Distribution and Potential of Rocky Outcrop Plant Species in African Landscapes

Rocky outcrops are prominent landscape elements characterized by areas where exposed rock or boulder cover is more than 70%. They often exhibit harsh environmental conditions dominated by the presence of desiccation-tolerant plant communities. These plants exhibit several functional traits that have been shown to attract trade potential, especially in the context of their ornamental, medicinal, cultural and ecotourism values. Given their superior adaptation to growing in extremely unfriendly environmental conditions, rocky outcrop plants can potentially act as a source of valuable genetic traits for improving the performance of agricultural crops. Therefore, studying the characteristics of these plants can generate useful information in the context of increasing our understanding of their ecology, geographical distribution, conservation, economic value and their potential to enhance the adaptation of agricultural crops, especially in the face of changing climates. This is especially critical in Africa where studies on rocky outcrop ecosystems are still few, and yet the food security of the human population remains highly vulnerable to climate risks. In this chapter, we discuss the distribution of rocky outcrop ecosystems in Africa, the functional traits of rocky outcrop plant communities, their trade potential, and the possible applications of rocky outcrop plants in agriculture. Further, we discuss some of the threats faced by rocky outcrop plant species on the continent.