Useful books on Namibian trees and shrubs

• Luise HoffmanTHE most comprehensive book on this subject is Le Roux and Müller’s” Field Guide to the Trees and Shrubs of Namibia”, revised and expanded by Coleen Mannheimer and Barbara Curtis, Macmillan Education Namibia (Pty) Ltd, 2010, ISBN 978-99916-0-970-6.

Practically all woody species found in Namibia are described in this book and are illustrated by a photo of the entire plant and of the flowers and fruit or other distinctive features.

Where necessary, drawings showing the distinguishing details have been added. This book is about Namibian trees and shrubs only.

The following three slender volumes describe the most common species found in the areas mentioned and are available in English, German and Afrikaans. Artistically illustrated with paintings by the well-known artist Christine Marais, they have the advantage of being less expensive and easier to carry than the above-mentioned book.

Craven & Marais: Namib Flora, ISBN none Gamsberg 1986; Craven & Marais: Waterberg Flora, ISBN none Gamsberg 1989;

Craven & Marais: Damaraland Flora, ISBN 1 86848 784 9, Gamsberg 1992.

Leffers, Arno: Gemsbok Bean & Kalahari Truffle, ISBN 99916 0 491 X, Gamsberg Macmillan has excellent photos of diagnostic detail and information on the uses of trees, shrubs and other plants found mainly in Bushmanland, many of which have a far wider distribution .

About three quarters of the plants described in “Trees & Shrubs of the Okavango Delta” by Veronica Roodt, ISBN 99912 0 241 2, published by Shell Oil Botswana, also occur in Namibia. In addition to paintings of the various species, this book provides a wealth of information on their uses and is highly recommended for anyone taking a serious interest in trees.

For anyone with access to the internet the website of the Tree Atlas of Namibia: www.biodiversity.org.na, is a very useful and economical source of information on our woody species.

Click on “Tree Atlas” to find lists of species occurring in a certain quarter degree gird square and / or descriptions of all Namibian trees and shrubs.

Eberhard von Koenen’s large tome on edible, poisonous and medicinal plants “Heil-, Gift- und Essbare Pflanzen in Namibia”, Klaus Hess Verlag, ISBN 3 9804518 2 8 (available in German and English) provides much medicinal detail on some trees, shrubs and many other plants and has beautiful artistic illustrations of 120 of the 600 species by this renowned artist.

Fanie & Julye-Ann Venter: “Making the Most of Indigenous Trees”, ISBN 1 875093 05 2, Briza Publications, also available in Afrikaans, is recommended for detailed descriptions and illustrations of selected southern African trees and shrubs, many of which also occur in Namibia. It also provides instructions on uses and methods of cultivation.

“Southern Africa Commiphora”, 2003, by Marthinus Steyn, a specialist on these particular trees and shrubs may not be easy to find but is recommended for anyone interested in the woody vegetation of north-western Namibia which is home to the greatest variety of corkwood trees. Orders & enquiries to Marthinus Steyn, e-mail: menmsteyn@absamail.co.za, phone/fax: +27(0)15 298 8352,

“Trees and Shrubs of the Etosha National Park and in North and Central Namibia”, by Berry & Loutit and Sakkie Roothmann’s “ Aloen, die Aristokraten der Namibischen Flora / Aloes of Namibia” unfortunately are out of print but might be available from second-hand bookshops.

Unfortunately, it is not always easy to find your way from the tree you see to the book you wish to consult, therefore next week’s article will be devoted to that challenge.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.