Contributo alla conoscenza della flora e vegetazione dell’Oltre Giuba (Somalia Meridionale)

Abstract

B/OGEOGRAPHIA - vol. XIV - 1988 {Pubblicato il 31 dicembre 1990) The Biogeography of Somalia Contributo alla conoscenza della flora e Vegetazione dell’Oltre Giuba (Somalia Meridionale) (qq‘) MARCELLO TARDELLI Erbario Tropicale tli Fireizze, via ‘La Pim 4 — Firenze SUMMARY In 1986 the Center for Study of Tropical Zoology and Ecology with the cooperation of the National Research Council of Florence, organized a scientific expedition to the southwestern Somalia. The itiner- ary included the Giuba region (Gedo) and numerous stops of particular interest which have rarely been seen by other scientific groups. lnfact, from a botanical point of view, some of these areas are still unexplored and completely unknown. This work describes five of the principal areas examined. Fafadun: This area is characterized by grey-like sandy-soil and very low shrubby vegetation. (It must be pointed out that it did not rain at all during the last six months). El Bur Saar: This area is characterized by the presence of a hilly strip of land which was often covered by fog both at night and during the early morning hours. This humidity has permitted the establishment of lush arboreal vegetation. The soil is typically red and sandy; herbaceous plants are almost completely absent. Garba Harte: This area is a tableland bordered by flat and clearly stratified bas reliefs. The soil is pebbly, reddish brown, and calcareous in nature. The vegetation is rather sparse and is represented by low shrubs typical of plants found in open windy areas. Fanwein: This zone is, for the most part, sandy and furrwed by beds of Wadi which have dug their way into the rock. The area is surrounded by flat has reliefs. The arboreal and shrubby vegetation is rather scarce. The two lakes which are found in this area, one above the other, are fed by salty water. Matagassile: The area we visited was along the banks of the Giuba river near the Giuba rapids. Nel 1986 il Centro di Studio per la Faunistica ed Ecologia Tropicali del C.N.R. di Firenze e l’Erbario Tropicale di Firenze nell’ambito di un pro- gramma di ricerche sulla flora e fauna del]’Africa Orientale hanno organizza— to una missione scientifica nella Somalia Sud—occ:identale dal 24 ottobre al 17 novembre 1986. La parte faunistica e stata curata dal dr. L. Chelazzi ricercatore presso il Centro di Studio per la Faunistica ed Ecologia Tropicali del C.N.R. di Firem- ze. L’itinerario ha cornpreso tra l’altro numerose localita dell’Oltre Giuba (Gedo), regione che riveste particolare interesse in quanto solo raramente vi sono state svolte spedizioni scientifiche ed alcune zone risultano ancora del U’) Pubblicazione dell’Erbario Tropicale di Firenze — N. 72 89