A taxonomic Study on Trees and Shrubs of El Nour Natural Forest Reserve, Blue Nile State-Sudan

Abstract

The study was carried out at El Nour Natural Forest Reserve, Blue Nile State, during the years 2007-2008. The objectives were to document the flora of El Nour Natural Forest Reserve through collection, identification and classification of the woody species (trees and shrubs) in the forest. The collected species were revised for botanical names, synonyms and vernacular names and their description were updated to the recent available literature. High quality digital images were used in the illustration of the prevailing flora in support and completion of the taxonomic description. The study identified 54 plant species that belong to 36 genera, 17 families and 3 subfamilies (19 dicotelydonae and 1 monocotelydonae). The family Ochnaceae has been reported for the first time in the forest and is represented by one species (Ochna afzelii R.Brenan. ex Oliver) which is known locally by Lesan El Kalb. The update names for some families and subfamilies were used in this study as follows: Capparaceae instead of Capparidaceae and Fabaceae instead of Leguminosae. At the subfamilies level, Mimosoideae, Caesalpinioideae and Papilionoideae were used instead of Mimosaceae, Caesalpinaceae and Papilionaceae respectively. The subfamily Mimosoideae showed the highest species and genera frequency. The species density and composition is variable within the forest due to variation in soil type, topography, overgrazing and illegal cutting of the local inhabitants within and around the forest. Common uses of the identified species were extracted from the local knowledge and literature.