LICUATI FOREST RESERVE, MOZAMBIQUE: FLORA, UTILIZATION AND CONSERVATION by Samira Aly Izidine Research Project Report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the taught degree Magister Scientiae (Systematics and Conservation Evaluation) in the Faculty of Natural & Agricultural Sciences Department of Botany (with Department of Zoology & Entomology) University of Pretoria Pretoria Supervisor: Prof. Dr. A.E.van Wyk May 2003 © University of Pretoria Digitised by the Open Scholarship & Digitisation Programme, University of Pretoria, 2016. I LICUATI FOREST RESERVE, MOZAMBIQUE: FLORA, UTILIZATION AND CONSERVATION Samira Aly lzidine 2003 © University of Pretoria Digitised by the Open Scholarship & Digitisation Programme, University of Pretoria, 2016. To the glory of God and to the memory of my dear father, Aly Abdul Azize Izidine, 6-11-1927 - 7-03-2003 A gl6ria de Deus e em memoria ao meu querido pai, Aly Abdul Azize Izidine, 6-11-1927 - 7-03-2003 © University of Pretoria Digitised by the Open Scholarship & Digitisation Programme, University of Pretoria, 2016. TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION .................................................................................................. i LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES .............................................................. iv LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES ............................................................... v ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................... 1 PROJECT PROPOSAL ................................................................................... 3 Rational and motivation ................................................................................... 3 Principal aims ................................................................................................... 5 Research questions ........................................................................................... 6 Layout of Report .............................................................................................. 6 CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION ............................................... 7 1.1 Background ................................................................................................. 7 1.2 Physical description ................................................................................... 8 1.3 Climate ........................................................................................................ 9 1. 4 Flora and vegetation of Maputaland ......................................................... 9 1.4.1 Vegetation .......................................................................................... 9 1.4.2 Flora and endemism ......................................................................... 10 1.4.3 Forests ofMaputaland ..................................................................... 12 1.4.4 Sand Forest ....................................................................................... 13 1.5 Forest reserves in Mozambique ............................................................... 15 1.6 Licuati Forest Reserve ............................................................................. 16 1.6.1 History and location ......................................................................... 16 1.6.2 Flora and vegetation ........................................................................ 17 1. 7 SABONET expedition ............................................................................. 19 1. 7.1 New record of a Xylopia species ..................................................... 20 CHAPTER 2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND .......................................... 21 2.1 General ...................................................................................................... 21 2.2 The Santaca family ................................................................................... 21 2.3 Interview with Chief Santaca .................................................................. 24 2.4 Medicinal Plants ....................................................................................... 25 2.5 The Sacred Forest ..................................................................................... 25 2.6 Utilisation ................................................................................................. 26 2. 7 Economic and social development .......................................................... 27 CHAPTER 3. GENERAL MATERIAL AND METHODS ........................ 30 3.1 Visit to the study area .............................................................................. 30 3.2 Field work ................................................................................................. 30 11 © University of Pretoria Digitised by the Open Scholarship & Digitisation Programme, University of Pretoria, 2016. 3.3 Herbarium studies .................................................................................... 31 3.4 Checklist of plants of Licuati Thicket. .................................................... 31 3. 5 Dynamics of Licuati Thicket ................................................................... 31 3.6 Historical information and current utilisation ofLicuati Thicket ......... 32 3.7 Studies onXylopia (leaf anatomy) .......................................................... 33 3.8 Leafmacromorphology (SEM studies) .................................................. 35 CHAPTER 4. THE LICUATI THICKET .................................................... 36 4.1 Title page .................................................................................................. 36 4.2 Abstract ..................................................................................................... 37 4.3 Introduction .............................................................................................. 38 4.4 Material and methods ............................................................................... 43 4. 5 Results and discussion ............................................................................. 44 4.6 Conclusions .............................................................................................. 53 4. 7 Recol111llendations .................................................................................... 55 4.8 Acknowledgements .................................................................................. 56 4. 9 References ................................................................................................ 57 CHAPTER 5. IDENTITY OF XYLOPIA TORREIN. ROBSON ............... 58 5.1 Introduction .............................................................................................. 58 5.2 Material and methods ............................................................................... 61 5.3 Conclusions .............................................................................................. 62 5.4 Acknowledgements .................................................................................. 62 5.5 Specimens examined ................................................................................ 63 5. 6 References ................................................................................................ 66 CHAPTER 6. SUMMARY ........................................................................... 67 GENERAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................... 69 CURRICULUM VITAE ................................................................................ 72 GENERAL REFERENCES ........................................................................... 73 APPENDICES ................................................................................................ 79 APPENDIX 1: ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF PLANTS OF LICUATI THICKET .................................................................................................. 80 APPENDIX 2: MISCELLANEOUS PHOTOGRAPHS ............................. 98 Ill © University of Pretoria Digitised by the Open Scholarship & Digitisation Programme, University of Pretoria, 2016. LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES Figures Figure 1. Map showing the location of the Licuati Forest Reserve (LFR), southern Mozambique .................................................................... 40 Figure 2. Map showing the Licuati Thicket, Licuati Forest Reserve, southern Mozambique ................................................................................... 41 Figures 3-6. SEM micrographs of leaf lower surfaces. 3 & 4 Xylopia torrei, 5 & 6 Xylopia odoratissima ........................................................... 64 Figures 7-10. SEM micrographs of leaf lower surfaces. 7 & 8 Xylopia parviflora, 9 & 10 Xylopia tomentosa .......................................... 65 Tables Table 1. Number of families, genera and species ofPteridophyta, Monocoty ledonae and Dicoty ledonae recorded from the Licuati Thicket .............................................. :............................................... 44 Table 2. Synopsis of families that contribute 1% or more to the total number of species in the Licuati Thicket, LFR ........................................... 45 Table 3. Synopsis of families that contribute 1% of more of the total number of MC endemics in the Licuati Thicket, as compared to the figures for the Maputo Elephant Reserve ................................................... 4 7 Table 4. Families with five or more small tree or shrub species in the flora of Licuati ..............................................................................................