Morphological Study of Loganiaceae Diversities in West Africa

Loganiaceae belongs to the Order Gentianales which consists of the families Apocynaceae, Gelsemiaceae, Loganiaceae, Gentianaceae and Rubiaceae. Several Herbaria samples were studied prior to collection from Forest Reserves and National Parks in Nigeria, Republic of Benin and Ghana – with the aid of collection bags, cutlass, secateurs and ropes. Plants parts, both vegetative and reproductive were assessed with the aid of meter rule and tape rule in their natural environment and in the laboratory. Strychnos species collected were 47 individuals; 35 species were adequately identified. Anthocleista genus consists of nine species, Mostuea - three species while Nuxia, Spigelia and Usteria were monotypic genera. The leaf surfaces within the family are: hirsute, pilose, pubescent, tomentose and glabrous as found in Mostuea hirsuta, Strychnos phaeotricha, Strychnos innocua, Strychnos spinosa and members of Anthocleista species respectively. Morphological characters show 10 clusters at threshold of 47 % similarity. Clusters 1, 2 and 4 revealed how Anthocleista and Mostuea species separated out from other species of Loganiaceae. West African diversities have not been fully explored, there are yet novel plant species in the wild to be conserved before they slip out of our hand and sight. Keywords: Morphology, Loganiaceae, West Africa, cluster Analysis, dendrogram

Bryophytes associated with termite mounds on the Northeastern Nigerian Highlands

Eighteen termite mounds on a stretch of undulating continuously grazed and burnt grasslands on the Mambilla Plateau, Eastern Nigeria, were surveyed for bryophytes. Bryophyte mats were present on all mounds investigated except one. The bryophyte mats were located at the base of the mounds, on a depression etched by raindrops and apparently serving to keep erosion at bay. We suggest that on grasslands with frequent fire episodes, the bryophyte mats may also play a role in fireproofing the mounds. In all, eight bryophytes species across five families were collected on the termite mounds. All species were new to the region but had been collected elsewhere from different substrates in Nigeria, except Fissidens ezukanmae Brugg.-Nann., which is a new species collected for the first time from termite mounds on Eastern Nigerian Highlands. Two species, Campylopus obrutus Thér. & P. de la Varde and Fissidens intramarginatus (Hampe) A.Jaeger, with estimated frequency of 24% each, were the most abundant species on the termite mounds

Morphological, anatomical and phytochemical studies on Zanha golungensis Hiern. (Family: Sapindaceace)

Zanha golungensis Hiern. is one of the commonly used species of Sapindaceae in Nigeria owing to its medicinal properties; however, taxonomic data on the species are limited. In this study, morphological, anatomical and phytochemical characters of the leaf and stem of Z. golungensis were assessed with a view to add to existing literature on the species. Vegetative morphology, light microscopy as well as phytochemical examinations were performed. Taxonomically useful characters were recorded which can be applied in the identification of Z. golungensis in pharmacognostic crude drug research without ambiguity. This is a contribution to already existing literature on the species. &nbsp