Floristic Inventory and Conservation Status of Useful Plants in the Experimental Garden (JEPU) of Cheikh Anta Diop University, Senegal

Abstract

Background: The functions and social aspects of botanical gardens have changed over time. The Experimental Garden for Useful Plants (JEPU) at the Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology at Cheikh Anta Diop University is an essential resource for teaching and research in medical botany. Aim: The aim of the work carried out was to make a floristic inventory of the J.E.P.U. Methods: We proceeded to sample the vegetation by making transects in which we delimited stations within which we carried out floristic surveys. Results: The inventory shows a relatively diverse flora with 111 species distributed in 97 genera and 39 families, exclusively angiosperms, with a clear dominance of dicotyledons (91%) and Fabaceae. Microphanerophytes and mesophanerophytes are predominant, while Afro-tropical and pantropical species constitute the bulk of the flora. Conclusion: Despite the medicinal importance of the species recorded, a significant loss of biodiversity has been observed, mainly due to lack of maintenance, water shortages and infrastructure degradation. These results highlight the need for integrated rehabilitation of the JEPU in order to sustainably preserve its scientific and educational role.