Study on Vascular Plant Species Found in Jega Local Government Areas, Kebbi State, Nigeria, West Tropical Africa

International Journal of Modern Plant & Animal Sciences, 2015, 3(1): 33-44 International Journal of Modern Plant & Animal Sciences ISSN: 2327-3364 Journal homepage: www.ModernScientificPress.com/Journals/IJPlant.aspx Florida, USA Article Study on Vascular Plant Species Found in Jega Local Government Areas, Kebbi State, Nigeria, West Tropical Africa

Dharmendra Singh

Department of Biological Sciences, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero, PMB: 1144, Nigeria

E-Mail: [email protected] Phone no: +234 8079251948

Article history: Received 15 February 2015, Received in revised form 19 March 2015, Accepted 23 March 2015, Published 24 March 2015.

Abstract: This study was enumerates the outcome of vascular plants found in Jega Local Government, areas of Kebbi state Nigeria between October 2013 to August 2014. After thorough study on 200 field numbers, the identified taxa have been found to be spread about 34 families, 40 genera and 54 species of angiospermic plants. They are Acanthaceae 2 species , Amaranthaceae 2 species , Anacardiaceae 2 species , Annonaceae 1 species , Arecaceae 1 species , Asclepiadaceae 1 species , Asteraceae 4 species , Balanitaceae 1 species , Bombacaceae 1 species , Caesalpiniaceae 6 species , Capparaceae 1 species , Combrataceae 2 species , Commelinaceae 1 species , Cucurbitaceae 1 species , Cyperaceae 1 species , Euphorbiaceae 2 species , Lamiaceae 1 species , Lythraceae 1 species , Malvaceae 4 species , Meliaceae 1 species , Mimosaceae 1 species , Moringaceae 1 species , Myrtaceae 1 species , Nymphaeaceae 1 species , Papilionaceae 2 species , Portulacaceae 1 species , Rhamnaceae 1 species , Rubiaceae 1 species , Rutaceae 1 species , Sapotaceae 1 species , Solanaceae 2 species , Sterculiaceae 1 species , Tiliaceae 2 species and Verbenaceae 1 species .

Keywords: Vascular Plants, Jega Local Government, Kebbi State

1. Introduction

Vascular plants known as tracheophytes higher plants, form a large group of plants that are defined as those land plants that have lignified tissues (the xylem) for conducting water and minerals

Copyright © 2015 by Modern Scientific Press Company, Florida, USA Int. J. Modern Plant & Anim. Sci. 2015, 3(1): 33-44 34 throughout the plant. They also have (non-lignified) tissue to conduct products of photosynthesis. The vascular plant are also the most visible of all plant groups, they are all around us and include those colourful wild flowers, weeds, and garden plants that we are all familiar with, such as wild roses cacti, lupines, delphiniums and many more. The diversity of plants is an essential underpinning of most of our terrestrial ecosystems. Humans and most other animals are almost totally dependent on plants, directly or indirectly, as a source of energy through their ability to convert the sun energy through photosynthesis. Worldwide thousands of species of higher plants, and several hundred lower plants, are currently used by humans for a wide diversity purposes as food, fuel, oil, herbs, fibres industrial crop and as forage and fodder for domestic animals. In the tropic alone it has been estimated that 25,000-30-000 species are used (Heywood 1992) and up to 25,000 species have been used in traditional medicines. In addition many thousands of species are grown as ornamentals in park, public and private gardens, as street trees and for shade and shelter. Another important role plants life is the provision of ecosystem services the protection of watersheds, stabilization of slope improvement of soils, moderation of climate and the provision of a habitat for much of our would fauna (Heywood, 1992). The publication of ‘Flora of West Africa’ by (Hutchinson and Dalziel 1963) was followed by two national floras by (Stanfield, 1970) for Grasses of Nigeria (Lowe and Stanfield 1974) for Flora of Nigeria (Sedges). Later on some aspect of studies in floridiversity of Kebbi state, Nigeria by (Singh et al., 2010), towards making a flora of Kebbi state, Nigeria by (Singh and Misra 2013 a ,b ). Morpho- taxonomic and Ethno –medicinal flora of Kebbi state, Nigeria by (Singh and Abubakar 2011a,b,c).

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Sampling Area

The study area is Jega Local Government Area, Kebbi State Nigeria. Term kasar jega should not be confused with either jega district or jega Local government. The areas are presently constituted. Rather, kasar Jega is synonymous with eleven district spread among two Local Government Area namely; Jega and Maiyama. These district is presently is constituted are Jega, Kimba, Alelu, Basaura, Maiyama, Andarai, Karaye, Mungadi, Mayalo and Jan-dutsi, the whole area lies within latitude 120, 130 and longitude 40, 50 east (Suleiman, 2008).

2.2. Topography

The topography of the area generally characterize the famous Sokoto plain. The entire rima drainage basin lies within two district landscapes or geographical regions, a region of pre-combarian

Copyright © 2015 by Modern Scientific Press Company, Florida, USA Int. J. Modern Plant & Anim. Sci. 2015, 3(1): 33-44 35 rock made up of older cretaceous type known as Gundumi and Rima Illo series and a region of young sedimentary rock of Eocene age known as the calcareous and Gwandu group (Suleiman, 2008).

2.3. Climatic Condition

The climate condition of kasar Jega is synonymous with that which obtains in Kebbi and Sokoto regions. Rainfall which is an important of climate in so far as agriculture is concerned, occupies the period starting mid-may to mid-September in which generally known as wet season. This attains mean annual rainfalls of between 500 mm to 1,300 mm with a heavy concentration in the month of august which is locally known as Malka. The wet season is followed by the dry season which is commences from September to April. The dry season is characterized few or new absence of vegetation cover and non-incidence of rainfall. It is a period of low agricultural activities mainly restricted to fadama (flood plain) lands (Suleiman 2008).

2.4. Plants Collection

The plants specimens should be collected from different localities and habitats in every stage of their growth and reproduction. A complete specimen possesses all part of plants including root system. The plants specimen should be usually in flowering stage. The specimen collected most be tagged immediately and record about localities most also be noted (Jain and Rao 1978).

2.5. Pressing and Drying of Plants

The plants should press in between the sheet of blotting papers or old newspapers. One plant be arranged on one sheet in a manner that there should be no overlapping of plants (Jain and Rao 1978). The blotting papers with plant specimen were placed in field press for about 24 to 48 hours. The press is then opened blotting should be change and rearrange the plants properly. After it press should be again closed and again after 2 or 3 days change the blotting and dry plants in sunlight or artificial heat (Jain and Rao 1978).

2.6. Mounting and Labelling of the Specimens

After drying, the specimen most be mounted for permanent record on sheet called mounting papers on herbarium sheets. The specimen are mounted to the sheet with the help of fevicol or quick drying liquid paste after mounting the specimens on the herbarium sheet, each sheet should be labelled. A label is pasted or printed on lower right-hand corner, compressed in plant press to prevent them from drying and this press herbarium were house in the herbarium of Department Of Biological Sciences, Kebbi State, Nigeria for record and references

3. Justification of Research

The vegetation of Jega Local Government Area (Fig. 1) is often not recorded by previous researcher (Hutchinson and Dalziel 1963). Consequently most of researcher is not aware of which type of plant species found there.

Fig. 1: Map of Jega Local Government area, Kebbi State, Nigeria

4. Enumeration of the Taxa

The present investigation enumerates the taxa during floristic studies into varied localities of Jega Local Government, Kebbi State Nigeria, between October 2013 and August 2014. After a thorough study on 200 field numbers, the identified taxa have been found to be spread about 54 species and 40 genera of 34 families, these have been arranged in an alphabetical order, and the same pattern has been followed in arranging lower order taxa under each family.

(1) ACANTHACEAE I. Hypoetes verticillaris (Linn. F) River bank bayan gindi Jega , D.Singh : 1018. II. Peristrope bicalyculata (Retz) Nees River bank. Jega, D.Singh : 1039.

(2) AMARANTHACEAE I. Amaranthus blitum L. River bank, Jega, D.Singh : 1009 II. Amaranthus spinosus L. River bank. Alelu, D.Singh :1006.

(3) ANACARDIACEAE I. Anacardium occidentale L. Fadaman land. Gadan Omo Jega , D.Singh : 1055 II. Sclerocarya birrae (A.Rich) Hochst. River bank. Jega, D.Singh : 1075.

(4) ANNONACEAE I. Annona squamosa L. Fadama land. Jega, D.Singh : 1086.

(5) ARECACEAE I. Borassus aethiopum Mart. Farm land. Jega, D.Singh : 1069.

(6) ASCLEPIADACEAE

I. Calotropis procera (L) R.Br. River bank. Kimba, D.Singh : 1027.

(7) ASTRACEAE/COMPOSITAE I. Acanthuspermum hispidum D.C Road side. Jega, Kimba, D.Singh : 1038. II. Bidens pilosa L. River bank, Alelu, D.Singh : 1010. III. Centaurea calcitrapa L. River bank. Alelu, D.Singh : 1034. IV. Vernonia cinera L. River bank. Jega, D.Singh : 1033.

(8) BALANITACEAE I. Balanites aegyptiaca D.C River bank. Jega. D.Singh : 1005.

(9) BOMBACACEAE I. Ceiba pentandra L. Along the road. Jega, D.Singh: 1077.

(10) CAESALPINIACEAE I. Bauhinia refuscens Lam Road side. Jega, Alel , D.Singh : 1068. II. Cassia arerah L. Road side. Jega, Alelu, D.Singh : 1082. III. Cassia kotschyana Oliv.

River bank. Gadan Omo Jega, D.Singh : 1050. IV. Cassia occidentalis L. Fadama land. Gadan Omo Jega, D.Singh : 1057. V. Cassia tora L. River bank. Alelu, D.Singh : 1012. VI. Pilostigma thonningii Sch. River bank. Gadan Omo, D.Singh : 1051.

(11) CAPPARACEAE I. Cleome viscosa L. River bank. Kimba, Sunusi Sani: 1037. II. Gynandropsis gynandra (L) Briq. River bank. Kimba, D.Singh : 1024.

(12) COMBRETACEAE I. Combretum micranthum G.Dom. Fadama Land. Nasarawa Jega, D.Singh : 1049. II. Gueira senegalensis (L) Briq Fadama land. Ruwan kanwa Jega, D.Singh : 1060.

(13) COMMELINACEAE I. Commelina benghalensis L. Road side. Kimba village, D.Singh : 1004.

(14) CURCUBITACEAE I. Citrallus lanatus Thumb. Fadama land.

Nasarawa Jega, D.Singh : 1046.

(15) CYPARACEAE I. Cyperus rotundus L. River bank. Alelu, D.Singh : 1036.

(16) EUPHORBIACEAE I. Euphorbia hirta L. Road side. Kimba village, D.Singh : 1044. II. Phyllathus pentedrus Sch and Thonn. River bank. Kimba village, D.Singh : 1026.

(17) LAMIACEAE/ LABITAE I. Leucas martiniensus R.Br River bank. Jega, D.Singh : 1031.

(18) LYTHRACEAE I. Lawsonia innermis L. Fadama land. Gadan Omo Jega, D.Singh : 1056.

(19) MALVACEAE I. Abutilon crispus L. River bank. Nasarawa Jega, D.Singh : 1080. II. Gossypium arboreum R.E.F Fadama land. Gulbin Alelu vilage, D.Singh : 1013. III. Hibiscus asper Haook. F Fadama land. Kimba road, D.Singh : 1014 IV. Sida corymbosa R,E.F

River bank. Jega to Kimba road, D.Singh : 1002.

(20) MELIACEAE I. Azadirachta indica Juss. Fadama land. Ruwan kanwa Jega, D.Singh : 1061.

(21) MIMOSACEAE I. Acacia sieberiana DC River Bank. Bayan Gindi Jega, D.Singh: 1019.

(22) MORINGACEAE I. Moringa oliefera Lam. River bank. Kimba road, D.Singh : 1042.

(23) MYRTACEAE I. Eucalyptus camaldulensis Schletcht Farm land. Kimba, Jega road, D.Singh : 1043.

(24) NYMPHAEACEAE I. Nympheae naucholi Burm.f Alelu river, Alelu , D.Singh : 1063. (25) PAPILIONACEAE/FABACEAE I. Rynchosia minima (L) D.C River bank. Bayan gindi Jega, D.Singh : 1017. II. Vigna unguiculata L. River bank. Gadan Omo Jega, D.Singh : 1054.

(26) PORTULACEAE

I. Portulaca meridiana L.f Fadama land Nasarawa, Jega, D.Singh : 1048.

(27) RHAMNACEAE I. Zizyphus abyssinica H.ex.A.Rich Fadama land, Jega, Kimba road, D.Singh: 1083.

(28) RUBIACEAE I. Mitracarpus villosus (SW) D.C Fadama land; Jega, D.Singh : 1032.

(29) RUTACEAE I. Citrus limon Burn.f Fadama land Nasarawa, Jega, D.Singh : 1065.

(30) SAPOTACEAE I. Vitallaria paradoxa Guertn.f Fadama land, Jega, D.Singh : 1074.

(31) SOLANACEAE I. Physalis divaricata D.don River bank. Kimba, D.Singh : 1023. II. Solanum nigrum L. River bank. Jega, D.Singh : 1021.

(32) STERCULIACEAE I. Waltheria indica L. Fadama land, Ruwan Kanwa Jega, D.Singh : 1062.

(33) TILIACEAE I. Corchorus aestuans L. Fadama land. Near Gindi road Jega, D.Singh : 1020. II. Triumfetta cordifolia A. Rich River bank. Jega, D.Singh : 1001.

(34) VERBENACEAE I. Vitex doniana (Sweet) Farm land. Kimba road, D.Singh : 1081.

NOTE: D.Singh (Dharmendra Singh) is name of collector’s.

5. Discussion and Results

In these studies 34 families and 54 species were documented. As analyzed statistically, trees have the lower numbers of 26 species compare to both shrubs and herbs. Most of the species encountered during these studies have some special futures that help them to withstand long drought period and also resist high rate of transpiration, as a species of Zizyphus abyssinica and Azadirachta indica the resistance of drought, fire and high rate of transpiration by these species of the plants is achieved through their small leaves, thick hard bark and thorns. The bark of almost all species of plants in savannah region is very thick, probably for these accounts for their tolerance of fire.

6. Conclusion

There were 34 families of Angiosperm found in the study area 40 genera and 54 species. The 11 dominant families of plants species identified in this study were: Acantaceae 2 species, Amaranthaceae 2 species Astraceae/Compositae 4 species, Caesalpiniaceae 6 species, Capparaceae 2 species Combretaceae 2 species, Euphobiaceae 2 species, Malvaceae 4 species, Papilionaceae/Fabaceae 2 species, Solanaceae 2 species and Tiliaceae 2 species. The 2 dominant genera are; Amaranthus 2 species and Caesalpiniaceae 4 species. The knowledge of diversity of vascular plants is an essential underpinning of most of the terrestrial ecosystem. Humans and most other animals are almost totally depending on plants, directly or indirectly, as a source of energy through their ability to convert the sun’s the source energy through photosynthesis.

Acknowledgements

Author is grateful to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Abuja, Nigeria for financial support and also gratefully acknowledge to the working facilities provided by the Department of Biological Sciences, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero, Kebbi State, Nigeria

References

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