ASSESSMENT OF PLANT BIODIVERSITY IN WECHIAU COMMUNITY HIPPOPOTAMUS SANCTUARY IN GHANA

2007·6.3 MB·English

by  Alex Asase

ASSESSMENT OF PLANT
BIODIVERSITY
IN
WECHIAU COMMUNITY GHANA
HIPPOPOTAMUS SANCTUARY
IN
Oteng-Yeboah
Alex Asase^
Alfred
A.
and Ghana
Council Research
for Scientific Industrial (CSIR)
Ghana M32
of R Box
University
0.
GHANA
Box LG 55 Legon-
P.O. Accra,
GHANA
Legon-Accra,
[email protected]
^corresponding author
ABSTRACT
A
study was conducted in the Wechiau Community Hippopotamus Sanctuary in Ghana in order to assess the plant biodiversity found in
the sanctuary. The study was conducted over a period of three years (2000-2003) through botanical inventories and using sample plots.
A
total number of 227 species of plants belonging to 72 families were identified and three vegetations types: Riverine forest, Floodplain
Many
and Upland flora were found in the sanctuary. of the species of plants were Mesophanerophytes and Thereophytes whereas a
paucity of the species was Heleophytes, Hydrophytes, Hemicryptophytes and Chamaephytes. The results of the study are discussed and
made
recommendations for further research to support the conservation and sustainable use of plants in the sanctuary.
Key Words: Plant biodiversity, Wechiau, Hippopotamus, Ghana, conservation
RESUMEN
Se realizo un estudio en Wechiau Community Hippopotamus Sanctuary en Ghana para valorar biodiversidad vegetal presente en
el la
un
el santuario in. El estudio se realizo durante periodo de tres anos (2000-2003) mediante inventarios botanicos y usando parcelas de
un
muestreo. Se identificaron total de 227 especies de plantas pertenecientes a 72 famllias y tres tipos de vegetacion: bosque de rivera,
Uanuras de inundacion y tierras altas en el santuario. Muchas de las especies de plantas fueron mesofanerofitos y terofitos mientras
que las especies minoritarios fueron helofitos, hidrofitos, hemicriptofitos y camefitos. Se discuten los resultados del estudio y se hacen
recomendaciones para investigaciones posteriores con vistas a la conservacion y el uso sostenible de las plantas en el santuario.
INTRODUCTION
The Wechiau Community Hippopotamus Sanctuary community-based Upper West Region
a initiative in the
is
of Ghana protect the remaining unprotected hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphihius) population in the
to
Black Volta River, which would help to develop the ecotourism potential for the area. The other population
km
of hippopotamus in Ghana found in the Bui National Park, which about 56 from the present sanc-
is is
tuary. This population of hippopotamus in the park under threat with the government's plan to develop
is
dam
power hippopotamus
a for hydro-electrical generation. It is anticipated that the present population of
when dam
in the Bui National Park will migrate to the sanctuary the finally developed.
is
The chiefs and people of Wechiau traditional area with technical assistance from local non-gov-
a
ernmental organization, Nature Conservation and Research Centre (NCRC) have decided conserve
to
hippopotamus and They hope
the populations of other biological resources in their area. also to generate
income through the promotion of ecotourism focused improve the livelihood of the rural communities.
to
The sanctuary one of the two examples in Ghana where the local people are taking control of the
is full
management of their biological resources through a Sanctuary Management Board (SMB). There however
is
no on making management
baseline information the plant biodiversity in the sanctuary that will assist in
and
decisions the conservation sustainable use of the plant resources in the sanctuary.
for
The present study was therefore conducted in order to assess the plant biodiversity in the Wechiau
Community
Hippopotamus Sanctuary Ghana.
in
AND METHODS
MATERIALS
Study area
km Wa
The study was conducted Wechiau about 40 southwest of in the Upper West Region of Ghana.
at
The study area positioned between latitudes 02'^4rN and 02'^49'N and between longitudes 09°43'W and
is
-
Texas 549 556. 2007
J. Bot. Res. Inst. 1 (1):
550 Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 1(1)
09^53'W. The has been demarcated and conserved Wechiau Community Hippopotamus Sanctuary
area
as
Km^
and occupies an area of about 40 along the banks of the Black Volta River. The vegetation of the sanctu-
&
ary primarily Guinea savanna (Oteng-Yeboah Asase 2002) and the terrain mostly
is is flat.
METHODS
The plant biodiversity in the sanctuary was assessed through botanical inventories and using sample plots
over a period of three years (2000-2003). Botanical inventories entailed walking through different areas of
the vegetation of the sanctuary whiles picking and identifying plants with identification aids. Each species
of plant identified was monitored for form (sensu Raunkiaer 1934) throughout the period of the study.
its life
The botanical inventories were conducted through twelve the sanctuary and voucher specimens
field visits to
of the species of plants encountered were collected and have been deposited the Ghana Herbarium (GC)
at
the Department of Botany, University of Ghana. The preliminary identifications of the plants were
at field
&
checked using the Flora ojWest Tropical Africa (Hutchison Dalziel 1954-1972) and by comparison with
GC
specimens herbarium.
identified the
at
m m
In order to determine the species richness in the sanctuary, sample plots measuring 25 x 25 m, 5
m
Im Im
X 5 and x were randomly demarcated in the sanctuary. Forty-one of each plot size was studied.
m m m m
The 25 x 25 plot was used to study trees and 5 x 5 used to assess small trees and shrubs whereas
Im Im
the X plots was used to study the ground flora (herbaceous and grass species). The species richness
was evaluated from the average number of species count the plots examined each plot
for all for size.
RESULTS
and
Species richness composition
A
mean
total of 227 species of plants belonging to 71 families were identified in the sanctuary The numbers
m m
of species of trees was 7.62 in 5.3 families from the 25 x 25 plots and that of small trees and shrubs was
m m
4T0
3.33 species in 2.62 families from the 5 x 5 plots whiles that of ground flora species was species
m m
from
in 3.92 families the x plots.
1 1
Many
of the plant species in the sanctuary (85.5%) belong to the dicotyledonous group (Appendix
1).
The monocot group contributed 14.1% of the species and only one species of Pteridophyte (Ophioglossum
costatum) was identified from the sanctuary (Appendix 2 and Within the dicotyledonous group, the family
3).
number and The
Papilionaceae contributed the largest of genera (9.2%) species (8.2%). other dicotyledonous
many
families that contributed species and genera the of the sanctuary were Rubiaceae, Asteraceae,
to flora
Euphorbiaceae, Ceasalpinaceae, Mimosaceae, Verbanaceae, and Combretaceae.
many
The monocotyledonous group contained genera and species of the families Poaceae, Liliaceae,
Cyperaceae, Araceae, and Commelinaceae. However, the families Hypoxidaceae, Orchidaceae, and Zingib-
eraceae contributed only one genus and species each to the flora of the sanctuary.
and
Vegetation types species composition
The vegetation of the sanctuary changes gradually from Riverine forest vegetation through Floodplain vegeta-
tion to Upland flora vegetation as one moves inland from the Black Volta River. The three vegetation types
found in the sanctuary were largely based on their physiognomy and species composition.
—
Upland flora yegetation. The appearance and species composition of this vegetation type similar
is
to the general characteristics of the Guinea Savanna vegetation. The species diversity is very high in this
compared two with from
vegetation type to that of the other vegetation types species of trees the families
Mimosaceae
Sapotaceae (Vitellaria paradoxd), (Entada ajricana, Parkia higlobossa), Caesalpinaceae (Ajzelia
ajricana, Daniellia oliveri and Tamarindus indica), Anacardiaceae (Haematostaphis harteri^ Lannea acida and
Lannea Bombacaceae (Adansonia Bomhax Meliaceae (Khaya and
costatum), senegalensis
kerstingii), digitata,
Com-
Simaroubaceae (Hannoa and
Pseudocedrela undulata), Papilionaceae (Pterocarpus erinaceus)
kostchyi),
and
bretaceae (Terminalia avicennoides Terminalia species).
Smaller trees and shrubs were from the families Euphorbiaceae (Brideliajerruginea), Cochlospermaceae
.
Asase and Oteng-Yeboah, Flora of the Wechiau Community Hippopotamus Sanctuary 551
(Codospermum and Combretaceae (Comhretum Comhretum and
planchonii C. tinctorium), ghasalense, molle
Comhretum spp.X Celastraceae (Maytenus senegalensis), Chrysobalanaceae (Parinari curattejollia and Parinari
and
polyandrd), Olacaceae (Ximenia americand), Caesalpinaceae (Piliostigma thonningi Swatzia madacasgarensis)
and
Polygalaceae (Securidaca longepedunculatd).
The herbaceous flora also included species from the families Liliaceae but currently in Asparaga-
s.l,
ceae (Asparagus Hypoxidaceae (Curculigo Euphorbiaceae (Sapium grahamii, Euphorbia haga,
flagellar pilosa),
is),
Euphorbia ladermannniana) and Zingiberaceae (Kaempjeria Grass species were mainly Andropogon
aethiopica).
gayanus, Hyparhennia subplumosa, Hyperthelia spp., and Ctenium newtonii.
In areas where the vegetation has previously been intensively farmed, paradoxa and Parkia
Vitellaria
biglobossa were the main trees found and the herbaceous species consisted of ruderal plants from the fami-
lies Asteraceae (Ageratum conyzoides, Emilia sp., Tridax procumhens), Rubiaceae (Mitracarpus scaber, Borreria
and Euphorbiaceae (Euphorbia Euphorbia
radiata) hirta, heterophylla).
—
Floodplain \egetation. This vegetation was found next the Upland vegetation towards the
to flora
Black Volta River. The vegetation area often flooded during the rainy season and the ground becomes
is
patchy in the dry season. Trees and climbers were few but with a very dense grass cover in the rainy season.
The main tree species were from the families Rubiaceae (Mitragyna inermis) and Mimosaceae (Acacia
nilotica
and Acacia gourmaensis) Other species of trees were from the families Balanitaceae (Balanities aegyptiaca),
.
Rhamnaceae
(Ziziphus mauritianum) Rubiaceae (Crossopteryx Combretaceae (Terminalia macrop-
Jebrijuga),
,
Anacardiaceae (Eannea acida and Papilionaceae (Pterocarpus erinaceus) and Meliaceae
tera), L. kerstingii),
(Pseudocedrela
kotschyi).
The ground flora was predominated by members of the family Poaceae (including Vetiveriajulvibarvis,
Andropogon gayanus, Brachiariajubata, and Hyparhhenia subplumosa). Herbaceous species of the families Mi-
mosaceae (Cassia mimosoides), Papilionaceae (Crotalaria goorensis and Tephrosia platycarpa), Amaryllidaceae
Commelinaceae and
(Crinum humile) Polygonaceae (Polygonum senegalensis) (Aneilema Floscopa ajricana,
sp.,
,
common.
Murdannia and Spenocleaceae were
simplex) (Sphenoclea zeylanica) also
—
,
Riyerine forest vegetation. ^This vegetation type was found on either side of the Black Volta River.
The vegetation was very dense as a result of large number of climbers and relatively trees that formed
tall
a canopy. Species of tree from the families such as Sterculiaceae (Cola laurijolia), Papilionaceae (Pterocarpus
common.
and Bignoniaceae found along permanent were Other
santaliniodes)^ (Kigelia africana) that are rivers
common
were from Combretaceae Ulmaceae Bombacaceae
trees (Anogeissus leiocarpus), (Celtis integrijolid),
and Ebenaceae
(Ceiha pentandra), (Diospyros mespilijormis)
Among
members
the smaller trees and shrubs were of the families: Caesalpinaceae (Cassia sieberiand), Papili-
Mimosaceae
onaceae (Milletia zechiana), (Endata abyssinica)^ Elacourtiaceae (Cassipourea congoensis, Dissomeria
Rutaceae and Verbanaceae
crenata), (AJraegle paniculatd), (Vitex chrysocarpa).
Climbers and herbaceous were mainly from Sapindaceae
species (Paullinia pinnata), Passifloraceae
Annonaceae
(Passiflora sp.), Colchicaceae (Gloriosa superba), (Monantho taxis sp.), Capparidaceae (Capparis
ery thro carpus), Araceae (Achomanes Mjelwitchii), Liliaceae but strictly in the family Anthericaceae (Chloro-
s.l,
phy turn pusilium) and Papilionaceae (Aeschynomene afraspera).
,
forms and composition
Life species
Many
The 227 plants identified in the sanctuary belong to 9 life-forms categories (Table of the species
1).
of plants in the sanctuary were Mesophanerophytes and Thereophytes with few species of Heleophytes,
Many
Hydrophytes and Hemicryptophytes in the sanctuary. of the species of Thereophytes in the sanctuary
members
were of the families Rubiaceae, Asteraceae and Euphorbiaceae. Also the Mesophanerophyte and
Microphanerophyte were made up of species from Caesalpinaceae, Meliaceae, Anacardiaceae and Mimosa-
The Chamaephytes made up from Annonaceae, and Cochlo-
ceae. of species the families Aristolochiaceae
members
spermaceae whereas the species of Nanophanerophtes were from of Sapindance and Verbenaceae.
commonly members
Geophytes were Amaryllidaceae and Commelinaceae.
of the
552 Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 1(1)
Table Life form composition of species of plants in Wechiau Community Hippopotamus Sanctuary in Ghana.
1.
Life-form Total number of Contribution of form to the
life
species contributed flora of the sanctuary (%)
Thereophyte herb (ThH) 60 27.75
Thereophyte climbing herb
(ThI) 3
Chamaephyte
herb (ChH)
5 7.05
Chamaephyte
climbing herb (ChHI) 6
Chamaephyte
shrub (ChS)
5
Hydrophyte herb (HyH)
3 1.32
Helophyte herb (HeH) 0.045
1
Geophyte herb (GrH) 26 11.45
Hemicryptohyte
(Her) 3.52
Mesophanerophyte tree (MPT) 17 28.21
Mesophanerophyte shrub (MPS) 36
Microphanerophyte shrub (mpS)
15 8.37
Microphanerophyte epiphye (mpE)
2
Microphanerophyte (mpWI)
2
liana
Nanophanerophyte
shrub (NpS) 21 11.89
Nanophanerophyte
(NpWI) 6
liana
DISCUSSION
The present study the attempt to compile an authoritative checlclist of the plant biodiversity in the
is first
Wechiau Community Hippopotamus Sanctuary and the study has shovv^n that the composition of plant
species in the sanctuary similar to that of Guinea savanna vegetation (Hopkins 1974; Lawson 1985). The
is
species richness and diversity in their life-forms of the plants in the sanctuary also similar to Guinea
vv^as
savanna by Oteng-Yeboah
vegetation studied (1996)
Bushfires impact on plant biodiversity and therefore important the Sanctuary Management
for
is
it
Board make management from and
to strategic plans that will protect core areas of the sanctuary bushfires
human
With
other activities such farming. the exception of species of plants such Afraegle paniculata
fevv^ 2iS
&
many
(Schum. Thonn.) Engl, Commiphora dalzidli Hutch, and Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn, of the species
of plants identified in the sanctuary were generally very common. The Sanctuary Management Board could
initiate species specific management programs such as the collection of seeds and other propagules of these
uncommon
subsequent
species of plants for their cultivation in the sanctuary.
hoped on
that this information the plant biodiversity in the sanctuary will serve as a baseline
It is
data for making management decisions for the conservation of the sanctuary resources and promotion of
recommended
ecotourism activities in the area. however that further research should investigate the
It is
quantitative abundance and distribution of the species of plants as well as the indigenous uses of the plants
in sanctuary.
APPENDIX
Checklist of dicotyledonous plants in Wechiau Community Hippopotamus Sanctuary in Ghana. See Table
for definition of life-form.
1
MPT
Amaranthaceae Lanneo &
Engl. Krause;
kerstllgii K.
ThH Spondiasmombin MPS
Celosia trigyna L; L;
ThH
Pondiakainvolucrata (Moq.) Jackson;
B.D.
Annonaceae
Anacardiaceae Annonag/aucaSchumach. &Thonn.;ChS
MPT
ChS
Haematostaphis Annonasenegalensis
barterl Hook.f.; Pers.;
MpS
NpWI
Ozofoa Hexalobus monopetalus
insignis Delile; Engl. Diels.;
<&
MPT
Lannea
acida
A. Rich.;
Asase and Oteng-Yeboah, Flora of the Wechiau Community Hippopotamus Sanctuary 553
Apocynaceae
Celastraceae
mPWI ThH
Saba senegalensis (A. DC.) Pichon; IHippocratea africana Loes. ex Engl.;
Strophanthus hispidus DC; NpS Maytenus senegalensis TLam.) ExelL; npS
Chrysobalanaceae
Aristolochiaceae
mpS
Aristolochiaalbida Duch.; ChHI Parinari curatellifolia Planch, ex Benth.;
mpS
polyandra
Parinari Benth.;
Asclepiadaceae
W.T npS Cochlospermaceae
Calotropisprocera (Alton) Alton;
Pachycarpus (Decne) npS Cochilospermum planchoni Hook, ChS
lineolatus Bullock;
f.;
ChH
Cochilospermum tinctorum
A. Rich.;
Asteraceae
Acanthospermum hispidum DC.;ThH Combretaceae
MPT
&
Ageratum
conyzoides L.;ThH Anogessius leiocarpus
Gulll. Perr.;
mpS
CD. Adams; ThH Combretum aculeatum
Aspilia africana (Pers.) Vent.;
mpS
Blumea DC; ThH Combretum &
aurita ghiaselense Engl.
Dlels.;
mpS
GrH Combretum
EchinopslongifoliaA. tiypopilinum
Rich.; Diels.;
mpS
Gomphrena ThH Combretum L
celosoldes Mart.; molle ex G. Don.;
Br.
mpS
Combretum &
Synedrella nodlflora Gaertn.;ThH nigricans Leprleur ex
Guill. Perr.;
Tridaxprocumbens L;ThH Combretum NpWI
paniculatum\/er\t:,
Vernonlaamygdalina Dellle; npS Combretum sericeum G. Don.; ChH
mpS
ThH &
Vernonia perrottetil Sch.Bip. ex Walp.; Pteleopsis suberosa Engl.
Dlel.;
MPS
\/emon/(7pL/rpa/'eaSch.Blp.exWalp.;ThH Quisqualis indica
L.;
mpS
ThH &
Dandy;
Vicoa leptoclada (\Nebb) Terminalla avicenoides
Gulll. Perr.;
MPS
Terminalia
laxiflora Engl.;
Balanitaceae
mPT
&
macroptera
Terminalia
Gulll. Perr.;
MPS
Balanites aegyptiacus
Dellle;
Convolvulaceae
Bignoniaceae
npS
Evolvolus alsinoides
MPT L.;
Kigelia africana (Lam.). Benth.;
NpWI
Ipomoeasp.;
MPS
Stereospermum l<unthianum Cham.;
Cucurbitaceae
Bonnbacaceae
Zehneria Hook.
halli f.;ThHI
MPT
Adansonia
digitata L;
Bombax MPT Ebenaceae
costatum
Pellegr. &Vulllet;
MPT MPT
Ceiba pentandra Gaertn.; Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex A. DC;
(L.)
Boraginaceae Euphorbiaceae
MPS
l-leliotropium indicum L.;ThH Bridellia ferruginea Benth.;
Euphorbia baga Chev.;ThH
A.
Burseraceae
ThH
Euphorbia convolvuloides Hochst ex Benth.;
mpS
Commiphora
Hutch.;
dalzielli
&
Euphorbia ladermaniana Pax Hoffin.;ThH
K.
Caesalpinaceae
ThH
Euphorbia macrophylla
Pax.;
MPS
Burl<ea africana Hook.;
Euphorbia npS
poissonii
Pax.]
L-JhH
Cassia absus
npS
Euphorbia
sp-
mimmosoides ThH
Cassia L; MPS
Hymenocardia
acida
Jul.;
MPS
DC;
Cassia sieberiana
npS
Jatropha curcas
L.;
loraL'JhH
Cassia
npS
Jatrophagossypiifolia
L.;
MPS
Dalium gu/neem/s
Willd.; amarus Schum &Thonn.;ThH
Phyllantus
MPT
&
Daniellia oliveria (Rolfe) Hutch. Dalz.; Sapium
grahamiPt3\ri.]JhH
& MPS
Detarium microcarpum
Gulll. Perr.; ChS
Securinega
virosa (Willd)
Baill.;
MPT
&
Isoberlina dol<a Cralb Stapf;
Tragia vogelii Keay.;ThH
mpS
(Schumach.)
Piliostigma tlionningii Dellle-Redh.;
Flacourtiaceae
Caesalpinaceae
MPS
Oncoba
spinosa
Forssk.;
MPT
Tamarindus
indica
L;
Lamiaceae
Senna ThH
occidentalis
Link.;
(L.)
Ocimum canum ThH
Sims;
Capparaceae
Loganiaceae
Cleome
viscosa L.;ThH
MPS
Strychnosinnocua
Dellle;
Cadaba
farinosa Forssk.;ThH
MPS
Strychnos spinosa Lam.;
NpWI
Capparis erytlirocarpos
isert;
& NpWI
Ritchiea reflexa Gllg Benedict;
554 Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 1(1)
Loranthaceae & ThH
Tephrosia platycarpa
Guill. Perr.;
mpE
DC; ThH
Tapinanthus dodeneifolius (DC.) Danser.; Urariapicta (Jacq)
mpE
&
Tapinathus bangwensis fEng. Krause) Danser.;
Passifloraceae
Malvaceae ThH
Passiflora foetida
L.;
ThH
Hibiscus asper Hook.f.;
SidaalbaL'JhH Pedaliaceae
Sesarnum a/atumThonn.;ThH
S/c/asp.;ThH
Sesamum ThH
indicum
L.;
Meliaceae
MPT
Khaya senega Polygalaceae
lensis A. Juss.;
mpT MPS
Pseudocedrela Harms.; Securidaca longepedunculata
l<otschyi Fresen.;
mpS
emetica
Vahl;
Trichilia
Polyonoaceae
Menispernnaceae Polygonum Hy
senegalensis Meisn.;
Cissampelos mucfonata ChHI
A. Rich.;
Portulacaceae
Mimosaceae
Talinum Willd.;ThH
trigulare fJacq.)
MPS
Acacia gourmaensis
A. Chev.;
Rhamnaceae
mpS
De
Acacia
hockii Wild.;
ChS
Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.;
L MPS
Acacia
nilotica (Delile).;
Rhizophoraceae
npS
Acacia
sp.]
MPS
DC;
MPT Cassipourea congoensis ex
Br
R.
Afzelia africana Sm.;
mpS
Dicrostachys glomerata
CIniov.; Rubiaceae
mpS
Entada
abyssinica Steud.; DC; ThH
Borreria radiata
mpS
&
Entada
africana
Gu'iW. Perr.; &Thonn.) Schum.;ThH
scaber
Borreria {Schurf]
K.
L;ThH
Minnosapigra
mpS
Ctiassalia
sp.;
MPT
Parkia biglobosa fJacq.) R. Br. ex G. Don; Chrysanthellum americanum ThH
Rich.;
MPT
Proposis africana J^ub.] MPT
Don)
Crossopteryx febrifuge (Afzel. ex G. Benth.;
npS
Fadogia Schweinf. ex
Moraceae agrestis Heirn.;
ThH
apodanthera
MPS Feretia Del.;
Ficusabutilifolia (Miq) Miq.;
Gardenia Schum. &Thonn.; npS
MPS ternifolia
capens/s Thunb.;
F/cas
scaberZuccrJhH
Mitracarpus
MPS
Ficusplatyphylla
Del.;
mPT
Mitragyna inermis (Willd). 0. Ktze.;
Moringaceae
mpS
Nauclea
Sm.;
latlfolia
MPS
Moringa
Lam.;
oleifera
corymbose
Oldelandia L.;ThH
Myrtaceae Polysphaeria arbuscula Schum.; npS
K.
ThH
Eugenia subherbacea
A. Chev.;
Rutaceae
mPT
Nyctaginaceae
Afraegie paniculata
Engl.;
ThH
Boerhavia diffusa L; Zanthoxylum xanthoxyloides (Lam.) Waterman.; nPS
Samydaceae
Olacaceae
ThH MPS
Boerhavia diffusa L; Dissomeria crenata Hook. ex Benth.;
f.
Sapindaceae
Opiliaceae
& mPWI NpWI
Opilia End!, ex Walp.; Allophyllusafricanus R Beauv.;
celtidifolia (Guill. Perr.)
MPT
Blighia sapida Konig;
Papilionaceae
Cardiospermum grandiflorum SW.;ThHI
Abrus
precatorius L.;ThHI
NpWI
Paulliniapinnata
L.;
Aeschynomene ThH
i
afraspera Leonard.;
ThH Sapotaceae
Alysicarpus ovalifolius Leonard.;
J.
MPT
Malacantha
Canc7\/a//asp.;ThH
alnifolia Pierre;
MPT
& ThH paradoxa
Crotalaria goreensis CF. Gaertn.
Gu'iW. Perr.; Vitellaria
f.;
mpS
DC;
Erytlirinasenegalensis
Scrophulariaceae
& MPS
Lonchocarpus
laxiflorus GuiW.
Perr.;
hermonthica Benth ;ThH
Striga
Lonchocarpus npS
sericeus (Poir) H.B.K.;
//near/fo//a(Schumach.&Thonn.) Hepper.;ThH
Str/ga
Millettiazechiana Harms; npS
Simaroubaceae
Dunn MPS
Ostryoderris stuhlnnannii (Jaub.) ex Harms;
MPT
Hannoa
undulata
Meeuwen; MPS Planch.;
Pericopsis laxiflora (Benth. ex Baker)
MPT
Pterocarpus erinaceus
Poir.; Solanaceae
MPT
Pterocarpus santalinoides LH'er ex DC;
L]JbH
Datura mete!
MPS
Swarztia madagascarensis
Desv.;
Asase and Oteng-Yeboah, Flora of the Wechiau Community Hippopotamus Sanctuary 555
Sphenocleaceae Ulmaceae
MPT
Hy
Sphenocleazeylsnica Gaertn.; Celt integrifolia Lam.;
is
NpS
Trema
Blume.;
orlentalis
Sterculiaceae
MPT
Verbenaceae
Cola
laurifolia Mast.;
StercuHa MPS Clerodendron capitatum Schum. &Thonn.; NpS
setigeria Delile;
ChH ThH
Lantana
Waltheria indica A. trifolia L;
L.
.;
ChH
Moldenke;
Lippia rnultiflora
Taccaceae
ThH
Stachtarpheta Indica
L;
GrH
Tacca leontopetaloides Kuntze.;
(L)
NpS
Vitexchrysophylla Planch.;
Tiliaceae
MPS
Vitexdoniana Sweet;
ThH
Co chorus
olitorius L;
f
Vitaceae
MpS
Grewia
carpi nifolia Juss.;
ChH
Cissus flavicans Planch.;
& ChH
Grewla Hutch.
cissoides Dalziel;
& ChH
Cissuspopulnea
Guill. Perr.;
MpS
Grewia
mollis
]uss.;
APPENDIX
Checklist of monotyledonous in Wechiau Community Hippopotamus Sanctuary in Ghana. See Table for
1
definition of life-form.
Amaryllidaceae Anthericaceae
Crinum humlle A. Chev.; GrH Chloroptiytum pusillum Schweinf. ex Baker; GrH
Araceae Hyacinthaceae
&
hiaemanthius rupestrls Baker; GrH Scillapicta A. Chev. ex Hutch Dalziel.; GrH
Amorphophallus GrH
dracontioides
N.E.
Br.;
Orchidaceae
Anchomanes GrH
welwitchii Rendle;
GrH
Eulophia
cristata Lindl.;
&
Kotschy GrH
Stylochiton lancifolium Peyr;
Poaceae
Connmelinaceae
Andropogon gayanus
Kunth; Her
GrH
Aneilemasetiferum
A. Chev.;
Brachiaria lata (Schumach.)C.H. Hubb.; Her
GrH
Floscopa africana C.B. Clarke; CL;
Brachiaria sp- Her
Murdannia GrH
simplex Brenan;
(Vahl)
Ctenium GrH
villosum Berhaut.;
Cyperaceae Cymbopogon
giganteus Her
Ch'iov-
GrH Cynodon
Cyperusambilis\/3h\] dactylon Her
(L) Pers.;
Fimbristylis sp- Her Dactyloctenium aegyptium Willd.; GrH
/ngasp.;GrH sp-GiH
Digitaria
Mariscus GrH Hyperrhenia Her
foliosus C.B. Clarke; sp.]
Hypethelia Her
sp.;
Hypoxidaceae
cum maximum
GrH
Pan!
Jacq.;
(Schum. &Thonn.) GrH
Curcullgopilosa
Engl.;
Saccharum spontaneum HyH
L.;
Aloaceae
Liliaceae
GrH
s.l. Setaria
sp.;
GrH
Aloe buetteneri A. Berger;
Zingiberaceae
Asparagaceae
Kaempferia aethiopica Solms ex GrH
Engl.;
ChH
Asparagus
Baker;
flagellaris
Pteridophyte species in Wechiau Community Hippopotamus Sanctuary in Ghana. See Table definition
for
1
of life-form.
Ophioglossaceae
Ophioglossum costatum GrH
R. Br.;
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We
SMB
are thankful to the communities living in the sanctuary and the for their hospitality and logistic
We
support throughout Earthwatch provided
the study. Institute the financial assistance for the study. are
NCRC
Deimissew (ETH) and Edeoga Okpara
also grateful to for logistics support. Sebsebe Hilary O. (Michael
Umuahia,
Univ. of Agriculture, Nigeria) provided reviews.
critical
556 Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas 1(1)
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Lawson, G.W. 986, Plant in Africa. Universities Press.
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Oteng-Yeboah, A.A. 996. Biodiversity three traditional groves Guinea Savanna, Ghana.
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Oteng-Yeboah, A,A. A. Asase. 2002. Sanctuary-Preliminary data
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Ghana Book
Science Asssociation of Abstracts, P 57.
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1934. The forms of plants and plant geography. Clarendon Oxford,
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