A checklist of vascular plants of Ewe-Adakplame Relic Forest in Benin, West Africa

Covering 560.14 hectares in the south-east of Benin, the Ewe-Adakplame Relic Forest (EARF) is a micro-refugium that shows insular characteristics within the Dahomey Gap. It is probably one of the last remnants of tropical rain forest that would have survived the late Holocene dry period. Based on intensive field investigations through 25 plots (10 × 50 m size) and matching of herbarium specimens, a checklist of 185 species of vascular plant belonging to 54 families and 142 genera is presented for this forest. In addition to the name for each taxon, we described the life form following Raunkiaer's definitions, chorology as well as threats to habitat. The Rubiaceae family was the richest (20 species) followed by the Fabaceae (15 species). Life forms showed the preponderance of phanerophytes (88%). The Chorological spectrum was dominated by Guineo-Congolean species (66%). Species richness estimated were 200.52 ± 9.2808 for Bootstrap; 217.62 ± 14.5972; 224.16 ± 15.3725 and 242.67 respectively for Chao, Jacknife1 and Jacknife2. Bootstrap appears to be the estimation closer to the field records. In Benin, EARF is home for Rinorea species described as West African forest bio-indicators and single location for Nesogordonia papaverifera, Mansonia altissima, Englerophytum oblanceolatum, Octolobus spectabilis, Vitex micrantha and most of Drypeteae tribe species (Drypetes aframensis, Drypetes afzelii, Drypetes gilgiana and Drypetes leonensis) recorded in Benin. Our results provides baseline information for further in-depth analysis of vegetation history in Benin by raising the question on the past floristic connection of the Dahomey gap and community engagement in conservation.

Plant and natural product based homemade remedies for veterinary uses by the Peul community in Benin

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Across Africa, Peul community typically rely on plant-based veterinary knowledge to manage common livestock health problems. Unfortunately, their nomadic life-style being affected by conflicts, land tenure constraints, and drought, they have been shifting to a sedentary life. The process of their settlement led to the erosion of the vast ethnoveterinary skills they had acquired over centuries and forced them to replace the plant and other species they used by commercial products.

AIM OF THE STUDY

1) To collect comprehensive data from the Benin Peul community on common plant-based remedies used to treat livestock diseases and document their preparation and administration. 2) To evaluate the differences and consensus among the Peul community across ecological regions in Benin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted semi-structured interviews among 88 Peul camps, three (03) bioclimatic zones, and 225 transhumant dialog partners, including agro-pastoralists, healers and pastoralists from mid-July to end of December 2015. Detailed information about homemade herbal remedies (plant species, plant part, manufacturing process) and the corresponding use reports (target animal species, category of use and route of administration) was collected.

RESULTS

A total of 418 homemade remedies were reported, of which 235 involved only one plant species (Homemade Single Species Herbal Remedy Reports; HSHR). Information on a total of 310 use reports (UR) were mentioned for the 235 HSHR, and they included 116 plant species belonging to 39 botanical families. Among them, 229 UR were indicated for cattle, 43 UR for poultry, and 38 UR for sheep and goats. The most cited plant species were Khaya senegalensis (19 HSHR; 8.08%), Parkia biglobosa (14 HSHR; 5.95%), Euphorbia unispina (11 HSHR; 4.68%), and Anogeissus leiocarpus (6 HSHR; 2.55%). The URs were indicated for the treatment of viral, parasitic and bacterial diseases but also for multifactorial disorders like diarrhoea, fever, threatened abortion, agalactia etc. The number of plants referred to HSHR decreased from Sudanian to Guineo-congolian zones in concordance with the presence of Peuls.

CONCLUSION

The Peul community holds a huge ethnoveterinary knowledge, which needs to be documented, valorised, and promoted. It appears vital to assess phytochemical and pharmacological properties of the most reported species, and their availability across the ecological zones in order to ensure their sustainable use and before this indigenous knowledge disappears completely.

Magnoliophyta, Biosphere Reserve of Pendjari, Atacora province, Benin

The Biosphere Reserve of Pendjari is an example of best management practice of protected areas in West Africa with typical Sudanian savanna vegetation. It is part of the vast and transboundary protected areas of W, Pendjari and Arly National Parks of Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger. This work provides an overview of the flora of the reserve by means of a thorough botanical inventory. The plant species composition is typical of Sudanian savanna. We recorded 684 plant species, which were distributed among 366 genera and 89 families. The two most species-rich families were Fabaceae (115) and Poaceae (112). The most important life forms were phanerophytes and therophytes. The chorological spectrum was dominated by Sudanian species. With Ipomoea beninensis Akoègninou, Lisowski and Sinsin, Thunbergia atacorensis Akoègninou and Lisowski and Cissus kouandeensis A.Chev., three endemic species of Benin were recorded, demonstrating the importance of the reserve for plant conservation.