Indigenous Angiosperm biodiversity of Olabisi Onabanjo University permanent site

Abstract

The conservation of the genetic variability of the indigenous angiosperm community is a sine qua non. A survey of indigenous angiosperm biodiversity of the Olabisi Onabanjo University permanent site was undertaken. Plants collected were dried, poisoned and mounted on herbarium sheets, proper identification and confirmation in recognized herbaria were carried out. A total number of one hundred and thirty-eight (138) plant species belonging to fifty-five (55) families were collected. Of these, one hundred and twenty-seven are dicotyledons and eleven are monocotyledons. Leguminosae is the largest family with thirteen plants followed by Rubiaceae with eleven and Euphorbiaceae with nine plants. Trees were found to have significantly contributed to the ecosystem with a total number of fifty-four species, while forty-three of shrubs were recorded, climbers ten, herbs twenty-eight, grasses and sedges three. From this study it is obvious that the University permanent site is not only rich in plant biodiversity but also very rich in socio-economic values. Consequently it is highly advisable that a representative sample of this vegetation is protected for posterity so that all the indigenous plants of the study area may not be lost to the development projects embarked upon by the University.

African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (6), pp. 554-562, 2005