A checklist of tree species in the biological garden of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the depletion of tree species and inventory in the Biological Garden of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. The study was aimed at creating a checklist of tree species in the study area. Data collection was done by dividing the study area into five sampling plots selected at random. The results indicated the presence of 72 tree species belonging to 23 families, with a total of 460 individual trees. The most common tree species found were Albizia zygia (DC.) J.F. Macbr and Alstonia boonei. The Fabaceae family had the highest percentage composition of 20.8%, making it the dominant family. The study showed a significant difference between the current and a previous survey, with the average composition of the current survey being 4.75 ± 8.30 and the previous one being 10.15 ± 16.53. This survey has provided an overview of the tree species growing in the Biological Garden of OAU, Ile-Ife. The flora richness of the identified trees are also reported in this study. The species richness of trees in the study area can be improved by controlling the indiscriminate felling of trees and other anthropogenic activities that can result in the depletion of the vegetation.