Four coexisting serotinous desert plants in the central Namib were investigated with respect to microhabitat preferences. The annual Blepharis grossa preferred the microhabitat on the plains, while the perennial Petalidium setosum dominated in channels. The remaining two species, the common Geigeria alata and the rare Geigeria ornativa, were evenly distributed in all microhabitats. Interspecific competition, seed dispersal mode and ecophysiological niches might be responsible for this pattern. Keywords: coexistence, competition, desert plant community, microtopography, seed dispersal, seed retention, serotiny, spatial heterogeneity.