Medicinal Plants of Namibia

Abstract

This field guide covering 20 plants native to Namibia, located between Angola and South Africa on the Atlantic Coast, with medicinal uses by indigenous tribes, was written to help preserve the traditional knowledge that is presently passed orally from generation to generation. As indigenous tribes transition from a nomadic, pastoralist lifestyle this traditional knowledge is at risk of being lost. Thus, the purpose of this field guide is to explain the medicinal uses of 20 selected plants by the indigenous tribes of Namibia and present botanical and ecological information about these plants. It is important for members of the scientific community to help preserve this knowledge and this field guide will help in this by consolidating research. The Namibian tribes use many plants, but only 20 are covered in this field guide because these are the ones that have been seen and documented by the author, and for which information is available from multiple sources. The format will include each plant organized alphabetically by genus and accompanied by photographs taken by the author. The order of information for each entry will follow: Plant: Genus species, Family, Common names, Range, Diagnostic characteristics, Governmental protection status, and Indigenous medicinal uses.