International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation Vol. 4(8), pp. 326-331, 1 June, 2012 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/IJBC DOI: 10.5897/IJBC12.032 ISSN 2141-243X ©2012 Academic Journals Full Length Research Paper Biodiversity of Sapindaceae in West Africa: A checklist Temitope Olabisi Adeyemi* and Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe Department of Botany, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria. Accepted 3 May, 2012 This paper aims at documenting species belonging to the family Sapindaceae in West Africa. Samples were collected for 2 years (May 2008 to April 2010) using random sampling from various sites including botanic gardens and forest reserves. 104 taxa were observed encompassing 26 genera: Allophylus (16), Aporrhiza (3), Blighia (3), Cardiospermum (3), Chytranthus (10), Deinbollia (12), Dodonaea (1), Eriocoelum (6), Ganophyllum (1), Glenniea (1), Haplocoelum (1), Harpullia (1), Laccodiscus (2), Lecaniodiscus (2), Lepisanthes (1), Lychnodiscus (4), Majidea (1), Melicoccus (1), Nephelium (1), Pancovia (10), Paullinia (1), Placodiscus (15), Radlkofera (4), Sapindus (2), Schleichera (1), and Zanha (1). Four of these taxa, Ganophyllum, Haplocoelum, Laccodiscus and Lepisanthes, are reported for the first time in West Africa. Also, most of the taxa are native to the region with exception to Melicoccus bijugatus, Nephelium lappaceum and Cardiospermum corindum which are naturalized species. 11 of the taxa are yet to be identified at the species level and they are suspected to be new. All taxa are arranged alphabetically within 2 subfamilies and 11 tribes. Key words: Biodiversity, forest, tropical Africa, soapberry. INTRODUCTION West Africa is a geographical sub-region that encourages a wide range of natural vegetation including tropical humid forests, dry forests and savannah. The dry and humid regions correspond to the transition zone of the Sahel as well as the regional centre of Sudanese endemism (Bellefontaine et al., 2000) and the GuineoCongolese endemism Centre (IUCN, 1996), respectively. Although, rain forests in West Africa are less biodiverse with low endemism compared to those in central Africa (IUCN, 1996), among the 50 most biodiverse countries in the world are Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria (WCMC 1994). For instance, about 4,600 plant species are found in Nigeria and approximately 200 of these are endemic to the country. Due to the climate (countries of the SaheloSudanese zone), large populations (for example, Nigeria Benin and Togo), agricultural clearing or long-term export of wood products (for example, Côte d'Ivoire), the amount of forest resources in West African countries are limited (approximately 11% of the total land area). According to Adeyemi et al. (2012a), members of the family *Corresponding author. E-mail: topssy4u@yahoo.co.uk. Tel: +2348029180930. Sapindaceae are one of the most important forest species to be conserved and valued in Africa due to their multiple uses, high nutritional content and medicinal value. They exist as trees and shrubs, and tendril-bearing vines with about 140 to 150 genera and 1400 to 2000 species worldwide (Adeyemi, 2011). They are geographically distributed in the temperate and tropical regions of the world. The majority of species are native to Asia, although there are a few in South America, Africa and Australia (APG II, 2003). In 1958, Hutchinson and Daziel reported 18 genera while Burkhill (2000) recorded 22 genera in West Africa, 13 of which are widely spread throughout Nigeria (Keay et al., 1964). Knowledge and quality of information on forest resource vary by country, however information and data on forest resources in West Africa are dated, obsolete and/or partial mainly due to the fact that evaluation is rarely carried out. For example, only a few countries carried out an evaluation of their forest resources at the national level during the 1990s (Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, the Gambia and Nigeria). Other West African countries made earlier national forest assessments (Senegal, 1985; Sierra Leone, 1986; Chad, 1988; Togo, 1975; Liberia, 1981) (FAO, 2000). Hence, there is need for the compilation of clear records of Temitope and Oluwatoyin 327 Figure 1. Distribution of Sapindaceae in the sampling sites (white dots show the presence locations). members of Sapindaceae in the region for conservation purposes. Although several researchers have worked on the description of Sapindaceae (including Radlkofer, 1933; Müller and Leenhouts, 1976; Leenhouts, 1978; Adema et al., 1994; Klaassen, 1999), there is no checklist of the Sapindaceae in West Africa. Although several researchers have worked on the description of Sapindaceae (including Radlkofer, 1933; Müller and Leenhouts, 1976; Leenhouts, 1978; Adema et al., 1994; Klaassen, 1999; Thomas and Harris, 1999), there is no checklist of the Sapindaceae in West Africa. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fresh plant samples were collected monthly for 2 years using random sampling (cluster) from fields, botanic gardens and forest reserves in Benin, Burkina-Faso, western Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo, and this was complemented with herbarium samples (Figure 1). All subjects are selected from naturally occurring groups (clusters) that exist in the population (that is, countries). Voucher specimens were prepared and sent to the Forestry Herbarium, Ibadan for authentication. These were then deposited at the University of Lagos Herbarium (LUH) for reference purpose. RESULTS Sample authentication was done by Mr. B. O. Daramola at the Forestry Herbarium, Ibadan. A total of one hundred and four taxa were identified belonging to twenty six genera, Allophylus (15.1%), Aporrhiza (2.8%), Blighia (2.8%), Cardiospermum (2.8%), Chytranthus (9.4%), Deinbollia (11.3%), Dodonaea (0.9%), Eriocoelum (5.7%), Ganophyllum (0.9%), Glenniea (0.9%), Haplocoelum (0.9%), Harpullia (0.9%), Laccodiscus (1.9%), Lecaniodiscus (1.9%), Lepisanthes (0.9%), Lychnodiscus (3.8%), Majidea (0.9%), Melicoccus (0.9%), Nephelium (0.9%), Pancovia (9.4%), Paullinia (0.9%), Placodiscus (14.2%), Radlkofera (3.8%), Sapindus (1.9%), Schleichera (0.9%) and Zanha (0.9%). Some of the taxa could not be identified beyond the generic level due to the materials available. All taxa are arranged alphabetically within subfamilies, tribe and genera following Muller and Leenhouts’ (1976) method (Table 1). DISCUSSION Members of Sapindaceae were largely found in lowland forest; however, a few taxa were recorded in the highland and mountains, that is, Allophylus bullatus, Schleichera trijuga and Sapindus saponaria; this is in conformity with the report of Adeyemi et al. (2012b). In contrast to the record given by Burkhill (2000), our sampling revealed four additional taxa, Ganophyllum, Haplocoelum, Laccodiscus and Lepisanthes in West Africa. Also, 18 genera were encountered in Nigeria; this is in contrast to the record presented by Keay et al. (1964). Most of the taxa are native to the region with exception to Melicoccus bijugatus, Nephelium lappaceum and Cardiospermum corindum which are naturalized species. The genus Allophylus (16) recorded the highest number of taxa followed by Placodiscus (15) and Deinbollia (12). A number of taxa are suspected to be new species (Allophylus sp, Chytranthus sp1, Chytranthus sp2, Deinbollia sp, Laccodiscus sp, Pancovia sp1, Pancovia 328 Int. J. Biodvers. Conserv. Table 1. A Check-list of family Sapindaceae in West Africa. Kingdom: Sub Kingdom: Division: Class: Subclass: Super order: Order: Family: Plantae Embryobionta Magnoliophyta Magnoliopsida Rosidae Rosanae Sapindales Sapindaceae Juss. Subfamily Tribe Dodonaeeae Kunth Genus Dodonaea L. Species Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq. Dodonaeoideae Burnett Doratoxyleae Radlk. Ganophyllum Blume Zanha Hiern. Ganophyllum giganteum (Chev.) Hauman. Zanha golungensis Hiern. Harpullieae Radlk. Harpullia Roxb. Majidea J. Kirk ex Oliv. Harpullia zanguebarica (Oliv.) Radlk. Majidea fosterii (Sprague) Radlk. Aporrhiza Radlk. Aporrhiza nitida Gilg. Aporrhiza talbotii Bak. Aporrhiza urophylla Gilg. Blighia Koenig Blighia sapida Koenig. Blighia unijugata Bak. Blighia welwitschii (Hiern) Radlk. Eriocoelum Hook. f. Eriocoelum kertstingii Gilg. ex Engler. Eriocoelum microspermum Radlk. ex De Wild. Eriocoelum macrocarpum Gilg. ex Radlk. Eriocoelum oblongum Keay Eriocoelum pungens Radlk. ex Engl. Eriocoelum racemosum Bak. Laccodiscus Radlk. Laccodiscus ferrugineus (Bak.) Radlk. Laccodiscus pseudostipularis Radlk. Lychnodiscus Radlk. Lychnodiscus brevibracteatus R. Fouilloy Lychnodiscus danaensis Aubreville and Pellegrin. Lychnodiscus grandifolius Radlk. Lychnodiscus reticulatus Radlk. Chytranthus Hook. f. Chytranthus angustifolius Exell. Chytranthus atroviolaceus Bak. ex Hutch. & Dalz. Chytranthus carneus Radlk. Chytranthus cauliflorus (Hutch. and Dalz.) Wickens. Chytranthus gilleti De Wild. Chytranthus macrobotrys (Gilg) Exell and Mendonca. Chytranthus setosus Radlk. Chytranthus sp1 Chytranthus sp2 Chytranthus talbotii (Bak.) Keay Glenniea Hook. f. Glenniea africanus (Radlk.) Leenh. Cupanieae Reich. Sapindoideae Burnett Lepisantheae Radlk. Temitope and Oluwatoyin Table 1. Contd. Lepisanthes Blume Lepisanthes senegalensis (Juss. ex Poir.) Leenh. Pancovia Willd. Pancovia atroviolaceus Pancovia bijuga Willd. Pancovia floribunda Pellegrin. Pancovia harmisiana Gilg. Pancovia laurentii (De Wild.) Gilg ex De Wild. Pancovia sessiliflora Hutch. & Dalz. Pancovia sp.1 Pancovia sp.2 Pancovia sp.3 Pancovia turbinata Radlk. Placodiscus Radlk. Placodiscus angustifolius Radlk. Placodiscus attenuatus J.B. Hall Placodiscus bacoensis Aubrév. and Pellegr. Placodiscus boya Aubrév. and Pellegr. Placodiscus bracteosus J.B. Hall Placodiscus caudatus Pierre ex Radlk. Placodiscus glandulosus Radlk. Placodiscus leptostachyus Radlk Placodiscus opacus Radlk. Placodiscus oblongifolius J. B. Hall Placodiscus pseudostipularis Radlk. Placodiscus pynaertii De Wild. Placodiscus sp.1 Placodiscus sp.2 Placodiscus turbinatus Radlk. Radlkofera Gilg. Radlkofera calodendron Gilg. Radlkofera sp.1 Radlkofera sp.2 Radlkofera sp.3 Melicocceae Melicoccus P. Browne. Melicoccus bijugatus Jacq. Nephelieae Radlk. Nephelium L. Nephelium lappaceum L. Paullinieae Kunth ex DC. Cardiospermum L. Paullinia L. Sapindeae Kunth ex DC. Deinbollia Schumach. and Thonn. Cardiospermum corindum L. Cardiospermum grandiflorum Sw. Cardiospermum halicacabum L. Paullinia pinnata L. Deinbollia angustifolius D.W. Thomas Deinbollia grandifolia Hook. f. Deinbollia insignis Hook. f. Deinbollia kilimandscharia Taub. Deinbollia maxima Gilg. Deinbollia mezilii D.W. Thomas and D. J. Harris Deinbollia molluscula Radlk. Deinbollia pinnata (Poir.) Schum. and Thonn. 329 330 Int. J. Biodvers. Conserv. Table 1. Contd. Deinbollia pycnophylla Gilg ex Radlk. Deinbollia pynaerti De Wild. Deinbollia sp. Deinbollia voltensis Hutch. Schleichereae Radlk. Thouinieae Blume emend. Radlk. Sapindus L. Sapindus saponaria L. Sapindus trifoliatus L. Haplocoelum Radlk. Haplocoelum gallaense (Engler) Radlk. Lecaniodiscus Planch. ex Benth. Lecaniodiscus cupanioides Planch. Lecaniodiscus punctatus J. B. Hall. Schleichera Willd. Schleichera trijuga Willd. Allophylus L. Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochst.) Radlk. Allophylus africanus P. Beauv. Allophylus bullatus Radlk. Allophylus cobbe (L.) Raeusch. Allophylus conraui Gilg ex Radlk. Allophylus chaunostachys Gilg. Allophylus grandifolius (Bak.) Radlk. Allophylus hirtellus (Hook. f.) Radlk. Allophylus macrobotrys Gilg. Allophylus megaphyllus Hutch. and Dalz. Allophylus nigericus Bak. Allophylus rubifolius Engl. Abh. Preuss. Allophylus spicatus Radlk. Allophylus sp. Allophylus talbotii Bak. Allophylus zenkeri Gilg. ex Radlk. sp2, Pancovia sp3, Placodiscus sp1, Placodiscus sp2, Radlkofera sp1, Radlkofera sp2, Radlkofera sp3) due to the fact that they could not be identified beyond the generic level even after comparison with already existing records. However, further work needs to be done in order to ascertain their true identity. 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