; n. 2320).
Rosa abyssinica Lindl. (m. 2,900; n. 666).
Setaria sphacelata (Schumach.) Moss (m. 2,940; n. 41).
Solanum marginatum L. f. (m. 2,940; n. 2546).
Stephania abyssinica (A. Rich.) Walp. (m. 2,940; n. 125).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The trees collected from this locality include species of Afromontane wooded grassland (Acacia negrii) and Afromontane secondary
scrub (Leonotis ocymifolia var. raineriana, Maytenus obscura, Rosa abyssinica).
Excursion without collecting; move of base camp.
Via Gondar, where the main part of the mission prepared for the journey back to Italy,
Pichi Sermolli and Enzo Minucci moved to lignite deposits north-west of Lake Tana.
The members of the mission camped inside Gondar near the compound with the ruined palaces from the 17th and 18th century.
Photographic documentation without collecting: The castles of Gondar are seen
on a photograph taken from Pichi Sermolli’s tent on 29.3.1937.79 A sequence of photographs shows the monuments in Gondar.80
31.3.1937
Locality C – Bacino di Celga; Chemat Uensi
No locality number on hand-written label with this locality. Marked as C on Map 3.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: In the Celga basin, at the river of
Chemat. [“Uensi” is Pichi Sermolli’s rendering of the Amharic word for river, “wenz”].
Georeferencing: At the river Chemat in the Celga basin, both place names indicated on the official map in Pichi Sermolli (1951), which, however, does not agree with
the satellite images on Google Earth. A probable position of this locality may be at
12.507064° N, 37.117540° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Scadoxus multiflorus (Martyn) Raf. (m. 1,800; n. 1777).
79 See archival font Dainelli (501), image 1000, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
80 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 992, 993, 994, 995, 996, 997, 998, 999, 1000, in the Archivio
fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
225
226
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Vegetation; characteristic species: The record of Scadoxus multiflorus alone does not
make it possible to identify the vegetation.
Photographic documentation: A photograph taken by Pichi Sermolli on 2.4.1937 of
the lignite formations at Celga shows open Acacia wooded grassland, another photograph shows Croton macrostachyus parasitised by a species of Viscum. 81
After a stay at Gondar from 1.4. to 5.4.1937 Pichi Sermolli and Enzo Minucci move to
Debarech to prepare for a trip with mules and local guides into the Semien Mountains.
Pichi Sermolli did not use numbered localities during the trip in the Semien.
Photographic documentation: A number of photographs taken by Pichi Sermolli on
5.4. and 6.4.1937 show ericaceous bushland and high altitude grassland near the Uolchefit [Wolkefit] Pass and near Debarek [Debark].82
6.4.1937
Locality S1 – Al torrente Addeschie
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S1 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: At the stream of Addeschie.
Georeferencing: The stream of Addeschie must be to the W of the map published in
Pichi Sermolli (1939: CXVII) and the name has not been seen on any map. The altitude for all collections from this locality is 2,900 m., which is probably too high. Presumably it is one of the first streams encountered after leaving Debarech, and by the
modern road the first stream is crossed at 2,760 m. with coordinates of the crossing at
13.133069° N, 37.929139° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Alchemilla abyssinica Fresen. (m. 2,900 circa; n. 4).
Helichrysum splendidum (Thunb.) Less. (m. 2,900 circa; n. 972).
Koeleria capensis (Steud.) Nees (m. 2,900 circa; n. 1928).
Lythrum rotundifolium A. Rich. (m. 2,900 circa; n. 2730).
Potamogeton pusillus L. (m. 2,900 circa; n. 2713).
Potamogeton thunbergii Cham. & Schltdl. (m. 2,900 circa; n. 2712).
Vegetation; characteristic species: There are no trees or large shrubs collected from
this locality, and the herbs do not suggest a specific vegetation type. A zone at low-altitude of the Ericaceous Belt or Afromontane wooded grassland are likely to have surrounded the stream of Addeschie.
Photographic documentation: Patches of Erica bushland on level ground and slopes
above a small stream were photographed by Pichi Sermolli on 6.4.1937.83 Another photograph shows a specimen of Salix subserrata along the stream, surrounded by Erica
bushland.84
81 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1001, 1002, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
82 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006, 1007, 1008, 1009, 1010, 1011,
1012, 1013, 1014, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana. Image no. 501/1013 is
reproduced in Pichi Sermolli (1939: Plate [”Table”] 1).
83 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1015, 1016, 1017, 1018, in the Archivio fotografico of the
Società geografica italiana.
84 See archival font Dainelli (501), image 1014, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica
italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Locality S2 – Pendio a monte del torrente Saurie
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S2 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Slope of mountain at the stream
of Saurie].
Georeferencing: The locality is to the west of the map published in Pichi Sermolli
(1939: CXVII). On Hurni (1981 [1980]), the valley is spelt “Sawre”; a location at the
approximate altitude indicated by Pichi Sermolli is at ca. 2,830 m. approximately at
13.162416° N, 37.953242° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia negrii Pic. Serm. (m. 2,850 circa; n. 2698).
Alchemilla abyssinica Fresen. (m. 2,850 circa; n. 6).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only tree collected from this locality, Acacia negrii, grows in Afromontane wooded grassland, and its highest known record is
at 3,100 m.
Locality S3 – Presso il villaggio di Micciubbi
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S3 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near the village of Micciubbi.
Georeferencing: The locality is to the west of the map published in Pichi Sermolli
(1939: CXVII), and there is no place of that name on IGM (1934-1936a: sheet 9, 10).
On Hurni (1981 [1980]), there is no place name spelt exactly as “Micciubbi”, but a place
named “Michibiny”, which might be this place, is located before the Beleges Valley and
Ambaras, when coming from Debarech. Michibiny is at ca. 3,200 m. approximately at
13.212649° N, 38.008704° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Anarrhinum forskaohlii (Gmel.) Cufod. subsp. abyssinicum (Jaub. & Spach) D.A. Sutton (m. 3,200; n. 2728).
Echinops longisetus A. Rich. (m. 3,200; n. 2169).
Erica arborea L. (m. 3,200; n. 1042).
Euphorbia schimperiana Scheele (m. 3,200; n. 2672).
Hypericum revolutum Vahl (m. 3,200; n. 180).
Kniphofia foliosa Hochst. (m. 3,200; n. 2017).
Lobelia rhynchopetalum Hemsl. (m. 3,200; n. 2700).
Moraea schimperi (Hochst.) Pic. Serm. (m. 3,200; n. 2674).
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. (m. 3,200; n. 2686).
Thymus schimperi Ronniger (m. 3,200; n. 2685).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only two trees collected from this locality,
Erica arborea and Hypericum revolutum, and the soft-wooded Lobelia rhynchopetalum,
meet at about m. 3,200, and must here have grown in the ericaceous Belt.
Photographic documentation: A series of photographs show mixed vegetation near
Micciubbi with specimens of Lobelia growing in or at the edge of ericaceous bushland.85
85 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1020, 1021, 1022, 1023, 1024, 1025, 1026, 1027, 1028,
1029, 1030, 1031, 1032, 1033, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana. Image 1026
is reproduced here as Fig. 37.
227
228
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
7.4.1937
Collecting in the Beleges Valley towards the Cennech Pass.
Locality S4 – Crinale del versante destro della valle di Beleghes ad ovest di
Ambaras
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S4 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Crest of the right-hand slope of
the Beleges valley to the west of [the village of] Ambaras.
Georeferencing: The locality is to the west of the map published in Pichi Sermolli
(1939: CXVII), the crest of the mountains to the W of Ambaras is approximately at
13.226647° N, 38.082991° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Alchemilla abyssinica Fresen. (m. 3,350 circa; n. 2).
Argyrolobium schimperianum A. Rich. (m. 3,350 circa; n. 2693).
Bartsia longiflora Benth. (m. 3,350 circa; n. 2722, n. 2723).
Clematis simensis Fresen. (m. 3,350 circa; n. 133).
Conyza vernonioides (A. Rich.) Wild (m. 3,350 circa; n. 2631).
Erica arborea L. (m. 3,350 circa; n. 1041).
Geranium arabicum Forssk. subsp. latistipulatum (A. Rich.) Kokwaro (m. 3,350 circa;
n. 258).
Gnaphalium unionis Oliv. & Hiern (m. 3,350 circa; n. 1019).
Lythrum rotundifolium A. Rich. (m. 3,350 circa; n. 2725).
Maytenus cortii (Pic. Serm.) Cufod. (m. 3,350 circa; n. 2560; n. 2598, n. 2599 (FT, holotype of Gymnosporia cortii Pic. Serm.)).
Polygala steudneri Chod. (m. 3,350 circa; n. 140; m. 3,400-3,500; n. 141).
Satureja simensis (Benth.) Briq. (m. 3,350 circa; n. 2678).
Scabiosa columbaria L. (m. 3,350 circa; n. 2206).
Solanum marginatum L. f. (m. 3,350 circa; n. 2734).
Thymus schimperi Ronniger (m. 3,350 circa; n. 2677).
Veronica abyssinica Fresen. (m. 3,350 circa; n. 2724).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Dryopteris schimperiana (A. Br.) C. Chr. (No alt.; n. 1843, FI-PS 12103)86
Vegetation; characteristic species: Here, the only two trees or large shrubs collected from this locality, Erica arborea and Maytenus cortii, a species related to Maytenus
obscura, but occurring at higher altitudes, meet at about m. 3500, and must here have
grown in the Ericaceous Belt. Little information is obtained from the rather rich flora
of herbs and subshrubs.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli took a number of photographs at the
Beleges Valley, which, as a number of them are images of landscapes around the deep
valley, do not fit exactly with the localities in this chronological list. Most of the images show single bushes in high altitude grassland, others show open ericaceous bushland, a few images show a species of Araliaceae, possibly collection no. 670, Schefflera
abyssinica. See also the following localities, to which the photographs cannot be certainly assigned.87
86 It is not certain at which of the localities near Ambaras (S4, S5, or S6) this collection was made.
87 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1034, 1035, 1036, 1037, 1038, 1039, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Locality S5 – Crinale del versante destro della valle di Beleghes ad ovest di
Ambaras
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S5 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Crest of the right-hand slope of
the Beleges valley to the west of [the village of] Ambaras].
Georeferencing: The locality is to the west of the map published in Pichi Sermolli
(1939: CXVII), but at ca. 3,400-3,500 m. the crest of the mountains to the W of Ambaras is approximately at 13.227485° N, 38.114423° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Helichrysum citrispinum (m. 3,400-3,500; n. 1028).
Holothrix squammata (A. Rich.) Rchb. f. (m. 3,350 circa; n. 2705; m. 3,400-3,500; n.
2706).
Inula arbuscula Del. (m. 3,350 circa; n. 2621).
Pentaschistis (?) trisetoides* (m. 3,400-3,500; n. 1895).
Senecio myriocephalus A. Rich. (m. 3,350 circa; n. 1060).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The tallest shrub collected from this locality is
Senecio myriocephalus, which has an upper altitudinal limit at 3,300(-3,900) m. and
occurs in mountain bamboo thickets and the Ericaceous Belt, which must be the vegetation at this locality.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli took more photographs of the Ericaceous belt near the village of Ambaras.88
Locality S6 – Crinale del versante destro della valle di Beleghes a nord-est di
Ambaras
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S6 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Ridge of the right-hand slope
of the Beleges valley to the north-east of [the village of] Ambaras.
Georeferencing: The locality is to the west of the map published in Pichi Sermolli
(1939: CXVII), but the highest ridge at ca. 3,650 m. is approximately at 13.258132°
N, 38.132166° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Bartsia longiflora Benth. (m. 3,650 circa; n. 2726).
Euphorbia petitiana A. Rich. (m. 3,650 circa; n. 2671).
Festuca sp. cfr. F. macrophylla* (m. 3,650 circa; n. 1906, n. 1907, n. 1934, n. 1935).
Helichrysum splendidum (Thunb.) Less. (m. 3,650 circa; n. 973).
Pentaschistis pictigluma (Steud.) Pilg. (m. 3,650 circa; n. 1905, n. 1933).
Verbascum sinaiticum Benth. (m. 3,650 circa; n. 2727).
Vegetation; characteristic species: There is no indicator species to suggest the vegetation, but according to personal experience (I. Friis and Sebsebe Demissew) the vegetation is very similar to that of the previous locality, that is more or less open grassland
and bushland in the Ericaceous Belt.
Photographic documentation: This is the last sequence of photographs from the Ericaceous belt around the village of Ambaras.89
88 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1040, 1041, 1042, 1043, 1044, 1045, 1046, 1047, 1048,
1049, 1050, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
89 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1040, 1041, 1042, 1043, 1044, 1045, 1046, 1047, 1048,
1049, 1050, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana. Image 1045 is reproduced
here as Fig. 4.
229
230
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Locality S7 – Ciglione del versante destro della valle di Beleghes (Regione
Sancaber)).
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S7 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Edge of the right-hand slope of
the Beleges valley near Sancaber.
Variant indication of locality:
Ciglione del versante destro della valle di Beleghes (Sancaber) (n. 179).
Ciglione destro della valle di Beleghes (regione Sancaber) (n. 2687).
Georeferencing: The locality is to the west of the map published in Pichi Sermolli
(1939: CXVII), but at ca. 3,300 m. the edge of the right-hand slope of the Beleges Valley in the area of Sancaber is approximately at 13.234487° N, 38.081081° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Aloe steudneri Schweinf. (m. 3,300 circa; n. 2020).
Anarrhinum forskaohlii (Gmel.) Cufod. subsp. abyssinicum (Jaub. & Spach) D.A. Sutton (m. 3,300 circa; n. 2731).
Athrixia rosmarinifolia (Walp.) Oliv. & Hiern (m. 3,300 circa; n. 2627).
Buddleja polystachya Fresen. (m. 3,300 circa; n. 1281).
Clutia lanceolata Forssk. (m. 3,300 circa; n. 2673).
Erica arborea L. (m. 33,00 circa; n. 1044).
Hebenstreitia angolensis Rolfe (m. 3,300 circa; n. 1431).
Helichrysum horridum (Sch. Bip.) A. Rich. (m. 3,300 circa; n. 966).
Helichrysum schimperi (A. Rich.) Moeser (m. 3,300 circa; n. 989).
Helichrysum splendidum (Thunb.) Less. (m. 3,300 circa; n. 971).
Hypericum revolutum Vahl (m. 3,300 circa; n. 179).
Myrica salicifolia A. Rich. (m. 3,300 circa; n. 2741).
Myrsine africana L. (m. 3,300 circa; n. 1109).
Myrsine melanophloeos (L.) R. Br. (m. 3,300 circa; n. 1094).
Nuxia congesta Fresen. (m. 3,300 circa; n. 1229).
Otostegia tomentosa A. Rich. subsp. steudneri (Schweinf.) Sebald (m. 3,300 circa; n.
2683).
Polygala rupicola A. Rich. (m. 3,300 circa; n. 142).
Protea gaguedi J.F. Gmel. (m. 3,300 circa; n. 2714).
Pterocephalus frutescens A. Rich. (m. 3,300 circa; n. 911).
Rosa abyssinica Lindl. (m. 3,300 circa; n. 657).
Rumex nervosus Vahl (m. 3,300 circa; n. 2711).
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. (m. 3,300 circa; n. 2688).
Schefflera abyssinica (A. Rich.) Harms (m. 3,300 circa; n. 670).
Senecio myriocephalus A. Rich. (m. 3,300 circa; n. 1059).
Thymus schimperi Ronniger (m. 3,300 circa; n. 2687).
Tolpis virgata (Desf.) Bertol. (m. 3,300 circa; n. 2620).
Verbascum sinaiticum Benth. (m. 3,300 circa; n. 2732).
Vernonia bipontini Vatke (m. 3,300 circa; n. 2629, n. 2630).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The small trees or large shrubs collected from this
locality (Buddleja polystachya, Clutia lanceolata, Erica arborea, Hypericum revolutum,
Myrica salicifolia, Myrsine africana, Myrsine melanophloeos, Nuxia congesta, Otostegia
tomentosa subsp. steudneri, Protea gaguedi, Rosa abyssinica, Schefflera abyssinica, Senecio
myriocephalus) suggest a species-rich flora where the uppermost zone of the Afromontane forest meets Hypericum woodland and the Ericaceous Belt. Hagenia abyssinica,
with Hypericum revolutum the two most characteristic species in the uppermost zone
of the Afromontane forest, was not observed in any part of the Semien studied on this
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
231
Fig. 52. View from the upper zone of Ericaceous bushland near the crest of the right-hand slope of the Beleges Valley
in the Semien Mountains. In the background the lower mountains north of the Semien. Photograph by Ib Friis,
2015.
trip. Several of the herbaceous species collected from this locality are characteristic in
seepage-areas at this altitude (I. Friis & Sebsebe Demissew, pers. obs.).
From the Beleges Valley to the Cennech Pass and Mt. Buahit
8.4.1937
Locality S8 – Ambaras Uascia sul versante destro della valle di Beleghes
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S8 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Ambaras washa (gorge or cave)
on the right-hand slope of the Beleges valley. [“Uascia” is Pichi Sermolli’s rendering of
the Amharic word for narrow gorge or cave, “washa”].
Variant indication of locality:
Ambaras Uascia, sul versante destro della valle di Beleghes (n. 259).
Georeferencing: The locality is to the west of the map published in Pichi Sermolli
(1939: CXVII), and there is no narrow gorge or cave indicated on the available maps,
but altitudes at ca. 3,650 m. near Ambaras are in the direction of Mt. Inatye and Emiet
Gogo. During fieldwork in this area, one of the authors has observed moisture-loving
232
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
species like those listed for this locality. The locality is approximately at 13.240868°
N, 38.150222° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Conyza vernonioides (A. Rich.) Wild (m. 3,650 circa; n. 2632).
Geranium arabicum Forssk. subsp. latistipulatum (A. Rich.) Kokwaro (m. 3,650 circa;
n. 259).
Helichrysum splendidum (Thunb.) Less. (m. 3,650 circa; n. 967).
Holothrix squammata (A. Rich.) Rchb. f. (m. 3,650 circa; n. 2708).
Hypericum revolutum Vahl (m. 3,650 circa; n. 178).
Kniphofia foliosa Hochst. (m. 3,650 circa; n. 1757, n. 1758).
Thymus schimperi Ronniger (m. 3,650 circa; n. 2692).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only small trees or large shrub collected from
this locality (Hypericum revolutum) suggest a flora similar to that of the previous locality, that is the uppermost zone of the Afromontane forest meets Hypericum woodland
and Ericaceous Belt.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs from the area of Ambaras Uascia show ericaceous bushland with Lobelia rhynchopetalum.90
Locality S9 – Testata della valle di Beleghes presso il passo Cennech
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S9 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Head of the Beleges valley near
the pass of Cennech.
Variant indication of locality:
Testata della valle di Beleghes presso il passo di Cennech (N. 2217).
Georeferencing: The locality is inside the western edge of the map published in Pichi
Sermolli (1939: CXVII), and the locality can relatively precisely be located at a point
from where the photograph reproduced as Tav. 2 in Pichi Sermolli (1939) was taken.
It is located approximately at 13.261926° N, 38.196924° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Agrostis quinqueseta (Steud.) Hochst. (m. 3,700-3,800; n. 2075).
Erica tenuipilosa (Alm & T.C.E. Fries) Cheek subsp. spicata (A. Rich.) Cheek (m.
3,700-3,800; n. 1040).
Festuca sp. cfr. F. schimperiana* (m. 3,700-3,800; n. 2217).
Festuca sp.* (m. 3,700-3,800; n. 581, n. 2489, n. 2495).
Helichrysum splendidum (Thunb.) Less. (m. 3,700-3,800; n. 969).
Holothrix squammata (A. Rich.) Rchb. f. (m. 3,700-3,800; n. 2707).
Koeleria capensis (Steud.) Nees (m. 3,700-3,800; n. 1918, n. 1919).
Lobelia rhynchopetalum Hemsl. (m. 3,700-3,800; n. 2701).
Luzula abyssinica Parl. (m. 3,700-3,800; n. 2670).
Thymus schimperi Ronniger (m. 3,700-3,800; n. 2690; n. 2691).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only small shrubby plant collected from this
locality (Erica tenuipilosa), combined with the presence of Lobelia rhynchopetalum,
suggest a flora where the upper part of the Ericaceous Belt meets with the Afroalpine
vegetation.
90 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1054, 1055, 1056, 1057, in the Archivio fotografico of the
Società geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
233
Fig. 53. A small mountain stream running from the right-hand side of the Beleges Valley towards the Beleges River,
probably a ”uasha” according to the concept of Pichi Sermolli. Photograph by Sebsebe Demissew, 2009.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs from near Cennech show
grassland with scattered Lobelia rhynchopetalum.91
Locality S10 – Curfu Uascia sul versante destro della valle di Beleghes
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S10 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: At the Curfu washa on the righthand slope of the Beleges valley [“Uascia” is Pichi Sermolli’s rendering of the Amharic
word for narrow gorge or cave, “washa”].
Georeferencing: The locality is inside the western edge of the map published in Pichi
Sermolli (1939: CXVII), but the name of the gorge or cave is not indicated on this or
any other available map; from the altitude and the general information, the locality
must be localised approximately at 13.254823° N, 38.175290° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Alchemilla abyssinica Fresen. (m. 3,700 circa; n. 7).
Cardamine obliqua A. Rich. (m. 3,700 circa; n. 2660; n. 2661).
Geranium arabicum Forssk. subsp. arabicum (m. 3,700 circa; n. 260).
91 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1058, 1059, 1060, 1061, 1062, 1063, 1064, in the Archivio
fotografico of the Società geografica italiana. No. 501/1064 is reproduced in Pichi Sermolli (1939:
Table 2).
234
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Haplocarpha rueppellii (Sch. Bip.) P. Beauv. (m. 3,700 circa; n. 1013).
Hypericum peplidifolium A. Rich. (m. 3,700 circa; n. 177).
Isolepis costata A. Rich. (m. 3,700 circa; n. 2668).
Lemna minor L. (m. 3,700 circa; n. 2699).
Saxifraga hederifolia A. Rich. (m. 3,700 circa; n. 2720).
Vegetation; characteristic species: There is no woody indicator species to suggest
the vegetation, but according to personal experience (I. Friis and Sebsebe Demissew)
the vegetation is quite likely moist Afroalpine.
Locality S11 – Gumosc Uascia sul versante destro della valle di Beleghes
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S11 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: At the Gumosc washa on the
right-hand slope of the Beleges valley. [“Uascia” is Pichi Sermolli’s rendering of the
Amharic word for narrow gorge or cave, “washa”].
Georeferencing: As the previous locality, this one is inside the western edge of the
map published in Pichi Sermolli (1939: CXVII), but the name of the gorge or cave is
not indicated on this or any other available map; from the altitude and the general information, the locality must be localised approximately at 13.255298° N, 38.178657° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Bartsia longiflora Benth. (m. 3,700 circa; n. 2733).
Erica arborea L. (m. 3,700 circa; n. 1045).
Haplocarpha rueppellii (Sch. Bip.) P. Beauv. (m. 3,700 circa; n. 1014).
Helichrysum citrispinum Del. (m. 3,700 circa; n. 1027).
Helichrysum formosissimum A. Rich. (m. 3,700 circa; n. 974).
Kniphofia foliosa Hochst. (m. 3,700 circa; n. 2018).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only small tree or large shrub collected from
this locality is Erica arborea, which in combination with the herbaceous species suggests
a species-rich flora where in the Ericaceous Belt, with both dry and seepage-areas. As
mentioned, Uascia [washa] is an Amharic word for cave, but Pichi Sermolli seems in
the records from the Semien to have used it for small streams running in gorges. See
photographs below.
Photographic documentation: The following photographs are from this date and
therefore probably from the Gumosc Uascia area.92
Locality S12 – Versante nord-orientale di M. Buahit
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S12 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: North-eastern slope of Mt. Buahit.
Georeferencing: From the altitude and the position on Mt. Buahit [Bwahit], this locality must be approximately at 13.247459° N, 38.221240° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Arabis alpina L. (m. 4,300 circa; n. 2652).
Dipsacus pinnatifidus A. Rich. (m. 4,300; n. 2619 (FT, holotype of Dipsacus eremocephalus Pic. Serm.)).
Epilobium stereophyllum Fresen. (m. 4,300 circa; n. 2703, n. 2704).
Helichrysum splendidum (Thunb.) Less. (m. 4,300 circa; n. 970).
Senecio farinaceus A. Rich. (m. 4,300 circa; n. 2611).
92 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1051, 1052, 1053, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società
geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
235
Fig. 54. Ericaceous bushland and specimens of Lobelia rhynchopetalum on grassland meet in the uppermost reach of
the Serekawa Valley, south of the deeper Beleges Valley. The dark areas in the background on the opposite slope are
Ericaceous bushland, in the foreground scattered specimens of Lobelia rhynchopetalum in grassland. Photograph by
Ib Friis, 2015.
Vegetation; characteristic species: There are no trees or shrubs among the collections
from this locality, which must represent a mosaic of relatively dry Afroalpine vegetation with rocky and stony ground and moister Afroalpine vegetation.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs from Mount Buahit
show grassland with Lobelia rhynchopetalum.93
Locality S13 – Versante nord-occidentale di M.[onte] Buahit
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S13 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: North-western slope of Mt.
Buahit.
Variant indication of locality:
Versante nord-occid. di M.[onte] Buahit (n. 2617).
Georeferencing: From the altitude and the position on Mt Buahit [Bwahit], this locality must be approximately at 13.247963° N, 38.218055° E.
93 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1065, 1066, 1067, 1068, 1069, in the Archivio fotografico of
the Società geografica italiana. No. 501/1065 is reproduced in Pichi Sermolli (1939: Tab. 3).
236
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Agrostis sp.* (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 2068).
Alchemilla microbetula T.C.E. Fries (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 5).
Arabis alpina L. (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 2657).
Cerastium octandrum A. Rich. (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 2009, n. 2580).
Cirsium vel Carduus sp.* (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 2624).
Festuca sp.* (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 1922, n. 1923, n. 2065, n. 2467).
Galium acrophyum Chiov. (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 774).
Haplocarpha rueppellii (Sch. Bip.) P. Beauv. (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 1012).
Helichrysum citrispinum Del. (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 1029).
Oreophyton falcatum (A. Rich.) O.E. Schulz (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 2653, n. 2658, n. 2659).
Pentaschistis pictigluma (Steud.) Pilg. (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 1921).
Pentaschistis sp.* (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 1920).
Pimpinella pimpinelloides (Hochst.) Wolff (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 2736).
Ranunculus tembensis Fresen. (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 781).
Ranunculus oreophytus Del. (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 776, n. 778).
Sagina abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 2590).
Satureja imbricata (Forssk.) Briq. (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 2689 (FT, holotype of Satureja
contardoi Pic. Serm.)).
Saxifraga hederifolia A. Rich. (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 2719).
Senecio farinaceus A. Rich. (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 2612).
Senecio nanus A. Rich. (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 2617).
Wahlenbergia pusilla A. Rich. (m. 4,200-4,510; n. 1050).
Vegetation; characteristic species: As for the previous locality, there are no trees
or shrubs among the collections from this locality, which must represent a mosaic of
relatively dry Afroalpine vegetation with rocky and stony ground and moister Afroalpine vegetation.
To the northern part of the Semien: Mt. Selchi and the pass of Arcuasie.
10.4.1937
Locality S14 – Cresta meridionale di M.[onte] Selchi
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S14 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Southern crest of Mt. Selchi.
Georeferencing: From the altitude and the position on Mt Selchi [Silke], this locality
must be at ca. 4,300 m. and approximately at 13.334785° N, 38.262672° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Agrostis quinqueseta (Steud.) Hochst. (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 1911).
Alchemilla microbetula T.C.E. Fries (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 9).
Anthemis tigreensis A. Rich. (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 2601).
Arabis alpina L. (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 2655).
Cerastium octandrum A. Rich. (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 2011, n. 2592).
Cineraria deltoidea Sond. (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 2608).
Cotula abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 2623).
Festuca sp. cfr. F. rigidula* (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 2072, n. 2194).
Festuca sp. cfr. F. schimperiana* (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 1909).
Festuca sp.* (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 1914).
Galium acrophyum Chiov. (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 2662).
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
237
Fig. 55. Low Afroalpine vegetation on the western slope of Mt. Bwahit near summit. Photograph by Ib Friis, 2015.
Helichrysum citrispinum Del. (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 1026).
Helichrysum splendidum (Thunb.) Less. (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 968).
Herniaria hirsuta A. Rich. (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 2709).
Koeleria capensis (Steud.) Nees (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 1908, n. 1915, n. 1917, n. 2418).
Oreophyton falcatum (A. Rich.) O.E. Schulz (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 2525, n. 2654, n. 2656).
Paronychia bryoides A. Rich. (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 2710).
Pentaschistis pictigluma (Steud.) Pilg. (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 1910, n. 2076).
Poa sp.* (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 1916).
Ranunculus oreophytus Del. (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 779).
Sagina abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 2894, n. 2595).
Senecio farinaceus A. Rich. (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 2607).
Senecio nanus A. Rich. (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 2618).
Swertia engleri Gilg (m. 4,250-4,475; n. 2591).
Vegetation; characteristic species: As for the previous localities, there are no trees or
shrubs among the collections from this locality, which must represent a mosaic of relatively dry Afroalpine vegetation with stony ground and moister Afroalpine vegetation.
Locality S15 – Versante occidentale di M.[onte] Selchi
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S15 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Western slope of Mt. Selchi.
Georeferencing: From the altitude and the position on Mt Selchi [Silke], this locality
must be approximately at 13.337190° N, 38.267524° E.
238
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Agrostis cfr. A. quinqueseta* (m. 4,000 circa; n. 2593).
Agrostis quinqueseta (Steud.) Hochst. (m. 4,000 circa; n. 2494).
Alchemilla microbetula T.C.E. Fries (m. 4,200 circa; n. 8).
Bromus sp.* (m. 4,000 circa; n. 1927, n. 2742).
Carex monostachya A. Rich. (m. 4,000 circa; n. 2665).
Cerastium octandrum A. Rich. (m. 4,000 circa; n. 2588; m. 4,200 circa; n. 2596).
Erica tenuipilosa (Alm & T.C.E. Fries) Cheek subsp. spicata (A. Rich.) Cheek (m. 4,000
circa; n. 1039).
Festuca sp. cfr. F. rigidula* (m. 4,000 circa; n. 1924).
Festuca sp. cfr. F. schimperiana* (m. 4,200 circa; n. 1915, n. 2634).
Galium acrophyum Chiov. (m. 4,000 circa; n. 773).
Helichrysum foetidum (L.) Moench var. microcephalum A. Rich. (m. 4,000 circa; n. 973).
Luzula abyssinica Parl. (m. 4,000 circa; n. 2669).
Pentaschistis pictigluma (Steud.) Pilg. (m. 4,200 circa; n. 1912; m. 4,000 circa; n. 1925,
n. 1926).
Sagina abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 4,000 circa; n. 2587; m. 4,200 circa; n. 2597).
Senecio farinaceus A. Rich. (m. 4,200 circa; n. 2610).
Swertia engleri Gilg (m. 4,000 circa; n. 2586).
Trifolium acaule A. Rich. (m. 4,000 circa; n. 2695).
Vegetation; characteristic species: There are no trees or shrubs among the collections from this locality, which must represent relatively moist Afroalpine vegetation,
here with tussocks of Carex monostachya.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs from Mount Selchi are
not specified with regard to the western and the eastern slope and can therefore not be
associated with his localities from Mount Selchi.
Locality S16 – Presso il passo di Arcuasie
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S16 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Near the pass of Arcuasie.
Georeferencing: The pass and village of “Arcuasie”, Arkwasie, cannot be well identified on maps, but is said to be at ca. 3,700 m. and that would agree with a location approximately at 13.291907° N, 38.265732° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Lactuca sp.* (m. 3,740 circa; n. 2144).
Sagina abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 3,740 circa; n. 2589).
Trifolium acaule A. Rich. (m. 3,740 circa; n. 2697).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The three collections from this locality are herbs
growing in Afroalpine vegetation on rocky or stony ground or in Afroalpine grassland.
Locality S17 – Poco a monte del villaggio di Nori
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S17 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: A little up the mountains at the
village of Nori.
Georeferencing: On the maps of the Semien by Pichi Sermolli and E. Minucci there
are two villages named Nori, one to the north-west and one to the south-west of the Arcuasie pass (Arkwasie); the south-western locality is in approximately the same place
as a village named “Lori” on the Bern-map of the Semien, but from the travelogue it
would seem that this locality is in the north-western position, above Arcuasie at approximately 13.295146° N, 38.269587° E.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Erica arborea L. (m. 3,700 circa; n. 1043).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only collection from this locality, Erica arborea, indicates that it is in the Ericaceous Belt.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli photographed a number of views towards Mount Buahit from the camp at Nori and images showing the landscape around
Nori; several photographs show Afroalpine grassland with Lobelia rhynchopetalum,
some ericaceous bushland, and some show burnt vegetation.94 Other photographs show
a view of the Selchi pass and views in various directions.95 Photographs from Arcuasie
show the market, on short Afroalpine grassland, as well as areas with large swamps of
Carex monostachya in the Arcuasie valley.96
Towards the eastern part of the Semien.
11.4.1937
Locality S18 – Lungo il Mai Sciaha
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S18 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Along the stream of Mai Sciaha.
[“Mai” is a Tigrinya/Amharic word for “stream”].
Georeferencing: Pichi Sermolli’s stream of Mai Sciaha must be the northern part of
the long stream that, running southwards divides the Semien in a western and eastern
part; that stream is now usually referred to as Mesheha Wenz. To judge from the altitude, the locality is approximately at 13.252890° N, 38.293898° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Ajuga integrifolia D. Don (m. 2,840 circa; n. 2680).
Anarrhinum forskaohlii (Gmel.) Cufod. subsp. abyssinicum (Jaub. & Spach) D.A. Sutton (m. 2,840 circa; n. 2729).
Rosa abyssinica Lindl. (m. 2,840 circa; n. 664).
Salix subserrata Willd. (m. 2,840 circa; n. 2715).
Ferns and fern allies cited in Gastaldo & Paola (1978):
Equisetum ramosissimum Desf. (No alt.; n. 1829, not seen, cited in Gastaldo & Paola
1978: 111).
Vegetation; characteristic species: This locality is in the uppermost reaches of the
Mesheha River, where Salix subserrata forms a riparian scrub, surrounded by scrub of
Rosa abyssinica. The two species of herbs grow on relatively moist ground.
Locality S19 – Lungo l’Ambiquo Uascia presso la sua confluenza con il Mai Sciaha
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S19 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Along the Ambiquo Uacia near
its confluence with Mai Sciaha.
94 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1070, 1071, 1072, 1073, 1074, 1075, 1076, in the Archivio
fotografico of the Società geografica italiana. Image 1074 is reproduced here as Fig. 3.
95 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1077, 1078, 1079, 1080, in the Archivio fotografico of the
Società geografica italiana.
96 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1081, 1082, 1083, 1084, 1085, 1086, 1087, 1088, 1089,
1090, 1091, 1092, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana. Image 1086 is reproduced in Pichi Sermolli (1939: Plate 4 ) and here as Fig. 22. Image 1089 is reproduced here as Fig. 5.
239
240
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Georeferencing: No map shows the name “Ambiquo Uacia”, but there is a village
named “Ambikwa” on Hurni (1981 [1980]) at ca. 3300 m; presumably the locality is in
the valley below that village at approximately 13.268872° N, 38.309441° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Laggera tomentosa (A. Rich.) Oliv. & Hiern (m. 2,950 circa; n. 2628).
Primula verticillata Forssk. subsp. simensis (Hochst.) W. W. Sm. & Forrest (m. 2,950
circa; n. 1032).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Pteris dentata Forssk. (No alt.; n. 1977, FI-PS 10647).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only three collections from this locality are
herbs growing in high montane Afroalpine vegetation on rocky or stony ground, mostly with some seepage.
Locality S20 – Pendio a valle del villaggio di Atgheba Ghiorghis
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S20 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Slope of the valley of the village Atgeba Giorgis].
Georeferencing: This village is named “Atgeba” on Hurni (1980) and on Google Earth
(2020); the locality is approximately at 13.266551° N, 38.290724° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Acacia pilispina Pic. Serm. (m. 2,900-3,100; n. 2696 (FT, holotype of Acacia pilispina
Pic. Serm.).
Aloe steudneri Schweinf. (m. 2,900-3,100; n. 2019).
Becium grandiflorum (Lam.) Pic. Serm. (m. 2,900-3,100; n. 2682).
Ceratostigma abyssinicum (Hochst.) Asch. (m. 2,900-3,100; n. 1035).
Gomphocarpus purpurascens A. Rich. (m. 2,900-3,100; n. 1242).
Plectranthus ornatus Codd (m. 2,900-3,100; n. 2681).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only tree collected from this locality, Acacia
pilispina, grows in Afromontane woodland or scrub, and this is the highest known record for it. The other species also normally grow at lower altitudes. At the altitudes of
2900-3100 m. one would expect bushland and woodland of Erica arborea, but probably the valley of the village Atgeba Giorgis represents a sheltered place where species
more common at lower altitudes can reach unusually high.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli recorded this area in an extensive series of photographs.97 Several images from the Atgheba Valley and one image from the
Mesciaha [Meshehe, Mai Sciaha] Valley (image no. 1101 in Fondo Dainelli (501), reproduced here as Fig. 38) show a succulent, 4 or more ribbed, candelabra-shaped species of Euphorbia, not collected, but almost certainly E. abyssinica, the altitudinal limit
of which is normally at c. 2400 m.
In the eastern part of the Semien Mountains, around Mt. Degien.
Locality S21 – Versante sud-orientale di M.[onte] Ualta
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S21 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: South-eastern slope of Mt. Ualta.
97 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1093, 1094, 1095, 1096, 1097, 1098, 1099, 1100, in the
Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
241
Fig. 56. View from the eastern slope of Mt. Bwahit across the valley of Mai Sciaha towards the eastern massif of the
Semien Mountains. Photograph by Ib Friis, 2015.
Variant indication of locality:
Versante sud-orientale M.[onte] Ualta (n. 1901, n. 1929, n. 2093, n. 2584, n. 2585, n.
2615, n. 2622, n. 2648, n. 2684, n. 2694).
Georeferencing: A mountain with a name similar to “M.[onte] Ualta” is not shown or
named on modern maps; from the maps published by Pichi Sermolli it must be approximately on the same crest as Ras Degien, approximately at 13.249924° N, 38.367296° E .
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Agrostis quinqueseta (Steud.) Hochst. (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 1903).
Agrostis sclerophylla C.E. Hubb. (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 1901, n. 1929).
Agrostis sp.* (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 1932).
Alchemilla microbetula T.C.E. Fries (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 2585).
Anthemis tigreensis A. Rich. (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 2633).
Arabis alpina L. (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 2650).
Bromus sp.* (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 1931).
Carex monostachya A. Rich. (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 2666).
Conyza messerii Pic. Serm. (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 2636 FT, holotype, K, isotype of Conyza messeri Pic. Serm.).
Festuca sp.* (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 2582).
Galium acrophyum Chiov. (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 775).
Helichrysum citrispinum Del. (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 1030).
Indeterminabile* (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 2622).
242
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Koeleria capensis (Steud.) Nees (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 1904).
Oreophyton falcatum (A. Rich.) O.E. Schulz (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 2648, n. 2649).
Pentaschistis pictigluma (Steud.) Pilg. (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 1930).
Pimpinella pimpinelloides (Hochst.) Wolff (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 2738 (FT, holotype of
Gymnosciadium pusillum Pic. Serm.)).
Poa cfr. P. leptoclada* (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 1902).
Ranunculus oreophytus Del. (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 777, n. 780).
Sagina abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 2093).
Satureja imbricata (Forssk.) Briq. (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 2684).
Satureja simensis (Benth.) Briq. (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 2679).
Saxifraga hederifolia A. Rich. (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 2716).
Senecio farinaceus A. Rich. (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 2606).
Senecio nanus A. Rich. (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 2615).
Swertia engleri Gilg (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 2584).
Trifolium cryptopodium A. Rich. (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 2694).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Polystichum wilsonii H. Christ (m. 4,300-4,520; n. 1859, FI-PS 18661)98
Vegetation; characteristic species: There are no trees or shrubs among the rather
rich collection of herbs from this locality, which must represent a mosaic of relatively
dry and stony and relatively moist Afroalpine vegetation, here with tussocks of Carex
monostachya.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli photographs show the mosaic of dry
and moist vegetation with Lobelia rhynchopetalum and tussocks of grasses and sedges.99
13.4.1937
Locality S22 – Versante meridionale di M.[onte] Degien
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S22 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Southern slope of Mt. Degien.
Georeferencing: According to modern maps and Google Earth, “Ras Degien” [Ras
Dejen] is the highest part of a north-south crest, and it is difficult to identify a southern slope. However, from the altitude and the position on Mt. Degien [Ras Dejen], this
locality must be approximately at 13.235000° N, 38.376227° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Agrostis sclerophylla C.E. Hubb. (m. 4,350-4,620; n. 1898).
Alchemilla microbetula T.C.E. Fries (m. 4,350-4,620; n. 1).
Anthemis tigreensis A. Rich. (m. 4,350-4,620; n. 2635).
Bromus sp.* (m. 4,350-4,620; n. 1900, n. 2581).
Cerastium octandrum A. Rich. (m. 4,350-4,620; n. 2583).
Helichrysum citrispinum Del. (m. 4,350-4,620; n. 1025).
Koeleria capensis (Steud.) Nees (m. 4,350-4,620; n. 1897).
Limosella capensis Thunb. (m. 4,350-4,620; n. 2651 (FT, holotype of Limosella semiensis Pic. Serm.)).
98 The label states that this collection was made on 12.4.1937.
99 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1108, 1109, 1110, 1111, 1112, 1113, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
243
Fig. 57. View from the eastern slopes of Mt. Bwahit towards the chain with Mt. Ras Degien, the highest peak in
Ethiopia. In the foreground Lobelia rhynchopetalum on grassland. Photograph by Ib Friis, 2015.
Oreophyton falcatum (A. Rich.) O.E. Schulz (m. 4,350-4,620; n. 2641, n. 2642, n. 2643,
n. 2644, n. 2645, n. 2646, n. 2647).
Poa cfr. P. leptoclada* (m. 4,350-4,620; n. 1899).
Sagina abyssinica A. Rich. (m. 4,350-4,620; n. 2094).
Saxifraga hederifolia A. Rich. (m. 4,350-4,620; n. 2718).
Senecio farinaceus A. Rich. (m. 4,350-4,620; n. 2602 (FT, holotype of Senecio degiensis
Pic. Serm.), n. 2603, n. 2604, n. 2605).
Vegetation; characteristic species: There are no trees or shrubs among the collections from this locality, which must represent relatively moist Afroalpine vegetation,
but also areas with rocky ground.
Locality S23 – Sulla vetta di M.[onte] Degien
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S23 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: On the summit of Mt. Degien.
Georeferencing: Assuming that this is identical with the peak that is currently presumed to be Ras Dejen, the highest point is now measured to be at 4,550 m., and it is
located at 13.248613° N, 38.373253° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Senecio nanus A. Rich. (m. 4,620; n. 2616).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only collection from this locality is a low herb
growing in Afroalpine vegetation on rocky or stony ground.
244
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs of Mount Degien [Dejen] are from the summit and below on the western slope.100
Locality S24 – Fessure delle roccie del versante settentrionale di M.[onte] Ancua
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S24 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Clefts in the rocks of the northern slope of Mt. Ancua.
Georeferencing: A mountain with a name similar to “M.[onte] Ancua” is not shown
or named on modern maps; from the maps published by Pichi Sermolli it must be east
of the peak of Mt. Degien [Dejen], although not possible to identify exactly, it may be
approximately at 13.274232° N, 38.412176° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Oreophyton falcatum (A. Rich.) O.E. Schulz (m. 4,200 circa; n. 2640).
Primula verticillata Forssk. subsp. simensis (Hochst.) W. W. Sm. & Forrest (m. 4,200
circa; n. 1031, n. 1034).
Rosularia semiensis (A. Rich.) Ohba (m. 4,200 circa; n. 2637).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The collections from this locality represent low
herbs growing in Afroalpine vegetation on rocky or stony ground; Rosularia semiensis
grows on exposed rock faces, the two other species sheltered between rocks.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs from this locality show
low Afroalpine vegetation.101
Locality S25 – Versante meridionale di M.[onte] Chiddis Arit
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S25 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Southern slope of Mt. Chiddis
Arit [now mostly spelt Kidis Yared].
Georeferencing: From the altitude and the position on Mt. Chiddis Arit [Kidis
Yared], this locality, in areas with steep slopes, must be approximately at 13.306185°
N, 38.320524° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Lobelia schimperi A. Rich. (m. 3,800 circa; n. 2721).
Stachys hypoleuca A. Rich. (m. 3,800 circa; n. 2675).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only two collections from this locality represent low herbs growing in Afroalpine vegetation on rocky or stony ground; they probably grow in sheltered places among rocks.
14.4.1937
Locality S25 – continued – M.[onte] Chiddis Arit
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S25 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Mt. Chiddis Arit [now mostly
spelt Kidis Yared].
100 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1123, 1124, 1125, 1126, 1127, in the Archivio fotografico of
the Società geografica italiana.
101 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1114, 1115, 1116, 1117, 1118, 1119, 1120, 1121, in the
Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Georeferencing: As for the previous locality, this must be approximately at 13.306185°
N, 38.320524° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Agrostis sclerophylla C.E. Hubb. (m. 4,200-4,532; n. 1896).
Carduus schimperi Sch. Bip. (m. 4,200-4,532; n. 2626).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only two collections from this locality represent low herbs growing in Afroalpine vegetation on rocky or stony ground.
Locality S25 – continued – Tra le fessure delle roccie nel versante meridionale di
M.[onte] Chiddis Arit
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S25 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: In clefts in the rocks on the
southern slope of Mt. Chiddis Arit [now mostly spelt Kidis Yared].
Variant indication of locality:
Versante meridionale di M.[onte] Chiddis Arit (n. 257).
Georeferencing: As for the previous locality, this must be approximately at 13.306185°
N, 38.320524° E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Carduus leptacanthus Fresen. (m. 4,000 circa; n. 2625 (FT, holotype of Carduus semiensis Pic. Serm.)).
Geranium arabicum Forssk. subsp. latistipulatum (A. Rich.) Kokwaro (m. 4,000 circa;
n. 257).
Primula verticillata Forssk. subsp. simensis (Hochst.) W. W. Sm. & Forrest (m. 4,000
circa; n. 1033).
Rosularia semiensis (A. Rich.) Ohba (m. 4,000 circa; n. 2638, n. 2639).
Stachys hypoleuca A. Rich. (m. 4,000 circa; n. 2676).
Urtica simensis Steud. (m. 4,000 circa; n. 2739).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm. f.) Bech. (m. 4,000; n. 1789, FI-PS 10640).
Asplenium demerkense Hieron. (m. 4,000; n. 1780, FI-PS 10645, FI-PS 10646).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The collections from this locality represent low
herbs growing in Afroalpine vegetation on rocky or stony ground, sometimes sheltered between rocks.
Locality S26 – Versante orientale di M.[onte] Selchi
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S26 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Eastern slope of Mt. Selchi.
Georeferencing: From the altitude and the position in relation to Mt. Chiddis Arit
[Kidis Yared], this locality must be approximately at 13.335000 N, 38.258475 E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Erigeron alpinus L. (m. 4,300 circa; n. 2614).
Senecio schultzii A. Rich. (m. 4,300 circa; n. 2613).
Ferns cited in Pichi Sermolli (1966):
Anogramma leptophylla (L.) Link (m. 4000 ca.; n. 1826, not seen, cited from Pichi Sermolli 1966: 504).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The only two collections from this locality represent low herbs growing in Afroalpine vegetation on rocky or stony ground.
245
246
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
15.4.1937
Locality S27 – Pianura paludosa nel versante occidentale di M. Selchi
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S27 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Small, swampy plain at the
western slope of Mt. Selchi.
Variant indication of locality:
Pianura paludosa del versante occidentale di M.[onte] Selchi (n. 1893, n. 2071).
Georeferencing: The slopes of the areas around Mt. Selchi (as “Mt. Silki” on Hurni
(1980)) are nearly all relatively steep, and it is difficult to locate areas with inhibited
drainage; the locality could be at 3.340448 N, 38.254945 E.
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Agrostis quinqueseta (Steud.) Hochst. (m. 3,795; n. 1893).
Pentaschistis pictigluma (Steud.) Pilg. (m. 3,795; n. 2071).
Alchemilla abyssinica Fresen. (m. 3,795; n. 3).
Carex monostachya A. Rich. (m. 3,795; n. 2667).
Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. (m. 3,795; n. 1894).
Haplocarpha rueppellii (Sch. Bip.) P. Beauv. (m. 3,795; n. 1011).
Limosella africana Glück (m. 3,795; n. 2740).
Ranunculus tembensis Fresen. (m. 3,795; n. 782).
Saxifraga hederifolia A. Rich. (m. 3,795; n. 2717).
Veronica beccabunga L. (m. 3,795; n. 2609).
Vegetation; characteristic species: There are no trees or shrubs among the collections from this locality, which must represent relatively moist Afroalpine vegetation
with tussocks of Carex monostachya.
Photographic documentation: Pichi Sermolli’s photographs from the Carex monostachya swamps on the eastern slopes of Mt. Selchi are from the 15.4.1937 and must
represent this habitat.102
Photographic documentation without any locality or collections cited in Pichi
Sermolli (1951): There are no collections associated with a number of photographs
from the 15.-16.4.1937, taken at a camp below Mt. Beroc Uaha [in the photographic
archive spelt Beroc Naha]. They show mainly the camp on Afroalpine grassland with
scattered Lobelia rhynchopetalum.103
16.4.1937
Locality S28 – Ciglione a valle di Suohna
No locality number on printed labels with this locality. Marked as S28 on Map 9.
English translation of Italian indication of locality: Crest at [the] valley of Suohna.
Georeferencing: The village of “Suohna”, [Sona], now with very basic camp facilities,
is diffuse and widespread over mountain crests and valleys at ca. 3400 m; it can be approximately localised at 13.324594° N, 38.213952° E.
102 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1139, 1140, 1141, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società
geografica italiana.
103 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1142, 1143, 1144, 1145, 1146, 1147, 1148, 1149, 1150, 1151,
1152, 1153, 1154, 1155, in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF COLLECTING LOCALITIES
Collections cited in Pichi Sermolli (1951):
Cymbopogon caesius (Hook. & Arn.) Stapf (m. 3,100 circa; n. 312).
Echinops longisetus A. Rich. (m. 3,100 circa; n. 2168).
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich. (m. 3,100 circa; n. 2735).
Nuxia congesta Fresen. (m. 3,100 circa; n. 1234).
Schefflera abyssinica (A. Rich.) Harms (m. 3,100 circa; n. 669).
Themeda triandra Forssk. (m. 3,100 circa; n. 1892).
Fern collections in FI-PS:
Adiantum capillus-veneris L. (m. 3000 m.; n. 1804, FI-PS 11497, also cited from FI in
Pichi Sermolli 1957a: 681).
Vegetation; characteristic species: The shrubs and trees collected from this locality
(Grewia ferruginea, Nuxia congesta, Schefflera abyssinica) represent Dry Afromontane
Forest (DAF).
Photographic documentation: The photographs taken on the 16.4. at Suohna must
have been taken at the beginning of the descent, near the highest part of the crest, as
they show Afroalpine vegetation, while others show the vegetation lower down, including Ericaceous bushland and grassland with species of Echinops.104
From the Semien to the small town of Addi Arkai and onwards to Massawa.
After the descent from the Semien Mountains Pichi Sermolli and Minucci headed towards Addi Arcai [Addi Arkay], which formed the end of the collecting trip, and from
where they continued to Asmara. The entire group of the Missione di Studio al Lago
Tana left Massawa on the 27th of April, 1937.
Photographic documentation without collecting: The remaining photographs taken
by Pichi Sermolli during the mission show monuments in Axum, Gondar and places
along the way back to Eritrea.105
104 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1156, 1157, 1158, 1159, in the Archivio fotografico of the
Società geografica italiana.
105 See archival font Dainelli (501), images 1163, 1164, 1165, 1166, 1167, 1168, 1169, 1170, 1171, 1172,
in the Archivio fotografico of the Società geografica italiana.
247
CHAPTER 6
Updated numerical list of Pichi Sermolli’s Ethiopian
collections from 1937
All collections made on the mission to Lake Tana are in the systematically arranged
overview of the collection in Pichi Sermolli (1951) cited with collection number, and
in a numerically arranged list at the end of the volume all the identifications can be
found. The two left-hand columns in the list in this chapter follow the model in Pichi
Sermolli (1951) in citing the collection number and the identification as it was in 1951
(in Roman and without authorities). This list can also be used to verify the modern
identification of any collection in the 1951 publication by finding the collection and
its number via its original taxonomic identification in the main part of Pichi Sermolli
(1951) and then the modern identification (italicized) in the table here. A few errors in
Pichi Sermolli (1951) are commented on in footnotes. Collections that were not identified by Pichi Sermolli (1951) and not subsequently identified are marked with asterisks (*) after the names.
Numerical list of collections from the Lake Tana expedition (ferns and fern allies specified in a subsequent list)
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
1
Alchemilla commutata
Alchemilla microbetula T.C.E. Fries
2-4
Alchemilla abyssinica
Alchemilla abyssinica Fresen.
5
Alchemilla commutata
Alchemilla microbetula T.C.E. Fries
6-7
Alchemilla abyssinica
Alchemilla abyssinica Fresen.
8
Alchemilla sessiliflora
Alchemilla microbetula T.C.E. Fries
9
Alchemilla commutata
Alchemilla microbetula T.C.E. Fries
Ib Friis, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Denmark, ibf@snm.ku.dk, 0000-0002-2438-1528
Sebsebe Demissew, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, sebseb.demissew@gmail.com, 0000-0002-0123-9596
Odile Weber, National Museum of Natural History, Luxemburg, odile.weber@mnhn.lu, 0000-0002-0861-2752
Paulo van Breugel, HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands, p.vanbreugel@gmail.com, 0000-0001-95790831
Referee List (DOI 10.36253/fup_referee_list)
FUP Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOI 10.36253/fup_best_practice)
Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew, Odile Weber, Paulo van Breugel, Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia. A new look at
Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results from the ‘Missione di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937, © 2022 Author(s), CC BY 4.0,
published by Firenze University Press, ISBN 978-88-5518-634-6 , DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-634-6
250
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
10-11
Alchemilla sp. cfr. A. fischeri
Alchemilla sp. cfr. A. fischeri*
12
Alchemilla (?) abyssinica
Alchemilla (?) abyssinica*
13
Alchemilla cryptantha
Alchemilla cryptantha A. Rich.
14
Alchemilla (?) abyssinica
Alchemilla (?) abyssinica*
15-28
Juniperus procera
Juniperus procera Endl.
29-31
Podocarpus gracilior
Podocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) Mirb.
32-36
Pennisetum schimperi
Pennisetum sphacelatum (Nees) Th. Dur. & Schinz
37-38
Beckeropsis petiolaris
Pennisetum petiolare (Hochst.) Chiov.
39-40
Beckeropsis uniseta
Pennisetum unisetum (Nees) Benth.
41
Setaria sphacelata
Setaria sphacelata (Schumach.) Moss
42
(?) Setaria incrassata
Setaria (?) incrassata*
43
Exotheca abyssinica
Exotheca abyssinica (A. Rich.) Anderss.
44
Panicum glabrescens
Panicum subalbidum Kunth
45
Brachiaria brizantha
Brachiaria brizantha (A. Rich.) Stapf
46
Oplismenus compositus
Oplismenus compositus (L.) P. Beauv.
47-48
Setaria plicatilis
Setaria megaphylla (Steud.) Th. Dur. & Schinz
49
Echinochloa stagnina
Echinochloa stagnina (Retz.) P. Beauv.
50-51
Echinochloa pyramidalis
Echinochloa pyramidalis (Lam.) Hitchc. & Chase
52
(?) Hyparrhenia variabilis
Hyparrhenia (?) variabilis*
1
Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka
53-57
Rhynchelytrum roseum
58
Digitaria abyssinica var. velutina
Digitaria abyssinica (A. Rich.) Stapf
59
Panicum maximum
Panicum maximum Jacq.
60-61
Themeda triandra var. punctata
Themeda triandra Forssk.
62-63
Hyparrhenia sp. aff. H. papillipes
Hyparrhenia sp. aff. H. papillipes*
64
(?) Hyparrhenia rufa x papillipes
Hyparrhenia (?) rufa x papillipes*
65
Hyparrhenia rufa
Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf
66
(?) Hyparrhenia umbrosa
Hyparrhenia (?) umbrosa*
67
Hyparrhenia hirta var. hirta
Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf
68
Hyparrhenia hirta
Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf
69-79
Hyparrhenia rufa
Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf
80
Hyparrhenia hirta
Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf
81
Hyparrhenia hirta var. podotricha
Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf
82-83
Exotheca abyssinica
Exotheca abyssinica (A. Rich.) Anderss.
84-89
Hyparrhenia pseudocymbaria
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf
90
Hyparrhenia cymbaria
Hyparrhenia cymbaria (L.) Stapf
1
In Pichi Sermolli (1951, p. 178-179) the specimen numbers 53-57 are named Rhynchelytrum repens (Willd.) C.E. Hubbard,
while in the numerical list on p. 277, they are referred to as Rhynchelytrum roseum. Both names are now considered synonyms
of Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka.
UPDATED NUMERICAL LIST OF PICHI SERMOLLI’S ETHIOPIAN COLLECTIONS FROM 1937
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
91-102
Hyparrhenia pseudocymbaria
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf
103
Hyparrhenia umbrosa
2
251
Hyparrhenia (?) umbrosa*
104-106
? Hyparrhenia umbrosa
Hyparrhenia (?) umbrosa*
107
Hyparrhenia sp.
Hyparrhenia sp.*
108-110
Hyparrhenia cymbaria
Hyparrhenia cymbaria (L.) Stapf
111
Hyparrhenia variabilis
Hyparrhenia variabilis Stapf
112-114
Hyparrhenia cymbaria
Hyparrhenia cymbaria (L.) Stapf
115-116
Hyparrhenia variabilis
Hyparrhenia variabilis Stapf
117-118
Hyparrhenia cymbaria
Hyparrhenia cymbaria (L.) Stapf
119
Hyparrhenia variabilis3
Hyparrhenia variabilis*
120-121
Nymphaea coerulea var. genuina
Nymphaea nouchali Burm. f. var. caerulea (Sav.) Verdc.
122-123
Nymphaea lotus
Nymphaea lotus L.
124-132
Stephania abyssinica
Stephania abyssinica (A. Rich.) Walp.
133-138
Clematis simensis
Clematis simensis Fresen.
139-141
Polygala negrii
Polygala steudneri Chod.
142
Polygala rupicola
Polygala rupicola A. Rich.
143-147
Caylusea abyssinica
Caylusea abyssinica (Fresen.) Fisch. & Mey.
148-149
Capparis persicaefolia
Capparis tomentosa Lam.
150-168
Capparis tomentosa
Capparis tomentosa Lam.
169-172
Capparis boscioides
Capparis sepiaria L. var. boscioides (Pax) Kers
173
Raphanus raphanistrum
Raphanus raphanistrum L.
174
Cardamine africana
Cardamine africana L.
175
Brassica integrifolia var. carinata
Brassica carinata A. Br.
176
Argemone mexicana
Argemone mexicana L.
177
Hypericum peplidifolium
Hypericum peplidifolium A. Rich.
178-185
Hypericum lanceolatum
Hypericum revolutum Vahl
186
Hypericum quartinianum var. roeperianum
Hypericum quartinianum A. Rich.
187-197
Hypericum quartinianum
Hypericum quartinianum A. Rich.
198-199
Sida triloba
Sida ternata L. f.
200
Hibiscus ludwigii
Hibiscus ludwigii Eckl. & Zeyh.
201-202
Pavonia kraussiana
Pavonia burchellii (DC.) Dyer
203
Abutilon bidentatum
Abutilon bidentatum (Hochst.) A. Rich.
204-208
Gossypium hirsutum
Gossypium hirsutum L.
2
3
In Pichi Sermolli (1951, p. 175), this collection is identified as Hyparrhenia umbrosa, while number 66, 104, 105 and 106 are
identified as “Hyparrhenia (?) umbrosa”; on p. 277 and 278 all these collections are identified as “? Hyparrhenia umbrosa”.
According to the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, Hyparrhenia umbrosa has not been recorded from Ethiopia.
In Pichi Sermolli (1951, p. 263), this collection is identified as Hyparrhenia variabilis, but in the numerical list on p. 278 it is
named Hyparrhenia cymbaria.
252
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
209-210
Hibiscus calyphyllus var. genuinus
Hibiscus calyphyllus Cavan.
211-215
Hibiscus diversifolius var. genuinus
Hibiscus diversifolius Jacq.
216
Hibiscus crassinervius
Hibiscus crassinervius A. Rich.
217
Hibiscus panduraeformis var. tubulosus
Hibiscus panduriformis Burm. f.
218
Hibiscus cannabinus var. verrucosus
Hibiscus cannabinus L.
219
Kosteletzkya grantii
Kosteletzkya grantii (Mast.) Garcke
220-221
Abutilon mauritianum
Abutilon mauritianum (Jacq.) Medic.
222-224
Abutilon longicuspe
Abutilon longicuspe A. Rich.
225-228
Pavonia schimperiana
Pavonia schimperiana A. Rich.
229
Sida schimperiana
Sida schimperiana A. Rich.
230-233
Dombeya multiflora var. vestita
Dombeya quinqueseta (Del.) Exell
234
Dombeya schimperiana
Dombeya torrida (J.F. Gmel.) P. Bamps
235&237
Dombeya bruceana
Dombeya torrida (J.F. Gmel.) P. Bamps
238
Sterculia tomentosa
Sterculia setigera Del.
239-244
Pittosporum abyssinicum
Pittosporum abyssinicum Del.
245
Boswellia papyrifera
Boswellia papyrifera (Del.) Hochst.
246-247
Clausena abyssinica
Clausena anisata (Willd.) Benth.
248-249
Teclea nobilis
Teclea nobilis Del.
250-251
Citrus limonia var. abyssinica
Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle
252-255
Citrus bigaradia
Citrus aurantium L.
256
Ruta chalepensis subsp. bracteosa
Ruta chalepensis L.
257-259
Geranium latistipulatum
Geranium arabicum Forssk. subsp. latistipulatum (A.
Rich.) Kokwaro
260
Geranium frigidum
Geranium arabicum Forssk. subsp. arabicum
261
Geranium simense forma typicum
Geranium arabicum Forssk. subsp. arabicum
262-263
Rotala repens
Rotala repens (Hochst.) Koehne
264-267
Grewia mollis var. petitiana
Grewia mollis A. Juss.
268-296
Grewia ferruginea
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich.
297
Sparmannia abyssinica var. concolor
Sparmannia ricinocarpa (Eckl. & Zeyh.) O. Kuntze
298-302
Triumfetta abyssinica
Triumfetta pilosa Roth
303-304
Panicum transvenulosum
Panicum monticola Hook. f.
305-306
Melinis ambigua
Melinis ambigua Hack.
307
Setaria lynesii
Setaria incrassata (Hochst.) Hack.
308
Setaria atrata
Setaria atrata Hack.
309
(?) Setaria phragmitoides
Setaria (?) phragmitoides*
310-311
Setaria lynesii
Setaria incrassata (Hochst.) Hack.
312
Cymbopogon excavatus
Cymbopogon caesius (Hook. & Arn.) Stapf
313-314
Hyparrhenia gazensis
Hyparrhenia gazensis*
315
Hyparrhenia sp. cfr. H. gazensis
Hyparrhenia sp. cfr. H. gazensis*
UPDATED NUMERICAL LIST OF PICHI SERMOLLI’S ETHIOPIAN COLLECTIONS FROM 1937
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
316
Hyparrhenia gazensis
Hyparrhenia gazensis*
317
Hyparrhenia sp.
Hyparrhenia sp.*
318-319
Hyparrhenia gazensis
Hyparrhenia gazensis*
320-322
(?) Hyparrhenia rufa x umbrosa
Hyparrhenia (?) rufa x umbrosa*
323
Hyparrhenia sp. cfr. H. gazensis
Hyparrhenia sp. cfr. H. gazensis*
324
Hyparrhenia sp.
Hyparrhenia sp.*
325
Hyparrhenia sp. cfr. H. gazensis
Hyparrhenia sp. cfr. H. gazensis*
326
Hyparrhenia sp.
Hyparrhenia sp.*
327
(?) Hyparrhenia rufa x umbrosa
Hyparrhenia (?) rufa x umbrosa*
328-329
Hyparrhenia sp.
Hyparrhenia sp.*
330
Hyparrhenia sp. cfr. H. gazensis
Hyparrhenia sp. cfr. H. gazensis*
331
(?) Hyparrhenia rufa x umbrosa
Hyparrhenia (?) rufa x umbrosa*
332
Aristida adoensis
Aristida adoensis Hochst.
253
333
(?) Pennisetum giganteum
Pennisetum (?) giganteum*
334
(?) Echinochloa pyramidalis
Echinochloa (?) pyramidalis*
335-338
Graminacea indeterminabile
Graminacea indeterminabile* [unidentifiable grasses]
339
Echinochloa pyramidalis
Echinochloa pyramidalis (Lam.) Hitchc. & Chase
340-343
Brucea antidysenterica
Brucea antidysenterica J.F. Mill.
344
Commiphora schimperi
Commiphora schimperi (Berg) Engl.
345-349
Apodytes acutifolia
Apodytes dimidiata Arn. var. acutifolia (A. Rich.)
Boutique
350-359
Ximenia americana
Ximenia americana L.
360-362
Bersama abyssinica
Bersama abyssinica Fresen.
363-364
Ekebergia rueppelliana
Ekebergia capensis Sparrm.
365-373
Hippocratea obtusifolia var. schimperiana
Hippocratea africana (Willd.) Loes. var. schimperiana (A.
Rich.) Cufod.
374
Gymnosporia laurifolia
Maytenus undata (Thunb.) Blakelock
375-382
Gymnosporia serrata var. schimperi
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek
383-389
Gymnosporia serrata var. typica
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek
390-392
Gymnosporia obscura
Maytenus obscura (A. Rich.) Cufod.
393-403
Rhoicissus erythrodes
Rhoicissus tridentata (L. f.) Wild & Drummond
404-414
Helinus mystacinus
Helinus mystacinus (Ait.) Steud.
415-418
Rhamnus prinoides
Rhamnus prinoides L’Hérit.
419-426
Zizyphus jujuba forma obliquifolia
Ziziphus abyssinica A. Rich.
427
Zizyphus mucronata
Zizyphus mucronata Willd.
428-429
Rhoicissus erythrodes
Rhoicissus tridentata (L. f.) Wild & Drummond
430-432
Cissus adenocaulis
Cyphostemma adenocaule (A. Rich.) Wild & Drummond
433-437
Cissus petiolata
Cissus petiolata Hook. f.
438
Cissus quadrangularis
Cissus quadrangularis L.
254
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
439
Ampelocissus schimperianus
Ampelocissus schimperiana (A. Rich.) Planch.
440-450
Rhus macowani
Rhus vulgaris Meikle
451
Rhus sp.
Rhus sp.[2]*
452
Rhus macowani
Rhus vulgaris Meikle
453
Rhus sp.
Rhus sp.[2]*
454-456
Rhus macowani
Rhus vulgaris Meikle
457
Rhus sp.
Rhus sp.[4]*
458
Rhus macowani
Rhus vulgaris Meikle
459
Rhus sp.
Rhus sp.[1]*
460-466
Rhus macowani
Rhus vulgaris Meikle
467-468
Rhus glutinosa
Rhus glutinosa A. Rich.
469
Rhus sp.
Rhus sp.[3]*
470
Schinus molle
Schinus molle L.
471-485
Lannea schimperi
Lannea schimperi (A. Rich.) Engl.
486
Paullinia pinnata
Paullinia pinnata L.
487
Allophylus abyssinicus
Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochst.) Radlk.
488-489
Dodonaea viscosa var. spathulata
Dodonaea angustifolia L. f.
490-496
Dodonaea viscosa var. vulgaris forma burmanniana
Dodonaea angustifolia L. f.
497-498
Dodonaea viscosa var. vulgaris forma repanda
Dodonaea angustifolia L. f.
499-500
Cardiospermum halicacabum
Cardiospermum halicacabum L.
501-508
Milletia ferruginea
Millettia ferruginea (Hochst.) Bak.
509-510
Dolichos oliveri
Dolichos oliveri Schweinf.
511-515
Dolichos lablab var. uncinatus
Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet
516-521
Erythrina tomentosa
Erythrina abyssinica DC.
522
Glycine javanica
Glycine wightii (Wight & Arn.) Verdc.
523
Cicer arietinum
Cicer arietinum L.
524-526
Alysicarpus ferrugineus
Alysicarpus ferrugineus A. Rich.
527-528
Desmodium salicifolium
Desmodium salicifolium (Poir.) DC.
529-530
Astragalus abyssinicus
Astragalus atropilosus (Hochst.) Bunge
531
Colutea istria
Colutea abyssinica Kunth & Bouché
532
Tephrosia interrupta
Tephrosia interrupta Engl.
533-535
Indigofera secundiflora
Indigofera secundiflora Poir.
536-539
Indigofera arrecta
Indigofera arrecta A. Rich.
540
Indigofera emarginella
Indigofera emarginella A. Rich.
541
Lotus brachycarpus
Lotus quinatus (Forssk.) Gillett var. brachycarpus (A.
Rich.) Gillett
542
Crotalaria spinosa
Crotalaria spinosa Benth.
UPDATED NUMERICAL LIST OF PICHI SERMOLLI’S ETHIOPIAN COLLECTIONS FROM 1937
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
543
Lotononis platycarpa var. abyssinica4
Lotononis platycarpos (Viv.) Pic. Serm.
544-552
Dichrostachys glomerata
Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn.
553-576
Cassia goratensis
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock
577
Lotus brachycarpus
Lotus quinatus (Forssk.) Gillett var. brachycarpus (A.
Rich.) Gillett
578
Lupinus termis
Lupinus albus L.
579-580
Mimosa asperata
Mimosa pigra L.
255
581
Festuca sp.
Festuca sp.*
582
Mimosa asperata
Mimosa pigra L.
583-584
Acacia nefasia
Acacia sieberiana DC. var. woodii (Burtt Davy) Keay &
Brenan
585-586
Acacia xiphocarpa
Acacia abyssinica Benth.
587-589
Acacia abyssinica
Acacia abyssinica Benth.
590
Acacia xiphocarpa
Acacia abyssinica Benth.
591
Acacia abyssinica
Acacia abyssinica Benth.
592
Acacia xiphocarpa
Acacia abyssinica Benth.
593
Acacia abyssinica
Acacia abyssinica Benth.
594
Acacia xiphocarpa
Acacia abyssinica Benth.
595
Acacia abyssinica
Acacia abyssinica Benth.
596-600
Acacia venosa
Acacia venosa Benth.
601
Acacia etbaica
Acacia etbaica Schweinf. subsp. etbaica
602-604
Acacia seyal
Acacia seyal Del.
605-606
Acacia cyanophylla
Acacia saligna (Labil.) Wendl.
607
Acacia lahai
Acacia lahai Benth.
608-619
Piliostigma thonningii
Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) Milne-Redh.
620-624
Entada abyssinica
Entada abyssinica A. Rich.
625
Vigna membranacea
Vigna membranacea A. Rich.
626-633
Calpurnia subdecandra
Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth.
634-638
Rhynchosia resinosa
Rhynchosia resinosa (A. Rich.) Bak.
639
Cajanus cajan forma bicolor
Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.
640-651
Pterolobium exosum
Pterolobium stellatum (Forssk.) Brenan
652-654
Hagenia abyssinica
Hagenia abyssinica (Bruce) J.F. Gmel.
655
Rosa sancta
Rosa x richardii Rehd.
656-664
Rosa abyssinica
Rosa abyssinica Lindl.
4
In Pichi Sermolli (1951, p. 266 and p. 283) the epithet is written “platycarpa” and the type species
of Lotononis, L. vexillata (E.H.F. Meyer) Eckl. & Zeyh., indicates that the generic name is feminine;
here we have followed the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, where the name is Lotononis platycarpos
(Viv.) Pic. Serm.
256
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
665-666
Rosa abyssinica forma microphylla/microphilla (on p.
284)
Rosa abyssinica Lindl.
667
Rubus quartinianus var. pappianus
Rubus apetalus Poir.
668
Polyscias sp.
Polyscias farinosa (Del.) Harms
669-670
Schefflera abyssinica
Schefflera abyssinica (A. Rich.) Harms
671-674
Cussonia ostinii
Cussonia ostinii Chiov.
675
Daucus carota subsp. carota
Daucus carota L.
676
Oenanthe palustris
Oenanthe palustris (Chiov.) Norman
677-678
Lefeburea abyssinica
Lefeburea abyssinica A. Rich.
679-686
Steganotaenia araliacea
Steganotaenia araliacea A. Rich.
687-692
Ferula abyssinica
Ferula communis L.
693-695
Foeniculum vulgare subsp. capillaceum
Foeniculum vulgare Miller
696-698
Diplolophium abyssinicum
Diplolophium africanum Turcz.
699-706
Heteromorpha arborescens var. abyssinica
Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham. & Schltdl.
var. abyssinica (A. Rich.) Wolff
707
Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
Hydrocotyle ranunculoides L. f.
708
Centella asiatica
Centella asiatica (L.) Urban
709-723
Terminalia schimperiana
Terminalia schimperiana Hochst.
724-738
Combretum trichanthum
Combretum molle G. Don
739
Combretum gallabatense
Combretum rochetianum A. Juss.
740-741
Combretum collinum
Combretum collinum Fresen.
742-743
Combretum richardianum
Combretum molle G. Don
744-747
Hymenodictyon kurria
Hymenodictyon floribundum (Hochst. & Steud.)
Robinson
748-750
Pentas lanceolata
Pentas lanceolata (Forssk.) Deflers
751
Pentas schimperiana
Pentas schimperiana (A. Rich.) Vatke
752
Pavetta abyssinica
Pavetta abyssinica Fresen.
753-754
Pavetta sp.
Pavetta sp.*
755
Pavetta oliveriana
Pavetta oliveriana Hiern
756-759
Pavetta sp.
Pavetta sp.*
760-761
Anthospermum pachyrrhizum / pachyrrhyzum
Anthospermum pachyrrhizum Hiern
762
Rubia discolor
Rubia cordifolia L.
763-772
Coffea arabica
Coffea arabica L.
773-775
Galium hochstetteri
Galium acrophyum Chiov.
776-780
Ranunculus oreophytus
Ranunculus oreophytus Del.
781-782
Ranunculus dertropodius
Ranunculus tembensis Fresen.
783-785
Pennisetum ramosum
Pennisetum ramosum (Hochst.) Schweinf.
786-796
Kalanchoe brachycalix
Kalanchoe lanceolata (Forssk.) Pers.
797-801
Kalanchoe crenata
Kalanchoe petitiana A. Rich.
802
Kalanchoe marmorata
Kalanchoe marmorata Baker
UPDATED NUMERICAL LIST OF PICHI SERMOLLI’S ETHIOPIAN COLLECTIONS FROM 1937
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
803
Anaphrenium abyssinicum var. latifolium
Ozoroa insignis Del.
804
Punica granatum
Punica granatum L.
805
Eucalyptus tereticornis
Eucalyptus tereticornis Smith
806
Eucalyptus globulus
Eucalyptus globulus Labill.
807
Eucalyptus rostratus
Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh.
808-817
Syzygium guineense
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC.
818
Melothria tomentosa var. parviflora
Zehneria scabra (L. f.) Sond.
819
Melothria punctata
Zehneria scabra (L. f.) Sond.
257
820
Cucumis ficifolius var. microphyllus
Cucumis ficifolius A. Rich.
821
Momordica schimperiana
Momordica foetida Schumach.
822-843
Gardenia lutea
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc.
844-845
Echinops spinosus
Echinops pappii Chiov.
846
Echinops macrochaetus
Echinops macrochaetus Fresen.
847-848
Echinops macrochaetus var. pseudo-viscosus
Echinops macrochaetus Fresen.
849
Echinops macrochaetus var. macrochaetus
Echinops macrochaetus Fresen.
850-851
Echinops chamaecephalus
Echinops hispidus Fresen.
852-853
Echinops longifolius
Echinops longifolius A. Rich.
854-857
Carthamus lanatus
Carthamus lanatus L.
858
Carthamus tinctorius
Carthamus tinctorius L.
859-860
Gerbera piloselloides
Gerbera piloselloides (L.) Cass.
861-864
Tolpis virgata
Tolpis virgata (Desf.) Bertol.
865-866
Crepis rueppellii
Crepis rueppellii Sch. Bip.
867
Laggera alata var. natalensis
Laggera alata (D. Don) Oliv.
868
Laggera alata var. alata
Laggera alata (D. Don) Oliv.
869
Laggera alata
Laggera alata (D. Don) Oliv.
870
Conyza stricta
Conyza stricta Willd.
871
Conyza schimperi
Conyza schimperi A. Rich.
872-879
Conyza pyrrhopappa
Conyza pyrrhopappa A. Rich.
880-897
Vernonia quartiniana
Vernonia congolensis De Wild. & Muschl. subsp. vernonioides (Walp.) C. Jeffrey
898-902
Vernonia amygdalina
Vernonia amygdalina Del.
903
Vernonia sp.
Vernonia sp.*
904-907
Pygeum africanum
Prunus africana (Hook. f.) Kalkm.
908-909
Prunus persica
Prunus persica (L.) Batch
910-914
Pterocephalus frutescens
Pterocephalus frutescens A. Rich.
915-917
Dipsacus pinnatifidus
Dipsacus pinnatifidus A. Rich.
918
Psiadia arabica
Psiadia punctulata (DC.) Vatke
919
Blumea lacera
Blumea axillaris (Lam.) DC.
258
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
920
Pluchea dioscoridis
Pluchea dioscoridis (L.) DC.
921
Laggera alata var. alata
Laggera alata (D. Don) Oliv.
922-926
Laggera crassifolia
Laggera crassifolia (A. Rich.) Oliv. & Hiern
927-932
Laggera pterodonta
Laggera crispata (Vahl) Hepper & Wood
933-934
Phagnalon hypoleucum
Phagnalon abyssinicum A. Rich.
935-938
Athrixia rosmarinifolia
Athrixia rosmarinifolia (Walp.) Oliv. & Hiern
939
Pulicaria undulata var. abyssinica
Pulicaria incisa (Lam.) DC.
940
Xanthium spinosum
Xanthium spinosum L.
941-946
Ethulia conyzoides
Ethulia conyzoides L. f.
947
Vernonia leopoldii
Vernonia leopoldii (Walp.) Vatke
948
Vernonia inulaefolia
Vernonia purpurea Walp.
949-952
Vernonia leopoldii
Vernonia leopoldii (Walp.) Vatke
953-956
Vernonia hochstetteri
Vernonia hochstetteri Walp.
957-964
Vernonia adoensis
Vernonia adoensis Walp.
965
Vernonia abyssinica
Vernonia schimperi DC.
966
Helichrysum horridum
Helichrysum horridum (Sch. Bip.) A. Rich.
967-973
Helichrysum abyssinicum
Helichrysum splendidum (Thunb.) Less.
974
Helichrysum formosissimum
Helichrysum formosissimum A. Rich.
975-976
Helichrysum foetidum var. microcephalum
Helichrysum foetidum (L.) Moench. var. microcephalum
A. Rich.
977-980
Helichrysum fruticosum var. fruticosum
Helichrysum forsskahlii (J.F. Gmel.) Hilliard & B.L. Burtt
981
Helichrysum fruticosum var. compactum
Helichrysum forsskahlii (J.F. Gmel.) Hilliard & B.L. Burtt
982-987
Helichrysum hochstetteri
Helichrysum stenopterum DC.
988-994
Helichrysum schimperi
Helichrysum schimperi (A. Rich.) Moeser
995
Conyza spinosa
Conyza spinosa Oliv. & Hiern
996
Sonchus bipontini
Sonchus bipontini Asch.
997
Guizotia villosa
Guizotia villosa Sch. Bip.
998-1002
Guizotia scabra
Guizotia scabra (Vis.) Chiov.
1003
Guizotia sp.
Guizotia sp.*
1004-1005 Guizotia villosa
Guizotia villosa Sch. Bip.
1006
Cirsium lanceolatum var. abyssinicum
Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten.
1007
Chrysanthemum coronarium
Chrysanthemum coronarium L.
1008
Tagetes erecta
Tagetes erecta L.
1009-1010 Galinsoga parviflora
Galinsoga parviflora Cav.
1011-1014 Landtia rueppellii
Haplocarpha rueppellii (Sch. Bip.) P. Beauv.
1015-1017 Landtia schimperi
Haplocarpha schimperi (Sch. Bip.) P. Beauv.
1018
Tripteris vaillantii
1019-1023 Gnaphalium unionis
Osteospermum vaillantii (Decne.) T. Norl.
Gnaphalium unionis Oliv. & Hiern
UPDATED NUMERICAL LIST OF PICHI SERMOLLI’S ETHIOPIAN COLLECTIONS FROM 1937
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
1024
Chiliocephalum schimperi 5
Chiliocephalum schimperi Benth.
1025-1030 Helichrysum citrispinum
Helichrysum citrispinum Del.
1031-1032 Primula simensis var. eusimensis
Primula verticillata Forssk. subsp. simensis (Hochst.)
W.W. Sm. & Forrest
1033-1034 Primula simensis var. farinosa
Primula verticillata Forssk. subsp. simensis (Hochst.)
W.W. Sm. & Forrest
1035
Ceratostigma abyssinicum (Hochst.) Asch.
Ceratostigma abyssinicum
259
1036-1038 Plumbago zeylanica
Plumbago zeylanica L.
1039-1040 Blaeria spicata
Erica tenuipilosa (Alm & T.C.E. Fries) Cheek subsp. spicata (A. Rich.) Cheek
1041-1047 Erica arborea
Erica arborea L.
1048
Campanula edulis Forssk.
Campanula quartiniana
1049
Wahlenbergia silenoides
Wahlenbergia silenoides A. Rich.
1050
Wahlenbergia pusilla
Wahlenbergia pusilla A. Rich.
1051-1053 Lightfootia abyssinica
Wahlenbergia abyssinica (A. Rich.) Thulin
1054
Sida schimperiana
Sida schimperiana A. Rich.
1055
Dianthoseris rueppellii
Launaea rueppellii (Oliv. & Hiern) Boulos
1056-1057 Dicrocephala latifolia
Dicrocephala integrifolia (L. f.) Kuntze
1058
Crassocephalum macropappum (A. Rich.) S. Moore
Senecio macropappus
1059-1061 Senecio myriocephalus
Senecio myriocephalus A. Rich.
1062-1065 Ageratum conyzoides
Ageratum conyzoides L.
1066
Cotula anthemoides
Cotula anthemoides L.
1067
Bidens pilosa var. minor
Bidens pilosa L.
1068-1071 Syzygium guineense
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC.
1072-1093 Mimusops kummel
Mimusops kummel A. DC.
1094-1095 Rapanea simensis
Myrsine melanophloeos (L.) R. Br.
1096-1100 Maesa lanceolata
Maesa lanceolata Forssk.
1101-1109 Myrsine africana
Myrsine africana L.
1110-1120 Albizzia schimperiana
Albizia schimperiana Oliv.
1121-1135 Maba abyssinica
Diospyros abyssinica (Hiern) F. White
1136-1147 Euclea kellau
Euclea racemosa Murray subsp. schimperi (A. DC.) F.
White
1148-1152 Jasminum abyssinicum
Jasminum abyssinicum DC.
5
In Pichi Sermolli (1951, p. 159) specimen number 1937 is said to be a collection of Chiliocephalum schimperi Benth., collected on M. Jesus Tabor, m. 3050, 22.3., while on p. 180 the same specimen number is said to represent a collection of Loudetia
arundinacea (Hochst.) Steud., from Birghida Mariam (isola presso Gorgora), m. 1,825, 7.3. On p. 288, n. 1024, which does
not occur in the main part of the book, is indicated as Chiliocephalum schimperi, while, on p. 297, no. 1937 is indicated as
Loudetia arundinacea. In this work we use the numbering, n. 1024, from the numerical sequence of specimen numbers on p.
288 and 297.
260
Number
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
1153-1171 Jasminum floribundum
Jasminum grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum (Fresen.)
P.S. Green
1172-1181 Olea chrysophylla
Olea europaea L. subsp. cuspidata (G. Don) Cif.
1182-1185 Schrebera alata
Schrebera alata (Hochst.) Welw.
1186
Eriosema robustum Bak.
Eriosema robustum
1187-1195 Albizzia pallida
Albizia malacophylla (A. Rich.) Walp.
1196
Carissa edulis var. cornifolia
Carissa spinarum L.
1197
Carissa edulis
Carissa spinarum L.
1198-1201 Carissa edulis var. tomentosa
Carissa spinarum L.
1202-1216 Carissa edulis
Carissa spinarum L.
1217
Carissa edulis var. tomentosa
Carissa spinarum L.
1218-1222 Carissa edulis
Carissa spinarum L.
1223
Hyparrhenia cymbaria (L.) Stapf
Hyparrhenia cymbaria
1224-1234 Lachnopylis congesta
Nuxia congesta Fresen.
1235
Echinopsis sp.*
Echinopsis sp.
1236-1240 Tacazzea venosa
Tacazzea venosa Decne.
1241
Marsdenia schimperi
Dregea schimperi (Decne.) Bullock
1242
Asclepias albida
Gomphocarpus purpurascens A. Rich.
1243-1245 Asclepias abyssinica
Gomphocarpus abyssinicus Decne.
1246-1253 Kanahia laniflora
Kanahia laniflora (Forssk.) R. Br.
1254-1269 Cordia abyssinica
Cordia africana Lam.
1270-1272 Ehretia abyssinica
Ehretia cymosa Thonn.
1273
Heliotropium supinum
Heliotropium supinum L.
1274
Heliotropium cinerascens
Heliotropium cinerascens DC. & A. DC.
1275
Cynoglossum lanceolatum var. eu-lanceolatum
1276-1279 Trichodesma zeylanicum subsp. euzelanicum var. vulgare forma typicum
1280
Strychnos unguacha var. typica
Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forssk.
Trichodesma zeylanicum (Burm. f.) R. Br.
Strychnos innocua Del.
1281-1288 Buddleja polystachya
Buddleja polystachya Fresen.
1289-1294 Verbascum sinaiticum
Verbascum sinaiticum Benth.
Striga hermonthica
Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth.
1296-1297 Striga gesnerioides
Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke
1298
Buchnera longifolia
Buchnera hispida Buch.-Ham.
1299
Linaria elatine
Kickxia elatine (L.) Dumort. subsp. crinita (Mabil.) W.
Greuter
1300
Discopodium penninervium
1295
Discopodium penninervium Hochst.
1301-1302 Datura stramonium
Datura stramonium L.
1303-1304 Nicandra physaloides
Nicandra physaloides (L.) Gaertn.
1305
Withania somnifera var. communis
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal
1306
Convolvulus sagittatus var. linearifolius
Convolvulus sagittatus Thunb.
UPDATED NUMERICAL LIST OF PICHI SERMOLLI’S ETHIOPIAN COLLECTIONS FROM 1937
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
1307-1309 Convolvulus sagittatus var. abyssinicus
Convolvulus sagittatus Thunb.
1310-1329 Ipomoea palmata
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet
1330
Ipomoea eriocarpa
Ipomoea eriocarpa R. Br.
1331-1336 Ipomoea tenuirostris
Ipomoea tenuirostris Choisy
1337
Merremia pterygocaules
Merremia pterygocaulos (Choisy) Hall. f.
1338
Justicia leikipiensis
Justicia ladanoides Lam.
1339-1341 Hygrophyla spiciformis
Hygrophila spiciformis Lindau
1342-1343 Hypoestes triflora
Hypoestes triflora (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult.
1344-1347 Phaulopsis imbricata
Phaulopsis imbricata (Forssk.) Sweet
1348-1352 Phaulopsis inaequalis
Phaulopsis imbricata (Forssk.) Sweet
1353
Dyschoriste multicaulis
Dyschoriste multicaulis (A. Rich.) O. Kuntze
1354-1355 Dyschoriste perrottetii
Dyschoriste nagchana (Nees) Bennett
1356-1357 Nelsonia brunelloides
Nelsonia canescens (Lam.) Spreng.
1358
Hygrophila asteracanthoides
261
Hygrophila asteracanthoides Lindau
1359-1365 Hygrophila longifolia
Hygrophila schulli (Hamilt.) M.R. & S.M. Almeida
1366-1384 Stereospermum kunthianum
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham.
1385-1391 Leonotis velutina var. rugosa
Leonotis ocymifolia (Burm. f.) Iwarsson var. raineriana
(Vis.) Iwarsson
1392-1396 Leonotis velutina var. velutina
Leonotis ocymifolia (Burm. f.) Iwarsson var. raineriana
(Vis.) Iwarsson
1397-1398 Lasiocorys stachydiformis
Leucas stachydiformis (Benth.) Briq.
1399
Leucas urticifolia
Leucas urticifolia (Vahl) Sm.
1400-1401 Otostegia repanda
Otostegia fruticosa (Forssk.) Schweinf.
1402
Salvia nilotica Jacq.
Salvia nilotica
1403
Salvia merjamie
Salvia merjamie Forssk.
1404
Meriandra bengalensis
Meriandra dianthera (Roem. & Schult.) Briq.
1405
Satureja punctata var. punctata
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq.
1406
Satureja abyssinica
Satureja abyssinica (Benth.) Briq.
1407
Pycnostachys abyssinica
Pycnostachys abyssinica Fresen.
1408
Coleus comosus
Plectranthus ornatus Codd
1409-1410 Coleus barbatus
Plectranthus barbatus Andrews
1411
Becium grandiflorum
Becium grandiflorum (Lam.) Pic. Serm.
1412
Becium affine
Becium obovatum (Benth.) N.E. Br.
1413-1415 Ocimum basilicum var. anisatum
Ocimum basilicum L.
1416-1417 Lantana trifolia
Lantana trifolia L.
1418-1429 Lippia adoensis
Lippia adoensis Walp.
1430
Clerodendron cordifolium
Clerodendrum umbellatum Poir.
1431
Hebenstreitia dentata var. integrifolia
Hebenstreitia angolensis Rolfe
1432
Hebenstreitia dentata
Hebenstreitia angolensis Rolfe
262
Number
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
1433-1438 Achyranthes aspera
Achyranthes aspera L. var. pubescens (Moq.) C.C.
Townsend
1439
Achyranthes aspera L. var. pubescens (Moq.) C.C.
Townsend
Achyranthes argentea var. virgata
1440-1444 Achyranthes argentea
Achyranthes aspera L. var. sicula L.
1445
Cyathula uncinulata var. uncinulata
Cyathula uncinulata (Schrad.) Schinz
1446-1447 Cyathula uncinulata/globulifera var. abyssinica6
Cyathula uncinulata (Schrad.) Schinz
1448-1450 Celosia trigyna
Celosia trigyna L.
1451-1452 Plantago lanceolata var. communis subvar. eurhiza
Plantago lanceolata L.
1453-1454 Plantago lanceolata var. dubia subvar. eudubia
Plantago lanceolata L.
1455
Plantago lanceolata L.
Plantago lanceolata var. dubia subvar. hirsuta
1456-1470 Satureja punctata var. rigida7
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq.
1471-1478 Otostegia integrifolia
Otostegia integrifolia Benth.
1479-1489 Hypoestes forskalei
Hypoestes forskaolii (Vahl) R. Br.
1490-1491 Dicliptera micranthes
Dicliptera verticillata (Forssk.) C. Chr.
1492-1497 Dicliptera maculata
Dicliptera maculata Nees
1498
Dicliptera maculata Nees
Dicliptera maculata forma albolanata
1499-1512 Adhatoda schimperiana
Justicia schimperiana (Nees) T. Anders.
1513-1514 Monechma affine
Monechma debile (Forssk.) Nees
1515-1526 Barleria ventricosa
Barleria ventricosa Nees
1527-1528 Lepidagathis radicalis
Lepidagathis hamiltoniana Wall. subsp. collina (Endl.)
J.K. Morton
1529-1530 Ruttya speciosa
Ruttya speciosa (Hochst.) Engl.
1531-1539 Gnidia involucrata
Gnidia involucrata A. Rich.
1540-1545 Polygonum barbatum var. vulgare
Persicaria setosula (A. Rich.) K. Wilson
1546-1560 Rumex nervosus
Rumex nervosus Vahl
1561
Rumex steudeli
Rumex nepalensis Spreng.
1562
Rumex abyssinicus
Rumex abyssinicus Jacq.
1563
Polygonum plebeium
Polygonum plebeium R. Br.
1564
Polygonum sp.
Polygonum sp.*
1565
Scleranthus annuus
Scleranthus annuus L.
1566
Phytolacca dodecandra var. apiculata
Phytolacca dodecandra L’Hérit.
1567-1577 Phytolacca dodecandra
Phytolacca dodecandra L’Hérit.
1578
Chenopodium opulifolium
Chenopodium opulifolium Koch & Ziz.
1579
Alternanthera nodiflora
Alternanthera nodiflora R. Br.
6
7
In Pichi Sermolli (1951, p. 270), specimen number 1446 is named Cyathula globulifera Moq. var. abyssinica Moq, while on p.
37, on p. 275 and on p. 293, it is named Cyathula uncinulata var. abyssinica, which is a new combination made on p. 37.
In Pichi Sermolli (1951, p. 125) n. 1456-1463, 1465-1467 and 1469-1470 are named Satureja punctata var rigida, on p. 253,
n. 1464 and 1468 are identified with the same name, which is also used for all the numbers 1456-1470 on p. 293.
UPDATED NUMERICAL LIST OF PICHI SERMOLLI’S ETHIOPIAN COLLECTIONS FROM 1937
263
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
1580
Viscum nervosus var. angustifolium
Viscum triflorum DC. subsp. nervosum (A. Rich.) M.G.
Gilbert
1581-1587 Viscum tuberculatum
Viscum tuberculatum A. Rich.
1588-1594 Protea gaguedi
Protea gaguedi J.F. Gmel.
1595-1598 Loranthus globiferus var. salicifolius
Tapinanthus globiferus (A. Rich.) Tiegh.
1599-1608 Loranthus regularis
Phragmanthera regularis (Sprague) M.G. Gilbert
1609-1610 Loranthus heteromorphus
Tapinanthus heteromorphus (A. Rich.) Danser
1611-1615 Loranthus acaciae
Plicosepalus acaciae (Zucc.) Wiens & Polhill
1616-1634 Osyris abyssinica
Osyris quadripartita Decne.
1635-1637 Osyridocarpus schimperianus
Osyridocarpus schimperianus (A. Rich.) A. DC.
1638-1656 Croton macrostachys
Croton macrostachyus Del.
1657
Euphorbia ampliphylla Pax
Euphorbia obovalifolia
1658-1659 Euphorbia controversa
1660
Euphorbia dilatata
Euphorbia abyssinica Gmel.
Euphorbia schimperiana Scheele
1661-1662 Euphorbia nubica
Euphorbia nubica N.E. Br.
1663-1675 Ficus thonningii
Ficus thonningii Bl.
1676-1677 Myrica salicifolia
Myrica salicifolia A. Rich.
1678-1685 Celtis kraussiana
Celtis africana Burm. f.
1686
Croton macrostachyus Del.
Croton macrostachys
1687-1688 Tragia mitis
Tragia mitis Muell. Arg.
1689-1692 Tragia pungens
Tragia cinerea (Pax) M.G. Gilbert & Radcl.-Smith
1693-1694 Sapium ellipticum
Sapium ellipticum (Krauss) Pax
1695-1696 Chrozophora plicata var. obliquifolia
Chrozophora plicata (Vahl) A. Juss.
1697
Andrachne aspera Spreng.
Andrachne aspera
1698-1699 Ricinus communis var. genuinus forma macrophyllus
Ricinus communis L.
1700-1702 Ricinus communis var. africanus forma subviridis
Ricinus communis L.
1703
Ricinus communis var. megalospermus forma pruinosus Ricinus communis L.
1704-1715 Ficus vasta
Ficus vasta Forssk.
1716-1723 Ficus ingens
Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq.
1724
Ficus sur Forssk.
Ficus riparia
1725-1726 Ficus glumosa var. glaberrima
Ficus glumosa Del.
1727-1729 Ficus dahro
Ficus vasta Forssk.
1730-1731 Ficus palmata
Ficus palmata Forssk.
1732-1733 Pistia stratiotes var. cuneata
Pistia stratiotes L.
1734
Typha latifolia L.
Typha latifolia subsp. eu-latifolia var. elatior
1735-1736 Vallisneria spiralis
1737
Ottelia lancifolia
Vallisneria spiralis L.
Ottelia ulvifolia (Planch.) Walp.
1738-1739 Ceratophyllum demersum
Ceratophyllum demersum L.
1740-1743 Salix subserrata
Salix subserrata Willd.
264
Number
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
1744-1745 Urera hypselodendron
Urera hypselodendron (A. Rich.) Wedd.
1746
Pistia stratiotes L.
Pistia stratiotes var. cuneata
1747-1750 Sauromatum nubicum
Sauromatum venosum (Ait.) Kunth
1751
Colocasia esculenta
Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott
1752
Commelina pyrrhoblepharis
Commelina benghalensis L.
1753
Commelina bengalensis
Commelina benghalensis L.
1754-1755 Albuca hysterantha
Albuca abyssinica Jacq.
1756
Drimia altissima (L. f.) Ker-Gawl.
Urginea micrantha
1757-1758 Kniphofia foliosa
Kniphofia foliosa Hochst.
1759-1763 Aloe macrocarpa var. major
Aloe macrocarpa Tod.
1764
Asparagus racemosus Willd.
Asparagus racemosus
1765-1769 Asparagus asiaticus var. asiaticus8
Asparagus africanus Lam.
1770
Dioscorea quartiniana A. Rich.
Dioscorea quartiniana
1771-1773 Dioscorea schimperiana
Dioscorea schimperiana Kunth
1774
Dioscorea abyssinica Kunth
Dioscorea abyssinica
1775-1777 Haemanthus multiflorus
1778
Musa ensete
1779-1870 PTEROPSIDA
Scadoxus multiflorus (Martyn) Raf.
Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheeseman
PTEROPSIDA
This group is not dealt with in Pichi Sermolli (1951)
and not represented in the Centro Studi Erbario tropicale (FT); see separate partial list in the section termed
“Ferns and fern allies not in Pichi Sermolli (1951)” in this
chapter.
1871
Cymbopogon sp.
Cymbopogon sp.*
1872
Crinipes abyssinica
Crinipes abyssinicus (A. Rich.) Hochst.
1873
Oryza perennis
Oryza longistaminata A. Chev. & Roehr.
1874
Bromus cognatus
Bromus leptoclados Nees
1875-1879 Chloris gayana
Chloris gayana Kunth
1880
Aira caryophyllea var. latigluma
Aira caryophyllea L.
1881
Eragrostis sp.
Eragrostis sp.*
1882
Cynodon dactylon
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.
1883
Cynodon dactylon (?)
Cynodon dactylon?*
1884-1889 Cynodon dactylon
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.
1890-1891 Cynodon dactylon / (?)9
Cynodon dactylon?*
8
9
In Pichi Sermolli (1951, p. 194) these collections are named as Asparagus asiaticus var. asiaticus, on p. 296 only as Asparagus
asiaticus.
In Pichi Sermolli (1951, p. 181), n. 1890 is named as Cynodon dactylon, while n. 1891 on the same page is named as Cynodon
dactylon (?); on p. 297 both n. 1890 and 1891 are named as Cynodon (?) dactylon.
UPDATED NUMERICAL LIST OF PICHI SERMOLLI’S ETHIOPIAN COLLECTIONS FROM 1937
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
1892
Themeda triandra10
Themeda triandra Forssk.
1893
Agrostis quinqueseta + Festuca sp.
Agrostis quinqueseta+Festuca sp.*
1894
Deschampsia caespitosa var. latifolia
Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv.
1895
Pentaschistis sp. aff. P. trisetoides
Pentaschistis sp. aff. P. trisetoides*
1896
Agrostis sclerophylla
Agrostis sclerophylla C.E. Hubb.
1897
Koeleria cristata var. convoluta
Koeleria capensis (Steud.) Nees
1898
Agrostis sclerophylla
Agrostis sclerophylla C.E. Hubb.
1899
Poa sp. aff. P. leptoclada
Poa sp. aff. P. leptoclada*
1900
Bromus sp.
Bromus sp.*
1901
Agrostis sclerophylla
Agrostis sclerophylla C.E. Hubb.
1902
Poa sp. aff. P. leptoclada
Poa sp. aff. P. leptoclada*
1903
Agrostis quinqueseta ?
Agrostis quinqueseta?*
1904
Koeleria cristata var. convoluta
Koeleria capensis (Steud.) Nees
1905
Pentaschistis pictigluma
Pentaschistis pictigluma (Steud.) Pilg.
1906
Festuca sp. (F. macrophylla ?)
Festuca (?) macrophylla*
1907
Festuca macrophylla ?
Festuca (?) macrophylla*
1908
Koeleria cristata var. convoluta
Koeleria capensis (Steud.) Nees
1909
? Festuca schimperiana / Festuca cfr. schimperiana
Festuca sp. cfr. F. schimperiana*
1910
Pentaschistis pictigluma ?
Pentaschistis pictigluma?*
1911
Agrostis quinqueseta ?
Agrostis quinqueseta?*
1912
Pentaschistis pictigluma
Pentaschistis pictigluma (Steud.) Pilg.
1913
? Festuca schimperiana11
Festuca (?) schimperiana*
1914
Festuca sp.
Festuca sp.*
1915
Koeleria cristata var. convoluta
Koeleria capensis (Steud.) Nees
1916
Poa sp. nov.?
Poa sp. nov.?*
1917-1919 Koeleria cristata var. convoluta
Koeleria capensis (Steud.) Nees
1920
Pentaschistis sp.
Pentaschistis sp.*
1921
Pentaschistis pictigluma
Pentaschistis pictigluma (Steud.) Pilg.
1922-1923 Festuca sp.
Festuca sp.*
1924
Festuca (?) rigidula*
? Festuca rigidula
1925-1926 Pentaschistis pictigluma
Pentaschistis pictigluma (Steud.) Pilg.
1927
Bromus sp.
Bromus sp.*
1928
Koeleria cristata var. convoluta
Koeleria capensis (Steud.) Nees
265
10 In Pichi Sermolli (1951), on p. 237 specimen number 1892 is named Themeda triandra Forssk. var. hispida Stapf, while on p.
297 it is named Themeda triandra without indication of infraspecific taxon.
11 In Pichi Sermolli (1951, p. 240) a collection of from “Versante occidentale di M. Selchi, m. 4,200 circa, 10.4.” is given the
specimen number 1915; this must be an error for 1913, which is the number given for a collection of “? Festuca schimperiana”
on p. 297.
266
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
1929
Agrostis sclerophylla
Agrostis sclerophylla C.E. Hubb.
1930
Pentaschistis pictigluma
Pentaschistis pictigluma (Steud.) Pilg.
1931
Bromus sp.
Bromus sp.*
1932
Agrostis sp.
Agrostis sp.*
1933
Pentaschistis pictigluma
Pentaschistis pictigluma (Steud.) Pilg.
1934
? Festuca macrophylla (p. 239) / Festucas sp. (p. 297)
Festuca sp.*
1935
? Festuca macrophylla
Festuca (?) macrophylla*
1936
Juncus bufonius
1937-1939 Loudetia arundinacea var. arundinacea
Juncus bufonius L.
12
Loudetia arundinacea (A. Rich.) Steud.
1940-1941 Loudetia arundinacea var. hensii (p. 180) / var. trichan- Loudetia arundinacea (A. Rich.) Steud.
tha (p. 297)13
1942-1951 Arundo donax
Arundo donax L.
1952
Cyperus cyperoides (L.) Kuntze
Cyperus cyperoides
1953-1956 Cyperus papyrus subsp. antiquorum
Cyperus papyrus L.
1957-1958 Cyperus dives
Cyperus dives Del.
1959-1962 Cyperus longus subsp. badius
Cyperus longus L.
1963-1967 Cyperus fischerianus
Cyperus fischerianus A. Rich.
1968
Coleochloa abyssinica var. abyssinica
Coleochloa abyssinica (A. Rich.) Gilly
1969
Coleochloa abyssinica var. castanea
Coleochloa abyssinica (A. Rich.) Gilly
1970-1977 PTEROPSIDA
PTEROPSIDA
This group is not dealt with in Pichi Sermolli (1951)
and not represented in the Centro studi Erbario tropicale (FT); see separate partial list in the section termed
“Ferns and fern allies not in Pichi Sermolli (1951)” in this
chapter.
1978-1979 Potamogeton schweinfurthii
Potamogeton schweinfurthii A. Benn.
1980
Bulbostylis trifida
Bulbostylis densa (Wall.) Hand.-Mazz. subsp. afromontana (Lye) R. Haines
1981
Bulbostylis holotricha
Bulbostylis pusilla (A. Rich.) C.B. Cl. subsp. congolensis
(De Wild.) R. Haines
1982-1983 Cyperus morandinii
Cyperus penzoanus Pic. Serm.
1984
Cyperus digitatus subsp. auricomus
Cyperus digitatus Roxb. subsp. auricomus (Spreng.) Kük.
1985
Cyperus morandinii
Cyperus penzoanus Pic. Serm.
1986
Cyperus penzoanus
Cyperus penzoanus Pic. Serm.
12 In Pichi Sermolli (1951, p. 159) specimen number 1937 is said to be a collection of Chiliocephalum schimperi Benth., collected on M. Jesus Tabor, m. 3,050, 22.3., while on p. 180 the same specimen number is said to be a collection of Loudetia
arundinacea (Hochst.) Steud., from Birghida Mariam (isola presso Gorgora), m. 1825, 7.3. On p. 288, n. 1024, which does
not occur in the main part of the book, is indicated as Chiliocephalum schimperi, while, on p. 297, no. 1937 is indicated as
Loudetia arundinacea. In this work we use the numbering from the numerical sequence of specimen numbers, p. 288 and
297, and n. 1937 is assumed to be a specimen of Loudetia arundinacea.
13 On p. 180 Loudetia arundinacea var. trichantha (Peter) Hutch. is listed as a synonym of Loudetia arundinacea var. hensii (De
Wild.) C.E. Hubb., while on p. 297 the name is var trichantha.
UPDATED NUMERICAL LIST OF PICHI SERMOLLI’S ETHIOPIAN COLLECTIONS FROM 1937
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
1987-1992 Amorphophallus gomboczianus
Amorphophallus gomboczianus Pic. Serm.
1993-2003 Phoenix abyssinica
Phoenix reclinata Jacq.
2004
Commelina nudiflora var. werneana
Commelina diffusa Burm. f.
2005
Commelina pyrrhoblepharis forma glabra
Commelina benghalensis L.
2006
Commelina pyrrhoblepharis
Commelina benghalensis L.
2007
Urginea indica
Drimia indica (Roxb.) Jessop
2008
Urginea simensis
Drimia simensis (Hochst.) Stedje
2009
Cerastium caespitosum var. simense
Cerastium octandrum A. Rich.
2010
Dracaena steudneri
Dracaena steudneri Engl.
2011
Cerastium caespitosum var. simense.
Cerastium octandrum A. Rich.
2012-2016 Dracaena steudneri
Dracaena steudneri Engl.
2017
Kniphofia densiflora
Kniphofia foliosa Hochst.
2018
Kniphofia foliosa
Kniphofia foliosa Hochst.
2019-2020 Aloe sp. cfr. A. aethiopica
Aloe steudneri Schweinf.
2021-2022 Aloe sp. cfr. A. abyssinica
Aloe sp. cfr. A. abyssinica*
2023
Aloe sp. cfr. A. eru*
Aloe sp. cfr. A. eru
2024
Aloe sp. cfr. A. abyssinica
Aloe sp. cfr. A. abyssinica*
2025
Lippia adoensis
Lippia adoensis Walp.
2026-2029 Asparagus asiaticus var. amharicus
Asparagus africanus Lam.
2030
Hyparrhenia sp.
Hyparrhenia sp.*
2031
Pimpinella hirtella
Pimpinella hirtella (Hochst.) A. Rich.
2032
Celsia scrophulariifolia subsp. foliosa
Rhabdotosperma scrophulariifolia (A. Rich.) Hartl
2033
Ipomoea eriocarpa
Ipomoea eriocarpa R. Br.
2034
Indeterminabile
Indeterminabile* [unidentifiable]
2035
Rhamnus prinoides
Rhamnus prinoides L’Hérit.
2036
Vangueria sp.
Vangueria sp.*
2037
Ximenia americana
Ximenia americana L.
Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr.
2038-2042 Flacourtia afra
2043
Indeterminabile
Indeterminabile* [unidentifiable]
2044
Flacourtia afra
Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr.
2045
Indeterminabile
Indeterminabile* [unidentifiable]
2046
Premna viburnoides var. schimperi
Premna schimperi Engl.
2047-2049 Indeterminabile
2050
? Maesa lanceolata
2051
Pavetta sp.
267
Indeterminabile* [unidentifiable]
14
Maesa lanceolata Forssk.
Pavetta sp.*
14 On p. 108 in Pichi Sermolli (1951) specimen number 2050 is named as Maesa lanceolata and collected in the same locality as
n. 1098, which is certainly that species, but n. 2050 is not identified with absolute certainty, as the specimen is sterile; in the
numerical list on p. 299 the specimen number is named as ? Maesa lanceolata.
268
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
2052
Gymnosporia serrata var. schimperi
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek
2053
Combretum (?) gallabatense
Combretum (?) gallabatense*
2054
Dombeya bruceana
Dombeya torrida (J.F. Gmel.) P. Bamps
2055
Boerhaavia pentandra
Commicarpus grandiflorus (A. Rich.) Standl.
2056
Indeterminabile
Indeterminabile* [unidentifiable]
2057
Jambosa jambos
Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston
2058
Teclea nobilis
Teclea nobilis Del.
2059
Linociera latipetala
Chionanthus mildbraedii (Gilg & Schellenb.) Stearn
2060-2061 Syzygium guineense
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC.
2062-2063 Indeterminabile
Indeterminabile* [unidentifiable]
2064
Flacourtia afra
Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr.
2065
Festuca sp.
Festuca sp.*
2066-2067 Tristicha trifaria
Tristicha trifaria (Willd.) Spreng.
2068
Agrostis sp.
Agrostis sp.*
2069
Satureja ovata var. cinereo-tomentosa
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. subsp. ovata (Benth.)
Seybold
2070
Pulicaria undulata var. abyssinica
Pulicaria incisa (Lam.) DC.
2071
Pentaschistis pictigluma
Pentaschistis pictigluma (Steud.) Pilg.
2072
? Festuca rigidula (p. 240) /Festuca rigidula (p. 299)15
Festuca (?) rigidula*
2073
Rhoicissus erythrodes
Rhoicissus tridentata (L. f.) Wild & Drummond
2074
Datura stramonium
Datura stramonium L.
2075
Agrostis quinqueseta + Festuca sp.
Agrostis quinqueseta+Festuca sp.*
2076
Pentaschistis pictigluma
Pentaschistis pictigluma (Steud.) Pilg.
2077
Hygrophila asteracantoides
Hygrophila asteracanthoides Lindau
2078-2082 Plumbago zeylanica
Plumbago zeylanica L.
2083
Origanum majorana L.
Majorana hortensis
2084-2085 Indeterminabile
Indeterminabile* [unidentifiable]
2086-2088 Sopubia ramosa
Sopubia ramosa (Hochst.) Hochst.
2089
Indeterminabile
Indeterminabile* [unidentifiable]
2090
Linociera (?) latipetala
Linociera (?) latipetala*
2091-2092 Indeterminabile
Indeterminabile* [unidentifiable]
2093-2094 Sagina abyssinica
Sagina abyssinica A. Rich.
2095
Dicliptera laxata C.B. Cl.
Dicliptera laxata
2096
Otostegia repanda
Otostegia fruticosa (Forssk.) Schweinf.
2097
Hypoestes busii
Hypoestes triflora (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult.
2098-2099 Brillantaisia grottanellii
Brillantaisia grottanellii Pic. Serm.
15 On p. 240 in Pichi Sermolli (1951) all cited collections are named with doubt as ? Festuca rigidula; on p. 299 n. 2072 is named
as Festuca rigidula.
UPDATED NUMERICAL LIST OF PICHI SERMOLLI’S ETHIOPIAN COLLECTIONS FROM 1937
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
2100-2115 Acanthus (?) polystachius
Acanthus polystachius Del.
2116-2123 Acanthus sennii
Acanthus sennii Chiov.
2124
Blepharis maderaspatensis (L.) Roth
Blepharis maderaspatensis var. abyssinica
269
2125-2127 Dyschoriste broiloi
Dyschoriste multicaulis (A. Rich.) O. Kuntze
2128
Ipomoea sp.
Ipomoea sp.*
2129
Echium plantagineum
Echium plantagineum L.
2130
Asclepiadaceae indeterminabile
Asclepiadaceae indeterminabile* [unidentifiable species
of Asclepiadaceae]
2131
? Tacazzea apiculata
Tacazzea (?) apiculata*
2132-2134 lndeterminabile
Indeterminabile* [unidentifiable]
2135-2137 Tacazzea apiculata
Tacazzea apiculata Oliv.
2138
Centaurea melitensis
Centaurea melitensis L.
2139
Artemisia rehan
Artemisia absinthium L.
2140
Bidens chaetodonta var. glabrior
Bidens camporum (Hutch.) Mesfin
2141-2142 Bidens setigera var. abyssinica
Bidens setigera (Walp.) Sherff
2143
Lactuca inermis Forssk.
Lactuca capensis
2144
Lactuca sp.
Lactuca sp.*
2145
Lactuca taraxacifolia
Launaea taraxacifolia (Willd.) C. Jeffrey
2146-2147 Lactuca capensis
2148
Lactuca abyssinica
2149-2155 Lactuca capensis
Lactuca inermis Forssk.
Lactuca inermis Forssk.
Lactuca inermis Forssk.
2156
Lactuca pseudoabyssinica
Launaea pseudoabyssinica (Chiov.) Kilian
2157
Crepis rueppellii
Crepis rueppellii Sch. Bip.
2158-2159 Guizotia sp.
2160
Guizotia (?) villosa
Guizotia sp.*
Guizotia (?) villosa*
2161-2164 Guizotia sp.
Guizotia sp.*
2165
Guizotia villosa Sch. Bip.
Guizotia villosa
2166-2167 Guizotia sp.
Guizotia sp.*
2168-2169 Echinops hoffmannianus
Echinops longisetus A. Rich.
2170-2173 Echinops giganteus
Echinops giganteus A. Rich.
2174
Echinops nistrii
Echinops giganteus A. Rich.
2175
Echinops francinianus
Echinops giganteus A. Rich.
2176-2177 Laggera braunii
Laggera braunii Vatke
2178-2179 Antithrixia abyssinica
Macowania ericifolia (Forssk.) B.L. Burtt & Grau
2180
Vernonia unionis Walp.
Vernonia unionis
2181-2182 lndeterminabile
Indeterminabile* [unidentifiable]
2183
Probab. Bignoniaceae
Bignoniaceae, probab.*
2184
Ritchiea steudneri
Ritchiea albersii Gilg
2185
lndeterminabile
Indeterminabile* [unidentifiable]
270
Number
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
2186-2187 Asclepiadaceae ?
Asclepiadaceae?*
2188
Indeterminabile* [unidentifiable]
lndeterminabile
2189-2190 Linociera latipetala
Chionanthus mildbraedii (Gilg & Schellenb.) Stearn
2191
Jacaranda mimosifolia
Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don
2192
Lagenaria vulgare
Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.
2193
Tacazzea conferta
Tacazzea conferta N.E. Br.
2194
? Festuca rigidula (p. 240) /Festuca rigidula (p. 300)16
Festuca (?) rigidula*
2195
Tacazzea conferta
Tacazzea conferta N.E. Br.
2196-2197 Jussiaea pilosa
Ludwigia leptocarpa (Nutt.) H. Hara
2198
Lepidotrichilia volkensii (Gürke) Leroy
Trichilia volkensii var. buchanani
2199
lndeterminabile
Indeterminabile* [unidentifiable]
2200
Oxalis corniculata var. corniculata
Oxalis corniculata L.
2201
lndeterminabile
Indeterminabile* [unidentifiable]
2202-2204 Celastraceae ?
Celastraceae?*
2205
Oxalis corniculata var. corniculata
Oxalis corniculata L.
2206
Scabiosa columbaria
Scabiosa columbaria L.
2207-2209 Vangueria sp.
Vangueria sp.*
2210-2211 Oxyanthus speciosus
Oxyanthus speciosus DC.
2212-2216 Rothmannia urcelliformis
Rothmannia urcelliformis (Hiern) Robyns
2217
? Festuca schimperiana
Festuca (?) schimperiana*
2218
Pentas lanceolata
Pentas lanceolata (Forssk.) Deflers
2219
Heracleum abyssinicum
Heracleum abyssinicum (Boiss.) Norman
2220
Cucurbitacea indeterminabile
Cucurbitacea indeterminabile* [unidentifiable species of
Cucurbitaceae]
2221
Melothria ciprianii
Zehneria scabra (L. f.) Sond.
2222
Indigofera alboglandulosa
Indigofera atriceps Hook. f.
2223-2227 Cassia petersiana
Senna petersiana (Bolle) Lock
2228-2229 Crotalaria lachnocarpoides
Crotalaria lachnocarpoides Engl.
2230
Lotus mearnsi
Lotus schoelleri Schweinf.
2231
Crotalaria hyssopifolia
Crotalaria hyssopifolia Klotzsch
2232
Acacia seyal
Acacia seyal Del.
2233-2234 Acacia seyal ?
Acacia seyal?*
2235-2241 Acacia seyal
Acacia seyal Del.
2242-2243 Acacia negrii
Acacia negrii Pic. Serm.
2245
Acacia bavazzanoi
Acacia bavazzanoi Pic. Serm.
2246
Acacia xiphocarpa
Acacia abyssinica Benth.
16 In Pichi Sermolli (1951, p. 240) all cited collections are named with doubt as ? Festuca rigidula Steud.; on p. 300 the n. 2194
is named as Festuca rigidula.
UPDATED NUMERICAL LIST OF PICHI SERMOLLI’S ETHIOPIAN COLLECTIONS FROM 1937
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
271
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
2247-2255 Acacia bavazzanoi
Acacia bavazzanoi Pic. Serm.
2256
Dichrostachys glomerata
Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn.
2257
Acacia bavazzanoi
Acacia bavazzanoi Pic. Serm.
2258-2262 Tephrosia rigida
Tephrosia elata Deflers
2263-2264 Rhynchosia (?) imbricata
Rhynchosia nyasica Bak.
2265
Indigofera secundiflora Poir.
Indigofera secundiflora var. gondarensis
2266-2268 Aeschynomene schimperi
Aeschynomene schimperi A. Rich.
2269-2270 Entada abyssinica
Entada abyssinica A. Rich.
2271-2273 Dalbergia lactea
Dalbergia lactea Vatke
2274
Albizia isenbergiana (A. Rich.) Fourn.
Albizzia isembergiana
2275-2277 Entada abyssinica
Entada abyssinica A. Rich.
2278
Euclea racemosa Murray subsp. schimperi (A. DC.) F.
White
Euclea kellau
2279-2283 Gymnosporia engleriana var. macrantha
Maytenus arbutifolia (A. Rich.) Wilczek
2284-2289 Gymnosporia senegalensis var. inermis forma
macrocarpa
Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell
2290
Maytenus obscura (A. Rich.) Cufod.
Gymnosporia obscura
2291-2299 Gymnosporia senegalensis var. inermis forma
macrocarpa
Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell
2300-2301 Gymnosporia serrata var. steudneri
Maytenus gracilipes (Oliv.) Exell subsp. arguta (Loes.)
Sebsebe
2302
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek
Gymnosporia serrata var. typica
2303-2304 Gymnosporia serrata var. steudneri
Maytenus gracilipes (Oliv.) Exell subsp. arguta (Loes.)
Sebsebe
2305-2314 Gymnosporia serrata var. typica
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek
2315-2317 Gymnosporia castellii
Maytenus gracilipes (Oliv.) Exell subsp. arguta (Loes.)
Sebsebe
2318
Gymnosporia serrata var. typica
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek
2319
Gymnosporia engleriana var. macrantha
Maytenus arbutifolia (A. Rich.) Wilczek
2320
Gymnosporia obscura
Maytenus obscura (A. Rich.) Cufod.
2321
Gymnosporia engleriana var. macrantha
Maytenus arbutifolia (A. Rich.) Wilczek
2322
Celastraceae ?
Celastraceae?*
2323
Abutilon smenospermum / lndeterminabile17
Abutilon cecilii N.E. Br.
Ritchiea albersii Gilg
2324-2336 Ritchiea steudneri
2337
18
Rhus amharica / Indeterminabile
Rhus glutinosa A. Rich.
17 In Pichi Sermolli (1951, p. 92-93) the specimen number 2323 from “Foresta della Chiesa di Gumbit Uddus Michael, m.
1,900, 18.3.” is made the type collection of a new species, Abutilon smenospermum Pic. Serm., but this has not been corrected
in the numerical list of collections on p. 302, where the number is indicated as “Indeterminabile”.
18 In Pichi Sermolli (1951, p. 81) the specimen number 2337 from “Pendici orientali di M. Guranghe (nord di Gondar), m.
2,400, 27.1.” is made the type collection of a new species, Rhus amharica Pic. Serm., but this has not been corrected in the
numerical list of collections on p. 302, where the number is indicated as “Indeterminabile”.
272
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
2338
Rhus pyroides var. gracilis
Rhus pyroides var. gracilis*
2339-2345 Rhus huillensis var. erythraea
Rhus quartiniana A. Rich.
2346-2349 Rhus glutinosa
Rhus glutinosa A. Rich.
2350-2351 Diphasia dainellii
Vepris dainellii (Pic. Serm.) Kokwaro
2352-2356 Clematis longicauda
Clematis longicauda A. Rich.
2357-2373 Clematis glaucescens
Clematis hirsuta Guill. & Perr.
2374-2376 Ficus glumosa var. glaberrima
Ficus glumosa Del.
2377
Ficus vasta Forssk.
Ficus dahro
2378-2384 Ficus sur
Ficus sur Forssk.
2385-2393 Ficus brachypoda
Ficus ovata Vahl
2394-2403 Ficus gnaphalocarpa
Ficus sycomorus L.
2404
Cordia monoica Roxb.
Cordia ovalis
2405-2406 Cordia abyssinica
Cordia africana Lam.
2407
Terminalia schimperiana
Terminalia schimperiana Hochst.
2408
Ficus thonningii
Ficus thonningii Bl.
2409
Cordia ovalis
Cordia monoica Roxb.
2410
Echinops giganteus
Echinops giganteus A. Rich.
2411
Centaurea imatongensis
Ochrocephala imatongensis (Philipson) Dittrich
2412-2416 lnula decipiens
Inula paniculata (Klatt) Burtt Davy
2417
Vernonia thomsoniana var. thomsoniana
Vernonia thomsoniana Oliv.
2418
Koeleria cristata var. convoluta
Koeleria capensis (Steud.) Nees
2419
Vernonia theophrastifolia
Vernonia theophrastifolia Oliv. & Hiern
2420-2422 Vernonia richardiana
Vernonia theophrastifolia Oliv. & Hiern
2423-2425 Vernonia francavillana
Vernonia rueppellii Walp.
2426
Vernonia myriantha Hook. f.
Vernonia chiarugii
2427-2429 Vernonia francavillana
Vernonia rueppellii Walp.
2430-2431 Vernonia rueppellii
Vernonia rueppellii Walp.
2432-2436 Vernonia francavillana
Vernonia rueppellii Walp.
2437-2446 Vernonia cylindrica
Vernonia cylindrica Walp.
2447
Vernonia filigera Oliv. & Hiern
Vernonia filigera
2448-2452 Phyllanthus guineensis
Phyllanthus ovalifolius Forssk.
2453-2460 Bridelia micrantha
Bridelia micrantha (Hochst.) Baill.
2461-2466 Cluytia richardiana var. pubescens
Clutia lanceolata Forssk.
2467
Festuca sp.
Festuca sp.*
2468-2470 Cluytia richardiana var. pubescens
Clutia lanceolata Forssk.
2471-2475 Ocimum trichodon
Ocimum trichodon Gürke
2476-2484 Ocimum suave
Ocimum urticifolium Roth
2485
Loranthus macrosolen
Phragmanthera macrosolen (A. Rich.) M.G. Gilbert
2486
Loranthus globiferus
Tapinanthus globiferus (A. Rich.) Tiegh.
UPDATED NUMERICAL LIST OF PICHI SERMOLLI’S ETHIOPIAN COLLECTIONS FROM 1937
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
2487
Korthalsella binii
Korthalsella japonica (Thunb.) Engl.
2488
Korthalsella opuntia
Korthalsella japonica (Thunb.) Engl.
2489
Festuca sp.
Festuca sp.*
2490-2491 Loranthus globiferus
Tapinanthus globiferus (A. Rich.) Tiegh.
2492
Tapinanthus heteromorphus (A. Rich.) Danser
Loranthus scassellati var. glabrescens
2493
Lasiosiphon glaucus
Gnidia glauca (Fresen.) Gilg
2494
Agrostis quinqueseta
Agrostis quinqueseta (Steud.) Hochst.
2495
Festuca sp.
Festuca sp.*
2496-2500 Lasiosiphon glaucus
2501
Faurea rochetiana19
273
Gnidia glauca (Fresen.) Gilg
Faurea speciosa Welw.
2502
Polygonum senegalense
Persicaria senegalensis (Meisn.) Soják
2503
Celosia schweinfurthiana
Celosia schweinfurthiana Schinz
2505
Plantago coronopus subsp. eu-coronopus var.
ceratophylla
Plantago coronopus L.
2506-2508 Otostegia steudneri
Otostegia tomentosa A. Rich. subsp. steudneri (Schweinf.)
Sebald
2509-2516 Otostegia minuccii
Otostegia tomentosa A. Rich. subsp. ambigens (Chiov.)
Sebald
2517
Premna viburnoides var. schimperi
Premna schimperi Engl.
2518-2523 Sesbania aegyptiaca
Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. var. nubica Chiov.
2524
Pseudarthria (?) confertiflora
Pseudarthria (?) confertiflora*
2525
Oreophyton falcatum forma depauperatum
2526-2528 Diaphananthe tenuicalcar
2529
Aerangis sp. / Aerangis sp. cfr. A. rohlfsiana 20
Oreophyton falcatum (A. Rich.) O.E. Schulz
Diaphananthe tenuicalcar Summerh.
Aerangis sp. cfr. A. rohlfsiana*
2530-2531 Aerangis rohlfsiana
Aerangis brachycarpa (A. Rich.) Th. Dur. & Schinz
2532
Habenaria lefebureana (A. Rich.) Th. Dur. & Schinz
Habenaria lefebureana
2533-2534 Polystachya steudneri
Polystachya steudneri Rchb. f.
2535-2539 Polystachya bennettiana
Polystachya bennettiana Rchb. f.
2540
Solanum anguivi Lam.
Solanum uollense
2541-2542 Solanum lycopersicum
Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.
2543
Solanum dasyphyllum Schumach.
Solanum dasyphyllum
2544-2548 Solanum marginatum
Solanum marginatum L. f.
2549
Solanum adoense
Solanum adoense A. Rich.
2550
Solanum incanum
Solanum incanum L.
19 The acceptance in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea of Faurea speciosa Welw. as the correct name of this species is an error. The
basionym of Faurea rochetiana (A. Rich.) Chiov. ex Pic. Serm. has priority over Faurea speciosa Welw.
20 In Pichi Sermolli (1951, p. 197) the specimen number 2529 from “Regione del torrente Gueldo (Regione Fissa), lungo
un corso d’acqua nella foresta, m. 1,900, 18.3.” is identified as Aerangis sp.; on p. 304 it is identified as Aerangis sp. cfr. A.
rohlfsiana.
274
Number
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
2551-2563 Solanum campylacanthum
Solanum campylacanthum A. Rich.
2564
Solanum anguivi Lam.
Solanum rohrii
2565
Solanum mesodolichum
Solanum anguivi Lam.
2566
Solanum campylacanthum
Solanum campylacanthum A. Rich.
Solanum anguivi Lam.
2567-2570 Solanum rohrii
2571-2574 Solanum indicum
Solanum anguivi Lam.
2575
Solanum anguivi Lam.
Solanum orthocarpum
Solanum giganteum Jacq.
2576-2579 Solanum giganteum
2580
Cerastium caespitosum var. simense
Cerastium octandrum A. Rich.
2581
Bromus sp.
Bromus sp.*
Festuca sp.*
2582
Festuca sp.
2583
Cerastium caespitosum var. simense / Indeterminabile21 Cerastium octandrum A. Rich.
2584
Swertia engleri
Swertia engleri Gilg
2585
Alchemilla commutata
Alchemilla microbetula T.C.E. Fries
2586
Swertia engleri
Swertia engleri Gilg
2587
Sagina abyssinica
2588
Sagina abyssinica A. Rich.
22
Cerastium caespitosum var. simense / Indeterminabile Cerastium octandrum A. Rich.
2589-2590 Sagina abyssinica
Sagina abyssinica A. Rich.
2591
Swertia engleri Gilg
Swertia engleri
2592
Cerastium caespitosum var. simense
Cerastium octandrum A. Rich.
2593
Agrostis sp. cfr. A. quinqueseta
Agrostis sp. cfr. A. quinqueseta*
2594-2595 Sagina abyssinica
Sagina abyssinica A. Rich.
2596
Cerastium caespitosum var. simense
Cerastium octandrum A. Rich.
2597
Sagina abyssinica
Sagina abyssinica A. Rich.
2598-2600 Gymnosporia cortii 23
2601
Anthemis sp. cfr. A. tigreensis
Maytenus cortii (Pic. Serm.) Cufod.
Anthemis tigreensis A. Rich.
2602-2603 Senecio degensis
Senecio farinaceus A. Rich.
2604-2607 Senecio farinaceus
Senecio farinaceus A. Rich.
2608
Cineraria abyssinica var. rothii
Cineraria deltoidea Sond.
2609
Veronica beccabunga forma minima
Veronica beccabunga L.
21 In Pichi Sermolli (1951, p. 200-201) the specimen number 2583 from “Versante meridionale di M. Degien, m. 4,350-4,620,
13.4.” has been named Cerastium caespitosum var. simense; on p. 305 it is named “Indeterminabile”.
22 In Pichi Sermolli (1951, p. 200-201) the specimen number 2588 from “Versante occidentale di M. Selchi, m. 4,000 circa,
10.4.” has been named Cerastium caespitosum var. simense; on p. 305 it is named “Indeterminabile”.
23 In Pichi Sermolli (1951, p. 210) the specimen numbers 2598, 2599, 2560, all from “Crinale del versante destro della valle di
Beleghes ad ovest di Ambaras, m. 3350 circa, 7.4.[1937]”, are named Gymnosporia cortii; on p. 305 the numbers 2598, 2599,
2600 are also identified as this species. However, on p. 134 a specimen numbered 2560 from “Rive del lago ad ovest di Bahar
Dar, m. 1825, 31.1.” is named Solanum campylacanthum, with the same identification on p. 304, and no specimen number
2600 is recorded in the entire text of Pichi Sermolli (1951). It is therefore assumed that “2560”, twice on p. 210, is a misprint
for 2600.
UPDATED NUMERICAL LIST OF PICHI SERMOLLI’S ETHIOPIAN COLLECTIONS FROM 1937
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
2610-2612 Senecio farinaceus
Senecio farinaceus A. Rich.
2613
Senecio schultzii
Senecio schultzii A. Rich.
2614
Erigeron alpinum subsp. alpinum
Erigeron alpinus L.
2615-2618 Senecio nanus
Senecio nanus A. Rich.
2619
Dipsacus pinnatifidus A. Rich.
Dipsacus eremocephalus
2620
Tolpis virgata
Tolpis virgata (Desf.) Bertol.
2621
Inula arbuscula
Inula arbuscula Del.
Indeterminabile
Indeterminabile* [unidentifiable]
2622
2623
24
2624
Cotula abyssinica var. nana
Cotula abyssinica A. Rich.
Cirsium vel Carduus sp.
Cirsium vel Carduus sp.*
2625
Carduus semiensis
Carduus leptacanthus Fresen.
2626
Carduus schimperi
Carduus schimperi Sch. Bip.
2627
Athrixia rosmarinifolia
Athrixia rosmarinifolia (Walp.) Oliv. & Hiern
2628
Laggera tomentosa
Laggera tomentosa (A. Rich.) Oliv. & Hiern
2629-2630 Vernonia bipontini
Vernonia bipontini Vatke
2631-2632 Nidorella vernonioides
Conyza vernonioides (A. Rich.) Wild
2633
Anthemis semiensis
Anthemis tigreensis A. Rich.
2634
? Festuca schimperiana
Festuca (?) schimperiana*
2635
Anthemis semiensis
Anthemis tigreensis A. Rich.
2636
Conyza messerii
Conyza messerii Pic. Serm.
2637-2639 Afrovivella simensis
Rosularia semiensis (A. Rich.) Ohba
2640-2647 Oreophyton falcatum
Oreophyton falcatum (A. Rich.) O.E. Schulz
2648
Oreophyton falcatum forma depauperatum
Oreophyton falcatum (A. Rich.) O.E. Schulz
2649
Oreophyton falcatum
Oreophyton falcatum (A. Rich.) O.E. Schulz
2650
Arabis alpina var. meruensis
Arabis alpina L.
2651
Limosella semiensis
Limosella capensis Thunb.
2652
Arabis alpina var. meruensis
Arabis alpina L.
2653-2654 Oreophyton falcatum
Oreophyton falcatum (A. Rich.) O.E. Schulz
2655
Arabis alpina var. meruensis
Arabis alpina L.
2656
Oreophyton falcatum forma depauperatum
Oreophyton falcatum (A. Rich.) O.E. Schulz
2657
Arabis alpina var. meruensis
Arabis alpina L.
2658-2659 Oreophyton falcatum forma depauperatum
Oreophyton falcatum (A. Rich.) O.E. Schulz
2660-2661 Cardamine obliqua
Cardamine obliqua A. Rich.
2662
Galium acrophyum Chiov.
Galium hochstetteri
275
24 In the list (Pichi Sermolli 1951, p. 305) the number is erroneously indicated as “2223”, but correctly placed between 2622
and 2624 and correcty indicated as 2623 on p. 230.
276
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
2663
Indeterminabile25
Indeterminabile* [unidentifiable]
2664
Rotala repens
Rotala repens (Hochst.) Koehne
2665-2667 Carex monostachya
Carex monostachya A. Rich.
2668
Isolepis costata A. Rich.
Scirpus costatus
2669-2670 Luzula abyssinica var. simensis
Luzula abyssinica Parl.
2671
Euphorbia petitiana
Euphorbia petitiana A. Rich.
2672
Euphorbia dilatata
Euphorbia schimperiana Scheele
2673
Cluytia richardiana var. pubescens
Clutia lanceolata Forssk.
2674
Moraea schimperi
Moraea schimperi (Hochst.) Pic. Serm.
2675-2676 Stachys hypoleuca
Stachys hypoleuca A. Rich.
2677
Thymus schimperi Ronniger
Thymus schimperi
2678-2679 Satureja simensis
Satureja simensis (Benth.) Briq.
2680
Ajuga crenata
Ajuga integrifolia D. Don
2681
Coleus comosus
Plectranthus ornatus Codd
2682
Becium grandiflorum
Becium grandiflorum (Lam.) Pic. Serm.
2683
Otostegia steudneri
Otostegia tomentosa A. Rich. subsp. steudneri (Schweinf.)
Sebald
2684
Satureja contardoi
Satureja imbricata (Forssk.) Briq.
2685
Thymus schimperi
Thymus schimperi Ronniger
2686
Satureja punctata var. rigida
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq.
2687
Thymus schimperi
Thymus schimperi Ronniger
2688
Satureja punctata var. rigida
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq.
2689
Satureja contardoi
Satureja imbricata (Forssk.) Briq.
2690-2692 Thymus schimperi
Thymus schimperi Ronniger
2693
Argyrolobium schimperianum
Argyrolobium schimperianum A. Rich.
2694
Trifolium cryptopodium
Trifolium cryptopodium A. Rich.
2695
Trifolium acaule
Trifolium acaule A. Rich.
2696
Acacia pilispina
Acacia pilispina Pic. Serm.
2697
Trifolium acaule
Trifolium acaule A. Rich.
2698
Acacia negrii
Acacia negrii Pic. Serm.
2699
Lemna minor
2700-2701 Lobelia rhynchopetalum
2702
Indeterminabile 26
2703-2704 Epilobium schimperianum
Lemna minor L.
Lobelia rhynchopetalum Hemsl.
Indeterminabile* [unidentifiable]
Epilobium stereophyllum Fresen.
25 In Pichi Sermolli (1951) specimen number 2663 is mentioned on p. 306 as “Indeterminabile”; the number is not mentioned
anywhere else in the book. It is not possible to identify the place of origin of n. 2663.
26 In Pichi Sermolli (1951) specimen number 2702 is mentioned on p. 306 as “Indeterminabile”; the number is not mentioned
anywhere else in the book. It is not possible to identify the place of origin of n. 2702.
UPDATED NUMERICAL LIST OF PICHI SERMOLLI’S ETHIOPIAN COLLECTIONS FROM 1937
Number
Pichi Sermolli names in the monograph of 1951
Names in Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea or Puff &
Sileshi Nemomissa (2005) [if different]
2705-2708 Deroemeria squamata
Holothrix squammata (A. Rich.) Rchb. f.
2709
Herniaria hirsuta A. Rich.
Herniaria hirsuta
2710
Paronychia bryoides
Paronychia bryoides A. Rich.
2711
Rumex nervosus
Rumex nervosus Vahl
2712
Potamogeton richardi
Potamogeton thunbergii Cham. & Schltdl.
2713
Potamogeton pusillus
Potamogeton pusillus L.
2714
Protea gaguedi
Protea gaguedi J.F. Gmel.
2715
Salix subserrata
Salix subserrata Willd.
2716-2720 Saxifraga hederaefolia
Saxifraga hederifolia A. Rich.
2721
Lobelia schimperi A. Rich.
Lobelia schimperi
277
2722-2723 Bartsia longiflora
Bartsia longiflora Benth.
2724
Veronica abyssinica
Veronica abyssinica Fresen.
2725
Lythrum rotundifolium
Lythrum rotundifolium A. Rich.
2726
Bartsia longiflora
Bartsia longiflora Benth.
2727
Verbascum sinaiticum
Verbascum sinaiticum Benth.
2728-2729 Anarrhinum arabicum var. abyssinicum
Anarrhinum forskaohlii (Gmel.) Cufod. subsp. abyssinicum (Jaub. & Spach) D.A. Sutton
2730
Lythrum rotundifolium
Lythrum rotundifolium A. Rich.
2731
Anarrhinum arabicum var. abyssinicum
Anarrhinum forskaohlii (Gmel.) Cufod. subsp. abyssinicum (Jaub. & Spach) D.A. Sutton
2732
Verbascum sinaiticum
Verbascum sinaiticum Benth.
2733
Bartsia longiflora
Bartsia longiflora Benth.
2734
Solanum marginatum
Solanum marginatum L. f.
2735
Grewia ferruginea
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich.
2736
Gymnosciadium pusillum
Pimpinella pimpinelloides (Hochst.) Wolff
2737
Vernonia francavillana
Vernonia rueppellii Walp.
2738
Gymnosciadium pusillum
Pimpinella pimpinelloides (Hochst.) Wolff
2739
Urtica simensis
Urtica simensis Steud.
2740
Limosella africana
Limosella africana Glück
2741
Myrica salicifolia
Myrica salicifolia A. Rich.
2742
Bromus sp.
Bromus sp.*
Ferns and fern allies not in Pichi Sermolli (1951)
As can be seen from the collection numbers in the list above (derived from Pichi
Sermolli 1951: 275-318), ferns and fern allies are only listed as a group, with the species not specified. The 102 numbers (n. 1779-1870 and n. 1970-1977) that represent
what Pichi Sermolli terms “Pteropsida” (ferns and fern allies) are neither included in
the 1951 monograph, nor did we find specimens to represent these collections in the
Centro Studi Erbario tropicale (FT) in Florence, and Pichi Sermolli Pichi never pub-
278
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
lished a list of identification of the 102 collections of ferns and fern allies from the Lake
Tana expedition.
Only 28 fern collections from that expedition have been seen in the historical herbarium called the “L’Erbario Pteridologico di Pichi Sermolli” (Pteridological Herbarium of Pichi Sermolli), donated to the Museum of Natural History of Florence in 2009.
Now the Pteridological Herbarium of Pichi Sermolli is referred to as FI-PS and kept
in a room next to the room accommodating the Centro Studi Erbario Tropicale (FT).
The collections in FI-PS were traced by Ib Friis when he in 2009 consulted Pichi Sermolli’s Pteridological Herbarium in order to compare it with the checklist of Ethiopian ferns and fern allies that Pichi Sermolli had given to the Ethiopian Flora Project
as a first contribution to the flora volume with ferns and fern allies. Due to his death in
2005, Pichi Sermolli never managed to contribute more than this checklist to the Flora
of Ethiopia and Eritrea, and the volume with ferns and fern allies only came out i 2009.
The following list of ferns and fern allies is numerically arranged and includes the
name of the plants according to the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, Pichi Sermolli’s collection numbers, localities and dates according to the labels, as well as the numbers in
herbarium FI-PS. These numbers were given to the sheets by Pichi Sermolli himself
when he incorporated them in his own herbarium. No original name is cited, as no original names for specific sheets have been published by Pichi Sermolli (some have been
named later in the fascicles of ferns and fern allies in the Adumbratio). Because Pichi
Sermolli distributed so many duplicate specimens, it is possible that duplicates of these
28 collections, as well as of the still unlocalised 74 other collections of Pteridophytes
may be found in other herbaria than FT and FI-PS. We recently found a duplicate of
Asplenium theciferum (Pichi Sermolli 1848) in the herbarium LUX (MNHNL47671/
LUX058536), to which institution it had come via a herbarium belonging to the Belgian
botanist André Lawalrée, who shared with Pichi Sermolli a special interest in ferns.
In the literature, there are two potential sources of additional records of Pteridophytes from the Lake Tana expedition. One source is the records in the accounts of
families of ferns and fern allies in the Adumbratio florae aethiopicae (Pichi Sermolli
1957a, 1966, 1969, 1978; Gastaldo & Paola 1978), the second is a list of ferns from the
area around Tucur Dinghia west of Gondar (Pichi Sermolli 1940b). In the list below,
the relevant information from the Adumbratio has been integrated with information
from specimens seen in FI-PS, making up a list of 35 records.27 As appears from chapter
3, Pichi Sermolli (1940b) listed ferns found in the area around Tucur Dinghia west of
Gondar. Some of these are found in the list below, but not all ferns species mentioned
in Pichi Sermolli (1940b) have been seen documented with specimens or listed in the
Adumbratio. We have not found material to document the following taxon names from
the Tucur Dinghia area: Cheilanthes farinosa (Forssk.) Kaulf. forma sulphurea (Moore)
Pich. Serm., Dryopteris schimperiana (Hochst.) C. Chr., Loxogramme lanceolata (Sw.)
Presl, Loxoscaphe theciferum (HBK.) Moore subsp. concinnum (Schrad.) Pich. Serm.
var. schimperi (Hook.) Pich. Serm., Pteris quadriaurita Retz. var. abyssinica (Hieron.)
Pich. Serm. These records are therefore not included in the following list, which includes only ca. 35% of the collection numbers stated to be ferns and fern allies in Pichi
Sermolli (1951).
27 In the accounts in the Adumbratio, it is indicated from where the specimens have been seen, either
in the herbarium ”PlC. SER.” (Pichi Sermolli’s private fern herbarium, now FI-PS) or in “FI”, which
is the entire range of herbaria in the Museum of Natural History in Florence. As the latter collections have not been traced, these sheets are referred to only with the designation “FI”.
UPDATED NUMERICAL LIST OF PICHI SERMOLLI’S ETHIOPIAN COLLECTIONS FROM 1937
279
Specimens of ferns from the Lake Tana Expedition in FI-PS or cited in the Adumbratio
Name in Flora of Ethiopia and
Eritrea
Pichi Locality
Sermolli’s
number
Altitude
Date of
collection
Number in
FI-PS
FI-PS 10651
Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm. f.)
Bech.
1779
Tucùr-Dinghià (Gondar).
No alt.
24.1.1937
Asplenium demerkense Hieron.
1780
Semien, southern slope of Mt
Chiddis-Arit.
4000 m.
14.4.1937 FI-PS 10645,
FI-PS 10646
Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm. f.)
Bech.
1782
Near the church of Tekle Aimanot
on the Zeghie peninsula.
No alt.
17.2.1937
FI-PS 10489
Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm. f.)
Bech.
1789
Semien, south slope of Mt Chiddis Arit.
4000 m.
14.4.1937
FI-PS 10640
Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm. f.)
Bech.
1793
Crest above the hot spring Fulluaha
– Muhat (Alefa).
No alt.
27.2.1937
FI-PS 10649
Adiantum poiretii Wikstr.
1797
Monte Quatele between Ifag and
Debre Tabor.
No alt.
12.3.1937
Not seen 28
Adiantum poiretii Wikstr.
1798
Mt Jesus Tabor.
No alt.
22.3.1937 FI-PS 1394429
Adiantum poiretii Wikstr.
1801
On the island of Kebra Uddus
Gabriel.
No alt.
4.2.1937
Adiantum poiretii Wikstr.
1802
Tucùr-Dinghià (Gondar).
No alt.
24.1.1937 FI-PS 1394531
Adiantum capillus-veneris L.
1804
Semien, Suohna.
3000 m.
16.4.1937 FI-PS 1149732
Adiantum capillus-veneris L.
1805
Daharo Kaulos near Asmara.
No alt.
17.1.1937
Arthropteris monocarpa (Cordem.)
C. Chr.
1806
East slope of the hill Zefen tarara
west of Gorgora.
No alt.
4.3.1937 FI-PS 1063234
Arthropteris monocarpa (Cordem.)
C. Chr.
1807
Hill south of the village of Gorgora.
No alt.
3.3.1937
Pellaea viridis (Forssk.) Prantl
1810
Hills south of the village of Gorgora.
No alt.
3.3.1937
FI-PS 10635
Pellaea viridis (Forssk.) Prantl
1811
Hills south of the village of Gorgora.
No alt.
6.3.1937
FI-PS 29348
Anogramma leptophylla (L.) Link
1826
Semien; southern slope of Mt. Chid- Ca. 4000 m. 14.4.1937
dis Arit.
Asplenium protensum Schrad.
1828
Tucur Dinghia (Gondar)
No alt.
24.1.1937
FI-PS 10648
Equisetum ramosissimum Desf.
1829
Along the Mesciaha River.
No alt.
11.4.1937
Not seen37
Pyrrosia schimperiana (Kuhn) Alston
1836
Lake shore south of Furie, Zeghie
Peninsula.
No alt.
15.2.1937
FI-PS 10639
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
Also stated to be present in “FI” according to Pichi Sermolli (1957a: 688).
Also stated to be present in “FI” according to Pichi Sermolli (1940 and 1957a: 688).
Stated to be present in “FI” according to Pichi Sermolli (1957a: 688).
Also stated to be present in “FI” according to Pichi Sermolli (1957a: 688).
Also stated to be present in “FI” according to Pichi Sermolli (1957a: 681).
Stated to be present in “FI” according to Pichi Sermolli (1957a: 680).
Also stated to be present in “FI” according to Pichi Sermolli (1978: 132).
Stated to be present in “FI” according to Pichi Sermolli (1978: 132).
Stated to be present in “FI” according to Pichi Sermolli (1966: 504).
Stated to be present in “FI” according to Gastaldo & Paola (1978: 111).
Not seen30
Not seen33
Not seen35
Not seen36
280
Name in Flora of Ethiopia and
Eritrea
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Pichi Locality
Sermolli’s
number
Altitude
Date of
collection
Number in
FI-PS
Dryopteris schimperiana (A. Br.) C.
Chr.
1838
Mt Quatele along the road between
Ifag and Debra Tabor.
No alt.
12.3.1937
FI-PS 10630
Dryopteris schimperiana (A. Br.) C.
Chr.
1843
Slopes below the crest of Ambaras
above the valley of the Beleghes
River.
No alt.
7.4.1937
FI-PS 12103
Dryopteris schimperiana (A. Br.) C.
Chr.
1847
Mt Jesus Tabor.
No alt.
22.3.1937 FI-PS 10629,
FI-PS 12102
Asplenium theciferum (H.B.K.) Mett.
1848
Near the church on the island of Kebra Uddus Gabriel.
No alt.
4.2.1937 FI-PS 2934738
Asplenium theciferum (H.B.K.) Mett.
1851
Near the church of Medania Alem
(Debra Tabor).
No alt.
23.3.1937
FI-PS 10625
Asplenium theciferum (H.B.K.) Mett.
1854
Near Bahr Dar
No alt.
2.2.1937
FI-PS 10624
Asplenium theciferum (H.B.K.) Mett.
1854
Near Bahr Dar.
No alt.
2.2.1937
FI-PS 10624
Thelypteris confluens (Thunb.)
Morton
1857
Where the Blue Nile leaves Lake
Tana at the ferry across from Bahr
Dar.
No alt.
29.1.1937
FI-PS 10628
Polystichum wilsonii H. Christ
1859
Semien, south-eastern slope of Mt
Ualta
4300–4520 12.4.1937
m.
FI-PS 18661
Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn
186739
Amba Libo.
2850–2950 19.3.1937
m.
FI-PS 10627
Loxogramme abyssinica (Baker) M.G.
Price
1868
Forest at the church of Zara Enda
Michael.
No alt.
16.3.1937
Bolbitis heudelotii (Fée) Alston
1970
In the Baimo River along the road
from Zeghie to Bahr Dar.
No alt.
10.2.1937 FI-PS 11486,
FI-PS 1322940
Bolbitis heudelotii (Fée) Alston
1971
In the Umfras River near the village
Vuoghelsa (Zeghie).
No alt.
19.2.1937 FI-PS 11485 41
Cheilanthes erythraea Pich. Serm.
1973
Hills south of the village of Gorgora.
No alt.
3.3.1937
FI-PS 11484
Pteris dentata Forssk.
1977
Semien, along the river Ambiquo
above its confluence with Mai
Sciaha.
No alt.
2.4.1937
FI-PS 10647
Bolbitis heudelotii (Fée) Alston
2523
In the Umfras River near the village
Vuoghelsa (Zeghie).
No alt.
19.2.1937 FI-PS 13228 42
38
39
40
41
42
FI-PS 10638
A duplicate has been seen at LUX marked MNHNL47671/LUX058536.
E. Minucci in Pichi Sermolli
Also stated to be present in “FI” according to Pichi Sermolli (1969: 392).
Also stated to be present in “FI” according to Pichi Sermolli (1969: 392).
Also stated to be present in “FI” according to Pichi Sermolli (1969: 392); in the monograph (Pichi Sermolli 1951) no. 2523
is listed as a species of Sesbania.
CHAPTER 7
Later studies of localities around Lake Tana and in the
Semien Mountains
The first of the rather few later studies of the vegetation around Lake Tana and the
Semien was published by Sebald (1968), who, based on observations made in 1966, described habitats with a floristic list compiled on observations from the peninsula with
the Church of Shimbat [Shimbet] Michael west of Bahar Dar, the Debanki or Debangi
Hill south west of Bahar Dar, a hill with the church of Sesela Abo, 3 km. west-northwest
of Bahar Dar, and the Enton Island, 6 km. north west of Bahar Dar. The vegetation on all
these sites confirmed the observations of Pichi Sermolli. The data from the sites in the
Semien Mountains, which Sebald also visited in 1966, is not consistently represented,
often the paper quotes coordinates of localities where the night was spent, but not coordinates of places where data was collected. The paper referred to the map of the high
Semien in 1:50 000 by Werdecker (1966), but it has not been possible to access that
map, as it is left out of the scanned copy of the journal, where it should be reproduced.
Sebald (1972) provided information about woody species at localities visited in 1968
around Lalibela, at the southern end of Lake Tana and in the Awash Valley between
Metahara and the Awash railway station. The data from the sites with woodland south
of Lake Tana have mainly been compiled into a table with approximately 60 species
of trees and shrubs, but without indication of an exact place name or site number. It is
therefore not possible to use this data set in comparison with Pichi Sermolli’s localities, but the species of trees and shrubs deviate only very little from a compiled and
nomenclaturally updated list of Pichi Sermolli’s woodland species.
Friis (1992) defined the forests around Lake Tana as (4 – south of Lake Tana) undifferentiated Afromontane forest, including various types of upland forest with Podocarpus, and (5 – north of Lake Tana) dry single-dominant Afromontane forest, with
Juniperus procera in the canopy and Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata in the understorey.
Ib Friis, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Denmark, ibf@snm.ku.dk, 0000-0002-2438-1528
Sebsebe Demissew, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, sebseb.demissew@gmail.com, 0000-0002-0123-9596
Odile Weber, National Museum of Natural History, Luxemburg, odile.weber@mnhn.lu, 0000-0002-0861-2752
Paulo van Breugel, HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands, p.vanbreugel@gmail.com, 0000-0001-95790831
Referee List (DOI 10.36253/fup_referee_list)
FUP Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOI 10.36253/fup_best_practice)
Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew, Odile Weber, Paulo van Breugel, Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia. A new look at
Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results from the ‘Missione di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937, © 2022 Author(s), CC BY 4.0,
published by Firenze University Press, ISBN 978-88-5518-634-6 , DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-634-6
282
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Puff & Sileshi (2005) made detailed studies of the flora of the Semien Mountains
and accounted for 545 species that occur in the Semien Mountains above approximately
2,000 m., to the peak of Ras Dejen at ca. 4,550 m. The identified collections made by
Pichi Sermolli during his visit to the Semien contains 325 species. Of these, 27 species
are not recorded from the Semien by Puff & Sileshi (2005). Pichi Sermolli’s collections
thus represent 325 out of a total of 572 (545+27) species recorded from the Semien,
or ca. 57%. One species has an updated name in Puff & Sileshi (2005): Salix subserrata
Willd. is changed to Salix mucronata Thunb.
Alemnew Alelign et al. (2007) provides a study of the diversity and regeneration of
the forests on the Zegie peninsula, which study is useful in itself and supplements our
knowledge of the potential natural vegetation in the forests of the Lake Tana Basin.
Friis et al. (2010; Map C2) show a fringe of varying width in the immediate vicinity of the lake of “Freshwater marshes and swamps, floodplains and lake shore vegetation (FLV/MFS)”; this agrees to the areas where lake shore swamps were recorded
by Pichi Sermolli in his reports before 1951. Around the lake and the swamps there is
an equally narrow fringe of “Combretum-Terminalia woodland and wooded grassland
(CTW)”, followed by a brim of varying width of “Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex (DAF)”, which on to the west, where the western escarpment
of the Ethiopian highlands begins, is replaced by extensive areas of “Combretum-Terminalia woodland and wooded grassland (CTW)”.
Chuangye Song et al. (2018), who did not refer to the works of Pichi Sermolli, have
provided a map the actual vegetation of the Lake Tana basin through visual interpretation of high-spatial-resolution images provided by Google Earth and field survey data
along main roads. A total of 33 171 polygons were generated to represent patches of
vegetation in the Lake Tana basin, and validation using surveyed vegetation plots indicated that 90 % of the patches were correctly identified. The following vegetation types
were identified: Natural forest (dense crowns, usually tightly packed, could be identified,
overlapping in clusters. This vegetation type was mostly located around churches or
near rivers). – Woodland (vegetation where the individual large crowned trees could be
identified, either tightly packed or open with visible patches of understory). – Plantation
forest (identified as uniformly spaced dense trees are almost the same height; the plots
being angular in outline and with trees in straight rows). – Bushland (vegetation with a
coarse texture and mottled tones. The shrubs are unevenly spaced, tend to clump, and
there may be a mixture of scattered trees mixed into the vegetation). – Grassland (the
image of this vegetation appears almost smooth. Cow trails may be visible). – Wetland
(vegetation with coarse texture and irregular edges near pools, ponds, rivers or lakes.
Scattered shrubs and trees may exist). The resulting map is extremely complex, and it
is difficult to draw generalised conclusions about relations between vegetation and environmental parameters from it. The paper did not attempt to reconstruct the potential
natural vegetation but concluded that the natural vegetation of the Lake Tana basin
has been heavily influenced by man to facilitate a continued expansion of cropland.
Getahun Tassew Melese et al. (2018), who do not cite any papers by Pichi Sermolli
on the Semien, has presented a study of 62 plots inside the present area of the Semien
National Park and located in what Pichi Sermolli characterised as the High Semien, in
the direction west-east between Ambaras and Ras Dejen and in the direction southnorth between Sebat Minch [in south-western direction towards Deresge; outside the
area studied by Pichi Sermolli] and Mt. Silky [Mount Silke]. The conclusions of this
paper, which has studied 86 Afroalpine species, is that the vegetation is dominated by
Asteraceae (21 species, but not the largest ground cover) and grasses (11 species, largest
ground cover of any family), and that the Afroalpine vegetation in the parts of the Sem-
LATER STUDIES OF LOCALITIES AROUND LAKE TANA AND IN THE SEMIEN MOUNTAINS
ien mountains which were studied can be divided into three plant community types (1)
Erica arborea–Festuca macrophylla plant community type at altitudes of 3,508–3,803
m., (2) the Festuca macrophylla–Alchemilla microbetula plant community type at altitudes of 3,724–4,552 m., and (3) the Agrostis sclerophylla–Agrostis quinqueseta plant
community type at altitudes of 3,990–4,438 m. Getahun Tassew Melese et al. (2018)
is a plot-based study with focus on small herbs, so it is difficult to compare the results
with the more general observations made by Pichi Sermolli. Among the environmental parameters emphasized by Pichi Sermolli was the substrate, varying from rocks to
swamps, and moisture availability, and none of these factors are part of the analyses
by Getahun Tassew Melese et al. (2018).
In general, the later studies of the Lake Tana region and the Semien Mountains
have not yet provided overviews that can replace the publications by Pichi Sermolli or
the general analysis that we provide here.
283
CHAPTER 8
Pichi Sermolli’s observations of vegetation compared with
models of the vegetation
In this chapter, we have tried to compare the conclusion about the vegetation on
Pichi Sermolli’s collecting sites in chapter “5. Chronological list of collecting localities
…” with our model of potential natural vegetation of Ethiopia, originally published by
Friis et al. (2010) and now modified for Friis et al. (2022), also accounting for the vegetation type Intermediate Evergreen Afromontane Forest (IAF), proposed by Abiyot
Berhanu et al. (2018). The comparison is not easy because the vegetation was deeply
influenced by human activity nearly everywhere in the sites collected by Pichi Sermolli
and therefore, as we have observed ourselves when revisiting Pichi Sermolli’s sites, often partly or completely secondary. But an additional difficulty is the observation that
due to the change in environmental factors, mainly altitude and humidity, the vegetation is also naturally a mosaic. As can be seen from the maps in Friis et al. (2010) and
Maps 1 to 9 in this work, the vegetation close to the Lake Tana (but not the actual shore
vegetation) is, due to the altitude, in many places potentially Combretum-Terminalia
woodland vegetation, but with a slight increase in altitude or humidity the potential
natural vegetation changes to Dry Evergreen Afromontane Complex or Intermediate
Evergreen Afromontane Forest. Pichi Sermolli observed the natural forests on two islands in Lake Tana (Kebra Uddus Gabriel and Daga) and on the Zeghie peninsula; in
the latter locality only the canopy represented and still represents the natural forest.
The first table shows how the many observations from Pichi Sermolli’s collecting
sites with some difficulty can be fitted into the categories of Potential Natural Vegetation. In the second table each of the localities in chapter five has been referred to a vegetation type as defined in Friis et al. (2010, 2022) based on the characteristic species
in the species list and compared with the vegetation type according to the modelling
in Friis et al. (2022).
Ib Friis, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Denmark, ibf@snm.ku.dk, 0000-0002-2438-1528
Sebsebe Demissew, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, sebseb.demissew@gmail.com, 0000-0002-0123-9596
Odile Weber, National Museum of Natural History, Luxemburg, odile.weber@mnhn.lu, 0000-0002-0861-2752
Paulo van Breugel, HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands, p.vanbreugel@gmail.com, 0000-0001-95790831
Referee List (DOI 10.36253/fup_referee_list)
FUP Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOI 10.36253/fup_best_practice)
Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew, Odile Weber, Paulo van Breugel, Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia. A new look at
Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results from the ‘Missione di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937, © 2022 Author(s), CC BY 4.0,
published by Firenze University Press, ISBN 978-88-5518-634-6 , DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-634-6
286
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Categories of Potential Natural Vegetation ac- Vegetation at Pichi Sermolli collecting sites, as
cording to Friis et al. (2010, 2022)
characterised and recorded in “5. Chronological list of collecting localities …”
Eritrean vegetation, unspecified types
Acacia etbaica bushland
Bed of temporary stream
Dry Acacia bushland
Combretum-Terminalia woodland (CTW) and
CTW [proper]
variants, including mosaics with Dry Afromontane
CTW (deciduous woodland with Boswellia
Forest, Woodland and Secondary Bushland (DAF)
papyrifera)
CTW and DAF woodland
CTW and DAF woodland and DAF secondary
bushland, some FLV/MFS
CTW in mosaic with DAF secondary bushland
CTW with small patch of DAF secondary
bushland
Mainly CTW with some DAF/IAF-species
Mosaic of CTW, DAF secondary bushland and a
few species of DAF/IAF forest
Mosaic of CTW, DAF woodland and DAF secondary bushland
Mosaic of CTW, DAF woodland and DAF secondary bushland; many species of Acacia
Mosaic of CTW, DAF/IAF forest and DAF secondary bushland
Mosaic of CTW, DAF/IAF lake shore forest and
DAF secondary bushland
Mosaic of CTW, IAF lake shore forest, DAF woodland and DAF secondary bushland
Mosaic of CTW, lake-shore forest (IAF) and FLV/
MFS
Dry Afromontane Forest, Woodland and Second- DAF forest and secondary bushland; some DAF
woodland
ary Bushland (DAF) and minor variants
DAF secondary bushland
DAF woodland
DAF woodland (with Acacia negrii) and DAF secondary bushland
DAF woodland with Acacia pilispina
PICHI SERMOLLI’S OBSERVATIONS AND MODERN MODELS
Categories of Potential Natural Vegetation ac- Vegetation at Pichi Sermolli collecting sites, as
cording to Friis et al. (2010, 2022)
characterised and recorded in “5. Chronological list of collecting localities …”
Mainly Dry Afromontane Forest (DAF), but with DAF/IAF- forest
elements of Intermediate Afromontane Forest
DAF/IAF forest and DAF secondary bushland
(IAF) and variants with elements of other vegetaDAF/IAF forest, with some DAF secondary
tion types
bushland
Dry AA, some species growing on vertical rock
faces
IAF lake shore forest, DAF secondary bushland
and DAF woodland
IAF lake shore forest, with some DAF/IAF forest
and DAF secondary bushland
IAF-species in IAF lake-shore forest, DAF woodland and FLV/OW
Lake-shore forest (IAF), FLV/MFS and FLV/OW
Lake-shore forest (IAF), in mosaic with DAF secondary bushland and FLV/OW
Mainly DAF secondary bushland with
CTW-species
Mainly DAF secondary bushland with DAF/IAFspecies and forest patches
Mainly DAF secondary bushland with DAF/IAFspecies and forest patches, but with one species
widespread in CTW
Mainly DAF secondary bushland with DAF/
IAF-species
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest and FLV/MFS
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest and DAF secondary
bushland
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest and DAF secondary
bushland, some FLV/MFS, a few species of CTW
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest and DAF secondary
bushland, some IAF lake shore forest and FLV/
MFS
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest and DAF woodland
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest and small patches of
DAF secondary bushland; possibly IAF lake shore
forest
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest, DAF secondary bushland and DAF woodland
Dry Afromontane Forest, Woodland and Second- Mosaic of DAF secondary bushland and CTW
ary Bushland (DAF) - secondary bushland and
Mosaic of DAF secondary bushland and CTW and
variants, some with elements from Combretum-TerDAF woodland
minalia woodland (CTW)
Mosaic of DAF secondary bushland and DAF
woodland
Mosaic of DAF secondary bushland with DAF/
IAF-species and forest
287
288
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Categories of Potential Natural Vegetation ac- Vegetation at Pichi Sermolli collecting sites, as
cording to Friis et al. (2010, 2022)
characterised and recorded in “5. Chronological list of collecting localities …”
Intermediate Afromontane Forest (IAF) - mainly Mosaic of lake-shore forest (IAF), DAF secondary
lake shore forests
bushland and CTW
Mosaic of lake-shore forest (IAF), DAF secondary
bushland and FLV/OW
Ericaceous Belt (EB) and variants
EB [proper]
EB, mosaic of dry patches and areas with seepage
Lowest zone in EB
Transition between uppermost zone of DAF and
lowermost zone of EB
Transition between uppermost zone of EB and AA
Afro-Alpine vegetation (AA) and subtypes
Dry, stony AA
Moist AA with Carex monostachya swamps
Mosaic of moist and dry AA
Mosaic of moist and dry AA, the former with
Carex monostachya swamps
Freshwater Lakes (FLV) and variants; open water FLV/MFS on black cotton soil
(FLV/OW) and freshwater marshes and swamps,
FWL/OW
floodplains and lake shore vegetation [other than
Mosaic of FLV/MFS and DAF woodland
lake shore forest here classifies as IAF] (FLV/
MFS)
We have also tried to model the Potential Natural Vegetation of all Pichi Sermolli’s collecting cites according to the criteria used in Friis et al. (2022). In running the
calculations for the model, we have used the coordinates ascribed to all the collecting sites by the georeferencing in chapter “5. Chronological list of collecting localities …” The model also includes data from the Digital Elevation Model (CGIAR-CSI
2008) with a pixel size of 90 x 90 m., and we have used that data for comparing Pichi
Sermolli’s indications of the altitudes of the sites with the DEM. Although the pixel
size may allow some local variation in altitude within the 90 x 90 m., we expect that
the DEM provides more accurate altitudes than Pichi Sermolli’s measurements using
an altimeter liable to indicate varying altitudes with changes in barometric pressure.
Again, the field observations show a considerably more complex situation than what
is predicted by the model.
Lat
Long
Altitude ac- Average al- Altitude ac- Difference Habitat according to
cording to titude ac- cording to altitude observations
Pichi Ser- cording to DEM in m. estimate
molli (1951) Pichi Serin m.
molli (m.)
Modelled habitat
E1
1
15.345293 38.959
2400
2400
2384
16
Acacia etbaica bushland
Outside model of Ethiopian
vegetation
E2
2
15.282629 38.85
c. 2300
2300
2260
40
Semideciduous bushland
Outside model of Ethiopian
vegetation
E3
3
15.139246 36.655
585
585
588
-3
Dry Acacia bushland
Outside model of Ethiopian
vegetation
NW1
4
13.769868 36.935
850
850
734
116
Bed of temporary stream
Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
NW2
5
12.845624 37.367
1200
1200
1215
-15
Deciduous woodland with BoswelliaCombretum-Terminalia woodland
papyrifera
and wooded grassland
T1
6
12.819888 37.374
1600
1600
1399
201
DAF (secondary bushland)
T2
7
12.772005 37.413
1800-2000
1900
1860
40
Mainly DAF (secondary bushland Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
with CTW-species)
and grassland complex
T3
8
12.772005 37.413
c. 2000
2000
1860
140
Mainly DAF (secondary bushland Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
with DAF/IAF-species)
and grassland complex
T5
9
12.741234 37.418
2300
2300
2052
248
Mainly DAF (secondary bushland Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
with CTW-species)
and grassland complex
T7
10
12.744099 37.419
2400
2400
2131
269
Mainly DAF (secondary bushland Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
with DAF/IAF-species and forest and grassland complex
patches)
T8&9
11
12.744099 37.419
2400
2400
2131
269
Mainly DAF (secondary bushland Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
with DAF/IAF-species and forest and grassland complex
patches)
T10
12
12.706899 37.454
2500
2500
2556
-56
Mainly DAF (secondary bushland Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
with DAF/IAF-species)
and grassland complex
T11
13
12.704897 37.447
2400
2400
2536
-136
Mainly DAF (secondary bushland Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
with DAF/IAF-species and forest and grassland complex
patches)
Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
PICHI SERMOLLI’S OBSERVATIONS AND MODERN MODELS
Number NumID
289
T12
Lat
Long
Altitude ac- Average al- Altitude ac- Difference Habitat according to
cording to titude ac- cording to altitude observations
Pichi Ser- cording to DEM in m. estimate
molli (1951) Pichi Sermolli (m.)
in m.
Modelled habitat
14
12.710368 37.446
2400
2400
2436
-36
Mainly DAF (secondary bushland Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
with DAF/IAF-species and forest and grassland complex
patches, but with one species widespread in CTW)
T14,15&16 15
12.721863 37.508
2400
2400
2763
-363
Mainly DAF (secondary bushland Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
with DAF/IAF-species and forest and grassland complex
patches)
T16a
16
12.608801 37.47
2280
2280
2226
54
DAF (secondary bushland)
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
T17
17
11.605236 37.409
1820
1820
1786
34
FLV/MFS
Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
T18
18
11.599132
1825
1825
1798
27
Mosaic of DAF/IAF and FLV/MFS Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
T18a
19
11.594706 37.39
1825
1825
1795
30
DAF (secondary bushland)
T19
20
11.612607 37.377
1825
1825
1788
37
Mainly DAF (secondary bushland Combretum-Terminalia woodland
with DAF/IAF-species and forest and wooded grassland
patches)
T20
21
11.517453
37.332
1900
1900
1966
-66
Mainly CTW with some DAF/
IAF-species
T21
22
11.517453
37.332
1850
1850
1966
-116
Mainly CTW with some DAF/IAF- Intermediate evergreen Afromonspecies; small areas with FLV/MFS tane forest
T22
23
11.616247
37.348
1825
1825
1792
33
Mosaic of CTW, lake-shore forest Combretum-Terminalia woodland
(IAF) and FLV/MFS
and wooded grassland
T23
24
11.613346 37.364
1825
1825
1814
11
Mosaic of DAF secondary bushland Combretum-Terminalia woodland
with DAF/IAF-species and forest and wooded grassland
T23a
25
11.613346 37.364
1825
1825
1814
11
Home garden
T24
26
11.61727
1825
1825
1791
34
Lake-shore forest (IAF), FLV/MFS Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and FLV/OW
and wooded grassland
37.396
Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
Intermediate evergreen Afromontane forest
Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
37.367
290
Number NumID
Lat
Long
T24a
27
11.538236 37.4
T25
28
11.651935
T25a
29
T25b
Altitude ac- Average al- Altitude ac- Difference Habitat according to
cording to titude ac- cording to altitude observations
Pichi Ser- cording to DEM in m. estimate
molli (1951) Pichi Serin m.
molli (m.)
Modelled habitat
1850
1850
1781
69
Only one species; probably in CTWCombretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
1820-1900,
1850-1900
1870
1819
51
DAF/IAF- forest
11.580069 37.395
1825
1825
1795
30
Only one species; probably in CTWCombretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
30
11.540919 37.407
1850
1850
1772
78
Bed of temporary stream
T26
31
11.501653
1850
1850
1758
92
CTW in mosaic with DAF second- Combretum-Terminalia woodland
ary bushland
and wooded grassland
T27
32
11.604488 37.408
1820, 1825
1822
1793
29
IAF-species in IAF lake-shore for- Combretum-Terminalia woodland
est, DAF woodland and FLV/OW and wooded grassland
T28
33
11.636738 37.32
1850
1850
1801
49
Mosaic of lake-shore forest (IAF), Combretum-Terminalia woodland
DAF secondary bushland and
and wooded grassland
CTW
T29
34
11.644689 37.32
1820, 1825,
1850
1832
1790
42
Mosaic of lake-shore forest (IAF), Fresh-water lakes – open water
DAF secondary bushland and FLV/ vegetation
OW
T29a
35
11.645699 37.368
1820
1820
1799
21
Bed of temporary stream
Fresh-water lakes – open water
vegetation
T30
36
11.618411
37.404
1825
1825
1790
35
DAF woodland
Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
T31
37
11.605236 37.409
1820
1820
1786
34
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest, DAF
secondary bushland and DAF
woodland
Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
T33
38
11.605236 37.409
1830
1830
1786
44
Mosaic of DAF secondary bushland Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and DAF woodland
and wooded grassland
37.364
37.426
Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
PICHI SERMOLLI’S OBSERVATIONS AND MODERN MODELS
Number NumID
291
Lat
Long
Altitude ac- Average al- Altitude ac- Difference Habitat according to
cording to titude ac- cording to altitude observations
Pichi Ser- cording to DEM in m. estimate
molli (1951) Pichi Sermolli (m.)
in m.
Modelled habitat
T34
39
11.589001 37.359
1900
1900
1803
97
Mosaic of DAF secondary bushland Intermediate evergreen Afromonand DAF woodland
tane forest
T35
40
11.589001 37.359
1850, 1900
1875
1803
72
Mosaic of DAF secondary bushland Intermediate evergreen Afromonand DAF woodland
tane forest
T36
41
11.613346 37.364
1825
1825
1814
11
Mosaic of DAF secondary bushland Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and DAF woodland
and wooded grassland
T37
42
11.688015 37.315
1825
1825
1797
28
Mosaic of DAF secondary bushland Fresh-water lakes – open water
and DAF woodland
vegetation
T37a
43
11.686135 37.316
1825
1825
1809
16
Mosaic of DAF secondary bushland Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and FLV/MFS
and wooded grassland
T37b
44
11.688015 37.315
1820
1820
1797
23
FWL/OW
T38
45
11.696162
1825, 1850
1832
1797
35
Mosaic of DAF secondary bushland Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and DAF woodland
and wooded grassland
T39
46
11.687779 37.334
1900
1900
1818
82
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest, DAF
secondary bushland and DAF
woodland
Intermediate evergreen Afromontane forest
T40
47
11.686867 37.326
1900
1900
1814
86
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest and
DAF woodland
Intermediate evergreen Afromontane forest
T41
48
11.683429 37.316
1820, 1825,
1850
1832
1791
41
Mosaic of lake-shore forest (IAF), Fresh-water lakes – open water
DAF secondary bushland and DAF vegetation
woodland
T41a
49
11.692627 37.317
1830
1830
1806
24
Single tree in village
T42
50
11.697398 37.336
2000
2000
1917
83
Mosaic of DAF secondary bushland Intermediate evergreen Afromonand DAF woodland
tane forest
T42a
51
11.698425 37.336
1830, 2000
1865
1938
-73
Mosaic of DAF secondary bushland Intermediate evergreen Afromonand DAF woodland
tane forest
T43
52
11.70002
1900, 2000
1950
1982
-32
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest and
DAF secondary bushland
37.309
Fresh-water lakes – open water
vegetation
Intermediate evergreen Afromontane forest
Intermediate evergreen Afromontane forest
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
37.336
292
Number NumID
Lat
Long
37.32
Altitude ac- Average al- Altitude ac- Difference Habitat according to
cording to titude ac- cording to altitude observations
Pichi Ser- cording to DEM in m. estimate
molli (1951) Pichi Serin m.
molli (m.)
Modelled habitat
1830, 1850,
1900, 2000
1895
1816
79
DAF secondary bushland
Intermediate evergreen Afromontane forest
1830, 1850
1840
1797
43
Home garden
Intermediate evergreen Afromontane forest
53
11.693196
T45
54
11.682438 37.315
T46
55
11.70002
37.336
1950
1950
1982
-32
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest (at
church) and DAF secondary
bushland
Intermediate evergreen Afromontane forest
T47
56
11.698425 37.336
2000
2000
1938
62
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest, DAF
secondary bushland and DAF
woodland
Intermediate evergreen Afromontane forest
T48&49
57
11.603588 37.283
1850
1850
1828
22
IAF lake shore forest, DAF second- Intermediate evergreen Afromonary bushland and DAF woodland tane forest
T50
58
11.618091
1850
1850
1919
-69
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest, DAF
secondary bushland and DAF
woodland
T51
59
11.639507 37.295
1850
1850
1805
45
Mosaic of FLV/OW and FLV/MFS Intermediate evergreen Afromontane forest
T51a
60
11.635693 37.295
1850
1850
1805
45
FLV/OW
Intermediate evergreen Afromontane forest
T52
61
11.613494 37.281
1900
1900
1850
50
CTW
Intermediate evergreen Afromontane forest
T53
62
11.613494 37.281
1950
1950
1850
100
Mosaic of DAF secondary bushland Intermediate evergreen Afromonand CTW
tane forest
T54
63
11.663253 37.279
1850
1850
1813
37
Mosaic of lake-shore forest (IAF), Intermediate evergreen AfromonDAF secondary bushland and
tane forest
CTW
T55
64
11.895193
1900
1900
1836
64
DAF/IAF forest (on nearly the
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
whole island), with some DAF sec- and grassland complex
ondary bushland
T56
65
11.894901 37.271
1820, 1830
1815
1794
21
Mosaic of DAF secondary bushland Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and DAF woodland
and wooded grassland
37.28
37.31
Intermediate evergreen Afromontane forest
293
T44
PICHI SERMOLLI’S OBSERVATIONS AND MODERN MODELS
Number NumID
Lat
Long
Altitude ac- Average al- Altitude ac- Difference Habitat according to
cording to titude ac- cording to altitude observations
Pichi Ser- cording to DEM in m. estimate
molli (1951) Pichi Sermolli (m.)
in m.
Modelled habitat
Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
T56a
66
11.907103
37.292
1830
1830
1798
32
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest and
DAF secondary bushland
T57
67
11.86869
37.006
1850, 1900
1875
1886
-11
Mosaic of DAF secondary bushland Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and CTW
and grassland complex
T58
68
11.879805 37.027
1850
1850
1798
52
DAF/IAF forest with some second- Combretum-Terminalia woodland
ary bushland
and wooded grassland
T59
69
11.889818
37.022
1850
1850
1811
39
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest (at
church and lake shore) and DAF
secondary bushland
T60
70
11.875721
37.021
1850
1850
1812
38
Mosaic of DAF secondary bushland Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and CTW
and grassland complex
T61
71
11.877202 37.036
1830
1830
1793
37
FLV/MFS
T62
72
11.889448 37.021
1850, 1900
1875
1807
68
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest (around Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
church), DAF secondary bushland and grassland complex
and DAF woodland
T63
73
11.881965
1830, 1850
1840
1790
50
Mosaic of FLV/MFS and DAF
woodland
Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
T64
74
11.875289 36.963
1950
1950
1968
-18
Mosaic of CTW, DAF woodland
and DAF secondary bushland
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
T65
75
11.886983 36.96
1900
1900
1959
-59
Mosaic of CTW, DAF woodland
and DAF secondary bushland
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
T66
76
11.887548 36.952
1950
1950
2037
-87
Mosaic of CTW, DAF woodland
and DAF secondary bushland
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
T67
77
11.887548 36.952
1950
1950
2037
-87
Mosaic of CTW, DAF woodland
and DAF secondary bushland
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
T68
78
11.902724 36.922
2000
2000
2144
-144
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest and
DAF secondary bushland
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
T69
79
11.924261 36.904
2200
2200
2218
-18
Mosaic of CTW, DAF/IAF forest
and DAF secondary bushland
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
37.01
294
Number NumID
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
Fresh-water lakes – open water
vegetation
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Lat
Long
Altitude ac- Average al- Altitude ac- Difference Habitat according to
cording to titude ac- cording to altitude observations
Pichi Ser- cording to DEM in m. estimate
molli (1951) Pichi Serin m.
molli (m.)
Modelled habitat
T70
80
11.935397 36.871
2200
2200
2240
-40
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest and
DAF secondary bushland
T71
81
11.923394 36.884
2100
2100
2146
-46
Mosaic of CTW, DAF secondary Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
bushland and a few species of DAF/ and grassland complex
IAF forest
T72
82
11.95069
1800, 1900
1850
1972
-122
CTW with small patch of DAF sec- Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
ondary bushland
and grassland complex
T73
83
11.924261 36.904
2200
2200
2218
-18
Mosaic of CTW, DAF woodland
and DAF secondary bushland
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
T74
84
11.902724 36.922
2100
2100
2144
-44
CTW and DAF woodland, with
small patches of DAF forest and
secondary bushland
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
T75
85
12.239404 37.302
1820, 1825
1822
1798
24
IAF lake shore forest, with some Fresh-water lakes – open water
DAF/IAF forest and DAF second- vegetation
ary bushland
T76
86
12.234635 37.301
1900, 1950
1925
1838
87
Mosaic of CTW, IAF lake shore for- Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
est, DAF woodland and DAF sec- and grassland complex
ondary bushland
T77
87
12.240659 37.283
1850, 1950
1900
1911
-11
Mosaic of CTW, DAF woodland
and DAF secondary bushland
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
T78
88
12.23721
37.281
1950
1950
1958
-8
CTW and DAF woodland
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
T78a
89
12.242354 37.302
1850
1850
1794
56
DAF/IAF forest and DAF second- Combretum-Terminalia woodland
ary bushland
and wooded grassland
T78b
90
12.242359 37.301
1850
1850
1789
61
CTW and DAF woodland
T80
91
12.242359 37.301
1850
1850
1789
61
CTW and DAF woodland and DAF Combretum-Terminalia woodland
secondary bushland, some FLV/ and wooded grassland
MFS
T81
92
12.241955 37.291
1850
1850
1823
27
Mosaic of CTW, DAF woodland
and DAF secondary bushland
36.752
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
PICHI SERMOLLI’S OBSERVATIONS AND MODERN MODELS
Number NumID
Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
295
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
Lat
Long
Altitude ac- Average al- Altitude ac- Difference Habitat according to
cording to titude ac- cording to altitude observations
Pichi Ser- cording to DEM in m. estimate
molli (1951) Pichi Sermolli (m.)
in m.
Modelled habitat
93
12.23721
37.281
1950
1950
1958
-8
CTW and DAF woodland
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
T83
94
12.234635 37.301
1900
1900
1838
62
CTW and DAF woodland
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
T84
95
12.212865 37.295
1820, 1825
1822
1796
26
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest and
DAF secondary bushland, some
FLV/MFS, a few species of CTW
Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
T85
96
12.20101
1825
1825
1799
26
CTW and DAF woodland
Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
T85a
97
12.376553 37.36
1850
1850
1805
45
DAF/IAF forest (around church)
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
T87&88
98
12.086855 37.731
1880
1880
1851
29
Mosaic of CTW, DAF woodland
and DAF secondary bushland
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
T89
99
12.094021 37.709
1900, 2000
1950
1981
-31
Mosaic of CTW, DAF woodland
and DAF secondary bushland
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
T90
100
12.088382 37.73
1850, 1880
1865
1856
9
Mosaic of CTW, DAF woodland
and DAF secondary bushland;
many species of Acacia
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
T91
101
12.088382 37.73
1880
1880
1856
24
Only one species; possibly DAF
woodland
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
T92
102
12.024827 37.82
1950
1950
1807
143
Only one species; possibly DAF
woodland
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
T93
103
12.047305 37.984
1900
1900
1858
42
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest and
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
DAF secondary bushland, some
and grassland complex
IAF lake shore forest and FLV/MFS
T94
104
11.99879
38.004
2000, 2200
2100
2006
94
DAF secondary bushland
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
T95
105
11.99879
38.004
1950, 2000,
2100, 2200,
2400
2130
2006
124
DAF secondary bushland
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
37.279
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
T82
296
Number NumID
Lat
Long
Altitude ac- Average al- Altitude ac- Difference Habitat according to
cording to titude ac- cording to altitude observations
Pichi Ser- cording to DEM in m. estimate
molli (1951) Pichi Serin m.
molli (m.)
T95a
106
11.99879
38.004
2000
2000
2006
-6
T96
107
11.938924 37.702
2300
2300
1794
T97
108
11.94002
37.641
1880
1880
T98
109
11.938924 37.702
2300
T99&100 110
11.846149 37.631
T101
111
11.846149 37.631
T101a
112
11.84597
T102
113
11.730142
T103
Modelled habitat
DAF woodland
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
506
DAF secondary bushland
Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
1791
89
FLV/MFS on black cotton soil
Fresh-water marshes and swamps
2300
1794
506
DAF woodland
Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
1950
1950
1805
145
Mosaic of CTW, DAF/IAF lake
shore forest and DAF secondary
bushland
Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
1940, 1950
1945
1805
140
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest and
Combretum-Terminalia woodland
small patches of DAF secondary
and wooded grassland
bushland; possibly IAF lake shore
forest
37.521
1820
1820
1953
-133
FLV/OW
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
37.461
1900
1900
1794
106
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest (lake
shore forest) and patches of DAF
secondary bushland
Combretum-Terminalia woodland
and wooded grassland
114
11.694909 37.498
1900
1900
1918
-18
Mosaic of DAF/IAF forest (church Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
forest) and patches of DAF second- and grassland complex
ary bushland
T103a
115
12.186714
37.867
2850-2950
2900
2932
-32
Transition between uppermost
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
zone of DAF (with Hagenia abyssini-and grassland complex
ca-Hypericum revolutum forest) and
lowermost zone of EB
T104
116
11.879704 38.017
2940, 2950
2945
2579
366
DAF secondary bushland (probably Intermediate evergreen Afromonderived from DAF forest)
tane forest
T105&106 117
11.836913 38.003
3000, 3050
3025
2840
185
EB (with patches of Acacia negrii
woodland)
T107
11.836913 38.003
3050
3050
2840
210
EB (with patches of planted Junipe- Intermediate evergreen Afromonrus procera in church forest)
tane forest
Intermediate evergreen Afromontane forest
297
118
PICHI SERMOLLI’S OBSERVATIONS AND MODERN MODELS
Number NumID
Lat
Long
Altitude ac- Average al- Altitude ac- Difference Habitat according to
cording to titude ac- cording to altitude observations
Pichi Ser- cording to DEM in m. estimate
molli (1951) Pichi Sermolli (m.)
in m.
Modelled habitat
119
11.853666 38.007
2940 (2490
is probably
error)
2940
2700
240
Intermediate evergreen AfromonTransition between uppermost
zone of DAF (with Hypericum revo- tane forest
lutum forest) and lowermost zone
of EB
T109
120
11.853496 38.022
2950
2950
2716
234
Intermediate evergreen AfromonTransition between uppermost
zone of DAF (with Hypericum revo- tane forest
lutum and secondary bushland) and
lowermost zone of EB
T110
121
11.853496 38.022
2950
2950
2716
234
Transition between uppermost
zone of DAF (Juniperus procera
probably planted (church forest))
and lowermost zone of EB
Intermediate evergreen Afromontane forest
T111
122
11.88417
2800
2800
2563
237
DAF forest and secondary bushland; some DAF woodland (with
Acacia abyssinica and A. negrii)
Intermediate evergreen Afromontane forest
T113
123
11.900893 38.026
2800, 2900,
2940
2880
2534
346
DAF woodland (with Acacia negrii) Intermediate evergreen Afromonand DAF secondary bushland
tane forest
C
124
12.507064 37.118
1800
1800
1841
-41
Only one species (Scadoxus multi- Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
florus) recorded
and grassland complex
S1
125
13.133069 37.929
c. 2900
2900
2743
157
Lowest zone of EB
S2
126
13.162416
c. 2850
2850
2923
-73
DAF woodland (with Acacia negrii) Ericaceous belt
S3
127
13.212649 38.009
3200
3200
3202
-2
Transition between uppermost
Ericaceous belt
zone of DAF (with Hypericum revolutum) and lowermost zone of EB
S4
128
13.226647 38.083
c. 3350
3350
3380
-30
EB
Afroalpine belt
S5
129
13.227485 38.114
c. 3350,
3400-3500
3400
3515
-115
Probably EB
Afroalpine belt
S6
130
13.258132 38.132
c. 3650
3650
3697
-47
Probably EB
Afroalpine belt
S7
131
13.234487 38.081
c. 3300
3300
3347
-47
Transition between uppermost
Afroalpine belt
zone of DAF (with Hypericum revolutum) and lowermost zone of EB
38.019
37.953
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
and grassland complex
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
T108
298
Number NumID
Lat
Long
Altitude ac- Average al- Altitude ac- Difference Habitat according to
cording to titude ac- cording to altitude observations
Pichi Ser- cording to DEM in m. estimate
molli (1951) Pichi Serin m.
molli (m.)
Modelled habitat
S8
132
13.240868 38.15
c. 3650
3650
3703
-53
Transition between uppermost
Afroalpine belt
zone of DAF (with Hypericum revolutum) and lowermost zone of EB
S9
133
13.261926 38.197
3700-3800
3750
3657
93
Transition between uppermost
zone of EB and AA (with Lobelia
rhynchopetalum grassland)
Afroalpine belt
S10
134
13.254823 38.175
c. 3700
3700
3802
-102
AA
Afroalpine belt
S11
135
13.255298 38.179
c. 3700
3700
3743
-43
EB, mosaic of dry patches and areas Afroalpine belt
with seepage
S12
136
13.247459 38.221
c. 4300
4300
4323
-23
Mosaic of moist and dry AA
Afroalpine belt
S13
137
13.247963 38.218
4200-4510
4350
4293
57
Mosaic of moist and dry AA
Afroalpine belt
S14
138
13.334785 38.263
4250-4475
4350
4328
22
Mosaic of moist and dry AA
Afroalpine belt
S15
139
13.33719
c. 4000
4000
4228
-228
38.268
Moist AA with Carex monostachya Afroalpine belt
swamps
S16
140
13.291907 38.266
c. 3740
3740
3383
357
Dry, stony AA
Afroalpine belt
S17
141
13.295146 38.27
c. 3700
3700
3514
186
EB
Afroalpine belt
S18
142
13.25289
38.294
c. 2840
2840
2836
4
S19
143
13.268872 38.309
c. 2950
2950
3037
-87
Mosaic of moist and dry AA
Ericaceous belt
S20
144
13.266551 38.291
2900-3100
3000
2975
25
DAF woodland with Acacia
pilispina
Ericaceous belt
S21
145
13.249924 38.367
4300-4520
4410
4123
287
Mosaic of moist and dry AA, the
former with Carex monostachya
swamps
Afroalpine belt
S22
146
13.235
4350-4620
4485
4427
58
Mosaic of dry and moist AA, mostly Afroalpine belt
moist
S23
147
13.248613 38.373
4620
4620
4477
143
Dry AA
38.376
PICHI SERMOLLI’S OBSERVATIONS AND MODERN MODELS
Number NumID
Transition between uppermost
Dry evergreen Afromontane forest
zone of DAF (with Rosa abyssinica and grassland complex
and Salix subserrata) and lowermost
zone of EB
Afroalpine belt
299
Lat
Long
Altitude ac- Average al- Altitude ac- Difference Habitat according to
cording to titude ac- cording to altitude observations
Pichi Ser- cording to DEM in m. estimate
molli (1951) Pichi Sermolli (m.)
in m.
Modelled habitat
S24
148
13.274232 38.412
c. 4200
4200
4169
31
S25
149
13.306185 38.321
c. 3800,
4000,
4200-4532
4055
4267
-212
Dry AA
Afroalpine belt
S26
150
13.335
38.258
4300
4300
4135
165
Dry AA
Afroalpine belt
S27
151
13.340448 38.255
3795
3795
3814
-19
Moist AA with Carex monostachya Afroalpine belt
swamps
S28
152
13.324594 38.214
c. 3100
3100
3397
-297
Transition between uppermost
zone of DAF and lowermost zone
of EB
300
Number NumID
Dry AA, some species growing on Afroalpine belt
vertical rock faces
Afroalpine belt
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
CHAPTER 9
Conclusions
According to this analysis of Pichi Sermolli’s works, his observations of the Combretum-Terminalia woodland on the western escarpment of the Ethiopian highlands represent a very valuable pioneering effort, which according to Friis et al. (2022) describes
the main features of this vegetation suitably, although much detail has had to be added
since. Also Pichi Sermolli’s observations of the vegetation of the Semien still stands as a
pioneering work, and the outlines of his observations agree with later descriptions, for
example the one by Puff & Sileshi (2005), which confirms Pichi Sermolli’s vegetation
types from the higher parts of the Semien Mountains: Ericaceous woodland and bushland and Afroalpine vegetation types, within which Pichi Sermolli distinguished Carex
monostachya bogs, Afroalpine grasslands with Lobelia rhynchopetalum and Afroalpine
vegetation on stony or rocky areas.
The situation with the vegetation of the Lake Tana Basin is more complicated. According to our conclusions in this publication, one can in the Lake Tana Basin observe
a complex mosaic of Combretum-Terminalia woodland (CTW), Dry evergreen Afromontane forest and grassland complex (DAF, with the subtypes Undifferentiated Afromontane forest (DAF/U) and Afromontane woodland, wooded grassland and grassland (DAF/
WG)), Intermediate Montane Forest (IMF), and Fresh-water lakes, etc. (FLV, with the
subtypes Fresh-water lake vegetation (open water; (FLV/OW) and Freshwater marshes
and swamps, floodplains and lake shore vegetation (FLV/MFS)). Pichi Sermolli described
the original forests vegetation on the islands of Dek and Kebra Uddus Gabriel and on
the Zegie peninsula, the shore forests of Lake Tana with Syzygium guineense and the
heavily grazed Afromontane wooded grasslands with Acacia abyssinica and other highland species of Acacia, as well as the patches of Combretum-Terminalia woodland that
occurs inside the Lake Tana Basin, he did not manage to paint a completely clear picture of the complex vegetation mosaic. The many centuries of human activity in the
Ib Friis, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Denmark, ibf@snm.ku.dk, 0000-0002-2438-1528
Sebsebe Demissew, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, sebseb.demissew@gmail.com, 0000-0002-0123-9596
Odile Weber, National Museum of Natural History, Luxemburg, odile.weber@mnhn.lu, 0000-0002-0861-2752
Paulo van Breugel, HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands, p.vanbreugel@gmail.com, 0000-0001-95790831
Referee List (DOI 10.36253/fup_referee_list)
FUP Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOI 10.36253/fup_best_practice)
Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew, Odile Weber, Paulo van Breugel, Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia. A new look at
Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results from the ‘Missione di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937, © 2022 Author(s), CC BY 4.0,
published by Firenze University Press, ISBN 978-88-5518-634-6 , DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-634-6
302
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Lake Tana basin has blurred any borders that may originally have existed between the
Combretum-Terminalia woodland, the forests, the Afromontane woodland, wooded
grassland and grassland, and the secondary Afromontane bushland. This blurred image has been documented by the detailed map of the actual vegetation by Chuangye
Song et al. (2018). Pichi Sermolli’s studies have documented the many manifestations
of vegetation in the Lake Tana Basin and contained many pioneering observations, but
he did not formulate a lasting synthesis about the vegetation in the Tana Basin, which
may have discouraged him from writing the definite second volume on vegetation that
was announced in Pichi Sermolli (1951).
Even today it is difficult to reconstruct the potential natural vegetation in the Lake
Tana basin. Pichi Sermolli’s ideas about the vegetation of the western escarpment of
the Ethiopian highlands and of the Semien were clear and in agreement with presentday opinions. Because of these observations and because of Pichi Sermolli’s very well
documented collections from the Lake Tana Basin, we strongly recommend that his
works should still be studied and considered a solid foundation on which to base further studies of those parts of Ethiopia.
Acknowledgements
We wish to thank Dr. Riccardo Baldini and Lia Pignotti for their encouragement
and help with our work on Pichi Sermolli’s collections from the Lake Tana expedition
and the reconstruction of his collecting localities. Dr. R. M. Polhill, retired botanist
formerly at the Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, has kindly read and reviewed
the manuscript of this work; Dr. Polhill has authored monographs of the mainly African genus Crotalaria and the Loranthaceae and Viscaceae of Africa, he was for many
years the editor of the monumental Flora of Tropical East Africa, he has contributed to
the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, and wrote with his wife, Diana Polhill, a comprehensive monograph of plant collectors and plant collection in Tropical East Africa. We are
grateful to the Carlsberg Foundation in Copenhagen, Denmark, for support of our field
work during many years; this field work allowed us to study nearly all the localities visited by Pichi Sermolli, with exception of the sites in Eritrea and in the north eastern
part of the Semien. The photographs by Sebsebe Demissew and Ib Friis illustrating
chapter 5 were taken during field trips supported by the Carlsberg Foundation. Finally,
the authors will most sincerely thank the Centro Studi Erbario Tropicale (Herbarium
FT) and the Department of Biology of the University of Florence for having financially
sponsored the publication of this book.
FUP Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOI 10.36253/fup_best_practice)
Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew, Odile Weber, Paulo van Breugel, Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia. A new look at
Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results from the ‘Missione di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937, © 2022 Author(s), CC BY 4.0,
published by Firenze University Press, ISBN 978-88-5518-634-6, DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-634-6
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& Pisacchi, A. 22: 233 − 289. 1967.- 15. Elaphoglossaceae. Pichi Sermolli R.E.G. 23: 209 −
246. 1968. - 16. Marattiaceae. Pichi Sermolli R.E.G. 23: 329 − 351. 1969. - 17. Turneriaceae.
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R.E.G. 23: 379 − 396. 1969. - 19. Thymeleaceae. Gastaldo P. 24: 337 − 389. 1969. - 20.
Globulariaceae. Braggio Morucchio G. 24: 619 − 634. 1970. - 21. Primulaceae. Bizzarri M.P.
24: 635 − 698.1970. - 22. Caesalpinaceae. Gen. Cassia. Serrato Valenti G. 26: 1 − 99. 1971.
- 23. Onagraceae. Bizzarri M.P. & Raven P.H. 27: 467 − 504. 1972. - 24. Rhizophoraceae.
Arena M.R. & Orsino F. 28: 135 − 159. 1973. - 25. Saxifragaceae. Rampi A. 28: 521 − 542.
1973. - 26. Menispermaceae. Benvenuto E. 29: 17 − 80. 1974.- 27. Selaginellaceae. Bizzarri
M.P. 29: 545 − 594. 1975. - 28. Oleaceae. DeFilipps R. 30: 177 − 190. 1976. - 29. Oxalidaceae.
Roti-Michelozzi Clavarino G. 32: 417 − 453. 1978. - 30. Zygophyllaceae. Nabil El Madidi
M. 33: 45 − 101. 1978. - 31. Equisetaceae. Gastaldo P. & Paola G. 33: 103 − 113. 1978. – 32.
Nephrolepidaceae. Pichi Sermolli R.E.G. 33: 115 − 135. 1978.
309
Indexes and synonymy
This section contains (1) an alphabetically arranged index to localities mentioned
in Pichi Sermolli (1951), (2) an alphabetically arranged index of the plant names in this
work, both nearly all those used in the publications by Pichi Sermolli and those accepted
for the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, (3) an alphabetical list of all the outdated plant names
used by Pichi Sermolli (including names in publications other than Pichi Sermolli 1951
and also some rarely used in the 1951 publication) and their modern equivalents, and (4)
a list of the archival numbers of Pichi Sermolli’s photographs and the dates on which we
assume they were taken. Note that not all names used in Pichi Sermolli’s publications on
Ethiopian and Eritrean plants can be found in Index 2; the modern synonyms of some
names which Pichi Sermolli rarely used have to be found via the list of synonyms in 3,
and the currently used name should then be looked for in the text via Index 2.
1. Index to locality names
The names of towns or villages are simply listed as names. Mountains are usually in
Pichi Sermolli’s text indicated by “Mt.” or “Monte”, indications repeated here. Streams
are indicated as “Torrente” or by an English word, “stream”, “river”, etc. Islands are indicated as “Isola”. Mountain passes are indicated as “Colle” or “Passo”. The ferry on the
Abay (Blue Nile) at Bahar Dar is the “traghetto”. Pichi Sermolli sometimes used the
Amharic word for hill or mountain (“tarara”), for flat-topped hills (“amba”), for river
or steam (“uenz”, “uensi” or “wenz”), for hot spring (“full-uaha”, “fil woha”), for caves,
shelters or possibly narrow gorges (“uascia”, “washa”), as well as the Amharic names
of the saints to which the churches were dedicated or holy places for which they were
names (“Uddus” or “kudus” means “saint.”) “Techle Aimanot” or “Tecle Aimanot” is
a well-known Ethiopian saint, “Kuddus Georgis” is “St. George”, who is also very well
known in Ethiopia, “Maryam” is Mary, for example in “Debra Sina Mariam” and “Brigida Mariam”, while “Kuddus Jigga” or “Gigar” seems to be a less well known saint, and
“Medhane Alem” means the saviour of the world.
Ib Friis, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Denmark, ibf@snm.ku.dk, 0000-0002-2438-1528
Sebsebe Demissew, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, sebseb.demissew@gmail.com, 0000-0002-0123-9596
Odile Weber, National Museum of Natural History, Luxemburg, odile.weber@mnhn.lu, 0000-0002-0861-2752
Paulo van Breugel, HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands, p.vanbreugel@gmail.com, 0000-0001-95790831
Referee List (DOI 10.36253/fup_referee_list)
FUP Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOI 10.36253/fup_best_practice)
Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew, Odile Weber, Paulo van Breugel, Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia. A new look at
Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results from the ‘Missione di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937, © 2022 Author(s), CC BY 4.0,
published by Firenze University Press, ISBN 978-88-5518-634-6 , DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-634-6
312
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
As mentioned previously, Ethiopian place names are always difficult to render, particularly when transcribed to non-Ethiopian languages, and the way such names have
been transcribed in Italian and English may vary significantly. We have tried to indicate Pichi Sermolli’s original spelling as far as possible and cite more standardised place
names in sharp brackets, for example “Zeghie [Zegie]”. In most cases the entries in this
index follow the spelling at the particular place in the text to which the entry refers.
However, there are also significant inconsistencies in the spelling of the place names
between Pichi Sermolli’s different publications, making it difficult to follow a principle
of the most frequently used spelling. An example is the spelling of the name of a small
town at the southwestern shore of Lake Tana [Quonzela, Consuela, Consela]; in this
case we have tried to indicate all three forms in sharp brackets in the texts, but only
indexing the two most different forms, Quonzela and Consuela, which are far apart
in the index. In order to avoid too many minor variant-spellings in the Index, we have
applied a limited standardisation of the varying spelling. Therefore, in order to find a
place name, try also to look for minor variations, for example spelling with “s” or “z” or
spellings with or without an “h” which letter in Italian serves to modify the sound of
the consonant before it. Other difficulties are caused by names normally considered to
consist of two words, but sometimes only cited by the latter, for example “Ras Degien”
or “Degien” [Ras Dascian or Dascian; Ras Dejen or Dejen], where “Ras” indicates that
the name refers to a peak or a promontory, or “Beleghes” and “Mai Beleghes”, where
“Mai” indicates that the name refers to a stream.
Abba Bailu, Monte, 94, 201
Abba Cherima, Isola di, 55, 56
Abba Jared, Monte, 50, 63, 68, 95
Addeschie, Torrente di, 49, 62, 64, 68, 94, 226
Addi Arcai, 44, 50, 63, 66, 67, 68, 96, 247
Agordat, 44, 45, 51, 52, 78, 91
Alefa, 44, 58, 93, 178, 181, 182, 183, 184,
185, 186
Alemsaga, Torrente di, 205
Alsei (Sengia), 120
Ambaras, 49, 62, 63, 64, 68, 94, 228, 229,
231, 274
Ambaras Uascia [cave, near Ambaras], 231
Amberas Jesus, 178
Ambiquo, Torrente di, 50, 65
Ambiquo Uascia [cave or gorge], 239
Ametria, Monte, 120
Ancua, Monte, 50, 63, 66, 95, 244
Angareb, Torrente di, 119, 120
Anseba, Torrente di, 52, 78
Anzia, Torrente di, 63, 66, 68, 95
Arcuasie, 18
Arcuasie [mountain ridge], 71
Arcuasie, Passo di, 50, 64, 65, 68, 94, 236, 238
Arcuasie Uenz, 50, 76
Arno, Torrente di, 48, 60
Asmara, 63, 67, 78, 91, 116, 117
Asmara airport, 117
Ataba, 95
Atahunsa, Collina di, 168
Atgheba, 62, 65, 68, 71
Atgheba Ghiorghis, 95, 240
Auasa, Torrente di, 63, 68, 96
Avellana, Torrente di, 46, 84, 91
Bachiana, 89, 91, 124
Bahar Dar, 44, 46, 54, 55, 58, 59, 91, 129, 130,
131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 140, 141,
142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 151, 164
Baimo, Torrente di, 92, 164
Baker, Torrente di, 51, 52, 79, 80, 91
Barek, Torrente di, 80
Barentu, 44, 45, 52, 78, 80, 91
Barka, Torrente di, 52, 79, 80
Bascura, Torrente di, 52, 83, 91
Beleghes, 94, 229, 230, 232
Beleghes, Torrente di, 49, 64, 274
Beleghes, Valle di, 228, 229, 231, 233, 234
Berge, Monte, 95
Beroc Uaha, Monte, 50, 62, 64, 66, 68, 95
Birghida Mariam, 266
Birghida Mariam, Isola di, 47, 58, 59, 94, 198,
199, 259
Buahit, Monte, 45, 49, 50, 62, 64, 66, 68, 74,
94, 231, 234, 235
Casa Jesus, 84
Casa, Torrente di, 119
Celga, 48, 62, 225
Cennech, 49, 94, 228
313
INDEXES AND SYNONYMY
Cennech, Passo di, 72, 73, 231, 232
Checc, 85, 87
Chemat Uensi, Torrente di, 225
Chercher, Colle di, 53, 54, 86, 90, 125, 126
Chiddis Arit, Monte, 50, 68, 95, 244, 245
Cicia, Monte, 164, 167
Cima Mussolini, 47, 58, 191
Ciucia-Ifag, Regione di, 201
Coco, Monte, 91, 126
Consuela, 13, 17, 30, 33, 44, 47, 56, 57, 58,
173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181,
185, 186
Covitta, Amba, 132, 133
Curfu Uascia [cave], 233
Daga, Isola di, 47, 58, 93, 169
Daharo Kaulos, 44, 45, 91, 117
Debangi, Monte, 147, 149, 150, 281
Debarech, 44, 49, 54, 62, 63, 68, 70, 71, 90,
94, 226, 227
Debra Sina Mariam, Chiesa di, 193, 194,
195, 196
Debra Tabor, 44, 48, 61, 63, 94, 204, 205, 208,
219, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225
Deck, Isola di, 58, 93, 169, 171, 172, 173
Degien, Monte, 68, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244
Degien, Passo di, 95
Deroa, 94
Dukulcan Jesus, 182, 185
Elaberet, 52, 78
Enton, Island of, 281
Fissa, Regione di, 215
Foghera, 209
Full-uaha-Muhat, Sorgente calda di, 58, 93,
184
Furie, 44, 92, 151, 152, 157, 161, 162, 164, 168
Gasc, Torrente di, 52, 79, 80
Gilgel Abay, Torrente di, 92
Gondar, 7, 46, 54, 59, 62, 68, 78, 80, 91, 94,
120, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 225, 226
Gorgora, 17, 30, 44, 47, 58, 59, 93, 187, 191,
192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199,
259, 266
Gueldo, Torrente di, 94, 215
Gumbat Uddus Michael, Chiesa di, 216
Guna, Monte, 61
Gunidubba, Monte, 87, 88, 91, 121, 122
Guramba, 48, 58, 59, 200
Guranghe, Monte, 91, 127
Humera, 7, 44, 119
Iabec, Monte, 126
Ifag, 44, 48, 59, 60, 61, 62, 94, 200, 201, 203,
204, 205, 208, 209, 210, 223
Ilca tarara, 173, 178
Inatye, Monte, 231
Jabec, Monte, 91
Jesus Tabor, Monte, 48, 61, 219, 221, 259
Kain, Isola di, 91, 146
Kebra Jesus, Isola di, 91
Kebra Uddus Gabriel, Isola di, 47, 55, 56, 58,
91, 138, 146, 170
Keren, 44, 45, 52, 78, 79, 91
Kernat Uensi, 62
Kidis Yared, 244, 245
Korata, 217
Kuddus Gheorghis, Chiesa di, 177
Kuddus Ghigar, Chiesa di, 175
Lagata, Monte, 50, 63, 66, 68
Lake Tana, 53, 54, 56, 59, 66, 68, 78, 90, 91,
92, 94, 98, 119, 120, 125, 126, 129, 135,
138, 151, 158, 164, 169, 173, 183, 187, 198,
211, 215, 218, 225
Libo, Amba, 218
Maccarebia, 95
Mai Agam, Torrente di, 81
Mai Beleghes, Torrente di, 62
Mai Beleghes [valley], 68
Mai Sciaha, Torrente di, 239
Mareb, Torrente di, 52
Maryam Gimp, 47
Masciungulit Scientiber, Monte, 180, 181
Massawa, 44, 90, 91
Mecana, 68
Mecana Abbo, 95
Mecana Uenz, 50
Mecanha, 50, 62, 65, 66
Medania Alem, Chiesa di, 222, 223
Medina Alem, Chiesa di, 199
Mesciaha, Torrente di, 50, 65
Mesciaha, Valle di, 50, 64
Mescia, Torrente di, 68
Mesheha Wenz, Torrente di, 239
Metelal, Passo di, 50, 68, 95
Micciubbi, 49, 64, 72, 94, 227
Mucara, Collina, 211
Nilo Azzurro, Sponde del, 129
Nilo Azzurro, Traghetto del, 142, 147, 148
Nori, 50, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 95, 238
Om Ager, 44, 45, 51, 52, 78, 83, 91, 119
Piccolo Abbai, Torrente di, 56, 92
Quami, 58, 195
Quatele, Monte, 94, 206, 208
Quonzela, 13, 17, 30, 33, 44, 47, 57, 58, 92,
93, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 180, 181,
185, 186
Ras Dascian, Monte, 50, 64, 66, 68
Ras Dejen, Monte, 44, 50, 64, 66, 68, 242,
243, 282
Royan, Torrente di, 79
314
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Sabatami, 137
Sancaber, Regione di, 230
Sangia, Torrente di, 83
Sauima [mountain ridge], 66
Saurie, Torrente di, 227
Scenti, 180
Sciaura Mariam, Chiesa di, 183
Scie, Torrente di, 79, 80
Scimbit, 136
Sciunra Apu, 134
Selassil, Torrente di, 79
Selchi, Monte, 50, 68, 95, 236, 237, 245, 246
Selchi, Passo di, 66
Selcien, 143, 144, 145, 146
Semien, 62, 67, 68, 70, 77, 90, 94, 95, 98, 226,
230, 236, 238, 239
Sengia, 88, 120
Sengia, Torrente di, 52, 53, 78, 83, 85, 86,
91, 120
Sesbana, 58, 59
Sesela Abo, Chiesa di , 281
Setit, Torrente di, 78, 79
Shawira, 179, 181, 182
Shimbat Michael, Chiesa di, 136, 281
Soroca, Torrente di, 46, 52, 82, 83, 85, 91
Sua, Torrente di, 80, 81, 82, 91, 119
Suohna, 95
Suohna [mountain ridge], 68
Suohna, Valle di, 246
Tacaruo, Monte, 95
Taquan, 182
Taquan, Torrente di, 181, 186
Tata, 206, 208
Techle Aimanot, Chiesa di, 158, 159, 162, 163
Tekeldengy, 124
Tessenei, 44, 45, 78, 79, 82, 91, 118, 119
Tsegede Hills, 52
Tucur Dinghia, 44, 53, 54, 78, 86, 87, 88, 89,
90, 91, 121, 122, 123, 124, 278
Tznate Feterat, Torrente di, 83, 88
Ualta, Monte, 50, 63, 66, 68, 95, 240
Umfras, Torrente di, 92, 166, 167
Uolchefìt [mountain ridge], 70
Uolchefit, Passo di, 49
Uoreta, 205, 209, 210
Usueni, Sorgente di, 167
Vuoghelsa, Monte, 55, 164, 166, 167
Zagba, Torrente di, 83
Zara Enda Michael, Chiesa di, 17, 30, 44, 48,
61, 62, 94, 102, 211, 212, 213, 215
Zefen tarara, 47, 94, 191, 192, 193, 195, 196
Zeghie, 55, 56, 92, 151, 153, 154, 156, 157,
158, 159, 161, 162, 163, 164, 166, 167, 168
315
INDEXES AND SYNONYMY
2. Index to plant names in this work.
This is an alphabetical index to names of taxa used in the main part of this work,
including both names used in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea and to those Pichi Sermolli’s identifications that could not be further identified.
For the latter category, we have slightly standardised the forms of the names which
Pichi Sermolli (1951) used as his preliminary reference, e.g. Hyparrhenia (?) umbrosa,
Hyparrhenia sp. cfr. H. gazensis, or Indeterminabile. All preliminary names in this category are marked with asterisks (*), both in the text and in this index. We have gone
slightly further than Pichi Sermolli (1951) and have tried to classify these names into
two further categories, where the category with a question mark (e.g. Hyparrhenia (?)
umbrosa) indicates a near identification, while the type with ”sp. cfr.” seems to indicate a more general assumption about the identity. For neither type, the preliminary
identifications are provided with authority, although such are sometimes indicated in
Pichi Sermolli (1951). We have left out such authorities in order to make a clear distinction between names verified against the taxonomic concepts in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea and Pichi Sermolli’s preliminary identifications, where the authorities
are often outdated.
Abutilon bidentatum (Hochst.) A. Rich., 198,
251
Abutilon cecilii N.E. Br., 111, 217, 271
Abutilon longicuspe A. Rich., 169, 183, 223,
252
Abutilon mauritianum (Jacq.) Medic., 138,
145, 252
Abutilon smenospermum Pic. Serm., 111, 217,
271
Acacia abyssinica Benth., 46, 47, 48, 49, 53, 57,
58, 61, 70, 86, 89, 90, 124, 125, 126, 127,
128, 169, 179, 180, 183, 195, 203, 206, 223,
224, 255, 270, 298, 301
Acacia bavazzanoi Pic. Serm., 110, 179, 180,
192, 193, 194, 195, 203, 270, 271
Acacia etbaica Schweinf. subsp. etbaica, 116,
117, 255, 286, 289
Acacia lahai Benth., 203, 204, 255
Acacia negrii Pic. Serm., 110, 220, 221, 223,
224, 225, 227, 270, 276, 286, 297, 298
Acacia pilispina Pic. Serm., 110, 240, 276,
286, 299
Acacia saligna (Labil.) Wendl., 116, 117, 255
Acacia seyal?*, 270
Acacia seyal Del., 45, 48, 52, 59, 60, 79, 173,
174, 179, 183, 184, 188, 189, 191, 192, 193,
194, 196, 203, 204, 206, 255, 270
Acacia sieberiana DC. var. woodii (Burtt Davy)
Keay & Brenan, 201, 203, 204, 206, 255
Acacia venosa Benth., 126, 127, 180, 184, 185,
192, 193, 203, 204, 206, 255
Acanthus polystachius Del., 120, 124, 127, 131,
141, 146, 148, 149, 167, 168, 173, 175, 176,
179, 180, 183, 184, 191, 192, 269
Acanthus sennii Chiov., 130, 153, 169, 172, 173,
185, 186, 206, 208, 222, 269
Achyranthes argentea Lam., 90, 262
Achyranthes argentea Lam. var. virgata (Poir.)
Moq., 262
Achyranthes aspera L. var. pubescens (Moq.)
C.C. Townsend, 138, 154, 160, 169, 205,
214, 217, 262
Achyranthes aspera L. var. sicula L., 118, 124,
154, 175, 262
Adansonia digitata L., 45, 52, 78, 79, 80, 118
Adiantum capillus-veneris L., 118, 247, 279
Adiantum poiretii Wikstr., 89, 123, 139, 208,
221, 279
Aerangis brachycarpa (A. Rich.) Th. Dur. &
Schinz, 147, 148, 273
Aerangis sp. cfr. A. rohlfsiana*, 273
Aeschynomene schimperi A. Rich., 136, 137,
151, 271
Ageratum conyzoides L., 138, 154, 161, 211, 259
Agrostis cfr. A. quinqueseta*, 238, 274
Agrostis quinqueseta?*, 265
Agrostis quinqueseta (Steud.) Hochst., 232,
236, 238, 241, 246, 265, 273
316
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Agrostis sclerophylla C.E. Hubb., 241, 242,
245, 265, 266
Agrostis sp.*, 236, 241, 266, 268, 274
Agrostis sp. cfr. A. quinqueseta*, 274
Aira caryophyllea L., 206, 264
Ajuga integrifolia D. Don, 239, 276
Albizia isenbergiana (A. Rich.) Fourn., 175,
271
Albizia malacophylla (A. Rich.) Walp., 132,
133, 149, 150, 158, 169, 184, 185, 186, 188,
189, 202, 203, 260
Albizia schimperiana Oliv., 89, 124, 138, 139,
145, 151, 154, 156, 169, 170, 187, 198, 199,
200, 214, 215, 259
Albuca abyssinica Jacq., 131, 198, 264
Alchemilla (?) abyssinica*, 220, 250
Alchemilla abyssinica Fresen., 226, 227, 228,
233, 246, 249
Alchemilla cryptantha A. Rich., 205, 250
Alchemilla microbetula T.C.E. Fries, 236, 238,
241, 242, 249, 274
Alchemilla sp. cfr. A. fischeri*, 218, 250
Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochst.) Radlk., 224,
254
Aloe eru A. Berger, 78
Aloe macrocarpa Tod., 141, 164, 173, 264
Aloe sp. cfr. A. abyssinica*, 116, 188, 195, 267
Aloe sp. cfr. A. eru*, 198, 267
Aloe steudneri Schweinf., 230, 240, 267
Alternanthera nodiflora R. Br., 153, 262
Alysicarpus ferrugineus A. Rich., 127, 149,
203, 254
Amorphophallus abyssinicus (A. Rich.) N.E.
Brown, 106
Amorphophallus abyssinicus Gombocz, nom.
illeg., 106
Amorphophallus gallensis (Engl.) N.E. Br., 106
Amorphophallus gomboczianus Pic. Serm.,
106, 135, 140, 151, 184, 211, 267
Ampelocissus schimperiana (A. Rich.) Planch.,
197, 254
Anarrhinum forskaohlii (Gmel.) Cufod. subsp.
abyssinicum (Jaub. & Spach) D.A. Sutton,
227, 230, 239, 277
Andrachne aspera Spreng., 116, 263
Andropogon podotrichus Hochst., 112
Anogeissus leiocarpa (DC.) Guill. & Perr., 46,
83, 84, 120
Anogramma leptophylla (L.) Link, 245, 279
Anthemis pygmaea Oliv. & Hiern, 106
Anthemis semiensis Pic. Serm., 106, 275
Anthemis tigreensis A. Rich., 106, 236, 241,
242, 274, 275
Anthospermum pachyrrhizum Hiern, 126,
206, 256
Apodytes acutifolia A. Rich., 46, 86, 89, 253
Apodytes dimidiata Arn. var. acutifolia (A.
Rich.) Boutique, 46, 86, 124, 147, 148,
182, 184, 186, 253
Arabis alpina L., 108, 234, 236, 241, 275
Arabis alpina L. var. meruensis (Engl.) Pic.
Serm., 108, 275
Arabis cuneifolia Hochst. forma meruensis
Engl. ex O.E. Schulz, 108
Arduina edulis (Forssk.) Spreng., 53, 58
Argemone mexicana L., 116, 251
Argyrolobium schimperianum A. Rich., 228,
276
Aristida adoensis Hochst., 141, 253
Artemisia absinthium L., 106, 198, 269
Artemisia rehan Chiov., 106, 269
Arthropteris monocarpa (Cordem.) C. Chr.,
189, 193, 279
Arundo donax L., 134, 138, 154, 169, 177, 187,
198, 200, 214, 217, 266
Asclepiadaceae?*, 270
Asclepiadaceae indeterminabile*, 269
Asparagus africanus Lam., 106, 143, 154, 160,
203, 205, 206, 211, 225, 264, 267
Asparagus asiaticus L. var. amharicus Pic.
Serm., 106, 160, 264, 267
Asparagus racemosus Willd., 197, 264
Aspidotis schimperi (Kunze) Pic. Serm., 104,
113
Asplenium aethiopicum (Burm. f.) Bech., 89,
123, 162, 185, 245, 279
Asplenium demerkense Hieron., 245, 279
Asplenium protensum Schrad., 89, 123, 279
Asplenium theciferum (H.B.K.) Mett., 135,
139, 223, 278, 280
Astragalus abyssinicus Steud., 88, 254
Astragalus atropilosus (Hochst.) Bunge, 122,
152, 254
Athrixia rosmarinifolia (Walp.) Oliv. & Hiern,
208, 218, 220, 230, 258, 275
Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del., 45, 52, 79, 83,
119
Barleria ventricosa Nees, 88, 121, 130, 134,
135, 138, 145, 154, 160, 169, 183, 216, 262
Bartsia longiflora Benth., 228, 229, 234, 277
Bauhinia thonningii Schumach., 46, 84
Becium grandiflorum (Lam.) Pic. Serm., 110,
116, 240, 261, 276
Becium obovatum (Benth.) N.E. Br., 168, 261
Bersama abyssinica Fresen., 153, 154, 205,
211, 212, 253
Bidens camporum (Hutch.) Mesfin, 126, 269
317
INDEXES AND SYNONYMY
Bidens pilosa L., 169, 259
Bidens setigera (Walp.) Sherff, 127, 168, 269
Bignoniaceae, probab.*, 269, 375
Blaeria spicata A. Rich., 49, 73, 259
Blepharis maderaspatensis (L.) Heyne var.
abyssinica (Hochst.) Pic. Serm., 105, 269
Blepharis maderaspatensis (L.) Roth, 105,
121, 269
Blumea axillaris (Lam.) DC., 184, 257
Bolbitis heudelotii (Fée) Alston, 164, 166, 280
Boswellia papyrifera (Del.) Hochst., 45, 52,
66, 67, 79, 80, 81, 83, 120, 252, 282, 289
Brachiaria brizantha (A. Rich.) Stapf, 202, 250
Brassica carinata A. Br., 161, 251
Bridelia micrantha (Hochst.) Baill., 142, 145,
147, 148, 157, 186, 187, 216, 272
Brillantaisia grottanellii Pic. Serm., 103, 105,
123, 268
Bromus leptoclados Nees, 225, 264
Bromus sp.*, 238, 241, 242, 265, 266, 274, 277
Brucea antidysenterica J.F. Mill., 183, 206,
219, 222, 253
Buchnera hispida Buch.-Ham., 173, 260
Buddleja polystachya Fresen., 61, 90, 124, 159,
163, 169, 186, 206, 222, 230, 260
Bulbostylis densa (Wall.) Hand.-Mazz. subsp.
afromontana (Lye) R. Haines, 188, 266
Bulbostylis pusilla (A. Rich.) C.B. Cl. subsp.
congolensis (De Wild.) R. Haines, 197, 266
Cacalia richardiana O. Kuntze, 107
Cadaba rotundifolia Forssk., 79
Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp., 174, 255
Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth., 127, 128, 134,
141, 142, 145, 153, 154, 177, 178, 183,
224, 255
Campanula edulis Forssk., 220, 259
Capparis sepiaria L. var. boscioides (Pax) Kers,
131, 134, 170, 198, 251
Capparis tomentosa Lam., 130, 131, 141, 142,
143, 154, 161, 163, 165, 166, 172, 176, 177,
178, 184, 192, 193, 195, 198, 202, 205, 214,
215, 217, 251
Cardamine africana L., 205, 251
Cardamine obliqua A. Rich., 233, 275
Cardamine talamontiana Chiov., 108
Cardamine trichopoda [error for trichocarpa]
A. Rich. var. elegans Engl., 104, 108
Cardiospermum halicacabum L., 201, 214, 254
Carduus leptacanthus Fresen., 245, 275
Carduus schimperi Sch. Bip., 245, 275
Carduus semiensis Pic. Serm., 106, 245, 275
Carex monostachya A. Rich., 20, 50, 75, 238,
239, 241, 242, 246, 276, 288, 299, 300
Carissa cornifolia Jaub. et Spach, 106
Carissa edulis Vahl, 85, 87, 88, 90, 106, 260
Carissa edulis Vahl var. cornifolia (Jaub. et
Spach) Martelli, 90, 106, 260
Carissa spinarum L., 53, 58, 85, 87, 90, 106,
121, 124, 125, 126, 128, 131, 133, 134,
141, 143, 147, 148, 149, 152, 153, 154, 165,
166, 183, 196, 203, 204, 206, 207, 208,
216, 224, 260
Carthamus lanatus L., 116, 172, 176, 203, 257
Carthamus tinctorius L., 210, 257
Caylusea abyssinica (Fresen.) Fisch. & Mey.,
118, 135, 143, 158, 172, 251
Celastraceae?*, 270, 271
Celosia schweinfurthiana Schinz, 138, 154, 273
Celosia trigyna L., 138, 170, 198, 262
Celtis africana Burm. f., 155, 156, 160, 161,
170, 175, 214, 215, 263
Centaurea melitensis L., 118, 269
Centella asiatica (L.) Urban, 203, 256
Cerastium octandrum A. Rich., 236, 238, 242,
267, 274
Ceratophyllum demersum L., 129, 166, 263
Ceratostigma abyssinicum (Hochst.) Asch.,
240, 259
Cheilanthes erythraea Pich. Serm., 189, 280
Cheilanthes farinosa (Forssk.) Kaulf. forma
sulphurea (Moore) Pich. Serm., 90, 278
Cheilanthes farinosa (Forssk.) Kaulf. var.
sulphurea Moore, 90
Cheilanthes schimperi Kunze, 113
Chenopodium opulifolium Koch & Ziz., 198,
262
Chiliocephalum schimperi Benth., 220, 259,
266
Chionanthus mildbraedii (Gilg & Schellenb.)
Stearn, 156, 214, 215, 268, 270
Chloris gayana Kunth, 191, 196, 203, 209,
213, 264
Chrozophora plicata (Vahl) A. Juss., 138,
176, 263
Chrysanthemum coronarium L., 118, 258
Cicer arietinum L., 89, 124, 254
Cineraria deltoidea Sond., 236, 274
Cirsium vel Carduus sp.*, 236, 275
Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Ten., 210, 258
Cissus petiolata Hook. f., 131, 153, 188, 198,
202, 253
Cissus quadrangularis L., 119, 253
Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle, 113,
138, 155, 156, 252
Citrus aurantium L., 155, 156, 170, 171, 214,
215, 217, 252
Citrus limonia Osbeck va r. abyssinica
(Riccobono) Pic. Serm., 113, 252
318
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Citrus limonum Risso var. abyssinica Riccobono,
113
Clausena anisata (Willd.) Benth., 183, 205,
252
Clematis hirsuta Guill. & Perr., 121, 122, 126,
131, 132, 141, 143, 149, 155, 159, 168, 173,
186, 202, 206, 211, 272
Clematis longicauda A. Rich., 160, 183, 216,
217, 272
Clematis simensis Fresen., 118, 134, 160, 169,
228, 251
Clerodendrum umbellatum Poir., 149, 261
Clutia lanceolata Forssk., 116, 124, 128, 206,
208, 218, 219, 220, 221, 230, 272, 276
Coffea arabica L., 135, 138, 145, 155, 156, 160,
170, 171, 214, 215, 217, 256
Coleochloa abyssinica (A. Rich.) Gilly, 109,
202, 266
Coleochloa abyssinica (A. Rich.) Gilly var.
typica Pic. Serm., 109, 253
Coleochloa abyssinica (A. Rich.) Gilly var.
castanea (C.B. Cl.) Pic. Serm., 109, 266
Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, 166, 264
Colutea abyssinica Kunth & Bouché, 220,
221, 254
Combretum collinum Fresen., 46, 84, 88, 121,
191, 192, 256
Combretum (?) gallabatense*, 180, 181, 268
Combretum hartmannianum Schweinf., 81
Combretum molle G. Don, 132, 133, 141, 142,
149, 150, 152, 165, 166, 167, 173, 174, 181,
182, 184, 185, 186, 188, 189, 192, 193,
202, 203, 256
Combretum rochetianum A. Juss., 192, 193, 256
Commelina benghalensis L., 108, 135, 166,
205, 264, 267
Commelina diffusa Burm. f., 166, 267
Commelina pyrrhoblepharis Hassk. forma
glabra Pic. Serm., 108, 205
Commicarpus grandiflorus (A. Rich.) Standl.,
116, 268
Commiphora schimperi (Berg) Engl., 198, 253
Convolvulus sagittatus Thunb., 143, 153, 173,
260, 261
Conyza messerii Pic. Serm., 106, 241, 275
Conyza pyrrhopappa A. Rich., 134, 143, 145,
155, 203, 206, 209, 257
Conyza schimperi A. Rich., 126, 257
Conyza spinosa Oliv. & Hiern, 221, 258
Conyza stricta Willd., 90, 125, 257
Conyza vernonioides (A. Rich.) Wild, 228,
232, 275
Cordia abyssinica R. Br., 58, 260
Cordia africana Lam., 58, 131, 132, 133, 134,
135, 138, 139, 141, 143, 144, 153, 154, 156,
159, 170, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 179, 180,
188, 190, 198, 203, 206, 214, 215, 260, 272
Cordia monoica Roxb., 138, 272
Cotula abyssinica A. Rich., 236, 275
Cotula anthemoides L., 117, 259
Crassocephalum macropappum (A. Rich.) S.
Moore, 205, 259
Crepis rueppellii Sch. Bip., 159, 183, 220, 257,
269
Crinipes abyssinicus (A. Rich.) Hochst., 184,
264
Crotalaria hyssopifolia Klotzsch, 149, 270
Crotalaria lachnocarpoides Engl., 124, 126,
270
Crotalaria spinosa Benth., 153, 254
Croton macrostachyus Del., 51, 126, 127, 128,
132, 133, 134, 135, 141, 143, 144, 148, 149,
153, 154, 155, 165, 166, 173, 174, 181, 184,
203, 206, 224, 226, 263
Cucumis ficifolius A. Rich., 213, 257
Cucurbitacea indeterminabile*, 270
Cucurbitaceae sp.*, 213
Cussonia ostinii Chiov., 131, 132, 149, 150,
176, 182, 256
Cyathula globulifera Moquin var. abyssinica
Moquin, 105, 262
Cyathula uncinulata (Schrad.) Schinz, 105,
118, 155, 222, 262
Cyathula uncinulata (Schrad.) Schinz var.
abyssinica (Moquin) Pic. Serm., 105, 262
Cymbopogon caesius (Hook. & Arn.) Stapf,
247, 252
Cymbopogon sp.*, 198, 264
Cynodon dactylon?*, 170, 176, 264
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., 118, 138, 161,
198, 202, 203, 217, 264
Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forssk., 117, 260
Cyperus cyperoides (L.) Kuntze, 138, 266
Cyperus digitatus Roxb. subsp. auricomus
(Spreng.) Kük., 198, 266
Cyperus dives Del., 164, 166, 266
Cyperus fischerianus A. Rich., 138, 155, 170,
202, 217, 266
Cyperus longus L., 136, 137, 147, 148, 156,
187, 266
Cyperus morandinii Pic. Serm., 109, 129, 266
Cyperus papyrus L., 46, 54, 129, 136, 137, 166,
198, 266
Cyperus penzoanus Pic. Serm., 109, 129, 136,
137, 147, 148, 166, 266
Cyphostemma adenocaule (A. Rich.) Wild &
Drummond, 177, 188, 198, 253
319
INDEXES AND SYNONYMY
Dalbergia lactea Vatke, 155, 156, 160, 161, 271
Datura stramonium L., 135, 161, 192, 260, 268
Daucus carota L., 128, 256
Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv., 246,
265
Desmodium salicifolium (Poir.) DC., 147,
164, 254
Dianthoseris schimperi Sch. Bip., 50
Diaphananthe tenuicalcar Summerh., 135,
157, 170, 273
Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight & Arn., 132,
140, 167, 168, 174, 182, 188, 190, 191, 192,
193, 255, 271
Dicliptera laxata C.B. Cl., 155, 268
Dicliptera maculata Nees, 134, 138, 147, 155,
170, 214, 262
Dicliptera verticillata (Forssk.) C. Chr., 155,
198, 262
Dicrocephala integrifolia (L. f.) Kuntze, 186,
205, 259
Digitaria abyssinica (A. Rich.) Stapf, 205, 250
Digitaria abyssinica (Hochst.) Stapf var.
velutina (Chiov.) Pic. Serm., 111
Dioscorea abyssinica Kunth, 88, 122, 264
Dioscorea quartiniana A. Rich., 196, 264
Dioscorea schimperiana Kunth, 134, 153,
198, 264
Diospyros abyssinica (Hiern) F. White, 134,
135, 139, 145, 155, 161, 162, 170, 198, 199,
202, 214, 215, 259
Diphasia dainellii Pic. Serm., 102, 113, 214,
272
Diplolophium africanum Turcz., 152, 191,
207, 256
Dipsacus eremocephalus Pic. Serm., 109, 234,
275
Dipsacus pinnatifidus A. Rich., 73, 109, 220,
225, 234, 257, 275
Discopodium penninervium Hochst., 222, 260
Dodonaea angustifolia L. f., 117, 123, 126, 128,
149, 177, 178, 186, 207, 254
Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq. var. vulgaris Benth.
forma burmanniana (DC.) Radlk., 88, 254
Dolichos oliveri Schweinf., 132, 202, 254
Dombeya quinqueseta (Del.) Exell, 149, 150,
165, 166, 168, 184, 185, 252
Dombeya torrida (J.F. Gmel.) P. Bamps, 139,
160, 183, 207, 222, 252, 268
Dracaena papahu Engl., 109
Dracaena steudneri Engl., 109, 131, 151, 155,
170, 214, 215, 217, 267
Dregea schimperi (Decne.) Bullock, 192, 260
Drimia altissima (L. f.) Ker-Gawl., 188, 264
Drimia indica (Roxb.) Jessop, 203, 267
Drimia simensis (Hochst.) Stedje, 218, 267
Dryopteris schimperiana (A. Br.) C. Chr., 207,
221, 228, 280
Dryopteris schimperiana (Hochst.) C. Chr.,
87, 89, 278
Dyschoriste broiloi Pic. Serm., 105, 124, 269
Dyschoriste multicaulis (A. Rich.) O. Kuntze,
105, 124, 202, 261, 269
Dyschoriste nagchana (Nees) Bennett, 136,
170, 261
Echidnopsis sp.*, 118
Echinochloa (?) pyramidalis*, 198, 253
Echinochloa pyramidalis (Lam.) Hitchc. &
Chase, 136, 141, 142, 250, 253
Echinochloa stagnina (Retz.) P. Beauv., 134,
250
Echinops francinianus Pic. Serm., 106, 142, 269
Echinops giganteus A. Rich., 106, 107, 132, 142,
143, 159, 163, 168, 191, 269, 272
Echinops hispidus Fresen., 209, 257
Echinops hoffmannianus Mattf., 49, 70, 269
Echinopsis sp.*, 260
Echinops longifolius A. Rich., 182, 203, 257
Echinops longisetus A. Rich., 227, 247, 269
Echinops macrochaetus Fresen., 87, 90, 125,
128, 172, 222, 257
Echinops nistrii Pic. Serm., 107, 159, 269
Echinops pappii Chiov., 78, 117, 118, 257
Echinops spinosus auct., non L., 78, 257
Echinops steudneri O. Hoffm., 49, 50, 70, 71, 90
Echium plantagineum L., 118, 269
Ehretia cymosa Thonn., 155, 160, 161, 175, 260
Ekebergia capensis Sparrm., 162, 182, 253
Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheeseman, 155,
264
Entada abyssinica A. Rich., 143, 144, 149, 150,
153, 154, 159, 168, 174, 179, 182, 255, 271
Epilobium stereophyllum Fresen., 234, 276
Equisetum ramosissimum Desf., 239, 279
Eragrostis sp.*, 141, 264
Erica arborea L., 48, 49, 50, 54, 61, 64, 70, 71,
218, 220, 221, 227, 228, 230, 234, 239,
240, 259
Erica tenuipilosa (Alm & T.C.E. Fries) Cheek
subsp. spicata (A. Rich.) Cheek, 232,
238, 259
Erigeron alpinus L., 245, 275
Eriosema robustum Bak., 211, 260
Eriospora abyssinica A. Rich. var. castanea
C.B. Cl., 109
Erythrina abyssinica DC., 132, 133, 153, 154,
162, 188, 189, 191, 192, 254
Ethulia conyzoides L. f., 141, 143, 145, 147,
180, 195, 258
320
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh., 117, 257
Eucalyptus globulus Labill., 223, 257
Eucalyptus tereticornis Smith, 200, 257
Euclea racemosa Murray subsp. schimperi (A.
DC.) F. White, 134, 135, 147, 148, 153,
154, 155, 157, 175, 177, 178, 198, 216,
259, 271
Euphorbia abyssinica Gmel., 45, 50, 52, 59, 65,
78, 131, 132, 136, 198, 263
Euphorbia ampliphylla Pax, 221, 222, 263
Euphorbia nubica N.E. Br., 152, 177, 263
Euphorbia petitiana A. Rich., 229, 276
Euphorbia schimperiana Scheele, 141, 227,
263, 276
Exotheca abyssinica (A. Rich.) Anderss., 179,
220, 250
Faurea rochetiana (A. Rich.) Pic. Serm., 112,
273
Faurea speciosa Welw., 112, 186, 187, 273
Ferula communis L., 141, 163, 180, 191, 192,
207, 256
Festuca cfr. schimperiana, 265
Festuca (?) macrophylla*, 265, 266
Festuca (?) rigidula*, 265, 268, 270
Festuca (?) schimperiana*, 265, 270, 275
Festuca sp.*, 232, 236, 241, 255, 265, 266, 268,
272, 273, 274
Festuca sp. cfr. F. macrophylla*, 229
Festuca sp. cfr. F. rigidula*, 236, 238
Festuca sp. cfr. F. schimperiana*, 232, 236,
238, 265
Ficus glumosa Del., 189, 196, 197, 263, 272
Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq., 153, 154, 156, 165,
166, 172, 187, 189, 193, 198, 199, 263
Ficus ovata Vahl, 130, 131, 136, 137, 147, 155,
170, 172, 173, 196, 197, 211, 212, 214,
215, 272
Ficus palmata Forssk., 164, 201, 203, 263
Ficus riparia A. Rich., 46, 85, 88, 263
Ficus sur Forssk., 46, 121, 123, 128, 163, 216,
263, 272
Ficus sycomorus L., 45, 78, 141, 150, 151, 169,
180, 185, 191, 210, 211, 212, 272
Ficus thonningii Bl., 139, 143, 144, 170, 171,
172, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 189, 190, 195,
198, 199, 205, 214, 215, 217, 263, 272
Ficus vasta Forssk., 51, 58. 66, 131, 132, 134,
141, 143, 144, 147, 148, 153, 154, 158, 165,
166, 170, 172, 173, 177, 178, 179, 196, 199,
210, 263, 272
Flacourtia afra Pic. Serm., 104, 109, 216, 267
Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr., 109, 143,
144, 186, 216, 217, 267, 268
Foeniculum vulgare Miller, 143, 155, 161, 256
Galinsoga parviflora Cav., 118, 185, 258
Galium acrophyum Chiov., 113, 236, 238, 241,
256, 275
Galium hochstetteri Pic. Serm., 113, 256, 275
Galium simense A. Rich., non Fresen., 113
Gardenia lutea Fresen., 46, 83, 84, 120, 257
Gardenia ternifolia Schumach. & Thonn.
subsp. jovis-tonantis (Welw.) Verdc., 132,
133, 134, 135, 141, 143, 144, 148, 149, 150,
156, 159, 165, 166, 168, 174, 176, 179, 185,
186, 187, 189, 190, 191, 192, 196, 200, 202,
211, 212, 257
Geranium arabicum Forssk. subsp. arabicum,
205, 233, 252
Geranium arabicum Forssk. subsp. latistipulatum
(A. Rich.) Kokwaro, 228, 232, 245, 252
Gerbera piloselloides (L.) Cass., 220, 257
Glycine wightii (Wight & Arn.) Verdc., 177,
254
Gnaphalium unionis Oliv. & Hiern, 90, 118,
125, 186, 228, 258
Gnidia glauca (Fresen.) Gilg, 122, 124, 182,
183, 208, 220, 273
Gnidia involucrata A. Rich., 132, 149, 152, 168,
191, 196, 202, 211, 262
Gomphocarpus abyssinicus Decne., 168, 196,
211, 260
Gomphocarpus purpurascens A. Rich., 240,
260
Gossypium hirsutum L., 139, 172, 174, 198, 251
Graminacee indeterminabili*, 139, 170, 178,
205, 253
Grewia ferruginea A. Rich., 139, 141, 142, 143,
144, 150, 153, 154, 155, 157, 159, 160, 161,
170, 171, 177, 178, 186, 187, 189, 190, 193,
195, 201, 202, 203, 208, 209, 211, 212, 216,
217, 247, 252, 277
Grewia mollis A. Juss., 132, 133, 149, 150, 168,
211, 212, 252
Guizotia scabra (Vis.) Chiov., 88, 122, 153,
174, 179, 180, 258
Guizotia sp.*, 132, 141, 143, 148, 153, 158,
176, 209, 258, 269
Guizotia (?) villosa*, 147, 269
Guizotia villosa Sch. Bip., 139, 143, 155, 205,
258, 269
Gymnosciadium pusillum Pic. Serm., 106,
242, 277
Gymnosporia castellii Pic. Serm., 108, 155, 271
Gymnosporia schimperi A. Rich., 85
Gymnosporia serrata (Hochst.) Loes. var.
schimperi (Hochst.) Fiori, 88, 90, 253, 268
Habenaria lefebureana (A. Rich.) Th. Dur. &
Schinz, 220, 273
321
INDEXES AND SYNONYMY
Hagenia abyssinica (Bruce) J.F. Gmel., 48, 49,
61, 64, 70, 218, 222, 230, 255
Haplocarpha rueppellii (Sch. Bip.) P. Beauv.,
50, 234, 236, 246, 258
Haplocarpha schimperi (Sch. Bip.) P. Beauv.,
50, 219, 222, 258
Hebenstreitia angolensis Rolfe, 220, 230, 261
Helichrysum abyssinicum Hochst., 49, 50,
75, 258
Helichrysum citrispinum Del., 49, 50, 73, 75,
229, 234, 236, 237, 241, 242, 259
Helichrysum foetidum (L.) Moench var.
microcephalum A. Rich., 220, 238, 258
Helichrysum formosissimum A. Rich., 234, 258
Helichrysum forsskahlii (J.F. Gmel.) Hilliard
& B.L. Burtt, 126, 220, 225, 258
Helichrysum hochstetteri (A. Rich.) Hook. f.,
87, 90
Helichrysum horridum (Sch. Bip.) A. Rich.,
73, 230, 258
Helichrysum schimperi (A. Rich.) Moeser, 71,
73, 87, 90, 125, 128, 168, 207, 218, 220,
230, 258
Helichrysum splendidum (Thunb.) Less., 49,
50, 75, 226, 229, 230, 232, 234, 237, 258
Helichrysum stenopterum DC., 125, 126, 207,
218, 220, 258
Helinus mystacinus (Ait.) Steud., 132, 133, 143,
147, 153, 156, 177, 178, 198, 201, 202, 203,
204, 206, 207, 211, 253
Heliotropium cinerascens DC. & A. DC., 117,
260
Heliotropium supinum L., 260
Heracleum abyssinicum (Boiss.) Norman,
202, 270
Herniaria hirsuta A. Rich., 237, 277
Heteromorpha arborescens (Spreng.) Cham. &
Schltdl. var. abyssinica (A. Rich.) Wolff,
128, 150, 168, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 202,
211, 212, 256
Hibiscus calyphyllus Cavan., 139, 170, 252
Hibiscus cannabinus L., 142, 252
Hibiscus crassinervius A. Rich., 118, 252
Hibiscus diversifolius Jacq., 129, 147, 170, 172,
178, 252
Hibiscus ludwigii Eckl. & Zeyh., 202, 251
Hibiscus panduriformis Burm. f., 203, 252
Hippocratea africana (Willd.) Loes. var.
schimperiana (A. Rich.) Cufod., 131, 139,
147, 155, 157, 170, 205, 214, 253
Holothrix squammata (A. Rich.) Rchb. f.,
229, 277
Hydrocotyle ranunculoides L. f., 142, 256
Hygrophila asteracanthoides Lindau, 166, 187,
261, 268
Hygrophila schulli (Hamilt.) M.R. & S.M.
Almeida, 133, 141, 152, 176, 179, 180, 195,
203, 204, 206, 261
Hygrophila spiciformis Lindau, 133, 134, 145,
261
Hymenodictyon f loribundum (Hochst. &
Steud.) Robinson, 157, 189, 192, 193,
198, 256
Hymenostigma schimperi Hochst., 110
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.) Stapf,
125, 126, 128, 131, 133, 141, 143, 148,
150, 174, 176, 189, 191, 196, 202, 207, 211,
213, 250, 251
Hyparrhenia cymbaria (L.) Stapf, 87, 88, 121,
122, 133, 156, 185, 192, 202, 211, 250,
251, 260
Hyparrhenia gazensis*, 252, 253
Hyparrhenia gazensis (Rendle) Stapf forma*,
152, 156, 185, 191, 211
Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf, 87, 90, 112, 117,
125, 126, 207, 250
Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf var. podotricha
(Hochst.) Pic. Serm., 112, 250
Hypar rhenia pseudocymbaria (Steud.)
Anderss., 87, 90, 250, 251
Hyparrhenia (?) rufa*, 143
Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf, 128, 141, 150,
161, 174, 176, 179, 184, 189, 191, 196, 250
Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf x Hyparrhenia
umbrosa (Hochst.) Anderss., 88, 122
Hyparrhenia (?) rufa x papillipes*, 250
Hyparrhenia (?) rufa x umbrosa*, 253
Hyparrhenia rufa x umbrosa*[2], 145, 153,
203, 211
Hyparrhenia sp.*, 250, 251, 253, 267
Hyparrhenia sp. aff. H. papillipes*, 125, 250
Hyparrhenia sp. cfr. H. gazensis*, 131, 134,
189, 252, 253
Hyparrhenia sp. cfr. H. papillipes*, 126
Hyparrhenia (?) umbrosa*, 148, 196, 198,
220, 250, 251
Hyparrhenia (?) variabilis*, 133, 250
Hyparrhenia variabilis*, 251
Hyparrhenia variabilis Stapf, 88, 121, 159,
161, 189, 251
Hyparrhenia variabilis Stapf var. typica Fiori,
88
Hypericum lanceolatum auct., non Lam., 48,
49, 50, 61, 70, 71, 90, 251
Hypericum peplidifolium A. Rich., 234, 251
322
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Hypericum quartinianum A. Rich., 88, 121,
122, 126, 150, 168, 176, 182, 207, 211, 218,
218, 220, 251
Hypericum revolutum Vahl, 48, 49, 50, 61, 70,
71, 90, 218, 220, 221, 222, 225, 227, 230,
232, 251
Hyphaene nodularia Becc., 52, 79, 81
Hypoestes busii Pic. Serm., 105, 201, 268
Hypoestes forskaolii (Vahl) R. Br., 88, 117, 121,
160, 170, 192, 205, 220, 224, 262
Hypoestes triflora (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult.,
105, 147, 155, 201, 261, 268
Indeterminabile*, 128, 131, 134, 143, 147, 152,
155, 157, 170, 177, 179, 183, 185, 192, 202,
207, 211, 214, 216, 219, 220, 241, 267, 268,
269, 270, 271, 274, 275, 276
Indigofera arrecta A. Rich., 131, 155, 163,
174, 254
Indigofera atriceps Hook. f., 174, 270
Indigofera emarginella A. Rich., 152, 254
Indigofera secundiflora Poir., 111, 126, 141, 143,
150, 254, 271
Indigofera secundiflora Poir. var. gondarensis
Pic. Serm., 111, 126
Inula arbuscula Del., 229, 275
Inula paniculata (Klatt) Burtt Davy, 124, 182,
207, 208, 272
Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet, 129, 131, 134, 136,
137, 139, 145, 147, 148, 155, 157, 163, 170,
172, 174, 195, 198, 201, 214, 261
Ipomoea eriocarpa R. Br., 174, 211, 261, 267
Ipomoea sp.*, 148, 269
Ipomoea tenuirostris Choisy, 90, 124, 148,
159, 261
Isolepis costata A. Rich., 234, 276
Jacaranda mimosifolia D. Don, 161, 162, 270
Jasminum abyssinicum DC., 155, 160, 162,
205, 259
Jasminum grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum
(Fresen.) P.S. Green, 117, 118, 126, 130,
134, 141, 143, 150, 153, 157, 168, 174, 177,
191, 193, 212, 216, 260
Juncus bufonius L., 118, 266
Juniperus procera Endl., 48, 61, 62, 66, 70, 128,
139, 161, 162, 170, 171, 175, 177, 178, 183,
214, 215, 217, 218, 221, 223, 250
Justicia ladanoides Lam., 261
Justicia schimperiana (Nees) T. Anders., 130,
139, 145, 155, 161, 170, 175, 178, 183, 202,
207, 214, 215, 217, 262
Kalanchoe lanceolata (Forssk.) Pers., 130,
131, 135, 145, 151, 155, 160, 161, 178,
203, 220, 256
Kalanchoe marmorata Baker, 117, 256
Kalanchoe petitiana A. Rich., 157, 218, 222,
256
Kanahia laniflora (Forssk.) R. Br., 47, 57, 81,
119, 140, 146, 156, 170, 171, 176, 177, 198,
199, 216, 260
Kickxia elatine (L.) Dumort. subsp. crinita
(Mabil.) W. Greuter, 175, 260
Kniphofia foliosa Hochst., 227, 232, 234, 264,
267, 333
Koeleria capensis (Steud.) Nees, 226, 232, 237,
242, 265, 272
Korthalsella binii Pic. Serm., 114, 187, 273
Korthalsella japonica (Thunb.) Engl., 114,
157, 187, 273
Kosteletzkya grantii (Mast.) Garcke, 216, 252
Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet, 131, 139, 158,
175, 254
Lachnopylis congesta (R. Br.) C. A. Smith, 86,
88, 260
Lactuca inermis Forssk., 126, 128, 141, 143,
153, 159, 203, 220, 269
Lactuca sp.*, 238, 269
Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl., 164, 270
Laggera alata (D. Don) Oliv., 124, 174, 202,
207, 257, 258
Laggera braunii Vatke, 133, 168, 269
Laggera crassifolia (A. Rich.) Oliv. & Hiern,
150, 191, 193, 207, 212, 258
Laggera crispata (Vahl) Hepper & Wood, 139,
155, 168, 205, 258
Laggera tomentosa (A. Rich.) Oliv. & Hiern,
240, 275
Lannea schimperi (A. Rich.) Engl., 134, 135,
141, 142, 143, 150, 152, 168, 179, 185,
186, 187, 189, 190, 191,192, 193, 196, 199,
212, 254
Lantana trifolia L., 130, 155, 261
Launaea pseudoabyssinica (Chiov.) N. Kilian,
117, 269
Launaea rueppellii (Oliv. & Hiern) Boulos,
204, 259
Launaea taraxacifolia (Willd.) C. Jeffrey,
159, 269
Lefeburea abyssinica A. Rich., 168, 174, 256
Lemna minor L., 234, 276
Leobordea abyssinica A. Rich., 111
Leonotis ocymifolia (Burm. f.) Iwarsson var.
raineriana (Vis.) Iwarsson, 124, 164, 182,
189, 190, 191, 192, 197, 202, 207, 208,
212, 225, 261
Leonotis velutina Fenzl. var. rugosa (Benth.)
Baker, 90
Lepidagathis hamiltoniana Wall. subsp. collina
(Endl.) J.K. Morton, 150, 168, 262
323
INDEXES AND SYNONYMY
Lepidotrichilia volkensii (Gürke) Leroy, 111,
214, 215, 270
Leucas stachydiformis (Benth.) Briq., 205,
220, 261
Leucas urticifolia (Vahl) Sm., 155, 261
Leucospermum rochetianum A. Rich., 112
Limosella africana Glück, 246, 277
Limosella capensis Thunb., 113, 242, 275
Limosella semiensis Pic. Serm., 113, 275
Linociera (?) latipetala*, 155, 156, 268, 270
Lippia adoensis Walp., 133, 134, 135, 141, 143,
150, 168, 207, 208, 220, 261, 267
Lobelia rhynchopetalum Hemsl., 49, 50, 64,
70, 72, 74, 75, 96, 227, 232, 233, 235, 239,
242, 243, 246, 276
Lobelia schimperi A. Rich., 244, 277
Loranthus scasellatii Chiov. var. glabrescens
Balle in Pic. Serm., 111, 189
Lotononis platycarpos (Viv.) Pic. Serm. var.
abyssinica (Hochst. ex A. R ich.) Pic.
Serm., 111, 255
Lotononis platycarpos (Viv.) Pic. Serm., 111,
117, 255
Lotus corniculatus L. var. eremanthus Chiov.,
111
Lotus mearnsii (Britton) Greene, 111, 270
Lotus mearnsii De Wild., nom. illeg., 111, 270
Lotus platycarpos Viv., 111
Lotus quinatus (Forssk.) Gillett var. brachycarpus
(A. Rich.) Gillett, 117, 254, 255
Lotus schoelleri Schweinf., 111, 187, 270
Loudetia arundinacea (A. Rich.) Steud., 112,
189, 193, 199, 259, 266
Loudetia arundinacea (Hochst.) Steud. var.
hensii (De Wild.) C.E. Hubbard, 112, 266
Loxogramme abyssinica (Baker) M.G. Price,
214, 280
Loxogramme lanceolata (Sw.) Presl, 89, 278
Loxoscaphe theciferum (HBK.) Moore subsp.
concinnum (Schrad.) Pich. Serm. var.
schimperi (Hook.) Pich. Serm., 89, 278
Ludwigia leptocarpa (Nutt.) H. Hara, 145, 270
Lupinus albus L., 163, 255
Luzula abyssinica Parl., 232, 238, 276
Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., 136, 162, 273
Lythrum rotundifolium A. Rich., 226, 228, 277
Macowania ericifolia (Forssk.) B.L. Burtt &
Grau, 218, 269
Maesa lanceolata Forssk., 88, 122, 126, 205,
218, 222, 259, 267
Maytenus arbutifolia (A. Rich.) Wilczek, 130,
134, 135, 136, 143, 207, 216, 271
Maytenus cortii (Pic. Serm.) Cufod., 108,
228, 274
Maytenus gracilipes (Oliv.) Exell subsp. arguta
(Loes.) Sebsebe, 155, 220, 221, 222, 224,
271
Maytenus obscura (A. Rich.) Cufod., 182, 221,
224, 225, 228, 253, 271
Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell, 150, 152,
165, 166, 168, 174, 180, 181, 189, 190, 191,
192, 193, 212, 271
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) R. Wilczek var.
schimperi (A. Rich.) Fiori, 86
Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.) Wilczek, 121, 124,
147, 155, 160, 176, 178, 179, 180, 183, 189,
195, 197, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206,
207, 214, 215, 217, 224, 253, 268, 271
Maytenus undata (Thunb.) Blakelock, 184,
253
Melinis ambigua Hack., 150, 199, 252
Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka, 128, 144, 159,
163, 212, 250
Melothria ciprianii Pic. Serm., 108, 122, 270
Meriandra bengalensis (Roxb.) Benth., 51,
78, 261
Meriandra dianthera (Roem. & Schult.) Briq.,
51, 78, 117, 261
Merremia pterygocaulos (Choisy) Hall. f.,
200, 261
Micromeria biflora Benth. var. punctata (R.
Br.) Fiori, 90
Micromeria ovata Benth., 110
Micromeria ovata Benth. var. cinereo-tomentosa
A. Rich., 110
Millettia ferruginea (Hochst.) Bak., 47, 55, 56,
134, 135, 139, 144, 147, 148, 155, 156, 170,
171, 175, 214, 215, 254
Mimosa pigra L., 142, 148, 163, 255
Mimusops kummel A. DC., 46, 47, 48, 55, 56,
85, 88, 122, 132, 134, 135, 139, 144, 145,
148, 155, 156, 157, 170, 171, 175, 178, 187,
189, 190, 199, 200, 214, 215, 216, 217, 259
Momordica foetida Schumach., 213, 257
Monechma debile (Forssk.) Nees, 117, 118, 262
Moraea schimperi (Hochst.) Pic. Serm., 110,
227, 276
Myrica salicifolia A. Rich., 126, 128, 230,
263, 277
Myrsine africana L., 127, 128, 155, 208, 216,
218, 220, 221, 224, 230, 259
Myrsine melanophloeos (L.) R. Br., 220, 221,
230, 259
Nelsonia canescens (Lam.) Spreng., 159, 200,
261
Nicandra physaloides (L.) Gaertn., 118, 193,
260
324
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Nuxia congesta Fresen., 86, 88, 121, 122, 202,
207, 208, 218, 224, 230, 247, 260
Nymphaea lotus L., 142, 215, 251
Nymphaea nouchali Burm. f. var. caerulea
(Sav.) Verdc., 152, 166, 251
Ochrocephala imatongensis (Philipson)
Dittrich, 202, 272
Ocimum basilicum L., 155, 161, 261
Ocimum filamentosum Forssk., 45, 78
Ocimum grandiflorum Lam., 110
Ocimum trichodon Gürke, 133, 148, 191, 196,
202, 272
Ocimum urticifolium Roth, 144, 155, 159, 173,
176, 199, 204, 206, 207, 214, 272
Oenanthe palustris (Chiov.) Norman, 164, 256
Olea chrysophylla Lam., 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51,
52, 54, 58, 62, 70, 78, 86, 260
Olea europaea L. subsp. cuspidata (G. Don)
Cif., 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 54, 58, 62, 66,
70, 78, 86, 127, 128, 139, 170, 171, 178,
180, 181, 182, 183, 199, 207, 260
Oplismenus compositus (L.) P. Beauv., 214, 250
Oreophyton falcatum (A. Rich.) O.E. Schulz,
50, 236, 237, 242, 243, 244, 273, 275
Origanum majorana L., 161, 268
Oryza longistaminata A. Chev. & Roehr., 136,
137, 264
Osteospermum vaillantii (Decne.) T. Norl.,
118, 258
Osyridocarpus schimperianus (A. Rich.) A.
DC., 153, 157, 185, 263
Osyris abyssinica Hochst., 88, 89, 263
Osyris quadripartita Decn., 121, 124, 127, 128,
147, 150, 168, 169, 174, 185, 186, 189, 190,
193, 207, 208, 212, 220, 221, 263
Otostegia fruticosa (Forssk.) Schweinf., 118,
189, 190, 202, 261, 268
Otostegia integrifolia Benth., 88, 118, 123, 126,
127, 150, 168, 207, 262
Otostegia minuccii Pic. Serm., 110, 150, 273
Otostegia tomentosa A. Rich. subsp. ambigens
(Chiov.) Sebald, 110, 144, 150, 163, 168,
182, 212, 273
Otostegia tomentosa A. Rich. subsp. steudneri
(Schweinf.) Sebald, 220, 230, 273, 276
Ottelia ulvifolia (Planch.) Walp., 146, 263
Oxalis corniculata L., 117, 155, 270
Oxyanthus speciosus DC., 214, 215, 270
Oxytenanthera abyssinica (A. Rich.) Munro,
46, 52, 53, 81, 82, 83, 85, 119, 120
Ozoroa insignis Del., 193, 257
Panicum maximum Jacq., 202, 250
Panicum monticola Hook. f., 155, 160, 161, 252
Panicum subalbidum Kunth, 134, 250
Paronychia bryoides A. Rich., 237, 277
Paullinia pinnata L., 170, 254
Pavetta abyssinica Fresen., 113, 220, 256
Pavetta bremekampiana Pic. Serm., 113
Pavetta cinerascens Bremekamp, 113
Pavetta oliveriana Hiern, 157, 256
Pavetta sp.*, 121, 132, 134, 148, 155, 178, 214,
256, 267
Pavonia burchellii (DC.) Dyer, 118, 176, 251
Pavonia schimperiana A. Rich., 205, 214, 216,
217, 252
Pellaea viridis (Forssk.) Prantl, 189, 197, 279
Pennisetum (?) giganteum*, 157, 253
Pennisetum petiolare (Hochst.) Chiov., 156,
199, 250
Pennisetum ramosum (Hochst.) Schweinf.,
179, 186, 209, 256
Pennisetum schimperi A. Rich., 87, 90, 250
Pennisetum sphacelatum (Nees) Th. Dur. &
Schinz, 125, 127, 128, 207, 208, 250
Pennisetum unisetum (Nees) Benth., 139,
202, 250
Pentaschistis pictigluma?*, 265
Pentaschistis pictigluma (Steud.) Pilg., 229,
236, 237, 238, 242, 246, 265, 266, 268
Pentaschistis sp.*, 236, 265
Pentaschistis sp. aff. P. trisetoides*, 265
Pentas lanceolata (Forssk.) Deflers, 122, 193,
202, 212, 256, 270
Pentas schimperiana (A. Rich.) Vatke, 220, 256
Persicaria senegalensis (Meisn.) Soják, 161, 273
Persicaria setosula (A. Rich.) K. Wilson, 129,
136, 137, 145, 157, 178, 199, 262
Phagnalon abyssinicum A. Rich., 124, 207, 258
Phagnalon hypoleucum Sch. Bip., 90, 258
Phaulopsis imbricata (Forssk.) Sweet, 88, 90,
121, 124, 145, 148, 155, 160, 217, 261
Phaulopsis inaequalis Pic. Serm., 105, 261
Phaylopsis longifolia T. Thoms. in Speke., 88
Phaylopsis parviflora Willd., 88, 90
Phoenix reclinata Jacq., 46, 86, 134, 135, 136,
137, 139, 140, 148, 179, 180, 181, 182, 201,
202, 214, 215, 216, 267
Phragmanthera macrosolen (A. Rich.) M.G.
Gilbert, 144, 272
Phragmanthera regularis (Sprague) M.G.
Gilbert, 130, 132, 141, 144, 151, 153, 165,
179, 207, 263
Phyllanthus ovalifolius Forssk., 130, 153, 155,
174, 201, 272
Phytolacca dodecandra L’Hérit., 89, 124, 135,
139, 153, 155, 159, 170, 205, 214, 217,
222, 262
325
INDEXES AND SYNONYMY
Piliostigma thonningii (Schumach.) MilneRedh., 46, 84, 133, 141, 142, 144, 148,
149, 150, 152, 165, 166, 167, 168, 179, 189,
190, 212, 255
Pimpinella hirtella (Hochst.) A. Rich., 207,
267
Pimpinella pimpinelloides (Hochst.) Wolff,
106, 236, 242, 277
Pistia stratiotes L., 129, 142, 166, 263, 264
Pittosporum abyssinicum Del., 48, 160, 161,
178, 181, 186, 208, 252
Plantago coronopus L., 118, 273
Plantago lanceolata L., 90, 118, 125, 128, 153,
222, 262
Plantago lanceolata L. var. dubia (L.) Wahlenb.
subvar. eudubia Pilger, 90, 262
Plectranthus barbatus Andrews, 157, 193, 261
Plectranthus ornatus Codd, 117, 240, 261, 276
Plicosepalus acaciae (Zucc.) Wiens & Polhill,
131, 141, 144, 150, 165, 263
Pluchea dioscoridis (L.) DC., 160, 258
Plumbago zeylanica L., 131, 132, 139, 145, 153,
170, 199, 259, 268
Poa cfr. P. leptoclada*, 242, 243
Poa sp.*, 237, 265
Poa sp. nov.?*, 265
Podocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) Mirb., 40, 47, 56,
58, 135, 155, 156, 170, 171, 250
Polygala rupicola A. Rich., 230, 251
Polygala steudneri Chod., 220, 228, 251
Polygonum plebeium R. Br., 117, 262
Polygonum sp.*, 61, 157, 262
Polyscias farinosa (Del.) Harms, 186, 187, 256
Polystachya bennettiana Rchb. f., 134, 136,
148, 186, 273
Polystachya steudneri Rchb. f., 199, 205, 273
Polystichum wilsonii H. Christ, 242, 280
Potamogeton pusillus L., 226, 277
Potamogeton schweinfurthii A. Benn., 166, 266
Potamogeton thunbergii Cham. & Schltdl.,
226, 277
Premna schimperi Engl., 114, 204, 206, 207,
208, 267, 273
Premna viburnoides A. Rich. var. schimperi
(Engl.) Pic. Serm., 114, 267, 273
Primula verticillata Forssk. subsp. simensis
(Hochst.) W.W. Sm. & Forrest, 240, 244,
245, 259
Protea gaguedi J.F. Gmel., 112, 127, 176, 182,
186, 187, 212, 218, 230, 263, 277
Prunus persica (L.) Batch, 170, 171, 217, 257
Pseudarthria (?) confertiflora*, 202, 273
Psiadia punctulata (DC.) Vatke, 117, 257
Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn, 218, 280
Pteris dentata Forssk., 240, 280
Pteris quadriaurita Retz. var. abyssinica
(Hieron.) Pich. Serm., 89, 278
Pterocephalus frutescens A. Rich., 73, 87, 90,
125, 126, 127, 129, 230, 257
Pterolobium exosum (J. F. Gmel.) Baker, 45,
78, 88, 255
Pterolobium stellatum (Forssk.) Brenan, 45,
78, 121, 130, 132, 134, 135, 144, 153, 156,
178, 183, 201, 203, 214, 255
PTEROPSIDA, 264, 266
Pulicaria incisa (Lam.) DC., 118, 258, 268
Punica granatum L., 170, 171, 257
Pycnostachys abyssinica Fresen., 214, 261
Pygeum africanum Hook. f., 49, 70, 257
Pyrrosia schimperiana (Kuhn) Alston, 157, 279
Ranunculus oreophytus Del., 236, 237, 242, 256
Ranunculus tembensis Fresen., 236, 246, 256
Raphanus raphanistrum L., 117, 251
Rhabdotosperma scrophulariifolia (A. Rich.)
Hartl, 218, 267
Rhamnus prinoides L’Hérit., 89, 90, 123, 124,
139, 170, 175, 253, 267
Rhoicissus tridentata (L. f.) Wild & Drummond,
132, 134, 153, 174, 178, 182, 189, 193, 202,
208, 209, 212, 216, 253, 268
Rhus amharica Pic. Serm., 105, 128, 271
Rhus glutinosa A. Rich., 105, 128, 153, 154,
163, 168, 193, 212, 254, 271, 272
Rhus huillensis Engl. var. erythraea (Fiori) Pic.
Serm., 106, 272
Rhus piroides [error for pyroides] Burch. var.
erythraea Fiori, 106, 195
Rhus pyroides var. gracilis*, 272
Rhus quartiniana A. Rich., 106, 136, 157, 176,
178, 187, 204, 206, 207, 272
Rhus sp.*[1], 174, 254
Rhus sp.*[2], 131, 141, 254
Rhus sp.*[3], 197, 254
Rhus sp.*[4], 178, 254
Rhus vulgaris Meikle, 127, 128, 134, 135, 144,
149, 150, 151, 153, 154, 157, 173, 174, 179,
180, 181, 191, 192, 204, 206, 207, 208,
212, 216, 254
Rhynchosia nyasica Bak., 168, 271
Rhynchosia resinosa (A. Rich.) Bak., 154, 174,
178, 192, 202, 255
Ricinus communis L., 89, 124, 161, 163, 173,
202, 205, 263
Ricinus communis L. var. africanus (Willd.)
Mull. Arg. in D.C. form. subviridis Mull.
Arg. in DC., 89, 263
Ritchiea albersii Gilg, 156, 170, 171, 193, 199,
202, 206, 207, 214, 215, 224, 269, 271
326
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Rosa abyssinica Lindl., 48, 49, 50, 70, 71, 87,
89, 90, 112, 124, 127, 182, 186, 207, 220,
221, 224, 225, 230, 239, 255, 256
Rosa abyssinica Lindl. forma microphylla
(Crepin) Pic. Serm., 112, 256
Rosa abyssinica Lindl. var. microphylla Crepin,
112
Rosa x richardii Rehd., 217, 255
Rosularia semiensis (A. Rich.) Ohba, 244,
245, 275
Rotala repens (Hochst.) Koehne, 166, 167,
172, 252, 276
Rothmannia urcelliformis (Hiern) Robyns,
156, 175, 270
Rubia cordifolia L., 209, 256
Rubus apetalus Poir., 201, 256
Rumex abyssinicus Jacq., 154, 262
Rumex nepalensis Spreng., 219, 262
Rumex nervosus Vahl, 45, 51, 78, 89, 117, 124,
139, 158, 161, 163, 168, 170, 176, 183, 207,
218, 219, 222, 224, 230, 262, 277
Ruta chalepensis L., 156, 252
Ruttya speciosa (Hochst.) Engl., 156, 160, 262
Sagina abyssinica A. Rich., 236, 237, 238, 242,
243, 268, 274
Salix mucronata Thunb., 282
Salix subserrata Willd., 50, 127, 128, 173, 204,
206, 226, 239, 263, 277, 282
Salvia merjamie Forssk., 154, 261
Salvia nilotica Jacq., 219, 261
Sapium ellipticum (Krauss) Pax, 145, 216, 263
Satureja abyssinica (Benth.) Briq., 128, 236,
261
Satureja contardoi Pic. Serm., 110, 236, 276
Satureja imbricata (Forssk.) Briq., 110, 236,
242, 276
Satureja ovata (Benth.) Pic. Serm., 110
Satureja ovata (Benth.) Pic. Serm. var. cinereotomentosa (A. Rich.) Pic. Serm., 110
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq., 117, 124, 127,
128, 150, 168, 193, 202, 207, 208, 220,
227, 230, 261, 262, 276
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. subsp. ovata
(Benth.) Seybold, 110, 207, 268
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. var. rigida Pic.
Serm., 110, 262, 276
Satureja simensis (Benth.) Briq., 228, 242, 276
Sauromatum venosum (Ait.) Kunth, 187, 197,
199, 264
Saxifraga hederifolia A. Rich., 50, 75, 234, 236,
242, 243, 246, 277
Scabiosa columbaria L., 228, 270
Scadoxus multiflorus (Martyn) Raf., 224, 225,
226, 264
Schefflera abyssinica (A. Rich.) Harms, 228,
230, 247, 256
Schinus molle L., 117, 254
Schrebera alata (Hochst.) Welw., 189, 190,
202, 206, 212, 260
Scleranthus annuus L., 118, 262
Senecio degiensis Pic. Serm., 107, 243, 274
Senecio farinaceus A. Rich., 107, 234, 236, 237,
238, 242, 243, 274, 275
Senecio myriocephalus A. Rich., 222, 229, 230,
275, 259
Senecio nanus A. Rich., 236, 237, 242, 243, 275
Senecio schultzii A. Rich., 245, 275
Senna petersiana (Bolle) Lock, 170, 173, 201,
202, 203, 204, 206, 207, 270
Senna singueana (Del.) Lock, 132, 133, 134,
135, 141, 142, 144, 149, 151, 152, 154,
165, 174, 176, 179, 180, 189, 190, 192,
196, 212, 255
Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. var. nubica Chiov.,
137, 139, 157, 170, 187, 273
Setaria atrata Hack., 141, 252
Setaria (?) incrassata*, 196, 250
Setaria incrassata (Hochst.) Hack., 252
Setaria megaphylla (Steud.) Th. Dur. & Schinz,
145, 217, 250
Setaria (?) phragmitoides*, 181, 252
Setaria sphacelata (Schumach.) Moss, 225,
250
Sida schimperiana A. Rich., 217, 219, 252, 259
Sida ternata L. f., 161, 206, 251
Solanum adoense A. Rich., 118, 273
Solanum anguivi Lam., 113, 114, 124, 154, 156,
161, 189, 206, 214, 220, 273, 274
Solanum campylacanthum A. Rich., 131, 132,
135, 141, 144, 154, 163, 167, 174, 176, 193,
201, 203, 204, 274
Solanum dasyphyllum Schumach., 173, 273
Solanum giganteum Jacq., 156, 170, 173, 217,
274
Solanum incanum L., 159, 273
Solanum indicum L. subsp. mesodolichum
Bitter, 113
Solanum indicum L. subsp. mesodolichum
Bitter var. uollense Chiov., 114
Solanum marginatum L. f., 117, 208, 221, 222,
225, 228, 273, 277
Solanum mesodolichum (Bitter) Pic. Serm.,
113, 274
Solanum orthocarpum Pic. Serm., 113, 154,
274
Solanum uollense (Chiov.) Pic. Serm., 114, 273
Sonchus bipontini Asch., 220, 258
327
INDEXES AND SYNONYMY
Sopubia ramosa (Hochst.) Hochst., 159, 163,
192, 268
Sparmannia ricinocarpa (Eckl. & Zeyh.) O.
Kuntze, 220, 252
Stachys hypoleuca A. Rich., 244, 245, 276
Steganotaenia araliacea A. Rich., 163, 164, 178,
181, 189, 190, 193, 199, 212, 256
Stephania abyssinica (A. Rich.) Walp., 89, 124,
203, 207, 214, 217, 219, 220, 222, 225, 251
Sterculia setigera Del., 45, 79, 185, 252
Sterculia tomentosa Guill. & Perr., 45, 79, 252
Stereospermum kunthianum Cham., 47, 48, 88,
123, 133, 141, 142, 144, 149, 150, 152, 154,
159, 163, 165, 166, 168, 174, 179, 182, 185,
192, 212, 261
Striga gesnerioides (Willd.) Vatke, 156, 178,
260
Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth., 119, 260
Strychnos innocua Del., 46, 67, 86, 121, 260
Strychnos unguacha A. Rich., 46, 67, 86, 88
Strychnos unguacha A. Rich. var. typica Gilg.,
88, 260
Swertia engleri Gilg, 237, 238, 242, 274
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC., 47, 58, 90,
124, 137, 148, 156, 157, 164, 165, 169,
171, 182, 187, 204, 206, 212, 216, 257,
259, 268, 301
Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston, 216, 268
Tacazzea (?) apiculata*, 137, 269
Tacazzea apiculata Oliv., 147, 156, 157, 269
Tacazzea conferta N.E. Br., 219, 222, 270
Tacazzea venosa Decne., 170, 174, 177, 187,
199, 260
Tagetes erecta L., 197, 258
Tapinanthus globiferus (A. Rich.) Tiegh., 128,
131, 154, 197, 200, 201, 204, 263, 272, 273
Tapinanthus heteromorphus (A. Rich.) Danser,
111, 144, 167, 189, 263, 273
Teclea nobilis Del., 132, 199, 214, 215, 252, 268
Tephrosia elata Deflers, 144, 150, 159, 175,
176, 271
Tephrosia interrupta Engl., 88, 122, 254
Terminalia brownii Fresen., 45, 52
Terminalia schimperiana Hochst., 81, 133, 151,
152, 167, 168, 176, 179, 180, 182, 189, 190,
193, 196, 212, 256, 272
Thelypteris confluens (Thunb.) Morton, 129,
280
Themeda triandra Forssk., 117, 184, 247, 250,
265
Thymus schimperi Ronniger, 227, 228, 230,
232, 276
Tolpis virgata (Desf.) Bertol., 107, 127, 128,
150, 220, 230, 257, 275
Tragia cinerea (Pax) M.G. Gilbert & Radcl.Smith, 139, 161, 214, 217, 263
Tragia mitis Muell. Arg., 201, 204, 263
Trichilia buchanani C. DC., 111
Trichilia volkensii Gürke var. buchanani (C.
DC.) Pic. Serm., 111, 270
Trichodesma zeylanicum (Burm. f.) R. Br., 133,
168, 173, 174, 260
Trichopteryx elegans Hack. var. hensii De
Wild., 112
Trifolium acaule A. Rich., 238, 276
Trifolium cryptopodium A. Rich., 242, 276
Tristicha trifaria (Willd.) Spreng., 146, 268
Triumfetta pilosa Roth, 149, 150, 173, 174,
212, 252
Typha latifolia L., 145, 263
Urera hypselodendron (A. Rich.) Wedd., 206,
224, 264
Urtica simensis Steud., 245, 277
Vallisneria spiralis L., 145, 166, 263
Vangueria sp.*, 156, 170, 267, 270
Vepris dainellii (Pic. Serm.) Kokwaro, 102,
113, 214, 215, 272
Verbascum sinaiticum Benth., 117, 154, 158,
221, 222, 229, 230, 260, 277
Vernonia adoensis Walp., 132, 142, 144, 150,
159, 168, 192, 258
Vernonia amygdalina Del., 129, 144, 159, 173,
206, 257
Vernonia bipontini Vatke, 230, 275
Vernonia chiarugii Pic. Serm., 107, 133, 272
Vernonia congolensis De Wild. & Muschl.
subsp. vernonioides (Walp.) C. Jeffrey, 124,
133, 135, 142, 144, 149, 150, 154, 159, 163,
174, 176, 179, 182, 184, 212, 257
Vernonia cylindrica Walp., 133, 142, 150, 168,
174, 189, 192, 203, 212, 272
Vernonia filigera Oliv. & Hiern, 124, 272
Vernonia hochstetteri Walp., 88, 90, 121, 124,
156, 206, 258
Vernonia leopoldii (Walp.) Vatke, 118, 128,
208, 221, 258
Vernonia myriantha Hook. f., 107, 133, 272
Vernonia myriocephala A. Rich., 107
Vernonia oliveriana Pic. Serm., 107
Vernonia podocoma Oliv. & Hiern, non
Schweinf., nom illeg., 107
Vernonia podocoma Vatke var. glabrata Fiori,
107
Vernonia purpurea Walp., 212, 258
Vernonia quartiniana A. Rich., 90, 257,
Vernonia richardiana (O. Kuntze) Pic. Serm.,
107
328
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Vernonia rueppellii Walp., 107, 124, 128, 133,
142, 154, 156, 161, 169, 170, 173, 207, 217,
223, 272, 277
Vernonia schimperi DC., 117, 258
Vernonia sp.*, 203, 257
Vernonia theophrastifolia Oliv. & Hiern, 107,
121, 186, 212, 272
Vernonia thomsoniana Oliv. & Hiern, 104,
108, 204, 272
Vernonia thomsoniana Oliv. & Hiern var.
livingstoniana (Oliv. & Hiern) Pic. Serm.,
108
Vernonia thomsoniana Oliv. & Hiern var.
thomsoniana, 108
Vernonia unionis Walp., 199, 269
Veronica abyssinica Fresen., 228, 277
Veronica beccabunga L., 246, 274
Vigna membranacea A. Rich., 163, 255
Viscum nervosum A. Rich. var. angustifolium
Sprague, 89, 263,
Viscum triflorum DC. subsp. nervosum (A.
Rich.) M.G. Gilbert, 124, 263
Viscum tuberculatum A. Rich., 128, 132, 142,
144, 166, 168, 207, 263
Wahlenbergia abyssinica (A. Rich.) Thulin,
127, 142, 163, 259
Wahlenbergia pusilla A. Rich., 236, 259
Wahlenbergia silenoides A. Rich., 221, 259
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, 117, 260
Xanthium spinosum L., 117, 258
Ximenia americana L., 135, 144, 147, 150, 185,
189, 190, 192, 196, 204, 206, 253, 267
Zehneria scabra (L. f.) Sond., 108, 122, 156,
222, 257, 270
Ziziphus abyssinica A. Rich., 152, 154, 174,
178, 179, 185, 189, 190, 196, 253
Zizyphus mucronata Willd., 179, 253
329
INDEXES AND SYNONYMY
3. Identifications of names used by Pichi Sermolli in his works on the Lake Tana
expedition but not accepted in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, with recent synonyms
Synonyms are indicated in Italics; accepted names in Bold. Three parallel horizontal lines ≡ indicate a nomenclatural synonym. Two parallel horizontal lines = indicate a
taxonomic synonym. Two horizontal curled lines ≈ indicate an “auct., non” synonyms,
that is a name used by Pichi Sermolli (1951), but identified with a non-synonymous
name in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
A
Abutilon smenospermum Pic. Serm. = Abutilon
cecilii N.E. Br.
Acacia cyanophylla Lindl. = Acacia saligna
(Labill.) Wendl.; a species introduced
from Australia.
Acacia nefasia (A. Rich.) Schweinf. = Acacia
sieberiana DC. var. woodii (Burtt Davy)
Keay & Brenan
Acacia xiphocarpa Benth. = Acacia abyssinica
Benth.
Achyranthes argentea Lam. = Achyranthes
aspera L. var. sicula L.
Achyranthes argentea Lam. var. virgata Moq.
in DC. = Achyranthes aspera L. var.
sicula L.
Adhatoda schimperiana Nees ≡ Justicia
schimperiana (Nees) T. Anders.
Aerangis rohlfsiana (K raenzl.) Schltr. =
Aerangis brachycarpa (A. Rich.) Th.
Dur. & Schinz
Afrovivella simensis (Britten) Berger =
Rosularia semiensis (A. Rich.) Ohba
Aira caryophyllea var. latigluma (Steud.) C.E.
Hubb. = Aira caryophyllea L.
Ajuga crenata Chiov. = Ajuga integrifolia
D. Don
Albizzia isembergiana (A. Rich.) Benth. =
Albizia isenbergiana (A. Rich.) Fourn.
Albizzia pallida Fourn. [but in the list of
collections as Albizzia malacophylla var.
pallida without indication of authorities]
= Albizia malacophylla (A. Rich.) Walp.
var. malacophylla
A lbuca hys te rantha C h iov. = A lbuca
abyssinica Jacq.
Alchemilla commutata Rothm. = Alchemilla
microbetula T.C.E. Fries
A lche milla commutata R ot h m . for ma
muscoides (Hauman & Balle) Rothm. =
Alchemilla microbetula T.C.E. Fries
Alchemilla sessiliflora Rothm. = Alchemilla
microbetula T.C.E. Fries
Aloe abyssinica Lam. ≈ A loe sp. - not
identifiable.
Aloe aethiopica [auct., non (Schweinf.) Berger]
≈ Aloe steudneri Schweinf.
Aloe eru Berger ≈ Aloe sp. - not identifiable.
Aloe macrocarpa Tod. var. major Berger = Aloe
macrocarpa Tod.
Anaphrenium abyssinicum Hochst. var.
latifolium (Oliv.) Engl. = Ozoroa insignis
Del.
Anarrhinum arabicum [(Poir.) Jaub. & Spach]
var. abyssinicum (Jaub. & Spach) Engl. ≡
Anarrhinum forsskaolii (Gmel.) Cufod.
subsp. abyssinicum (Jaub. & Spach) D.A.
Sutton
Anthemis semiensis Pic. Serm. = Anthemis
tigreensis A. Rich.
Antithrixia abyssinica (Walp.) Vatke ≡
Macowania abyssinica (Walp.) B.L.
Burtt
Apodytes acutifolia A. R ich. ≡ Apodytes
dimidiata Arn. var. acutifolia (A. Rich.)
Boutique
Arabis alpina L. var. meruensis (O.E. Schulz)
Pic. Serm. = Arabis alpina L.
A r te mi sia rehan C h iov. = A r tem isia
absinthium L.
Asclepias abyssinica (Decne.) N.E. Br. ≡
Gomphocarpus abyssinicus Decne.
Asclepias albida N.E. Br. = Gomphocarpus
purpurascens A. Rich.
Asparagus asiaticus [sensu Baker (1875) &
Cufodontis (1971), non ] L. ≈ Asparagus
africanus Lam.
Asparagus asiaticus var. amharicus Pic. Serm.
= Asparagus africanus Lam.
Astragalus abyssinicus Hochst. ≡ Astragalus
atropilosulus (Hochst.) Bunge subsp.
abyssinicus (Hochst.) Gi l lett var.
abyssinicus
330
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
B
Becium affine (Benth.) Chiov. = Becium
obovatum (Benth.) N.E. Br.
Beckeropsis petiolaris (Hochst.) Fig. & De
Not. ≡ Pennisetum petiolare (Hochst.)
Chiov.
Beckeropsis uniseta (Nees) K. Schum. ≡
Pennisetum unisetum (Nees) Benth.
Bidens chaetodonta Sherff var. glabrior (Oliv.
& Hiern.) Sherff = Bidens camporum
(Hutch.) Mesfin
Bidens pilosa L. var. minor (Bl.) Sherff =
Bidens pilosa L.
Bidens setigera (Walp.) Sherff var. abyssinica
(Sch.Bip.) Sherff = Bidens setigera
(Walp.) Sherff
Blaeria spicata A. Rich. ≡ Erica tenuipilosa
(A lm & T.C.E. Fries) Cheek subsp.
spicata (A. Rich.) Cheek
Blepharis maderaspatensis (L.) Roth var.
abyssinica (Hochst.) Fiori = Blepharis
maderaspatensis (L.) Roth
Blumea lacera (Burm. f.) DC. = Blumea
axillaris (Lam.) DC.
Boerhaavia pentandra sensu Cufod., non
Burch. ≈ Commicarpus grandiflora (A.
Rich.) Standl.
Brassica integrifolia (West) Ruprecht var.
carinata (A. Br.) O.E. Schulz ≡ Brassica
carinata A. Br.
Bromus cognatus Steud. = Bromus leptoclados
Nees
Buchnera longifolia K lotsch = Buchnera
hispida Buch.-Ham.
Bulbostylis holotricha A. Peter = Bulbostylis
pusilla (Wall.) Hand. Mazz. subsp.
congolensis (De Wild.) R. Haines
Bulbostylis trifida auct, non (Nees) Nelmes ≈
Bulbostylis densa (Wall.) Hand. Mazz.
subsp. afromontana (Lye) R. Haines
C
Cajanus cajan (L.) Milsp. forma bicolor
[Baker] = Cajanus cajan (L.) Milsp.
Calpurnia subdecandra (L’Hérit.) Schweick. =
Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth.
Campanula quartiniana A. Rich. = Campanula
edulis Forssk.
Capparis boscioides Pax ≡ Capparis sepiaria
L. var. boscioides (Pax) Kers
Capparis persicifolia A. Rich. [1848; in Pichi
Sermolli 1951: 45, 278, as persicaefolia] =
Capparis tomentosa Lam.
Carduus semiensis Pic. Serm. = Carduus
leptacanthus Fresen.
Carissa edulis Vahl = Carissa spinarum L.
Carissa edulis Vahl var. cornifolia (Jaub. &
Spach) Pic. Serm. = Carissa spinarum L.
Carissa edulis Vahl var. tomentosa (A. Rich.)
Stapf = Carissa spinarum L.
Cassia goratensis Fresen. = Senna singueana
(Del.) Lock
Cassia petersiana Bolle ≡ Senna petersiana
(Bolle) Lock
Celsia scrophulariifolia A. Rich. subsp. foliosa
(Chiov.) Murb. ≈ R habdotosperma
scrophulariifolia (A. Rich.) Hartl
Celtis kraussiana Benth. = Celtis africana
Burm. f.
C e n t a u re a i m a t o n ge n s i s Ph i l ipson ≡
Ochrocephala imatongensis (Philipson)
Dittrich
Cerastium caespitosum Gilib. var. simense Engl.
= Cerastium octandrum A. Rich. var.
octandrum
Chrozophora plicata (Vahl) A. Juss. var.
obliquifolia (Vis.) Prain = Chrozophora
plicata (Vahl) A. Juss.
Cineraria abyssinica A. Rich. var. [forma] rothii
Oliv. & Hiern = Cineraria deltoidea
Sond.
Cirsium lanceolatum (L.) Scop. var. abyssinicum
(A. Rich.) Chiov. = Cirsium vulgare
(Savi) Ten.
Cissus adenocaulis A. Rich. ≡ Cyphostemma
adenocaule (A. Rich.) Wild & Drummond
Citrus bigaradia Lois. = Citrus aurantium L.
Citrus limonia Osb. var. abyssinica (Riccob.)
P ic . Ser m . = Cit r us au ra nt i fol ia
(Christm.) Swingle
Clausena abyssinica (Engl.) Engl. = Clausena
anisata (Willd.) Benth.
Clematis glaucescens Fresen. = Clematis
hirsuta Perr. & Guill.
Clerodendron cordifolium (Hochst.) A. Rich. =
Clerodendrum umbellatum Poir.
Cluytia richardiana Muell. Arg. var. pubescens
(A. Rich.) Muell. Arg. = Clutia lanceolata
Forssk.
Coleochloa abyssinica (A. Rich.) Gilly var.
abyssinica = Coleochloa abyssinica (A.
Rich.) Gilly
Coleochloa abyssinica (A. Rich.) Gilly var.
castanea (C.B. Clarke) Pic. Serm. =
Coleochloa abyssinica (A. Rich.) Gilly
Coleu s barbatu s (A nd rew s) Bent h . ≡
Plectranthus barbatus Andrews
331
INDEXES AND SYNONYMY
Coleus comosus Gürke = Plectranthus
ornatus Codd [non Plectranthus
comosus Sims]
Colutea istria [auct., non] Mill. ≈ Colutea
abyssinica Kunth & Bouché
C ombre t um gallabate n se Schwei n f . =
Combretum rochetianum A. Juss.
Combretum richardianum van Heurk & Müll.
Arg. = Combretum molle G. Don
Combretum trichanthum Fresen. =
Combretum molle G. Don
Commelina nudiflora var. werneana (Hassk.)
C.B. Clarke = Commelina diffusa
Burm. f.
Commelina p y r rhoble phar i s Ha ssk . =
Commelina benghalensis L.
Commelina pyrrhoblepharis forma glabra Pic.
Serm. = Commelina benghalensis L.
Convolvulus sagittatus Thunb. var. abyssinicus
(H a l l . f .) R end le = Convolv u lus
sagittatus Thunb.
Convolvulus sagittatus Thunb. var. linearifolius
(Hall. f.) A. Meeuse = Convolvulus
sagittatus Thunb.
Cordia abyssinica R. Br. = Cordia africana
Lam.
Cordia ovalis DC. & A . DC. = Cordia
monoica Roxb.
Cotula abyssinica A. Rich. var. nana A. Rich.
= Cotula abyssinica A. Rich.
Croton macrostachys Del. [orthographic
variant in Pichi Sermolli 1951] ≡ Croton
macrostachyus Del
Cucumis ficifolius A. Rich. var. microphyllus
Naud. = Cucumis ficifolius A. Rich.
Cyathula globulifera Moq. var. abyssinica Moq.
= Cyathula uncinulata (Schrad.) Schinz
Cyathula uncinulata (Schrad.) Schinz var.
abyssinica (Moq.) Pic. Serm. = Cyathula
uncinulata (Schrad.) Schinz
Cymbopogon excavatus (Hochst.) Stapf [ex
Burtt Davy] = Cymbopogon caesius
(Hook. & Arn.) Stapf
Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forssk . va r.
eulanceolatum Brand = Cynoglossum
lanceolatum Forssk.
Cyperus longus L. subsp. badius (Desf.)
Bonnier & Layens [in Pichi Sermolli
(1951: 187) the authority is (Desf.)
Aschers. & Graebn.] = Cyperus longus
L. [there is no infraspecific division in
FEE, and Cyperus longus subsp. badius is
not cited]
Cyperus morandinii Pic. Serm. = Cyperus
penzoanus Pic. Serm.
Cyperus papyrus subsp. antiquorum (Willd.)
Kük. = Cyperus papyrus L.
D
Deroemeria squamata (A. Rich.) Rchb. f. ≡
Holothrix squammata (A. Rich.) Rchb. f.
Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. var.
latifolia (A. R ich.) Hook. f. [in Pichi
Sermolli (1951: 237) the authority is
indicated as (A. Rich.) Th. Dur. & Schinz}
= Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) P. Beauv.
Dianthoseris rueppellii Sch.Bip. [ex Oliv. &
Hiern] ≡ Launaea rueppellii (Oliv. &
Hiern) Boulos
Dichrocephala latifolia [auct., non] (Lam.) DC.
≈ Dichrocephala integrifolia (L. f.) O.
Kuntze [in FEE as Dicrocephala]
Dichrostachys glomerata (Forssk.) Chiov. =
Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight. &
Arn.
Dicliptera maculata Nees forma albolanata
Lanza = Dicliptera maculata Nees
Dicliptera micranthes Nees = Dicliptera
verticillata (Forssk.) C. Chr.
Digitaria abyssinica (A. R ich.) Stapf var.
velutina (Chiov.) Henr. – possibly ≈
Digitaria abyssinica (A. Rich.) Stapf
(Digitaria abyssinica (A. Rich.) Stapf var.
velutina (Chiov.) Henr [non Pic. Serm.], a
synonym of Digitaria pearsonii Stapf, is
known only from Eritrea and Bale).
Diphasia dainellii Pic. Serm. ≡ Vepris dainellii
(Pic. Serm.) Kokwaro
Diplolophium abyssinicum (A. Rich.) Benth. =
Diplolophium africanum Turz.
Dipsacus eremocephalus Pic. Serm. = Dipsacus
pinnatifidus A. Rich.
Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. var. spathulata (Smith)
Benth. ≈ Dodonaea angustifolia L. f.
Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. var. vulgaris Benth.
forma burmanniana (DC.) Radlk. ≈
Dodonaea angustifolia L. f.
Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. var. vulgaris Benth.
forma repanda (Schumach. & Thonn.)
Radlk. ≈ Dodonaea angustifolia L. f.
Dolichos lablab L. var. uncinatus (Schweinf.)
Chiov. = Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet
Dombeya bruceana A. R ich. = Dombeya
torrida (J.F. Gmel.) P. Bamps
Dombeya multiflora (Endl.) Planch. var. vestita
K. Schum ≈ Dombeya quinqueseta
(Del.) Excell
332
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Dombeya schimperiana A. Rich. = Dombeya
torrida (J.F. Gmel.) P. Bamps
Dyschoriste broiloi Pic. Serm. = Dyschoriste
multicaulis (A. Rich.) O. Kuntze
Dyschoriste perrottetii (Nees) O. Kuntze =
Dyschoriste nagchana (Nees) Bennett
E
Echinops chamaecephalus A. Rich. = Echinops
hispidus Fresen.
Echinops francinianus Pic. Serm. = Echinops
giganteus A. Rich.
Echinops hoffmannianus Mattf. = Echinops
longisetus A. Rich.
E c h i n o p s m a c ro c h a e t u s F r e s e n . v a r.
macrochaetus = Echinops macrochaetus
Fresen.
E c h i n o p s m a c ro c h a e t u s F r e s e n . v a r.
p s e u d o v i s c o s u s Fior i = E ch i nops
macrochaetus Fresen.
Echinops nistrii Pic. Serm. = Echinops
macrochaetus Fresen.
Echinops spinosus auct., non L. ≈ Echinops
pappii Chiov.
Ehretia abyssinica Fresen. = Ehretia cymosa
Thonn. var. cymosa
Ekebergia rueppelliana (Fresen.) A. Rich. =
Ekebergia capensis Sparrm.
Epilobium schimpe r ianum A . R ich . =
Epilobium stereophyllum Fresen.
Erigeron alpinum L. subsp. alpinum ≡ Erigeron
alpinus L.
Erythrina tomentosa A. Rich. = Erythrina
abyssinica DC.
Eucalyptus rostratum Schlecht. [E. rostrata
Schldl., non Cav.] ≈ E. camaldulensis
Dehnh.
Euclea kellau Hochst. ≡ Euclea racemosa
Murr. subsp. schimperi (A. DC.) F. White
Euphorbia controversa N.E. Br. = Euphorbia
abyssinica Gmel.
Euphorbia dilatata A. Rich. = Euphorbia
schimperiana Scheele
Euphorbia obovalifolia [auct., non ]A. Rich. =
Euphorbia ampliphylla Pax
F
Faurea rochetiana (A. Rich.) Pic. Serm. =
Faurea speciosa Welw. [an error in FEE,
Faurea rochetiana (A. Rich.) Pic. Serm.
has priority]
Ferula abyssinica A. Rich. = Ferula communis
L.
Festuca rigidula Steud. = Festuca abyssinica
A. Rich.
Festuca schimperiana A. Rich. = Festuca
abyssinica A. Rich.
Ficus brachypoda Hutch. = Ficus ovata Vahl
Ficus dahro Del. = Ficus vasta Forssk.
Ficus glumosa Del. var. glaberrima Martelli =
Ficus glumosa Del.
Ficus gnaphalocarpa (Miq.) A. Rich. ≡ Ficus
sycomorus L. subsp. gnaphalocarpa
(Miq.) C.C. Berg
Ficus riparia (Miq.) A. Rich. = Ficus sur
Forssk.
Flacourtia afra Pic. Serm. = Flacourtia indica
(Burm. f.) Merr.
Foeniculum vulgare Mill. subsp. capillaceum
(G i l ib. [nom i l le g .]) Hol mboe ≈
Foeniculum vulgare Mill.
G
Galium hochstetteri Pic. Serm. = Galium
acrophyum Chiov.
Gardenia lutea Fresen. = Gardenia ternifolia
Schumach. & Thonn. subsp. jovistonantis (Welw.) Verdc.
Geranium frigidum A. Rich. = Geranium
arabicum Forssk. subsp. arabicum
Geranium latistipulatum A. Rich. ≡ Geranium
arabicum Forssk. subsp. latistipulatum
(A. Rich.) Kokwaro
Geranium simense A. Rich. forma typicum
Kunth = Geranium arabicum Forssk.
subsp. arabicum
Glycine javanica L. = Glycine wightii (Wight
& Arn.) Verdc. (Pichi Sermolli’s taxon
may represent either of the two subspecies
represented in the Flora of Ethiopia 3.
Glycine wightii subsp. wightii var.
longicauda (Schweinf.) Verdc. and
Glycine wightii subsp. petitiana (A.
Rich.) Verdc. – the taxa have later been
transferred to Neonotonia wightii
(Wight & Arn.) Lackey.
Grewia mollis A. Juss. var. petitiana (A. Rich.)
Burret = Grewia mollis A. Juss.
G ymnosciadium pusillum Pic. Ser m. =
Pimpinella pimpinelloides (Hochst.)
Wolff
Gymnosporia castellii Pic. Serm. = Maytenus
gracilipes (Oliv.) Exell subsp. arguta
(Loes.) Sebsebe
Gymnosporia cortii Pic. Serm. ≡ Maytenus
cortii (Pic. Serm.) Cufod.
333
INDEXES AND SYNONYMY
Gymnosporia engleriana Loes. var. macrantha
Loes. = Maytenus arbutifolia (A. Rich.)
Wilczek var. arbutifolia
Gymnosporia laurifolia (A. Rich.) Loes. =
Maytenus undata (Thunb.) Blakelock
Gymnosporia obscura (A. R ich.) Loes. ≡
Maytenus obscura (A. Rich.) Cufod.
Gymnosporia senegalensis (Lam.) Loes. var.
inermis (A. Rich.) Loes. forma macrocarpa
Loes. = Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.)
Exell
Gymnosporia serrata (A. Rich.) Loes. var.
schimperi Fiori = Maytenus serrata (A.
Rich.) Wilczek
Gymnosporia serrata (A. Rich.) Loes. var.
serrata = Maytenus serrata (A. Rich.)
Wilczek
Gymnosporia serrata (A. Rich.) Loes. var.
steudneri (Engl.) Loes. = Maytenus
gracilipes (Oliv.) Exell subsp. arguta
(Loes.) Sebsebe
Gymnosporia serrata (A. Rich.) Loes. var.
typica Fiori ≡ Maytenus serrata (A.
Rich.) Wilczek
H
Haemanthus multiflorus Martyn ≡ Scadoxus
multiflorus (Martyn) Raf.
Hebenstreitia dentata [auct., non] L . ≈
Hebenstreitia angolensis Rolfe
Hebenstreitia dentata L. var. integrifolia (L.)
Choisy ≈ Hebenstreitia angolensis Rolfe
Helichrysum abyssinicum (Sch.Bip.) A. Rich. =
H. splendidum (Thunb.) Less.
Helichr ysum fruticosum (Forssk . [non
rite publ.]) Vatke var. fruticosum =
Helichrysum forsskahlii (J.F. Gmel.)
Hilliard & B-L. Burtt var. forsskahlii
Helichrysum fruticosum (Forssk.) Vatke
var. compactum Vatke ≡ Helichrysum
forsskahlii (J.F. Gmel.) Hilliard & B.L.
Burtt var. compactum (Vatke) Mesfin
Helichrysum hochstetteri (A. Rich.) Hook. f. =
Helichrysum stenopterum DC.
Hibiscus calyphyllus Cav. var. genuinus Hochr.
= Hibiscus calyphyllus Cav.
Hibiscus cannabinus L. var. verrucosus (Guill.
& Perr.) Engl.= Hibiscus cannabinus L.
Hibiscus diversifolius A. Rich. var. genuinus
Hochr. = Hibiscus diversifolius A. Rich.
Hibiscus panduriformis Burm. f. var. tubulosus
(Cav.) Hochr. (1900) 96, nom. illeg. =
Hibiscus panduriformis Burm. f.
Hippocratea obtusifolia Roxb. var. schimperiana
(A. Rich.) Loes. ≡ Hippocratea africana
(Willd.) Loes. var. schimperiana (A.
Rich.) Cufod.
Hygrophila longifolia (L.) S. Kurz = H. schulii
(Hamilt.) M.R. & S.M. Almeida [I FEE,
the correct name is now H. auriculata
(Schumach.) Heine.]
Hymenodictyon kurria Hochst. =
Hymenodictyon floribundum (Hochst.
& Steud.) Robinson
Hyparrhenia gazensis (Rendle) Stapf ≈
Hyparrhenia sp. [H. gazensis is not
mentioned in the FEE, and according to
the Flora of Tropical East Africa it does not
occur in Ethiopia]
Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf var. podotricha
(Hochst.) Pic. Serm. = Hyparrhenia
hirta (L.) Stapf
Hyparrhenia pseudocymbaria (Steud.) Stapf =
Hyparrhenia anthistirioides (A. Rich.)
Stapf
Hyparrhenia umbrosa (Hochst.) Clayton ≈
Hyparrhenia sp. The type of H. umbrosa is
Schimper 1116 from Tigray, Mt. Scholoda,
1838, and is according to the FEE (vol. 9:
344) an intermediate specimen between
the taxa H. cymbaria (L.) Stapf and H.
tamba (Steud.) Stapf.
Hypericum lanceolatum [auct., non] Lam. ≈
Hypericum revolutum Vahl
Hypericum quar tinianum A . R ich. var.
roeperianum ([W.G. Schimper ex] A.
R ich.) Engl. [Moggi & Pisacchi] ≡
Hypericum roeperianum A. Rich.
Hypoestes busii Pic. Serm. = Hypoestes
triflora (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult.
I
Indigofera alboglandulosa Engl. = Indigofera
atriceps Hook. f. subsp. atriceps
Indigofera secundiflora Poir. var. gondarensis
Pic. Serm. = Indigofera secundif lora
Poir. var. rubripilosa De Wild.
Inula decipiens E.A. Bruce = Inula paniculata
(Klatt) Burtt Davy
Ipomoea palmata Forssk. = Ipomoea cairica
(L.) Sweet var. cairica
J
Jambosa jambos (L.) Millsp. ≡ Syzygium
jambos (L.) Alston [only the related
Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels mentioned
in FEE]
334
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Jasminum floribundum Fresen. ≡ Jasminum
grandiflorum L. subsp. floribundum
(Fresen.) P.S. Green
Jussiaea pilosa Kunth ≈ Ludwigia leptocarpa
(Nutt.) H. Hara
Justicia leikipiensis [auct., non] S. Moore ≈
Justicia ladanoides Lam.
K
Kalanchoe brachycalyx A. Rich. = Kalanchoe
laciniata (L.) DC.
Kalanchoe crenata (Andr.) Haw. [in the Sudan,
but not recorded from Ethiopia according
to the FEE; the correct identification of
Pichi Sermolli’s plants from Ethiopia
is Kalanchoe petitiana A . R ich.] ≈
Kalanchoe petitiana A. Rich.
Kniphofia densiflora Engl. = Kniphofia foliosa
Hochst.
Koeleria cristata (L.) Pers. var. convoluta
(Steud.) C.E. Hubb. = Koeleria capensis
(Steud.) Nees
Korthalsella binii Pic. Serm. = Korthalsella
japonica (Thunb.) Engl.
Korthalsella opuntia (Thunb. [non L.]) Merrill
= Korthalsella japonica (Thunb.) Engl.
L
Lachnopylis congesta (Fresen.) C.A. Smith ≡
Nuxia congesta Fresen.
Lactuca abyssinica Fresen. = Lactuca inermis
Forssk.
Lactuca capensis Thunb. = Lactuca inermis
Forssk.
Lactuca pseudoabyssinica Chiov. ≡ Launaea
pseudoabyssinica (Chiov.) N. Kilian
Lactuca taraxacifolia (Willd.) Hornem. ≡
Launaea taraxacifolia (Willd.) C. Jeffrey
Lagenaria vulgare Ser. = Lagenaria siceraria
(Molina) Standl.
Laggera alata (D. Don.) Oliv. var. alata =
Laggera alata (D. Don) Oliv.
Laggera alata (D. Don.) Oliv. var. natalensis
(DC.) Chiov. = Laggera alata (D. Don)
Oliv.
Laggera pterodonta (DC.) Oliv. = Laggera
crispata (Vahl) Hepper & Wood
Landtia rueppellii (Sch.Bip.) Benth. & Hook.
f. ≡ Haplocarpha rueppellii (Sch. Bip.)
Beauv.
Landtia schimperi (Sch.Bip.) Benth. & Hook.
f. ≡ Haplocarpha schimperi (Sch. Bip.)
Beauv.
Lasiocorys stachydiformis Benth. ≡ Leucas
stachydiformis (Benth.) Briq.
Lasiosiphon glaucus Fresen. ≡ Gnidia glauca
(Fresen.) Gilg
Leonotis velutina Fenzl var. rugosa (Benth.)
Baker = Leonotis ocymifolia (Burm. f.)
Iwarsson var. raineriana (Vis.) Iwarsson
Leonotis velutina Fenzl var. velutina = Leonotis
ocymifolia (Burm. f.) Iwarsson var.
raineriana (Vis.) Iwarsson
Lepidagathis radicalis Nees = Lepidagathis
hamiltoniana Walp. subsp. collina
(Endl.) J.K. Morton
Lightfootia abyssinica A. Rich. ≡ Wahlenbergia
abyssinica (A. Rich.) Thulin
Limosella semiensis Pic. Serm. ≈ Limosella
capensis Thunb. (identity ?).
Linaria elatine (L.) Mill. ≈ Kickxia elatine
(L.) Dumort. subsp. crinita (Mabille) W.
Greuter (only var. in FEE area).
Linociera latipetala M. Taylor = Chionanthus
mildbraedii (Gilg & Schellenb.) Stearn
Loranthus acaciae Zucc. ≡ Plicosepalus
acacia (Zucc.) Wiens & Polhill
Loranthus globiferus A. Rich. ≡ Tapinanthus
globiferus (A. Rich.) Tiegh.
Loranthus globiferus A. Rich. var. salicifolius
Sprague = Tapinanthus globiferus (A.
Rich.) Tiegh,
L oranthu s he te romor phu s A . R ic h . ≡
Tapinanthus heteromorphus (A. Rich.)
Danser
L oranthu s macrosolen A . R ich . ≡
Phragmanthera macrosolen (A. Rich.)
M. Gilbert
Loranthus regularis Sprague ≡ Phragmanthera
regularis (Sprague) M. Gilbert
Loranthus scasellatii Chiov. var. glabrescens Pic.
Serm. ≈ Tapinanthus heteromorphus
(A. Rich.) Danser
Lotononis platycarpos (Viv.) Pic. Serm.
var. abyssinica (A. Rich.) Pic. Serm. =
Lotononis platycarpos (Viv.) Pic. Serm.
Lotus brachycarpus A. Rich. ≡ Lotus quinatus
(Forssk.) Gillett var. brachycarpus (A.
Rich.) Gillett
Lotus mearnsii De Wild., nom. Illeg., non
Britton ≈ Lotus schoelleri Schweinf.
Loudetia arundinacea (A. Rich.) Steud. var.
arundinacea = Loudetia arundinacea
(A. Rich.) Steud.
Loudetia arundinacea (A . R ich.) Steud.
var. hensii (De Wild.) C.E. Hubb. =
Loudetia ar undinacea (A . R ich .)
335
INDEXES AND SYNONYMY
Steud. [on p. 180 in Pichi Sermolli 1951,
Loudetia arundinacea var. trichantha
is indicated as a synonym of Loudetia
arundinacea var. hensii, on p. 297 the
accepted name is Loudetia arundinacea
var. trichantha]
Loudetia arundinacea (A. Rich.) Steud. var.
trichantha (Peter) Hutch. = Loudetia
arundinacea (A. Rich.) Steud.
Lupinus termis Forssk. = Lupinus albus L.
Luzula abyssinica Parl. var. simensis (Buchenau)
Buchenau = Luzula abyssinica Parl.
M
Maba ab yssinica H ier n ≡ Diospy ros
abyssinica (Hiern) F. White
Marsdenia schimperi Decne ≡ Dregea
schimperi (Decne.) Bullock
Melothria ciprianii Pic. Serm. = Zehneria
scabra (L. f.) Sond.
Melothria punctata (?Thunb.) Cogn. =
Zehneria scabra (L. f.) Sond.
Melothria tomentosa Cogn. var. parviflora
Cogn. = Zehneria scabra (L. f.) Sond.
Meriandra bengalensis (Roxb.) Benth. =
Meriandra dianthera (Roem. & Schult.)
Briq.
Mimosa asperata L. = Mimosa pigra L.
Momordica schimperiana Naud. = Momordica
foetida Schumach.
Monechma affine Hochst. ≈ Monechma
debile auct., non (Forssk.) Nees [Justicia
bracteata (Hochst.) Zarb. In FTEA]]
Musa ensete Gmel. = Ensete ventricosum
(Welw.) Cheesman
N
Nelsonia brunelloides (Lam.) O. Kuntze ≈
Nelsonia canescens (Lam.) Sprengel
var. canescens
Nidorella vernonioides A. Rich. ≡ Conyza
vernonioides (A. Rich.) Wild
Nymphaea coerulea Savigny var. genuina
Gilg & Muschler = Nymphaea nouchali
Burm. f. var. caerulea (Sav.) Verdc.
O
Ocimum basilicum L. var. anisatum Benth. =
Ocimum x africanum Lour. [not in FEE]
Ocimum suave Willd. = Ocimum urticifolium
Roth
Olea chrysophylla Lam. = Olea europaea L.
subsp. cuspidata (G. Don.) Cif.
Oreophyton falcatum (A. Rich.) O.E. Schulz
forma depauperatum O.E . Schulz =
Oreophyton falcatum (A. Rich.) O.E.
Schulz
Oryza perennis sensu Cufod. ≈ Or yza
longistaminata A. Chev. & Roehr.
O s y r i s ab ys sinic a A . R ic h . = Os y r is
quadripartita Decn.
Otostegia minuccii Pic. Serm. = Otostegia
tomentosa A. Rich. subsp. ambigens
(Chiov.) Sebald
Otostegia repanda Benth. = Otostegia
fruticosa (Forssk.) Penzig
Otostegia steudneri Schweinf. ≡ Otostegia
tomentosa A. Rich. subsp. steudneri
(Schweinf.) Sebald
Ottelia lancifolia A. Rich. = Ottelia ulvifolia
(Planch.) Walp.
Oxalis corniculata L. var. corniculata ≡ Oxalis
corniculata L.
P
Panicum glabrescens Steud. = Panicum
subalbidum Kunth
Panicum transvenulosum Stapf = Panicum
monticola Hook.
Pavetta sp. in Pichi Sermolli (1951): Pavetta
oliveriana Hiern
Pavonia kraussiana Hochst. = Pavonia
burchellii (DC.) Dyer
Pennisetum giganteum A. Rich. = Pennisetum
macrourum Trin.
Pennisetum schimperi A. Rich. = Pennisetum
sphacelatum (Nees) Th. Dur. & Schinz
Phagnalon hypoleucum Oliv. & Hiern =
Phagnalon abyssinicum A. Rich.
Phaulopsis inaequalis Pic. Serm. = Phaulopsis
i mbr icata (Forssk .) Sweet subsp.
imbricata
Phoenix abyssinica Drude = Phoenix reclinata
Jacq.
Phyllanthus guineensis Pax = Phyllanthus
ovalifolius Forssk.
Phytolacca dodecandra L’Hérit. var. apiculata
(Engl.) Baker & C.H. Wright = Phytolacca
dodecandra L’Hérit.
Pistia stratiotes L. var. cuneata Engl. = Pistia
stratiotes L.
Plantago coronopus L. subsp. eucoronopus
Pilger var. ceratophylla (Hoffmansegg &
Link) Rapin = Plantago coronopus L.
Plantago lanceolata L. var. communis Schlecht.
subvar. eurhiza (Koch) Pilger = Plantago
lanceolata L.
336
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Plantago lanceolata L. var. dubia (L.) Wahlenb.
subvar. eudubia Pi lger = Plantago
lanceolata L.
Plantago lanceolata L. var. dubia (L.) Wahlenb.
subva r. hirsuta (Peter m.) Pi lger =
Plantago lanceolata L.
Podocarpus gracilior Pilg. = Podocarpus
falcatus (Thunb.) Mirb.
Polygala negrii Chiov. = Polygala steudneri
Chod.
Polygonum barbatum L. var. vulgare Mein. =
Persicaria setosula (A. Rich.) K. Wilson
Polygonum senegalense Meisn. ≡ Persicaria
senegalensis (Meisn.) Soják
Polyscias sp. in Pichi Sermolli (1951): Polyscias
farinosa (Del.) Harms
Potamogeton richardi Solms = Potamogeton
thunbergii Cham. & Schlecht.
Premna viburnoides A. Rich. var. schimperi
(Engl.) Pic. Serm. ≡ Premna schimperi
Engl.
Primula simensis Hochst. var. eusimensis Pax
= Primula verticillata Forssk. subsp.
simensis (Hochst.) W.W. Sm. & Forest
Primula simensis Hochst. var. farinosa
(Schweinf.) Pax = Primula verticillata
Forssk. subsp. simensis (Hochst.) W.W.
Sm. & Forrest
Psiadia arabica Jaub. & Spach = Psiadia
punctulata (DC.) Vatke
Pterolobium exosum (J.F. Gmel.) Bak. f. =
Pterolobium stellatum (Forssk.) Brenan
Pulicaria undulata DC. [non (L.) C.A. Mey.]
var. abyssinica Chiov. = Pulicaria incisa
(Lam.) DC.
Pygeum africanum Hook. f. ≡ Prunus africana
(Hook. f.) Kalkm.
R
R a n u n c u l u s d e r t ro pod i u s A . R ic h . =
Ranunculus tembensis Fresen
Rapanea simensis (DC.) Mez = Myrsine
melanophloeos (L.) R. Br.
Rhoicissus erythrodes (Fresen.) Planch. =
Rhoicissus tridentata (L. f.) Wild &
Drummond
Rhus amharica Pic. Serm. = Rhus glutinosa
A. Rich. subsp. glutinosa var. glutinosa
Rhus huillensis Engl. var. erythraea Fiori
= R hus quartiniana A . R ich. va r.
quartiniana
Rhus macowani sensu Pic. Serm., non Schönl.
≈ Rhus vulgaris Meikle
Rhus pyroides Burch. var. gracilis Pic. Serm.,
non (Engl.) Burtt Davy ≈ Rhus vulgaris
Meikle
Rhynchelytrum repens (Willd.) C.E. Hubb. ≡
Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka
Rhynchelytrum roseum (Nees) Stapf & C.E.
Hubb. = Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka
Rhynchosia imbricata Bak. = Rhynchosia
nyasica Bak.
Ricinus communis L. var. africanus (Willd.)
Müll.Arg. forma subviridis Müll. Arg. ≈
Ricinus communis L.
Ricinus communis L. var. genuinus Müll. Arg.
forma macrophyllus Müll. Arg. ≈ Ricinus
communis L.
Ricinus communis L. var. megalospermus (Del.)
Müll. Arg. forma pruinosus Müll. Arg. ≈
Ricinus communis L.
Ritchiea steudneri Gilg. = Ritchiea albersii
Gilg
Rosa abyssinica Lindl. forma microphylla
Almagia = Rosa abyssinica Lindl.
Rosa sancta A. Rich. = Rosa x richardii Rehd.
Rubia discolor Turcz. ≡ Rubia cordifolia L.
subsp. conotricha (Gand.) Verdc. var.
discolor (Turzc.) K. Scum.
Rubus quartinianus A. Rich. var. pappianus
C.E. Gust. = Rubus apetalus Poir.
Rumex steudelii A. Rich. = Rumex nepalensis
Spreng.
Ruta chalepensis L. subsp. bracteosa (DC.)
Batt. [in Pichi Sermolli 1951 as (DC.) Ruy]
= Ruta chalepensis L.
S
Salix subserrata Willd. [as this in Pichi
Sermolli 1951 and FEE, now Sali x
mucronata Thunb.]
Satureja contardoi Pic. Serm. = Satureja
imbricata (Forssk.) Briq.
Satureja ovata (Benth.) Pic. Serm. var.
cinereotomentosa (A. Rich.) Pic. Serm. =
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. subsp.
ovata (Benth.) Seybold
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. var. punctata
≡ Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. subsp.
punctata
Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. var. rigida Pic.
Serm. = Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq.
subsp. punctata
Sauromatum nubicum Schott =: Sauromatum
venosum (Ait. ) Kunth
Scirpus costatus (A. Rich.) Böckl. ≡ Isolepis
costata A. Rich.
337
INDEXES AND SYNONYMY
Senecio degiensis Pic. Serm. = Senecio
farinaceus A. Rich.
Senecio macropappus A . R ich. ≡
Crassocephalum macropappum (A.
Rich.) S. Moore
Sesbania aegyptiaca Poir. = Sesbania sesban
(L.) Merr.
Setaria lynesii Stapf & C.E. Hubb. = Setaria
incrassata (Hochst.) Hack.
Setaria phragmitoides Stapf = Setaria
incrassata (Hochst.) Hack.
Setaria plicatilis (Hochst.) Engl. = Setaria
megaphylla (Steud.) Th. Dur. & Schinz
Sida triloba Cav. = Sida ternata L. f.
Solanum indicum L. (nom. rej.) = Solanum
anguivi Lam.
Solanum lycopersicum L. ≡ Lycopersicon
esculentum Mill.
Solanum mesodolichum (Bitter) Pic. Serm. =
Solanum anguivi Lam.
Solanum orthocarpum Pic. Serm. = S. anguivi
Lam.
Solanum rohrii [corr. S. rothii] C.H. Wright =
Solanum anguivi Lam.
Solanum uollense (Chiov.) Pic. Serm. =
Solanum anguivi Lam.
Sparmannia abyssinica A. Rich. var. concolor
Chiov. = Sparmannia ricinocarpa (Eckl.
& Zeyh.) O. Kuntze
Sterculia tomentosa Guill. & Perr. = Sterculia
setigera Del.
Strychnos unguacha A. Rich. var. typica Gilg =
Strychnos innocua Del.
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC., sensu Pic.
Serm. = Syzygium guineense (Willd.)
DC. subsp. guineense
T
Tephrosia rigida Bak. = Tephrosia elata
Deflers
Themeda triandra Forssk. var. punctata (A.
Rich.) Stapf = Themeda triandra Forssk.
Trichilia volkensii Gürke var. buchanani (DC.)
Pic. Serm. = Lepidotrichilia volkensii
(Gürke) Leroy
Trichodesma zeylanicum (Burm. f.) R. Br. subsp.
euzelanicum Brand var. vulgare Brand
forma typicum Brand ≡ Trichodesma
zeylanicum (Burm. f.) R. Br.
Tripteris vaillantii Decne. ≡ Osteospermum
vaillantii (Decne.) T. Norl.
Triumfetta abyssinica K. Schum. = Triumfetta
pillosa Roth
Typha latifolia L. subsp. eulatifolia Graebn.
var. elatior Graebn. = Typha latifolia L.
U
Urginea indica (Roxb.) Kunth ≡ Drimia
indica (Roxb.) Jessop
Urginea micrantha (A. Rich.) Solms = Drimia
altissima (L. f.) Ker-Gawl.
Urginea simensis Hochst. ≡ Drimia simensis
(Hochst.) Stedje
V
Vernonia abyssinica Walp. = Vernonia
schimperi DC.
Vernonia chiarugii Pic. Serm. = Vernonia
myriantha Hook. f.
Vernonia francavillana Oliv. & Hiern =
Vernonia rueppellii Walp.
Vernonia inulifolia Wa lp. = Vernonia
purpurea Walp.
Vernonia quartiniana A. Rich. [nom. illeg.]
= Vernonia congolensis De Wild. &
Muschl. subsp. vernonioides (Walp.)
C. Jeffrey
Vernonia richardiana (O. Kuntze) Pic. Serm. =
Vernonia theophrastifolia Oliv. & Hiern
Vernonia thomsoniana Oliv. var. thomsoniana
= Vernonia thomsoniana Oliv.
Veronica beccabunga L. forma minima Hemsl.
& Skan = Veronica beccabunga L.
Viscum nervosum A. Rich. var. angustifolium
Sprague = Viscum triflorum DC. subsp.
nervosum (A. Rich.) M. Gilbert
W
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal var. communis
(Nees) Dunal = Withania somnifera
(L.) Dunal
Z
Zizyphus jujuba (L.) Gaert. [non Lam.] forma
obliquifolia Engl. = Zizyphus abyssinica
A. Rich.
338
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
4. List of archival numbers and dates of Pichi Sermolli’s photographs
In the database of photographs in the Archivio fotografico of the Società Geografica Italiana it is not possible to search directly on the archival numbers, and because
of variation in spelling it is very difficult to search on place names. It is, however, simple to search on the name on the photographer and then go to the archival number, if
that is known. It is also simple to search on the date on which a photograph has been
recorded to have been taken. This is a list of archival numbers and dates will facilitate
such searches. The list will also make it easier to find out if there are photographs in the
database on dates of interest, for example dates with interesting collections mentioned
in “5. Chronological list …” Remember to search on ”Autore personale: Pichi Sermolli,
Rodolfo”. During the preparations of the lists in this work, we have found that there
may sometimes be a discrepancy of a day or a few days between the collecting date of a
herbarium specimen and the date on which the photograph of the vegetation is taken.
Archival number
Date on which photoNote that the initial graph is supposed to
part of the archival
have been taken
number, “501/”, is left
out
Archival number
Date on which photoNote that the initial graph is supposed to
part of the archival
have been taken
number, “501/”, is left
out
696
1937/01/19
796-811
1937/02/22
697
1937/01/20
812-818
1937/02/23
698-707
1937/01/22
819
1937/02/25
708-713
1937/01/24
820-828
1937/02/26
714
1937/01/25
829-836
1937/02/27
715-716
1937/01/26
837-838
1937/02/28
717-721
1937/01/27
839-840
1937/03/01
722-725
1937/01/29
841-846
1937/03/03
726-727
1937/02/01
847-850
1937/03/04
728-729
1937/02/02
851-861
1937/03/05
730-732
1937/02/03
862-866
1937/03/06
733-736
1937/02/04
867-882
1937/03/07
737-745
1937/02/05
883-893
1937/03/10
746-749
1937/02/07
894-909
1937/03/12
750-757
1937/02/08
910-922
1937/03/13
758
1937/02/10
923-929
1937/03/14
759-764
1937/02/13
930-934
1937/03/15
765-769
1937/02/14
935-938
1937/03/16
770
1937/02/15
939-950
1937/03/17
771-772
1937/02/16
951-965
1937/03/18
773-779
1937/02/17
966-968
1937/03/21
780-782
1937/02/18
969-977
1937/03/22
783-795
1937/02/19
978-990
1937/03/23
INDEXES AND SYNONYMY
Archival number
Date on which photoNote that the initial graph is supposed to
have been taken
part of the archival
number, “501/”, is left
out
991
not dated
992-1000
1937/03/29
1001-1002
1937/04/02
1003-1005
1937/04/04
1006-1011
1937/04/05
1012-1033
1937/04/06
1034-1047
1937/04/07
1048-1069
1937/04/08
1070-1096
1937/04/10
1097-1104
1937/04/11
1105-1114
1937/04/12
1116-1122
1937/04/13
1123-1129
1937/04/14
1130-1148
1937/04/15
1149-1160
1937/04/16
1161-1162
1937/04/17
1163-1171
1937/04/19
1172
1937/04/20
339
Maps
Ib Friis, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Denmark, ibf@snm.ku.dk, 0000-0002-2438-1528
Sebsebe Demissew, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, sebseb.demissew@gmail.com, 0000-0002-0123-9596
Odile Weber, National Museum of Natural History, Luxemburg, odile.weber@mnhn.lu, 0000-0002-0861-2752
Paulo van Breugel, HAS University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands, p.vanbreugel@gmail.com, 0000-0001-95790831
Referee List (DOI 10.36253/fup_referee_list)
FUP Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing (DOI 10.36253/fup_best_practice)
Ib Friis, Sebsebe Demissew, Odile Weber, Paulo van Breugel, Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia. A new look at
Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results from the ‘Missione di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937, © 2022 Author(s), CC BY 4.0,
published by Firenze University Press, ISBN 978-88-5518-634-6 , DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-634-6
342
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Map 1. Key to Pichi Sermolli’s collecting localities. The map shows northern Ethiopia (within the borders of which there are indications of vegetation types)
and adjacent parts of Eritrea and Sudan (no indication of vegetation). The rectangles outlined with red show the areas covered by the following maps. For
vegetation types, see the legend and the text. Modern roads are indicated with purple lines, rivers with blue lines and the borders of the floristic areas used
in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea with black lines. The coding of the collecting localities is the same as the coding in the “Chronological list of collecting
localities …”
MAPS
Map 2. Key to Pichi Sermolli’s collecting localities. The map shows the area studied to the north of the Lake Tana basin, with the road between Om Ager
and Humera used by the mission on the outwards journey (left) and the Semien Mountains (right). The rectangles outlined with red show areas covered by
following maps. For vegetation types, see the colour coding in Map 1 and the text. Modern roads are indicated with purple lines, rivers with blue lines and the
borders of the floristic areas used in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea with black lines. The coding of the collecting localities is the same as the coding in the
“Chronological list of collecting localities …”
343
344
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Map 3. Key to Pichi Sermolli’s collecting localities. Map showing the surroundings of the northern part of the Lake Tana basin. The rectangles outlined with
red show areas covered by following maps. For vegetation types, see the colour coding in Map 1 and the text. Modern roads are indicated with purple lines,
rivers with blue lines and the borders of the floristic areas used in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea with black lines. The coding of the collecting localities is the
same as the coding in the “Chronological list of collecting localities …”
MAPS
345
Map 4. Key to Pichi Sermolli’s collecting localities. Map showing the surroundings of the southernmost part of the Lake Tana basin around the town of Bahar
Dar, which is indicated by the modern network of the town. For vegetation types, see the colour coding in Map 1 and the text. Modern roads are indicated with
purple lines, rivers with blue lines and the borders of the floristic areas used in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea with black lines. The coding of the collecting
localities is the same as the coding in the “Chronological list of collecting localities …”
346
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Map 5. Key to Pichi Sermolli’s collecting localities. Map showing the surroundings of the village of Furie and the Zegie peninsula in the southwestern part
of Lake Tana. For vegetation types, see the colour coding in Map 1 and the text. Modern roads are indicated with purple lines, rivers with blue lines and the
borders of the floristic areas used in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea with black lines. The coding of the collecting localities is the same as the coding in the
“Chronological list of collecting localities …”
MAPS
Map 6. Key to Pichi Sermolli’s collecting localities. Map showing the area between the villages of Quonzela [Consuela] and Sciaura [Shahura] at the
southwestern part of Lake Tana. The westernmost collecting locality in this area is outside the map and shown on Map 3. For vegetation types, see the colour
coding in Map 1 and the text. Modern roads are indicated with purple lines, rivers with blue lines and the borders of the floristic areas used in the Flora of
Ethiopia and Eritrea with black lines. The coding of the collecting localities is the same as the coding in the “Chronological list of collecting localities …”
347
348
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Map 7. Key to Pichi Sermolli’s collecting localities. Map showing the eastern part of the Gorgora peninsula at the northern edge of Lake Tana. The prominent
peninsula in the lower left corner of the map is the site of the ruins of the Portuguese church Maryam Gimp and Susenyos’ palace; Pichi Sermolli made no
collections there. For vegetation types, see the colour coding in Map 1 and the text. Modern roads are indicated with purple lines, rivers with blue lines and
the borders of the floristic areas used in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea with black lines. The coding of the collecting localities is the same as the coding in the
“Chronological list of collecting localities …”
MAPS
349
Map 8. Key to Pichi Sermolli’s collecting localities. Map showing the surroundings of the southern part of the Lake Tana basin with the small Abay (left),
the gorge through which the Abay drains the lake (southeast) and the areas studied east of the lake towards Debre Tabor and Mount Guna (not visited).
For vegetation types, see the colour coding in Map 1 and the text. Modern roads are indicated with purple lines, rivers with blue lines and the borders of the
floristic areas used in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea with black lines. The coding of the collecting localities is the same as the coding in the “Chronological
list of collecting localities …”
350
PLANTS AND VEGETATION OF NW ETHIOPIA
Map 9. Key to Pichi Sermolli’s collecting localities. Map showing the surroundings of the Semien Mountains. The red rectangles indicate areas covered by
following maps. For vegetation types, see the colour coding in Map 1 and the text. Modern roads are indicated with purple lines, rivers with blue lines and the
borders of the floristic areas used in the Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea with black lines. The coding of the collecting localities is the same as the coding in the
“Chronological list of collecting localities …” The distance between S21-23 and S24 is not certain
STUDI E SAGGI
TITOLI PUBBLICATI
ARCHITETTURA, STORIA DELL’ARTE E ARCHEOLOGIA
Acciai Serena, Sedad Hakki Eldem. An aristocratic architect and more
Bartoli Maria Teresa, Lusoli Monica (a cura di), Le teorie, le tecniche, i repertori figurativi nella prospettiva
d’architettura tra il ‘400 e il ‘700. Dall’acquisizione alla lettura del dato
Bartoli Maria Teresa, Lusoli Monica (a cura di), Diminuzioni e accrescimenti. Le misure dei maestri di
prospettiva
Benelli Elisabetta, Archetipi e citazioni nel fashion design
Benzi Sara, Bertuzzi Luca, Il Palagio di Parte Guelfa a Firenze. Documenti, immagini e percorsi multimediali
Betti Marco, Brovadan Carlotta Paola (a cura di), Donum. Studi di storia della pittura, della scultura e del
collezionismo a Firenze dal Cinquecento al Settecento
Biagini Carlo (a cura di), L’Ospedale degli Infermi di Faenza. Studi per una lettura tipo-morfologica
dell’edilizia ospedaliera storica
Bologna Alberto, Pier Luigi Nervi negli Stati Uniti. 1952-1979. Master Builder of the Modern Age
Eccheli Maria Grazia, Cavallo Claudia (a cura di), Il progetto nei borghi abbandonati
Eccheli Maria Grazia, Pireddu Alberto (a cura di), Oltre l’Apocalisse. Arte, Architettura, Abbandono
Fischer von Erlach Johann Bernhard, Progetto di un’architettura istorica. Entwurff einer Historischen
Architectur, a cura di Rakowitz Gundula
Frati Marco, “De bonis lapidibus conciis”: la costruzione di Firenze ai tempi di Arnolfo di Cambio. Strumenti,
tecniche e maestranze nei cantieri fra XIII e XIV secolo
Gregotti Vittorio, Una lezione di architettura. Rappresentazione, globalizzazione, interdisciplinarità
Gulli Riccardo, Figure. Ars e ratio nel progetto di architettura
Laurìa Antonio, Benesperi Beatrice, Costa Paolo, Valli Fabio, Designing Autonomy at home. The ADA
Project. An Interdisciplinary Strategy for Adaptation of the Homes of Disabled Persons
Laurìa Antonio, Flora Valbona, Guza Kamela, Five Albanian Villages. Guidelines for a Sustainable
Tourism Development through the Enhancement of the Cultural Heritage
Lisini Caterina, Lezione di sguardi. Edoardo Detti fotografo
Maggiora Giuliano, Sulla retorica dell’architettura
Mantese Eleonora (a cura di), House and Site. Rudofsky, Lewerentz, Zanuso, Sert, Rainer
Mazza Barbara, Le Corbusier e la fotografia. La vérité blanche
Mazzoni Stefania (a cura di), Studi di Archeologia del Vicino Oriente. Scritti degli allievi fiorentini per Paolo
Emilio Pecorella
Messina Maria Grazia, Paul Gauguin. Un esotismo controverso
Paolucci Fabrizio (a cura di), Epigrafia tra erudizione antiquaria e scienza storica. Ad honorem Detlef
Heikamp
Pireddu Alberto, In abstracto. Sull’architettura di Giuseppe Terragni
Pireddu Alberto, In limine. Between Earth and Architecture
Pireddu Alberto, The Solitude of Places. Journeys and Architecture on the Edges
Rakowitz Gundula, Tradizione, traduzione, tradimento in Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach
Tonelli Maria Cristina, Industrial design: latitudine e longitudine. Una prima lezione
Tonelli Maria Cristina (a cura di), Giovanni Klaus Koenig. Un fiorentino nel dibattito nazionale su
architettura e design (1924-1989)
CULTURAL STUDIES
Candotti Maria Piera, Interprétations du discours métalinguistique. La fortune du sūtra A 1.1.68 chez chez
Patañjali et Bhartrhari
Castorina Miriam, In the garden of the world. Italy to a young 19th century Chinese traveler
Castorina Miriam, Cucinelli Diego (edited by), Food issues 食事. Interdisciplinary Studies on Food in
Modern and Contemporary East Asia
Cucinelli Diego, Scibetta Andrea (edited by), Tracing Pathways 雲路. Interdisciplinary Studies on Modern
and Contemporary East Asia
Graziani Michela, Casetti Lapo, Vuelta García Salomé (a cura di), Nel segno di Magellano tra terra e cielo.
Il viaggio nelle arti umanistiche e scientifiche di lingua portoghese e di altre culture europee in un’ottica
interculturale
Nesti Arnaldo, Per una mappa delle religioni mondiali
Nesti Arnaldo, Qual è la religione degli italiani? Religioni civili, mondo cattolico, ateismo devoto, fede, laicità
Pedone Valentina, A Journey to the West. Observations on the Chinese Migration to Italy
Pedone Valentina, Sagiyama Ikuko (edited by), Transcending Borders. Selected papers in East Asian studies
Rigopoulos Antonio, The Mahanubhavs
Sagiyama Ikuko, Castorina Miriam (edited by), Trajectories. selected papers in East Asian studies 軌跡
Sagiyama Ikuko, Pedone Valentina (edited by), Perspectives on East Asia
Squarcini Federico (edited by), Boundaries, Dynamics and Construction of Traditions in South Asia
Vanoli Alessandro, Il mondo musulmano e i volti della guerra. Conflitti, politica e comunicazione nella storia
dell’islam
DIRITTO
Allegretti Umberto (a cura di), Democrazia partecipativa. Esperienze e prospettive in Italia e in Europa
Campus Mauro, Dorigo Stefano, Federico Veronica, Lazzerini Nicole (a cura di), Pago, dunque sono
(cittadino europeo). Il futuro dell’UE tra responsabilità fiscale, solidarietà e nuova cittadinanza europea
Cingari Francesco (a cura di), Corruzione: strategie di contrasto. (legge 190/2012)
Curreri Salvatore, Democrazia e rappresentanza politica. Dal divieto di mandato al mandato di partito
Curreri Salvatore, Partiti e gruppi parlamentari nell’ordinamento spagnolo
Federico Veronica, Fusaro Carlo (edited by), Constitutionalism and democratic transitions. Lessons from
South Africa
Ferrara Leonardo, Sorace Domenico, Bartolini Antonio, Pioggia Alessandra (a cura di), A 150 anni
dall’unificazione amministrativa italiana. Vol. VIII. Cittadinanze amministrative
Ferrara Leonardo, Sorace Domenico, Cafagno Maurizio, Manganaro Francesco (a cura di), A 150 anni
dall’unificazione amministrativa italiana. Vol. V. L’intervento pubblico nell’economia
Ferrara Leonardo, Sorace Domenico, Cavallo Perin Roberto, Police Aristide, Saitta Fabio (a cura
di), A 150 anni dell’unificazione amministrativa italiana. Vol. I. L’organizzazione delle pubbliche
amministrazioni tra Stato nazionale e integrazione europea
Ferrara Leonardo, Sorace Domenico, Chiti Edoardo, Gardini Gianluca, Sandulli Aldo (a cura di), A 150
anni dall’unificazione amministrativa italiana. Vol. VI. Unità e pluralismo culturale
Ferrara Leonardo, Sorace Domenico, Civitarese Matteucci Stefano, Torchia Luisa (a cura di), A 150
anni dall’unificazione amministrativa italiana. Vol. IV. La tecnificazione
Ferrara Leonardo, Sorace Domenico, Comporti Gian Domenico (a cura di), A 150 anni dall’unificazione
amministrativa italiana. Vol. VII. La giustizia amministrativa come servizio (tra effettività ed efficienza)
Ferrara Leonardo, Sorace Domenico, De Giorgi Cezzi Gabriella, Portaluri Pier Luigi (a cura di), A 150
anni dall’unificazione amministrativa italiana. Vol. II. La coesione politico-territoriale
Ferrara Leonardo, Sorace Domenico, Marchetti Barbara, Renna Mauro (a cura di), A 150 anni
dall’unificazione amministrativa italiana. Vol. III. La giuridificazione
Fiorita Nicola, L’Islam spiegato ai miei studenti. Otto lezioni su Islam e diritto
Fiorita Nicola, L’Islam spiegato ai miei studenti. Undici lezioni sul diritto islamico. II edizione riveduta e
ampliata
Fossum John Erik, Menendez Agustin José, La peculiare costituzione dell’Unione Europea
Gregorio Massimiliano, Le dottrine costituzionali del partito politico. L’Italia liberale
Palazzo Francesco, Bartoli Roberto (a cura di), La mediazione penale nel diritto italiano e internazionale
Ragno Francesca, Il rispetto del principio di pari opportunità. L’annullamento della composizione delle
giunte regionali e degli enti locali
Sorace Domenico (a cura di), Discipline processuali differenziate nei diritti amministrativi europei
Trocker Nicolò, De Luca Alessandra (a cura di), La mediazione civile alla luce della direttiva 2008/52/CE
Urso Elena, La mediazione familiare. Modelli, principi, obiettivi
Urso Elena (a cura di), Le ragioni degli altri. Mediazione e famiglia tra conflitto e dialogo: una prospettiva
comparatistica ed interdisciplinare
ECONOMIA
Ammannati Francesco, Per filo e per segno. L’arte della lana a Firenze nel Cinquecento
Bardazzi Rossella (edited by), Economic multisectoral modelling between past and future. A tribute to
Maurizio Grassini and a selection of his writings
Bardazzi Rossella, Ghezzi Leonardo (edited by), Macroeconomic modelling for policy analysis
Barucci Piero, Bini Piero, Conigliello Lucilla (a cura di), Economia e Diritto in Italia durante il Fascismo.
Approfondimenti, biografie, nuovi percorsi di ricerca
Barucci Piero, Bini Piero, Conigliello Lucilla (a cura di), Il Corporativismo nell’Italia di Mussolini. Dal
declino delle istituzioni liberali alla Costituzione repubblicana
Barucci Piero, Bini Piero, Conigliello Lucilla (a cura di), Intellettuali e uomini di regime nell’Italia fascista
Barucci Piero, Bini Piero, Conigliello Lucilla (a cura di), I mille volti del regime. Opposizione e consenso
nella cultura giuridica, economica e politica italiana tra le due guerre
Barucci Piero, Bini Piero, Conigliello Lucilla (a cura di), Le sirene del corporativismo e l’isolamento dei dissidenti durante il
fascismo
Bellanca Nicolò, Pardi Luca, O la capra o i cavoli. La biosfera, l’economia e il futuro da inventare
Cecchi Amos, Paul M. Sweezy. Monopolio e finanza nella crisi del capitalismo
Ciampi Francesco, Come la consulenza direzionale crea conoscenza. Prospettive di convergenza tra scienza e consulenza
Ciampi Francesco, Knowing Through Consulting in Action. Meta-consulting Knowledge Creation Pathways
Ciappei Cristiano (a cura di), La valorizzazione economica delle tipicità rurali tra localismo e globalizzazione
Ciappei Cristiano, Citti Paolo, Bacci Niccolò, Campatelli Gianni, La metodologia Sei Sigma nei servizi. Un’applicazione ai
modelli di gestione finanziaria
Ciappei Cristiano, Sani Azzurra, Strategie di internazionalizzazione e grande distribuzione nel settore dell’abbigliamento. Focus
sulla realtà fiorentina
Garofalo Giuseppe (a cura di), Capitalismo distrettuale, localismi d’impresa, globalizzazione
Laureti Tiziana, L’efficienza rispetto alla frontiera delle possibilità produttive. Modelli teorici ed analisi empiriche
Lazzeretti Luciana (edited by), Art Cities, Cultural Districts and Museums. An economic and managerial study of the culture
sector in Florence
Lazzeretti Luciana (a cura di), I sistemi museali in Toscana. Primi risultati di una ricerca sul campo
Lazzeretti Luciana, Nascita ed evoluzione del distretto orafo di Arezzo, 1947-2001. Primo studio in una prospettiva ecology based
Lazzeretti Luciana, Cinti Tommaso, La valorizzazione economica del patrimonio artistico delle città d’arte. Il restauro artistico
a Firenze
Mastronardi Luigi, Romagnoli Luca (a cura di), Metodologie, percorsi operativi e strumenti per lo sviluppo delle cooperative di
comunità nelle aree interne italiane
Meade Douglas S. (edited by), In Quest of the Craft. Economic Modeling for the 21st Century
Perrotta Cosimo, Il capitalismo è ancora progressivo?
Simoni Christian, Approccio strategico alla produzione. Oltre la produzione snella
Simoni Christian, Mastering the dynamics of apparel innovation
FILOSOFIA
Baldi Massimo, Desideri Fabrizio (a cura di), Paul Celan. La poesia come frontiera filosofica
Barale Alice, La malinconia dell’immagine. Rappresentazione e significato in Walter Benjamin e Aby Warburg
Berni Stefano, Fadini Ubaldo, Linee di fuga. Nietzsche, Foucault, Deleuze
Borsari Andrea, Schopenhauer educatore? Storia e crisi di un’idea tra filosofia morale, estetica e antropologia
Brunkhorst Hauke, Habermas
Cambi Franco, Pensiero e tempo. Ricerche sullo storicismo critico: figure, modelli, attualità
Cambi Franco, Mari Giovanni (a cura di), Giulio Preti. Intellettuale critico e filosofo attuale
Casalini Brunella, Cini Lorenzo, Giustizia, uguaglianza e differenza. Una guida alla lettura della filosofia politica contemporanea
Desideri Fabrizio, Matteucci Giovanni (a cura di), Dall’oggetto estetico all’oggetto artistico
Desideri Fabrizio, Matteucci Giovanni (a cura di), Estetiche della percezione
Di Stasio Margherita, Alvin Plantinga: conoscenza religiosa e naturalizzazione epistemologica
Giovagnoli Raffaela, Autonomy: a Matter of Content
Honneth Axel, Capitalismo e riconoscimento, a cura di Solinas Marco
Michelini Luca, Il nazional-fascismo economico del giovane Franco Modigliani
Mindus Patricia, Cittadini e no. Forme e funzioni dell’inclusione e dell’esclusione
Sandrini Maria Grazia, La filosofia di R. Carnap tra empirismo e trascendentalismo. In appendice:R. Carnap Sugli enunciati
protocollariTraduzione e commento di E. Palombi
Solinas Marco, Psiche: Platone e Freud. Desiderio, sogno, mania, eros
Trentin Bruno, La città del lavoro. Sinistra e crisi del fordismo, a cura di Ariemma Iginio
Valle Gianluca, La vita individuale. L’estetica sociologica di Georg Simmel
FISICA
Arecchi Fortunato Tito, Cognizione e realtà
LETTERATURA, FILOLOGIA E LINGUISTICA
Antonucci Fausta, Vuelta García Salomé (a cura di), Ricerche sul teatro classico spagnolo in Italia e oltralpe (secoli XVI-XVIII)
Bastianini Guido, Lapini Walter, Tulli Mauro (a cura di), Harmonia. Scritti di filologia classica in onore di Angelo Casanova
Bilenchi Romano, The Conservatory of Santa Teresa, edited by Klopp Charles, Nelson Melinda
Bresciani Califano Mimma (Vincenza), Piccole zone di simmetria. Scrittori del Novecento
Caracchini Cristina, Minardi Enrico (a cura di), Il pensiero della poesia. Da Leopardi ai contemporanei. Letture dal mondo di
poeti italiani
Cauchi Santoro Roberta, Beyond the Suffering of Being: Desire in Giacomo Leopardi and Samuel Beckett
Colucci Dalila, L’Eleganza è frigidaeL’Empire des signes. Un sogno fatto in Giappone
Dei Luigi (a cura di), Voci dal mondo per Primo Levi. In memoria, per la memoria
Fanucchi Sonia, Virga Anita (edited by), A South AfricanConviviowith Dante. Born Frees’ Interpretations of theCommedia
Ferrara Enrica Maria, Il realismo teatrale nella narrativa del Novecento: Vittorini, Pasolini, Calvino
Ferrone Siro, Visioni critiche. Recensioni teatrali da «l’Unità-Toscana» (1975-1983), a cura di Megale Teresa, Simoncini
Francesca
Francese Joseph, Leonardo Sciascia e la funzione sociale degli intellettuali
Francese Joseph, Vincenzo Consolo: gli anni de «l’Unità» (1992-2012), ovvero la poetica della colpa-espiazione
Franchini Silvia, Diventare grandi con il «Pioniere» (1950-1962). Politica, progetti di vita e identità di genere nella piccola posta
di un giornalino di sinistra
Francovich Onesti Nicoletta, I nomi degli Ostrogoti
Frau Ombretta, Gragnani Cristina, Sottoboschi letterari. Sei “case studies” fra Otto e Novecento. Mara Antelling, Emma Boghen
Conigliani, Evelyn, Anna Franchi, Jolanda, Flavia Steno
Frosini Giovanna (a cura di), Intorno a Boccaccio / Boccaccio e dintorni 2019. Atti del Seminario internazionale di studi
(Certaldo Alta, Casa di Giovanni Boccaccio, 12-13 settembre 2019)
Frosini Giovanna (a cura di), Intorno a Boccaccio / Boccaccio e dintorni 2020 . Atti del Seminario internazionale di studi
(Certaldo Alta, Casa di Giovanni Boccaccio, 10-11 settembre 2020)
Frosini Giovanna, Zamponi Stefano (a cura di), Intorno a Boccaccio/Boccaccio e dintorni. Atti del Seminario internazionale di
studi (Certaldo Alta, Casa di Giovanni Boccaccio, 25 giugno 2014)
Galigani Giuseppe, Salomè, mostruosa fanciulla
Gigli Daria, Magnelli Enrico (a cura di), Studi di poesia greca tardoantica. Atti della Giornata di Studi Università degli Studi
di Firenze, 4 ottobre 2012
Giuliani Luigi, Pineda Victoria (edited by), La edición del diálogo teatral (siglos XVI-XVII)
Gori Barbara, La grammatica dei clitici portoghesi. Aspetti sincronici e diacronici
Gorman Michael, I nostri valori, rivisti. La biblioteconomia in un mondo in trasformazione, a cura di Guerrini Mauro
Graziani Michela (a cura di), Un incontro lusofono plurale di lingue, letterature, storie, culture
Graziani Michela, Abbati Orietta, Gori Barbara (a cura di), La spugna è la mia anima. Omaggio a Piero Ceccucci
Guerrini Mauro, De bibliothecariis. Persone, idee, linguaggi, a cura di Stagi Tiziana
Guerrini Mauro, Mari Giovanni (a cura di), Via verde e via d’oro. Le politiche open access dell’Università di Firenze
Keidan Artemij, Alfieri Luca (a cura di), Deissi, riferimento, metafora. Questioni classiche di linguistica e filosofia del linguaggio
López Castro Cruz Hilda, America Latina aportes lexicos al italiano contemporaneo
Mario Anna, Italo Calvino. Quale autore laggiù attende la fine?
Masciandaro Franco, The Stranger as Friend: The Poetics of Friendship in Homer, Dante, and Boccaccio
Nosilia Viviana, Prandoni Marco (a cura di), Trame controluce. Il patriarca ‘protestante’ Cirillo Loukaris / Backlighting Plots.
The ‘Protestant’ Patriarch Cyril Loukaris
Pagliaro Annamaria, Zuccala Brian (edited by), Luigi Capuana: Experimental Fiction and Cultural Mediation in PostRisorgimento Italy
Pestelli Corrado, Carlo Antici e l’ideologia della Restaurazione in Italia
Rosengarten Frank, Through Partisan Eyes. My Friendships, Literary Education, and Political Encounters in Italy (1956-2013).
With Sidelights on My Experiences in the United States, France, and the Soviet Union
Ross Silvia, Honess Claire (edited by), Identity and Conflict in Tuscany
Totaro Luigi, Ragioni d’amore. Le donne nel Decameron
Turbanti Simona, Bibliometria e scienze del libro: internazionalizzazione e vitalità degli studi italiani
Vicente Filipa Lowndes, Altri orientalismi. L’India a Firenze 1860-1900
Virga Anita, Subalternità siciliana nella scrittura di Luigi Capuana e Giovanni Verga
Zamponi Stefano (a cura di), Intorno a Boccaccio / Boccaccio e dintorni 2015. Atti del Seminario internazionale di studi
(Certaldo Alta, Casa di Giovanni Boccaccio, 9 settembre 2015)
Zamponi Stefano (a cura di), Intorno a Boccaccio / Boccaccio e dintorni 2016. Atti del Seminario internazionale di studi
(Certaldo Alta, Casa di Giovanni Boccaccio, 9 settembre 2016)
Zamponi Stefano (a cura di), Intorno a Boccaccio / Boccaccio e dintorni 2017. Atti del Seminario internazionale di studi
(Certaldo Alta, Casa di Giovanni Boccaccio, 16 settembre 2017)
Zamponi Stefano (a cura di), Intorno a Boccaccio / Boccaccio e dintorni 2018. Atti del Seminario internazionale di studi
(Certaldo Alta, Casa di Giovanni Boccaccio, 6-7 settembre 2018)
MATEMATICA
De Bartolomeis Paolo, Matematica. Passione e conoscenza. Scritti (1975-2016), a cura di Battaglia Fiammetta, Nannicini
Antonella, Tomassini Adriano
MEDICINA
Mannaioni Pierfrancesco, Mannaioni Guido, Masini Emanuela, Club drugs. Cosa sono e cosa fanno
Saint Sanjay, Krein Sarah, Stock Robert W., La prevenzione delle infezioni correlate all’assistenza. Problemi reali, soluzioni
pratiche, a cura di Bartoloni Alessandro, Gensini Gian Franco, Moro Maria Luisa, Rossolini Gian Maria
PEDAGOGIA
Bandini Gianfranco, Oliviero Stefano (a cura di), Public History of Education: riflessioni, testimonianze, esperienze
Mariani Alessandro (a cura di), L’orientamento e la formazione degli insegnanti del futuro
Nardi Andrea, Il lettore ‘distratto’ . Leggere e comprendere nell’epoca degli schermi digitali
POLITICA
Attinà Fulvio, Bozzo Luciano, Cesa Marco, Lucarelli Sonia (a cura di), Eirene e Atena. Studi di politica internazionale in onore
di Umberto Gori
Bulli Giorgia, Tonini Alberto (a cura di), Migrazioni in Italia: oltre la sfida. Per un approccio interdisciplinare allo studio delle
migrazioni
Caruso Sergio, ”Homo oeconomicus”. Paradigma, critiche, revisioni
Cipriani Alberto (a cura di), Partecipazione creativa dei lavoratori nella ‘ fabbrica intelligente’. Atti del Seminario di Roma, 13
ottobre 2017
Cipriani Alberto, Gramolati Alessio, Mari Giovanni (a cura di), Il lavoro 4.0. La Quarta Rivoluzione industriale e le
trasformazioni delle attività lavorative
Cipriani Alberto, Ponzellini Anna Maria (a cura di), Colletti bianchi. Una ricerca nell’industria e la discussione dei suoi risultati
Corsi Cecilia (a cura di), Felicità e benessere. Una ricognizione critica
Corsi Cecilia, Magnier Annick (a cura di), L’Università allo specchio. Questioni e prospettive
De Boni Claudio, Descrivere il futuro. Scienza e utopia in Francia nell’età del positivismo
De Boni Claudio (a cura di), Lo stato sociale nel pensiero politico contemporaneo. 1. L’Ottocento
De Boni Claudio, Lo stato sociale nel pensiero politico contemporaneo. Il Novecento. Parte prima: Da inizio secolo alla seconda
guerra mondiale
De Boni Claudio (a cura di), Lo stato sociale nel pensiero politico contemporaneo. II Novecento. Parte seconda: dal dopoguerra
a oggi
Del Punta Riccardo (a cura di), Valori e tecniche nel diritto del lavoro
Gramolati Alessio, Mari Giovanni (a cura di), Bruno Trentin. Lavoro, libertà, conoscenza
Gramolati Alessio, Mari Giovanni (a cura di), Il lavoro dopo il Novecento: da produttori ad attori sociali. La città del lavoro di
Bruno Trentin per un’«altra sinistra»
Lombardi Mauro, Fabbrica 4.0: I processi innovativi nel Multiverso fisico-digitale
Lombardi Mauro, Transizione ecologica e universo fisico-cibernetico. Soggetti, strategie, lavoro
Marasco Vincenzo, Coworking. Senso ed esperienze di una forma di lavoro
Nacci Michela (a cura di), Nazioni come individui. Il carattere nazionale fra passato e presente
Renda Francesco, Ricciuti Roberto, Tra economia e politica: l’internazionalizzazione di Finmeccanica, Eni ed Enel
Spini Debora, Fontanella Margherita (a cura di), Il sogno e la politica da Roosevelt a Obama. Il futuro dell’America nella
comunicazione politica dei democrats
Spinoso Giovanni, Turrini Claudio, Giorgio La Pira: i capitoli di una vita
Tonini Alberto, Simoni Marcella (a cura di), Realtà e memoria di una disfatta. Il Medio Oriente dopo la guerra dei Sei Giorni
Trentin Bruno, La libertà viene prima. La libertà come posta in gioco nel conflitto sociale. Nuova edizione con pagine inedite dei
Diari e altri scritti, a cura di Cruciani Sante
Zolo Danilo, Tramonto globale. La fame, il patibolo, la guerra
PSICOLOGIA
Aprile Luigi (a cura di), Psicologia dello sviluppo cognitivo-linguistico: tra teoria e intervento
Luccio Riccardo, Salvadori Emilia, Bachmann Christina, La verifica della significatività dell’ipotesi nulla in psicologia
SCIENZE E TECNOLOGIE AGRARIE
Surico Giuseppe, Lampedusa: dall’agricoltura, alla pesca, al turismo
SCIENZE NATURALI
Bessi Franca Vittoria, Clauser Marina, Le rose in fila. Rose selvatiche e coltivate: una storia che parte da lontano
Sánchez Marcelo, Embrioni nel tempo profondo. Il registro paleontologico dell’evoluzione biologica
SOCIOLOGIA
Alacevich Franca, Promuovere il dialogo sociale. Le conseguenze dell’Europa sulla regolazione del lavoro
Alacevich Franca, Bellini Andrea, Tonarelli Annalisa, Una professione plurale. Il caso dell’avvocatura fiorentina
Battiston Simone, Mascitelli Bruno, Il voto italiano all’estero. Riflessioni, esperienze e risultati di un’indagine in Australia
Becucci Stefano (a cura di), Oltre gli stereotipi. La ricerca-azione di Renzo Rastrelli sull’immigrazione cinese in Italia
Becucci Stefano, Garosi Eleonora, Corpi globali. La prostituzione in Italia
Bettin Lattes Gianfranco (a cura di), Giovani Jeunes Jovenes. Rapporto di ricerca sulle nuove generazioni e la politica nell’Europa
del sud
Bettin Lattes Gianfranco (a cura di), Per leggere la società
Bettin Lattes Gianfranco, Turi Paolo (a cura di), La sociologia di Luciano Cavalli
Burroni Luigi, Piselli Fortunata, Ramella Francesco, Trigilia Carlo (a cura di), Città metropolitane e politiche urbane
Catarsi Enzo (a cura di), Autobiografie scolastiche e scelta universitaria
Leonardi Laura (edited by), Opening the european box. Towards a new Sociology of Europe
Miller Virginia, Child Sexual Abuse Inquiries and the Catholic Church: Reassessing the Evidence
Nuvolati Giampaolo, L’interpretazione dei luoghi. Flânerie come esperienza di vita
Nuvolati Giampaolo, Mobilità quotidiana e complessità urbana
Nuvolati Giampaolo (a cura di), Sviluppo urbano e politiche per la qualità della vita
Ramella Francesco, Trigilia Carlo (a cura di), Reti sociali e innovazione. I sistemi locali dell’informatica
Rondinone Antonella, Donne mancanti. Un’analisi geografica del disequilibrio di genere in India
STATISTICA E DEMOGRAFIA
Salvini Maria Silvana, Globalizzazione: e la popolazione? Le relazioni fra demografia e mondo globalizzato
STORIA E SOCIOLOGIA DELLA SCIENZA
Angotti Franco, Pelosi Giuseppe, Soldani Simonetta (a cura di), Alle radici della moderna ingegneria. Competenze e
opportunità nella Firenze dell’Ottocento
Cabras Pier Luigi, Chiti Silvia, Lippi Donatella (a cura di), Joseph Guillaume Desmaisons Dupallans. La Francia alla ricerca
del modello e l’Italia dei manicomi nel 1840
Califano Salvatore, Schettino Vincenzo, La nascita della meccanica quantistica
Cartocci Alice, La matematica degli Egizi. I papiri matematici del Medio Regno
Fontani Marco, Orna Mary Virginia, Costa Mariagrazia, Chimica e chimici a Firenze. Dall’ultimo de’ Medici al padre del
Centro Europeo di Risonanze Magnetiche
Guatelli Fulvio (a cura di), Scienza e opinione pubblica. Una relazione da ridefinire
Massai Veronica, Angelo Gatti (1724-1798). Un medico toscano in terra di Francia
Meurig Thomas John, Michael Faraday. La storia romantica di un genio
Schettino Vincenzo, Scienza e arte. chimica, arti figurative e letteratura
STUDI DI BIOETICA
Baldini Gianni (a cura di), Persona e famiglia nell’era del Biodiritto. Verso un diritto comune europeo per la bioetica
Baldini Gianni, Soldano Monica (a cura di), Nascere e morire: quando decido io? Italia ed Europa a confronto
Baldini Gianni, Soldano Monica (a cura di), Tecnologie riproduttive e tutela della persona. Verso un comune diritto europeo per
la bioetica
Bucelli Andrea (a cura di), Produrre uomini. Procreazione assistita: un’indagine multidisciplinare
Costa Giovanni, Scelte procreative e responsabilità. Genetica, giustizia, obblighi verso le generazioni future
Galletti Matteo, Decidere per chi non può. Approcci filosofici all’eutanasia non volontaria
Galletti Matteo, Zullo Silvia (a cura di), La vita prima della fine. Lo stato vegetativo tra etica, religione e diritto
STUDI EUROPEI
Bosco Andrea, Guderzo Massimiliano (edited by), A Monetary Hope for Europe. The Euro and the Struggle for the Creation
of a New Global Currency
Scalise Gemma, Il mercato non basta. Attori, istituzioni e identità dell’Europa in tempo di crisi
Plants and vegetation of NW Ethiopia. A new look at Rodolfo E.G. Pichi Sermolli’s results
from the ‘Missione di Studio al Lago Tana’, 1937. Pichi Sermolli’s work with his more than
2750 collections of plants from nearly 150 localities on the Lake Tana expedition in Ethiopia in
1937 was interrupted by World War II, but completed in 1947 at the Royal Botanic Gardens,
Kew, and the British Museum (Natural History), UK. It resulted in preliminary accounts of the
vegetation published 1938-40 and a taxonomically arranged account in 1951, all in Italian. Pichi
Sermolli’s observations are difficult to locate due to the imperfect maps of the time, but in
this book the authors have reconstructed the sequence of the collections, georeferenced the
localities, and updated the identifications of the species. By reconstructing Pichi Sermolli’s observations, it is possible to draw conclusions about the vegetation and compare with a recent
model of the vegetation of Ethiopia. According to this, the vegetation of the Lake Tana Basin
was a complex mosaic of woodland, scrub, forest, farmland and lake shore vegetation now
difficult to interpret in detail. Pichi Sermolli’s study of the vegetation in the Semien Mountains
demonstrated for the first time the zonation of Ericaceous woodland and Afroalpine vegetation, within which he distinguished Carex monostachya bogs, Afroalpine grasslands with
Lobelia rhynchopetalum, and stony and rocky Afroalpine vegetation. This book interprets Pichi
Sermolli’s observations in English and compares them with modern knowledge of the region,
partly obtained by the present authors’ own field work. It demonstrates how Pichi Sermolli’s
studies form a valuable contribution to the understanding of the Ethiopian flora and vegetation.
Ib Friis, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Sebsebe Demissew, National Herbarium of Ethiopia, University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Odile Weber, Natural History Museum of Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Paulo van Breugel, HAS University of Applied Sciences, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands
Table of contents: Foreword by Prof. Shibru Tedla, Addis Ababa – Foreword by FT herbarium,
Università degli Studi di Firenze – Introduction – Materials and Methods – Background: The Royal
Academy of Italy and the Mission to the Study of Lake Tana in 1937 – Pichi Sermolli: career before,
during and after the mission to Lake Tana – Pichi Sermolli’s field observations of Ethiopian vegetation
– Results: collections, new species, infraspecific taxa, combinations, replacement names and their
type material – Chronological list of collecting localities with update of identification of species
collected – Updated numerical list of Pichi Sermolli’s Ethiopian collections from 1937 – Later studies of
localities around Lake Tana and in the Semien Mountains – Pichi Sermolli’s observations of vegetation
compared with models of the vegetation – Conclusions – Acknowledgements – References – Indexes
and synonymy – Maps
Financially sponsored by
CENTRO STUDI ERBARIO TROPICALE - UNIFI
ISSN 2704-6478 (print)
ISSN 2704-5919 (online)
ISBN 978-88-5518-633-9 (Print)
ISBN 978-88-5518-634-6 (PDF)
ISBN 978-88-5518-635-3 (XML)
DOI 10.36253/978-88-5518-634-6
w w w. f u p r e s s . c o m