WOODY PLANTS DIVERSITY IN THE SECONDARY VEGETATION OF THE NIGERIAN DEFENCE ACADEMY, AFAKA KADUNA

Abstract

An inventory of the secondary vegetation in the Nigerian Defence Academy(NDA) Afaka was conducted. The aim was to enumerate woody plants species, identify the poisonous plants and medicinal plants with trypanosomal activity therein and the plant species diversity. Fifteen Study Plots each measuring ,25m by 25m were demarcated in the study area and all plants not below 1.0 meter in height were enumerated and identified to species level. Plants were identified using the Flora of West Africa and Nigerian Trees. The plant vital statistics were collected from the enumerated plants. A total of 2867 plants spread in 17 families and 33 species in the 15 plots were identified. some of the identified families include: Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae amongst others. Some identified species include: Annona senegalensis, Lophira lanceolate Van Tiegh ex Keay, Syzygium guineense. The species diversity index ranges from 2.372 to 1. 633. The inventory confirmed the presence of poisonous plants, medicinal plants and rare plants species in the study area and it is recommended that urgent conservation method for the rare plant should be considered, medicinal plant with antitrypanosomal activity be explored while the poisonous plants should be tagged for easy identification by users of the ecosystem.