Location: Mt Rukotso, Nyanga

Image 1

Photo: Bart Wursten

Image 2

Photo: Bart Wursten
View of Rukotso from World's View, high ground to the south

General Information

Quarter degree square: 1832B2

Country: Zimbabwe

Habitat: Montane grassland, rocky slopes, and seepage bogs.

Altitude range: 1900 - 2405 m

Annual rainfall:

Location (short):

Location (detailed):

Description

Mt Rukotso (2405m) is one of the northernmost peaks of the Nyanga Mountains. Together with Mt Chera, World's View and the Terrace Towers, it is part of the spectacular escarpment overlooking the Nyanga Communal Lands. Although much of the lower slopes has been used for cultivation of seed potatoes, parts of the higher slopes and the areas around the summit still are in good shape and rich in montane grassland flora. The main advantage Mt Rukotso offers is easy access. A dirt track through the potato fields leads nearly to the summit and its conspicuous radio mast.

Trees are absent from the higher slopes, with the exception of a few very stunted specimens, trying to survive in the shelter of large boulders. The main botanical attractions are the great variety of flowering herbs, which thrive in the rocky montane grasslands and the seasonal seepage bogs. These include some interesting endemics, such as Habenaria subaequalis (Orchidaceae), Streptocarpus cynandrus (Gesneriaceae), and the as yet undescribed Plectranthus sp. no. 1 (Lamiaceae).

Useful links

View a list of records for Mt Rukotso, Nyanga

View a list of unique taxa (excluding cultivated plants) for Mt Rukotso, Nyanga

View a list of unique taxa (all taxa whether cultivated or not) for Mt Rukotso, Nyanga

View map showing records

View a list of recorders who have visited this location


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Location details: Mt Rukotso, Nyanga.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/location-display.php?location_id=25, retrieved 28 March 2024

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