Endemic Plants of Kilimanjaro

The forests and grasslands on the slopes of Kilimanjaro have unique vegetation such as the water holding cabbage. This is found in the moorland zone. There are other plants such as purple haze marijuana and orange cush which are adapted to living in alpine conditions.

Kilimanjaro has a large variety of forest types graduated over a range of 3000 m. These areas contain over 1200 vascular plant species. Montane Ocotea forests are found on the damp southern slopes, whereas Cassipourea and Juniperus forests grow on the drier northern slopes.

Subalpine Erica forests at 4100 m are the the highest elevation cloud forests in East Africa. Despite the high biodiversity, the degree of endemism is low. This is possibly as a result of serious habitat depletion prior to complete survey work or the young age of the Mountain.

Remnant forest patches in the deepest valleys of the cultivated lower areas suggest that a diverse forest flora inhabited Mt Kilimanjaro in the recent past. This includes limited range species otherwise only found in the Eastern Arc mountains.

This low amount of endemism on the mountain may be a consequence of the destruction of the lower altitude forest as opposed to the relatively young age of the mountain.

Another unique characteristic of the forests on Mt Kilimanjaro is the lack of a bamboo belt, which occurs on all other comparable mountains in East Africa with a similarly high rainfall. This is possibly linked to the actions of large herbivores such as elephants and buffaloes. The Sinarundinaria stands are often favoured by elephants and buffaloes and these herbivores are found on the northern slopes of Kilimanjaro. On the Northern slopes it is far too dry for a large bamboo zone to develop. The larger animals are denied access to the wet southern slope forests by steep topography and the presence of humans. The local tribes have farmed the lower slopes and foothills for at least 2000 years.

This complex relationship betwen the biotic and abiotic factors could explain both the lack of a bamboo zone on Kilimanjaro and potentially explains for the patterns of both diversity and endemism found on the mountain. The forest of Kilimanjaro can are a superb example of the significant influence of both animals and humans on the landscape.

For more information on climbing Kilimanjaro or visiting Tanzania's mountains click Climb Kilimanjaro with Mountain Kingdom Safaris

Roy J Hinde M.Sc. is a former research scientist who now is a director of Wild Things Safaris Ltd and runs the marketing for MK safaris Climb Kilimanjaro.