Contribution to the Flora of Um Rimmitta Area, White Nile State, Sudan 1A.K

Contribution to the flora of Um Rimmitta area, White Nile State, Sudan 1A.K. Elsafori, 2A.N.Gumma and 3M.A. E Nour 1College of Forestry and Range Science, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan 2Faculty of Education, U.o.K. Sudan. 3Faculty of Forestry, U.o.K. Sudan. 1Current Address: Faculty of Meteorology, Environment, and Arid Land Agriculture King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, K.S.A

ABSTRACT

The study deals with the ecology and taxonomy of the vegetation of Um Rimmitta area, Central Sudan. Taxonomic studies included collection, preparation, identification and classification of plant species in the study area. A total of 85 plant species were identified belonging o 30 families, represent the flora of the study area. From the identified species of the present study, (42) species were found to have medicinal values, and these represented (49.4%), of the total plant species of the study area. Moreover, a check-list of endangered, extinct and famine food plants has been provided. The study shown that during the drought spells in 1975, 1980, some of the plant species at the study area were lost. Also the study found that some plant species supported that locals during the period s of drought and bridged the gap in food supplies. The present study revealed that the soil moisture content was relatively low at the study area. The chemical analysis of the soil shown that there were no significant differences between sites in the study area with respect to soil elements. However, there were significant different between the sites in their pH values. Key words: Identification, classification, plant species, medicinal values, endangered, Threatened, extinct species, famine plants, drought spells, rainfall flucutations and Arid climates.

INTRODUCTION (1985, 1986), Kordofani (1985), Gumaa (1988), Ibrahim (1996), Abdalla (1997), El Safori (2000). Sudan exhibits a wide range of variation in its topography, climate, soil and hydrology. This The study area belongs to semi-desert scrub and resulted in different ecological habitats, different grass land, with an average annual rainfall 75- vegetation zones and consequently rich flora. 250mm. the flora of um Rimmtta was selected for investigation in the present study for a number of Studies on the flora of vegetation were few reasons; Firstly, few number of specimens previously represented by the work of Braun and Massey (1929) collected from the study area weren’t encountered in and Andrews (1950, 52, 56), which may be regarded various herbaria that need to be updated and as the standard refrnce floras of the area. Racenty, El incorporated in the main flora of Sudan. Secondly, Amin (1990) made valuable attempts to update the the last few years witnessed the prevalence of good trees and shrubs of the Sudan. rain seasons which would support the actual flora of Studies on regional floras include the work of the area. The main factor which determines the Crowfoot (1928), Andrews (1949), Obied and distribution of the vegetation is the rainfall. The main Mahmoud (1968), Ahtiet et al. (1973), Hassan (1974), objective of this study is document the flora of the Wickens (1976), Thirakul (1984) and Bebawi and study area and consequently to contribute in Neugebhorn (1991), El Awad (1981, 1995), El Gazali updating the Sudan flora.

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The study area: The study area lies between Research Institute (MAPRI), National Centre for latitudes 14o 36 and 14o 49 N and longitude 32o 05’ Research (NCR), Khartoum. Field observations were and 32o 11’E. recorded which included, habit, habitat, distribution and colors of flowers and liquid during the collection The climate is atypical tropical continental trips. In the herbarium further analysis and /or characterized by warm dry winters and hot rainy identification were done, initially by examining the season. The study area is generally characterized by various parts of the specimens collected by using a high temperatures from most of the year, with means hand-lens. Fine floral characters were examined of 37oc and 21o for maximum and minimum summer under Mbc-10 dissection microscope. A preliminary temperature respectively. species identification was carried out using a set of The rainy season extends from June to October and keys (Andrews, 1950, 52, 56), Hutchinson and most of the rains fall during July and August. The Dalziel (1963), and Braun et al (1991). The identified average annual rainfall had declined from 330mm species were compared with already identified (1920-1950) to 248mm (1960-1995). The great herbarium specimens from herbaria of Forestry variations in rainfall are characteristic of arid climates, Research Centre, Faculty of Science University of Halwagy (1961). Khartoum and Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Generally, the mean relative-humidity percentage is Research Institute, National Centre of Research, the lowest in April (10%) and the highest in August Khartoum-Sudan. (67%). The mean daily evaporation is the highest in The synonyms of the identified species were April (2.00mm) and the lowest in August (10.8mm). extracted from many references such as (Hutchinson Clouds prevail almost six months in the year, and Dalziel, 1963), index Kewensis (1885-1965), whereas the mean sunshine is 3650 hours/year. The Wickens (1976), Sahni (1968), El Awad (1995), north-east or northerly trade winds prevail during the ElGhazali et al. (1987) and El Amin (1990). winter, whereas the south-east winds prevail during The vernacular names of species were recorded from the autumn. The dust storms (haboobs) are local inhabitants within the study area and also common in the summer seasons. extracted from Braun and Massey (1929), (Andrews MATERIALS AND METHODS (1949, 53, 56), Wickens (1976). For citation of The study area falls within the semi-desert region. species only the oldest reference was cited (Sp. Pl. in Direct observations and primary surveying were used most cases), in addition Andrews (1950, 52, 56) was to assess environmental conditions and plant also cited. community type. The global positioning system Medicinal folkloric uses of collected species have (GPS) was used to determine the images of the been provided. These uses have been extracted from study area. available literature on Sudanese plants or plants of Collection of materials and preparation of neighboring countries (ElGhazali et al 1994), in specimens: Plant specimens were collected from addition some information were obtained from the different sites of the study area at different times of inhabitants of the study area. the year 2003 and 2004. The whole plant was Soil Moisture: The gravimetric method was used to collected for in case of herbs and twigs with leaves measure the soil moisture. The soil samples were and flowers and /or fruits in case of shrubs and trees. weighed and oven-dried , for 24 hours at 105oc. The The specimens were stretched to dry between samples were then reweighed and their moisture newspapers and firmly pressed inside a herbarium content is expressed as a percentage of the dry press. Newspaper were continuously changed during weight as follows: the drying to avoid rotting of material finally; the 1 2 specimens were mounted, labeled and deposited at W W M.C.% = 100 the herbarium of the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants W 1

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Soil Chemical Analysis: The soil samples were RESULTS chemically analyzed for pH, Organic matter (O.M.), The collection from the study area has been covered Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K). different habitats and a total number of (85) plant The pH was determined by using Calorimetric species belong to 30 families were identified (28 methods: The organic matter was determined by Dicotyledons and 2 Monocotyledons) Tale (1). Some using the combustion method while the nitrogen was families were represented by a number of species determined by using Kjeldahl method. The while others are represented by only one species phosphorus was determined by digestion and from the identification species of the present study, calorimetric method. The potassium was determined (42) species were found to have medicinal values by the flame photometer method. and these represented (49.4%) of the total flora. Table 1. Flora of Um Rimmitta area, Central Sudan, in 2006

Family Species Vern. Name Habit .Aizoaceae Mullugo nudicaulisLam. ShamarKazib An., He ِ Aizoaceae Zaleya pentandra(L.) Al-Rabaa An., He. Amaranthaceae Aerva javanica(Burm.f.) Raselshaib Per.,He Amaranthaceae Alternanthera nodifloraForssk. Abuturma An., He. Amaranthaceae Amaranthus graecizans L. Lissantairsaghir An.,He. Amaranthaceae Celosia argenteaL. DanabEkalib An., He. Amaranthaceae Diger amuritica(L.) LablabAhmr An., He. Aristolochiaceae Aristolochia bracteolate Lam Um Galagil Per.,He. Asclepiadaceae Leptadeni apyrotechnica(Forssk.) Marekh Shrub Asclepiadaceae Leptadenia arborea " Twin. Asteraceae Sonchu scornutusHochst.ex " Per.,He. Asteraceae Sonchus oleraceousL. Moleita An., He. Asteraceae Xanthium brasilicum Waller. Ramtouk An., He. Balanitaceae Balanites aegyptiaca(L.) Hegleeg Tree Boraginaceae Heliotropium supinumL. DanabElagrab An., He. Brassicaceae Farsetia hamiltoniiRoyle. " An., He. Brassicaceae Farsetia longsiliquaDence. Um Adafir An., He. Brassicaceae Matthiola Burseraceae Commiphora africana (A.Rich.) Gafal Tree Caesalpiniaceae Senna alexandrinaMill. Senna Makah Per.,He. Capperidaceae Boscia senegalensis(Pers.) Kursan Tree Capperidaceae Capparis deciduas(Forssk.) Tundub Tree Capperidaceae Maerua crassifolia(Forssk.) Sareh Tree Cleomaceae Cleome gynandraL. Tamalaika An., He. Convolvulaceae Ipomoea cordofanChoisy. Tabr An., He. Convolvulaceae Ipomoea aquaticForssk. Abu Halageem Trai.,He Cucurbitaceae Cucumi smelo.var.argestisNaud. Seinat Clim.He Cucurbitaceae Luffa echinataRoxb. Leef Clim.He Euphorbiaceae Acalypha indicaL. El Matraba An., He. Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia aegyptiacaBioss. Um Lebaina An., He. Fabaceae Alysicarpus vaginalis(L.) Shillini An., He. Fabaceae Crotalaria pyconstachyaBenth. " An.,He. Fabaceae Desmodium dichotomum(Klein) Abu Araida Und. Sh Fabaceae Indigofera hochstetteriBak. Sharaia Diff.,He

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Fabaceae Indigofera oblongifoliaForssk. Dahassir Und.Sh. Fabaceae Indigofera strobiliferaHochst. " Und.Sh. Fabaceae Rynchosia minimavar.minima(L.) AdanElfar Twin. Fabaceae Sesbania sesban (L.) Sesban Shrub Fabaceae Tephrosia unifloraPers. Amoyoga Per.,He. Lamiaceae Ocimum canumSmis. Raihan An., He. Lamiaceae Ocimum basilicumL. Raihan An., He. Loranthaceae Loranthus acaciaeZucc. Anaba Clim. Malvaceae Abutilon figarianumWebb. Ambru Per.,He. Malvaceae Hibiscus vitifoliusL. " An., He. Mimosaceae Acacia mellifera(Vahl.) Kitir Tree Mimosaceae Acacia niloticasubsp.nilotica(L.) Sunt Tree Mimosaceae Acacia oerfota(Forssk.) Laot Shrub Mimosaceae Acacia seyalvar.seyalDel. Talih Tree Mimosaceae Acacia tortilissubsp.spirocarpaForssk Samur Tree Mimosaceae Acacia tortilis subsp.raddianaForssk. Seyal Tree Mimosaceae Faidherbia albida(Del.) Haraz Tree Nyctaginaceae Boerhavia repens var. diffusa L. Rubaa An., He. Pedaliaceae Sesamum alatumThonn. SimsimGumal An., He. Portulaceae Portulaca oleraceaL. Rigla An., He. Portulacaceae Portulaca quadrifidaL. Um Mamleeha An., He. Rhaminacaea Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Sidder Tree Rubiaceae Kohautica aspera (L.) Um Hebiag An., He. Salvadoraceae Dobera glabra(Forssk.) Maikah Tree Salvadoraceae Salvadora persicaL. Arak Tree Solanaceae Physalis angulata L. Karmkarm An.,He. Solanaceae Solanum coagulansForssk. Gubbain Per.,He. Solanaceae Solanum nigrumL. EinabEldeeb An.,He. Tiliaceae Corchoru sdepressus Stocks. Umshit