Annotated checklist of the plants of the Shimba hills, Kwale district, Kenya

Abstract

An annotated checklist of the Shimba Hills in Kwale District is presented. The checklist includes the plants found in the Shimba Hills National Reserve, Mkongani North and West Forest Reserves, Matuga, Mwaluganje Forest Reserve and Elephant Sanctuary, as well as Kaya Chombo, Kaya Teleza, Chitsanze Sacred Grove and the recently destroyed Kaya Miyani. One thousand three hundred and ninety six (1396) plant taxa in 145 families and 686 genera are documented. This represents 44% of the coastal flora and 21% of the Kenyan flora. For each taxon recorded, I also present recent synonyms, a reference specimen, a more precise locality within the checklist area, a short description of its habit and a diagnostic characteristic, as well as some notes on its distribution and conservation status.

Journal of East African Natural History Vol. 94(1) 2005: 5-120