8. The family Fabaceae is one of the most important and diverse families in Namibia.
8.1 Discuss the importance of this family to the Namibian environment, and to [20]
people. (Refer to different biomes and vegetation types, adaptations of the family,
and mention species that are important and what they are important for.)
8.2 The family is regarded by some taxonomists as having three subfamilies. Describe [9]
the distinguishing characteristics of the three subfamilies.
9. (a) Sympetalous
(b) Synfilamentous
(c) Adnation (adnate)
(d) Megacarpa
(e) Microcarpa
(f) Perianth
(g) Androecium
(h) Gynoecium
(i) Diagnostic characters
(j) Type specimen
(k) Flora
10. Each diagnostic characteristic(s) in column A belong(s) to a genus in column B. Write [10]
down the number from column A and the corresponding letter from column B, e.g (1)
B.
COLUMN A - CHARACTERISTICS
COLUMN B - GENERA
(1) Simple, opposite leaves; interpetiolar stipule; inferior A. Acanthosicyos
ovary.
(2) Spiny, leafless shrub endemic to the Namib, with B. Ozoroa
large spiny fruit. The pulp and seeds are eaten.
(3) Fruit a 4-5 winged samara, bark peeling in long C. Ficus
threads.
(4) Shrub or small tree with large bi pinnate leaves with D. Euphorbia
small leaflets; lacks thorns, has bright yellow flowers in
spikes.
(5) A member of the daisy family that has silvery leaves E. Commiphora
and is abundant in the Khomas region.
(6) Fruit is a syconium.
F. Combretum
(7) Deciduous or semi-deciduous tree with a rounded G. Berchemia
crown, leaves simple and alternate or spirary arranged,
infloresence in axillary clusters and is abundant in the
Khomas region.
(8) Tree with diameter up to 10m; palmately compound H. Vangueria
leaves; large white flowers; a large ovoid fruit that is
high in vitamin C.
(9) Plants with large, boat-shaped, succulent leaves,/. Elephantorrhiza
sometimes with toothed margins.
(10) Plants with aromatic resiri, with many endemic}. Tarconanthus
species in the Namib, often pachycauls, often with