About the data
The data presented here are the basis of the book Plants of Angola (Figueiredo & Smith 2008). The main objective is to provide researchers, students and ecologists with basic information on the plant diversity of the flora of Angola.
The data were compiled over a period of about one year, with input from 32 contributors. The information included here is based mostly on published literature, herbarium specimens and taxonomic information available on specialized websites. Not all families were critically assessed during the course of conducting this project. The data rather reflect our present knowledge of the diversity of the flora of Angola. Most specimens cited are types compiled from the literature or electronic resources. However, for some families, herbarium holdings were consulted. These herbaria are primarily LISC, PRE, and those where the contributors are based.
It was decided that when type material is cited, it would be more useful to the reader to have a reference to specimens of which images are available online, rather than a reference to the holotypes. For this reason, the specimens cited are often from K, which at present is one of the few herbaria offering free online access to a rather comprehensive range of type collections. More specimens can be found on the Aluka website but access to this database is restricted. As the families of this flora are not equally well known, treatments differ in the level of information provided.
For consistency with other works published in southern Africa, family delimitation mostly follows Klopper et al. (2006). For families treated in Conspectus Florae Angolensis (CFA), we attempted to provide for each taxon its distribution by province. This distribution was based on the specimens listed in CFA but taking into account the current provincial boundaries. Only synonyms relevant to the area are included in the dataset. Names already listed in CFA as synonyms are mostly omitted. For most taxa, information on their status (i.e. accepted or not) in Klopper et al. (2006) is given. When there is a discrepancy in the taxonomic treatments between tropical and southern Africa, as reflected in Klopper et al. (2006), the taxon was considered as accepted. The status in the database of Kew World Checklists is also given for some families. Since that database is regularly updated, the information presented here refers to the period when the projet was developed (2006-2007).
Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. 2008. Plants of Angola. Strelitzia 22. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
Klopper, R.R., Chatelain, C., Bänninger, V., Habashi, C., Steyn, H.M., De Wet, B.C., Arnold, T.H., Gautier, L., Smith, G.F. & Spichiger, R. 2006. Checklist of the Flowering Plants of Sub-Saharan Africa. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 42. SABONET, Pretoria.
FLAN ver. 1.0 Apr 2008 ©