Laboratoire de Botanique systématique & d'écologie végétale, Faculté des Sciences, Département de Biologie, BP. 190 Kinshasa XI (Université de Kinshasa), RD Congo
The present study was carried out in the territory of Kimvula in the south-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The floristic survey conducted shows that the Kimvula flora has 1,065 species distributed in 666 genera and 159 families. The best represented families are Fabaceae (12.21%), Poaceae (7.79%), Asteraceae (5.54%), Rubiaceae (5.07%), Apocynaceae (4.04%) and Malvaceae (4.04%). The analysis shows the ecological characteristics, as regards the morphological types, this flora is dominated by woody species (50%) while the dominant life forms are phanerophytes (50%). Examination of leaf dimensions indicates the abundance of mesophyll (37.4%) and sarcochores (36.9%) are the types of diaspores best represented in Kimvula. The results of phytogeography distribution reveal the abundance of wide distribution species (65.5%) and low presence of endemic species (1.6%). The disturbance index (29.30%) shows that ecosystems of the study area are less disturbed and Shannon-Weaver diversity index shows that secondary forest (4.8 bits) is the most diversified plant formation.
A study was conducted in three localities in the southwest of RD Congo to clarify the ecology of Dracaena acutissima Hua: an endemic Asparagaceae of Congo Basin. Ecosystem characteristics (vegetation types, soil types and microclimates strata), phenological, chorological and ethnobotanical were determined. The results show that D. acutissima is a semi-sun-loving species that typically grows in the sandy soil of the undergrowth Kalahari type of riparian forest or forest or sloping plateau. It was seen with flowers and fruits during the dry season between May and July. The ethnobotanical survey showed that young leaves of this plant are used to treat childhood ear infections and stems are used for making small animal traps while its fruits are eaten by warthogs. Although, the species has not yet been confronted with the IUCN criteria; its distribution and human pressure area experienced by ecosystems that are its habitat to push the authors to classify it as a vulnerable species.
Show abstract
Full Text
