Abstract:
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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. |