Floristic Diversity of the Sudanian Zone in Ngoltongo Botanical Garden, Sindia, Mbour Department, Senegal

Abstract

Background: The functions and social aspects of botanical gardens have changed over time. Originally created in the 16th century for the study of medicinal plants, they extended to Asia, America, and Africa between the 17th and 19th centuries, becoming sites for the introduction, growth, and distribution of economically important plants. Aim: The aim of the work carried out was to make a floristic inventory of the sudanian zone of the Ngoltongo botanical garden at Sindia, Results: The inventory shows a relatively diverse flora with 283 species distributed in 214 genera and 68 families. In order of importance, the Fabaceae, Poaceae, Arecaceae, Apocynaceae, Malvaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Asteraceae and Rutaceae are the best represented, accounting for more than a third of the species inventoried. The other less represented families (0.35% each) nevertheless contribute to the diversity of the flora, particularly the monospecific families (Moringaceae, Salicaceae, Xanthorrhoeceae, Ximeniaceae etc.). This zone is predominantly woody and characteristic of tree savannahs, with 231 ligneous species compared with 52 herbaceous species. This gives a relative value for the ligneous species of 81.63% of the flora and for the herbaceous species of 18.37% of the total flora.We note that certain families are relatively abundant in terms of the number of species: in the class of Dicotyledons, the Leguminosae group (Fabaceae) with 58 species, followed by the Apocynaceae with 16 species, the Malvaceae and the Euphorbiaceae with 15 species and 13 species respectively. Conclusion: The variety of species planted in a comparatively big area gives the impression that the sudanian zone of the Ngoltongo Botanical Garden is a site with significant biodiversity. Its protection from bush fires and anthropogenic activities, the labelling of all plant feet, and the establishment of a seed bank to facilitate interactions with other botanical gardens are therefore crucial factors to take into account if it is to be successful in its conservation, education, and scientific research missions.