Included here is the Namib Desert in southwest Africa. It represents an extremely arid coastal strip roughly extending from Benguela south to the mouth of the Orange River just south of Alexander Bay.

Namibian Washes

With increasing amounts of water from rainfall, runoff or ground water, a gradation of different communities can be found. Some of the dominant species along this gradient include Acacia reficiens, Asclepias buchenaviana, Petalidium setosum and the endemic Adenolobus pechuelli (Fabaceae). At the wetter end of the spectrum, such as pioneer river communities, there are Argemone ochrleuca, Datura innoxia and D. stramonium and finally ‘fully fledged’ river communities with Acacia erioloba and A. albida.

References

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