Morphological Study of Loganiaceae Diversities in West Africa
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Date
2013
Authors
Oduoye, O.T.
Ogundipe, O.T.
Olowokudejo, J. D.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Institute for Science, Technology and Education
Abstract
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.
Description
Keywords
Morphology , West Africa , Loganiaceae, , cluster Analysis , dendrogram
Citation
Oduoye, O. T., Ogundipe, O. T. and Olowokudejo, J. D. (2013). Morphological Study of Loganiaceae Diversities in West Africa. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare 3(10): 1- 15