https://ojs.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/fvss/index.php/fvss/issue/feedFlora et Vegetatio Sudano-Sambesica2020-12-11T08:25:05+00:00Rüdiger Wittigruedigerwittig@t-online.deOpen Journal Systems<p><em>Flora et Vegetatio Sudano-Sambesica</em> is a refereed journal aimed at presenting high quality papers dealing with all fields of geobotany and ethnobotany of the Sudano-Sambesian zone and adjacent regions.</p> <p>Beginning with Volume 16 (2013)<em> Flora et Vegetatio Sudano-Sambesica</em> is published in electronic form only. Former volumes have been published in printed form (up to Vol. 10 in 2007; ISSN 1867-8653), or in parallel print and electronic editions (Vols. 11 through 15). The journal adheres to the principles of Open Access.</p> <p> </p> <p>ISSN: 1868-3606 (online)</p>https://ojs.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/fvss/index.php/fvss/article/view/87Front & Back Matter2020-12-11T08:06:14+00:00Anonymus<p>.</p>2020-12-11T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2020 Flora et Vegetatio Sudano-Sambesicahttps://ojs.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/fvss/index.php/fvss/article/view/84Indigenous knowledge and local practices concerning the endemic plant Ipomoea beninensis Akoègn., Lisowski & Sinsin (Convolvulaceae): an initial assessment for its conservation in Benin2020-10-29T16:57:05+00:00Hospice Gbèwonmèdéa DassouRodrigue IdohouAristide Cossi AdomouJéronime Marie-Ange Sènami OuachinouHounnankpon Yédomonhan<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"><em>Ipomoea beninensis</em> Akoègn., Lisowski & Sinsin (Convolvulaceae) is the only endemic plant known for Benin. To date, no data exist on its usages, distribution, abundance, and threats. An improved understanding of indigenous knowledge and of local practices can provide insight into how the species could be sustainably conserved. We interviewed 114 local residents for collecting ethnobotanical and ethnoecological data in six sites known to host the species. Data were processed by calculation of descriptive statistics and variance and multivariate analyses. A total of twelve uses were reported. Among them, treatment of varicella (19%), malaria (18%) and fodder (17%) were the most recurrent. These mainly involve use of the species rootstock. Almost all respondents mentioned decline of the species in natural habitats. None of them was aware about the endemic status of the species. Consequently, negative practices toward the protection of <em>I. beninensis</em> were prevalent among local residents. Several conservation measures are proposed to ensure the longterm survival of <em>I. beninensis</em>.</p>2020-12-11T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2020 Flora et Vegetatio Sudano-Sambesicahttps://ojs.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/fvss/index.php/fvss/article/view/85The use determinants of Acacia auriculiformis wood as timber in West Africa2020-02-16T15:00:56+00:00Jesugnon Fifamè Murielle Féty TonouéwaEméline Sèssi Pélagie AssèdéSamadori Sorotori Honoré Biaou<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"><em>Acacia auriculiformis</em>, a firewood, is attracting more interest from the timber industries in Benin. The assessment of the species’ performance in wood factories and plantations is crucial for popularizing the species as a viable alternative to mitigate deforestation related to the timber demand. The main objective of this work is therefore to assess the conditions surrounding the adoption of <em>Acacia auriculiformis</em> as timber species in Benin, West Africa. A total of 154 wood factories and 25 plantations were surveyed in the areas of occurrence of <em>A. auriculiformis</em> plantations. <em>A. auriculiformis </em>is the most common species in wood factories (81%) followed by <em>Afzelia africana</em> (55%), <em>Tectona grandis</em> (47%) and <em>Khaya senegalensis </em>(47%). The acreage of <em>A. auriculiformis </em>plantations increased significantly between 1999 and 2019. Knowledge on the use of the species’ wood is variable across the study area. <em>A. auriculiformis</em> wood is valued as timber primarily because of its aesthetic colour. It is fast drying, easy to process with high impregnability, medium to high wood density and it looks good after processing. Still, the wood provides a lot of sawdust, has many knots and has an average deformability. Its availability and accessibility are the main factors explaining the preference for the species by timber industries. This use of the species is also noted in Togo and Ivory Coast. The species has a good perspective of use as timber.</p>2020-12-11T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2020 Flora et Vegetatio Sudano-Sambesicahttps://ojs.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/fvss/index.php/fvss/article/view/58Characterization of Tapinanthus dodonaeifolius (Loranthaceae) infestation of shea butter tress in Chad2020-10-14T07:48:17+00:00Idriss Tourgou KanikaChristophe Djekota NgarmariElvire Hortense Biye<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 100%;"><span style="font-family: FreeSans, sans-serif;">In Chad, special attention is paid to shea trees (<em>Vitellaria paradoxa </em>C.F.Gaertn.) because of their economic importance However, this crop is threatened by parasitic vascular plants of the family Loranthaceae. The present study was conducted at 3 sites in the Mandoul region to assess the extent of Loranthaceae (African mistletoe) attacks on trees based on trunk circumference classes at 1.5 cm from the ground. It consisted of counting the infested shea trees growing in a certain area and the tufts of parasites found on these trees, in order to determine their rate and intensity of infestation. The results show that <em>Tapinanthus dodon</em><em>a</em><em>eifol</em><em>i</em><em>us</em> (DC) Danser was found as the only species of Loranthaceae that parasitizes shea trees studied in the study area. The average infestation rate was 73% on average and increased with age of shea trees. The average intensity of infestation per tree (2.75 in Békôh, 2.27 at Yom and 2.04 at Bébopen) shows that <em>Tapinanthus dodon</em><em>a</em><em>eifol</em><em>i</em><em>us</em> represents a real threat for shea stands in the study area. It remains to find the threshold of infestation that causes a significant reduction in fruiting. For the moment, although difficult because of the height of the adult trees, the mechanical fight against the Loranthaceae by the systematic cutting of the infested branches is urgent in the shea parks in this zone of study.</span></p>2020-12-11T00:00:00+00:00Copyright (c) 2020 Flora et Vegetatio Sudano-Sambesica