Location: Borrowdale Common, Harare

Photo: Bart Wursten
View over the Common of a wet part during the early Spring. Crinum macowanii plants may be seen.

Photo: Bart Wursten
At the corner of Lanner Avenue and Teviotdale Avenue showing the all too common sight of dumped rubbish.

Photo: Bart Wursten
View along the central drainage channel from the Borrowdale Common Bridge

Photo: Bart Wursten
View of the Borrowdale Common Bridge. The tree is the Acacia polyacantha used on the site.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Another view of the Borrowdale Common Bridge

Photo: Bart Wursten
Gladiolus melleri in flower

General Information

Description

Urban cultivation, illegal dumpsites, sewerage spills and encroaching suburbs might seem like unlikely locations for botanical satisfaction. However, amidst all these disturbances, seasonally flooded areas still yield many interesting and unusual species. Early in spring when the dry grasslands are often burnt, pyrophytes are found including: Hygrophila rhodesiana (Acanthaceae), Nesaea heptamera (Lythraceae), Gladiolus melleri (Iridaceae) and Eulophia clitellifera (Orchidaceae). In summer, the seasonally flooded areas are unsuitable for agriculture and largely undisturbed. Interesting species can be seen, such as Crinum macowanii (Amaryllidaceae), Scilla nervosa (Hyacinthaceae) and Habenaria rautaneniana (Orchidaceae). The many forms of disturbance also provide a array of unusual records of naturalised exotics.

Useful links

View a list of records for Borrowdale Common, Harare

View a list of unique taxa (excluding cultivated plants) for Borrowdale Common, Harare

View a list of unique taxa (all taxa whether cultivated or not) for Borrowdale Common, Harare

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