Vo l. 6(8), p p . 624-636, Aug ust 2014 DOI: 10.5897/ IJBC2014.0730 Artic le Numb e r: F287DBC47003 ISSN 2141-243X Co p yrig ht © 2014 Autho r(s) re ta in the c o p yrig ht o f this a rtic le http:/ / www.a c a d e mic jo urna ls.o rg / IJBC International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation Full Length Research Paper Diversity of life-forms within Sapindaceae Juss. in West Africa and Western Cameroon: A field guide Onuminya, T. O* and Ogundipe, O. T. Department of Botany, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria. Received 23 May, 2014; Accepted 21 August, 2014 One of the major challenges faced by biologist during field studies is the identification of plant species and this is most evident in the tropics where biodiversity richness is very high. Hence this study was conducted in order to document and produce a guide for the identification of the diversity of life forms that represents the family Sapindaceae in West Africa. In view of this, plant exploration was carried out in five West African countries with the aim of collecting and recording the different life forms in the family Sapindaceae as well as their specific locations. This revealed that Sapindaceae are widely distributed in West Africa and the highest number of species was recorded in Nigeria (47 taxa). A total of 104 species was recorded in the region and these are represented by diverse life forms ranging from trees (58 species) to shrubs (32 species) and climbers (4 species) with compound trifoliate (e.g. Allophylus), paripinnate (e.g. Deinbollia) or imparipinnate (e.g. Paullinia) leaves. Flowers are arranged in groups either as cymes or racemes. Fruits are in the form of berry (e.g. Melicoccus), capsules (e.g. Blighia) or drupes (e.g. Deinbollia); some are inflated (e.g. Cardiospermum) or trilobed and woody (e.g. Chytranthus). This study provides a guide to field identification of members of the family Sapindaceae in West Africa and can be seen as a step in solving taxonomic identification problems and biodiversity conservation as a whole. Key words: Conservation, distribution, identification, Sapindaceae, West Africa. INTRODUCTION The family Sapindaceae Juss., is one of the families in the order Sapindales and can be divided into 5 or 6 subfamily depending on the treatment. Most Sapindaceae are large emergent trees or erect shrubs however some are tendril lianes (Acevedo et al., 2011). They are comprised of about 140-150 genera with 14002000 species worldwide. Many of these are lactiferous, that is, they contain milky sap, and many contain mildly toxic saponins with soap-like qualities in the foliage and/or the seeds or roots. Approximately one-third of the members of the family are found in the tribe Paullineae. Members include economic plants which are largely used as lumber trees or oil seed crops although some are edible. The majority of species are native to Asia, although there are a few in South America, Africa and Australia (APG II, 2003). They occur in temperate to tropical regions throughout the world with about 18 (Hutchinson *Corresponding author. E-mail: topssy4u@yahoo.co.uk. Tel: +2347030241452. Author(s) agree that this article remain permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License Onuminya and Ogundipe 625 Table 1. Sites visited for plant collection. Country Herbarium Botanic Gardens Nigeria University of Lagos (LUH), Lagos University of Ibadan (UIH), Ibadan Bayero University (BUH), Kano Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria Forestry Herbarium Ibadan (FHI) University of Benin University of Lagos, Lagos Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Forest Reserve/ National Parks Olokemeji, Ibadan Aponmu, Ondo Owena, Ondo Idanre hills, Ondo Omo, Ogun Sakponba, Benin Edondon Community forest, Obubra. Cross River National Park, Erokut Station Awi, Cross river Cameroon National Herbarium of Cameroon, (HCN) Yaounde Limbe Botanic Gardens Limbe Botanic Gardens SABOGA, Bamenda Bakingili, Limbe Bimbia/Mabeta, Limbe Buea Mountains Likombe, Buea Oku Elak, Oku Bali Ngemba, Bali Ghana University of Ghana (GC), Legon Forestry Research, Achimota Aburi botanic garden University of Ghana, Legon Achimota community forest Bia Legon hills Togo Ivory Coast Lome and Daziel, 1958) to 26 (Adeyemi and Ogundipe, 2012) genera in west tropical Africa and 13 (Keay et al., 1964) to 18 (Adeyemi and Ogundipe, 2012) species in Nigeria. Sapindaceae are recognizable by their often spiral, alternate, simple, or more commonly pinnately compound leaves that often have sub-opposite leaflets and a terminal rachis tip. Most often they are pollinated by birds or insects, with a few species pollinated by wind (Singh, 2004). The fruits are fleshy or dry. They may be nuts, berries, drupes, schizocarps, capsules (Bridgesia), or samaras (Acer) often red, containing seeds (Heywood, 1978). The embryos are bent or coiled, without endosperm in the seed, but frequently with an aril (Singh, 2004). Members of the family 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. Globally, biodiversity is being threatened by climate change as well as human activities and this has aroused concerns about their conservation status. Hence, this current study is designed as an effort to aid in the conservation and identification of this plant family in Western Africa. Our aim is to explore the diversity of family Sapindaceae in West Africa, with emphasis on the collection, identification and preservation of the collected plant specimens as well as production of a field guide for field identification purposes. Lome d’IDERT METHODOLOGY Study area The study was carried out in the western part of tropical Africa and five countries were visited namely: Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Ivory Coast and western Cameroon. The study area is characterized by tropical rain forest and prominent water bodies. The land is plain lying less than 300 m above sea level, though isolated high points exist in some areas. Sample exploration The national herbaria as well as local herbaria were visited so as to observe the samples in the repositories, take necessary morphological data from each of the samples and collect some of the samples examined where permission is given to do so. The visit provided information on the last location in which the sample was recorded in the region and this informed our decision on where to collect samples in the field. Consequently, various national parks, forest reserves and botanic gardens were visited in West Africa for the collection of fresh samples of the plant specimens. Permission was obtained from the various authorities involved in each region in order to collect samples from the reserves. Access to the reserves was possible only through the use of a 4x4 wheel drive vehicles and motorcycles due to the rugged and untarred nature of the roads. Some reserves could only be assessed by trekking some distances of up to 40-50 km as the case may be. A list of the herbaria and reserves visited is shown in Table 1. 626 Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv. Preservation and identification of samples Preliminary identification was achieved with the aid of floras including that of Hutchinson and Daziel (1958), Fouilloy and Hallé (1973) and Cheek et al. (2000). For preparation of voucher specimens, a part (usually branch) of each plant sample was placed in between each old newspapers and this was kept in a plant press. The press was tied with twines and kept in the dryer for two days in order to prevent the decomposition of the plant material. Each of the dried specimens was then removed from the newspaper and mounted on white cardboard papers using white gum (glue). Label was attached to each of the herbarium specimen in order to give a full description of the plant, its location, the date of collection and the name of collector. This was then authenticated at the Forestry Herbarium, Ibadan and deposited at the University of Lagos Herbarium for reference purposes. Data analysis Data obtained was analyzed using Shannon and Wiener indices following Ubom (2010) Magurram (1988) and Kent and Coker (1985). The Shannon and Wiener Diversity Index, which accounts for species richness and how the species are distributed, is derived from the relation: H1 = _ Pi ln Pi I=1 Where: H1 = Shannon-Weiner index; S = number of species; Pi = proportion of individuals or abundance of the ith species expressed as a proportion of the total number of individuals of all species: In = log base10. RESULTS Sample exploration was carried out across five African countries and 35 plant species were collected from the field (Table 2) while 69 species were retrieved from the herbarium (Table 3), identified and authenticated at the Forestry Herbarium Ibadan. Our sampling revealed that Sapindaceae are widely distributed in West Africa being represented by 26 genera and 104 species. Of these species, 4 are climbers 32 are shrubs and 58 are trees representing 3.84, 30.76 and 65.38% of the total number of species, respectively. The largest population was recorded in the southern highlands of Nigeria (47 taxa), western region of Cameroon (45 taxa) and western and eastern River banks in Ghana (25 taxa) (Figure 1); however, taxa shared are highest between Nigeria and Cameroon. Leaf, stem, fruit and flower samples were collected and photographs were taken (Plate 1). Also, GPS coordinate of each sample was recorded and inputted into a map (Figure 2). Voucher samples of samples collected from the field have been deposited at the University of Lagos Herbarium (LUH) Nigeria. Diverse life forms were encountered ranging from trees (Aporrhiza Radlk., Blighia Koenig, Chytranthus Hook. f., Deinbollia Schumach. and Thonn., Dodonaea L., Eriocoelum Hook. f., Ganophyllum (Chev.) Hauman., Lecaniodiscus Planch. ex Benth., Lepisanthes Blume, Lychnodiscus Radlk., Majidea J. Kirk ex Oliv., Melicoccus P. Browne., Nephelium L., , Placodiscus Radlk., Radlkofera Gilg., Sapindus L. and Zanha Hiern.), to shrubs (Allophylus L., Glenniea Hook. f., Haplocoelum Radlk., Harpullia Roxb., Laccodiscus Radlk. and Pancovia Willd.) and climbers (Cardiospermum L. and Paullinia L.) as shown in the appendix below. They possess compound trifoliate (For example Allophylus), paripinnate (for example, Chytranthus) or imparipinnate (example, Paullinia) leaves with an exception of Dodonaea which has simple leaves. Most species have leaves with entire margin but some possess serrated margins (example, Allophylus and Cardiospermum). The leaf surface is papery and glossy as in Pancovia, glabrous as in Allophylus africanus or pubescent as in Laccodiscus ferrugineus and Allophylus hirtellus). Flowers are arranged in groups either as cymes or racemes. Fruits are in the form of berry (example, Melicoccus), capsules (example, Blighia) or drupes (example, Deinbollia); some are inflated (example, Cardiospermum) or trilobed and woody (example, Chytranthus). The percentage number of samples collected per genera is shown in Table 4 while the number of life forms is shown in Figure 3. DISCUSSION Most of the samples collected from the field were found in Cameroon, due to the presence of large area of conserved forest, that is, 24 samples, followed by Nigeria (14 samples). Only 5 samples each was found in the other three countries visited: Ghana, Togo and Ivory Coast. However, the forestry herbarium in Nigeria houses the largest number of taxa (33) of all the herbarium visited. Taxa shared were highest between Nigeria and Cameroon with 9 taxa endemic to the mountains. A key item in the conservation of biodiversity is identification of species and this could be challenging especially in field studies. Over the years, this has been made difficult by the fast rate of disappearance of species largely as a result of changes in the climate as well as a wide range of unsustainable human activities hence the need for this study. All the observations made in this study are consistent with earlier description of the family given by Heywood (1978), Singh (2004), Acevedo-Rodríguez et al. (2011) and Adeyemi et al. (2013). With exception of a few species, members of Sapindaceae were largely found in lowland forest. Most of the taxa are native to the region with exception to Melicoccus bijugatus and Nephelium lappaceum which are exotic species. Also, 11 of the species encountered are yet to be identified at the species level due to absence of fruiting structures in the samples. Several authors, including Alamu and Agbeja (2011) and Pelemo et al. (2011), have highlighted the main drivers of deforestation to include agriculture, logging and mining, use of fuel wood and logging all of which pose threats to biodiversity Onuminya and Ogundipe Table 2. Samples collected in the field and their locations. Species Allophylus africanus P. Beauv. Allophylus bullatus Radlk. Allophylus hirtellus (Hook. f.) Radlk. Allophylus sp Allophylus spicatus Radlk. Allophylus ferrugineus Taub. Blighia sapida Koenig. Blighia unijugata Bak. Cardiospermum grandiflorum Sw. Chytranthus macrobotrys (Gilg) Exell and Mendonca. Chytranthus setosus Radlk. Chytranthus sp. i Chytranthus sp. ii Chytranthus talbotii (Bak.) Keay Deinbollia sp. Eriocoelum macrocarpum Gilg. ex Radlk. Laccodiscus ferrugineus (Bak.) Radlk. Lecaniodiscus cupanioides Planch. Majidea fosterii (Sprague) Radlk. Glenniea africanus (Radlk.) Leenh. Pancovia atroviolaceus Pancovia floribunda Pellegrin. Pancovia sp. i Pancovia sp. ii Pancovia sp. iii Paullinia pinnata L. Placodiscus leptostachyus Radlk. Placodiscus sp. i Placodiscus sp. ii Radlkofera calodendron Gilg. Radlkofera sp. i Radlkofera sp. ii Radlkofera sp. iii Sapindus saponaria L. Zanha golugensis Hiern. Locations Olokemeji and Bakingili forest reserves Buea Mountain Bakingili forest reserve Bakingili forest reserve Olokemeji forest reserve Bakingili forest Oshodi Lagos, Limbe Botanic Gardens, University of Ghana and Idanre hills forest Sakponba forest reserve Owena and Idanre hills forest reserves Bimbia/Mabeta forest reserve Bimbia/Mabeta and Bakingili forest reserves Bakingili forest reserve Bakingili forest reserve Sakponba and Aponmu forest reserves Bimbia forest reserve Limbe Botanic Gardens Bakingili, Bimbia/Mabeta and Omo forest Olokemeji, Sakponba and Idanre hills forest Limbe Botanic Gardens Aponmu forest reserve Bakingili forest reserve Calabar Bimbia/Mabeta forest reserve, Bimbia/Mabeta forest reserve Buea/Likombe forest reserve Limbe Botanic Gardens, Bimbia/Mabeta forest Bimbia/Mabeta forest reserve Bimbia/Mabeta forest reserve Aponmu forest reserve Bimbia/Mabeta forest reserve Aponmu forest reserve, Owena forest reserve, Beau Mountains Limbe Botanic Gardens Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan Bakingili, Collector(s) Adeyemi, T.O and Ogundipe, O.T Adeyemi, T.O Adeyemi, T.O Adeyemi, T.O Adeyemi, T.O and Ogundipe, O.T Adeyemi, T.O Voucher ID LUH 1194 LUH1185 LUH 1190 LUH 3441 LUH 3442 LUH 1192 Adeyemi, T.O and Ogundipe, O.T LUH 1196 Adeyemi, T.O and Ogundipe, O.T Adeyemi, T.O and Ogundipe, O.T Adeyemi, T.O Adeyemi, T.O Adeyemi, T.O Adeyemi, T.O Adeyemi, T.O and Ogundipe, O.T Adeyemi, T.O Adeyemi, T.O Adeyemi, T.O and Ogundipe, O.T Adeyemi, T.O and Ogundipe, O.T Adeyemi, T.O and Ogundipe, O.T Adeyemi, T.O and Ogundipe, O.T Adeyemi, T.O and Ogundipe, O.T Adeyemi, T.O Adeyemi, T.O and Ogundipe, O.T Adeyemi, T.O and Ogundipe, O.T Adeyemi, T.O and Ogundipe, O.T Adeyemi, T.O Adeyemi, T.O Adeyemi, T.O Adeyemi, T.O and Ogundipe, O.T Adeyemi, T.O Adeyemi, T.O and Ogundipe, O.T Adeyemi, T.O and Ogundipe, O.T Adeyemi, T.O Adeyemi, T.O Adeyemi, T.O and Ogundipe, O.T LUH 3443 LUH 1196 LUH 1187 LUH 3444 LUH 3445 LUH 3446 LUH 3447 LUH 3448 LUH 1195 LUH 1183 LUH 3451 LUH 1718 LUH 3449 LUH 1182 LUH 12061 LUH 1188 LUH 1186 LUH 3453 LUH 1193 LUH 3454 LUH 3455 LUH 3456 LUH 3457 LUH 3458 LUH 3459 LUH 3460 LUH 3461 LUH 3462 627 628 Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv. Table 3. Samples collected from the herbarium and their locations. Species Allophylus abyssinicus (Hochst.) Radlk. Allophylus cobbe (L.) Raeusch. Allophylus conraui Gilg ex Radlk. Allophylus didymanaeus Allophylus grandifolius (Bak.) Radlk. Allophylus macrobotrys Gilg. Allophylus megaphyllus Hutch. and Dalz. Allophylus nigericus Bak. Allophylus rubifolius Engl. Abh. Preuss. Allophylus talbotii Bak. Allophylus zenkeri Gilg. ex Radlk. Aporrhiza nitida Gilg. Aporrhiza talbotii Bak. Aporrhiza urophylla Gilg. Cardiospermum corindium L. Cardiospermum halicacabum L. Chytranthus angustifolius Exell. Chytranthus atroviolaceus Bak. ex Hutch. and Dalz. Chytranthus carneus Radlk. Chytranthus cauliflorus (Hutch. and Dalz.) Wickens. Chytranthus gilleti De Wild. Deinbollia angustifolius D.W. Thomas Deinbollia grandifolia Hook. f. Deinbollia insignis Hook. f. Deinbollia kilimandscharia Taub. Deinbollia maxima Gilg. Deinbollia mezilii Thomas and Harris Deinbollia pinnata Schum. and Thonn. Deinbollia pycnophylla Gilg ex Radlk. Deinbollia molluscula Radlk. Deinbollia pynaerti De Wild. Deinbollia voltensis Hutch. Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq. Eriocoelum kertstingii Gilg. ex Engler. Eriocoelum microspermum Radlk. ex De Wild. Eriocoelum oblongum Keay Location Trinderet forest Buea Mountain Mambilla Plateau Muyuka Limbe Botanic Gardens Ndian Calabar Ndian falls Yaoundé Batouri Sakponba Cross river Dumbi community Makoku Kade Bia National park Mbalam Makoku Bakwai Obudu Bakossi mountain Kribi Ondo Batouri Bonsa Batouri Kpondai ABU, Zaria Mambilla Plateau Limbe Botanic Gardens Calabar Collector(s) Bos, J.J Chapman, Date 16-Jan-64 19-Dec-69 12-Feb-72 Letouzey, R. Reekmans, Thomas, D.W. Olorunfemi, J Reekmans, Letouzey, R Letouzey, R Emwiogbon Amshoff, G Alexandria, C.P. Daramola, B.O Ohaeri, A.O. 947 Gentry, A.L Hall, J.B Abbiw and Hall, J.B. Abbiw and Hall, J.B. Mbamba, Ekitike Gentry A.L Hall, J.B. Ariwaodo, J.O and Odewo, T.K. De WILDE, J.J and De WILDE, B.E. Thomas, D.W and Mcleod, H.L. De WILDE, J.J Odewo, T.K. Letouzey, R. Abbiw and Hall Letouzey, R. Hall, J.B. Adeyemi, T.O Ibhanesebhor 26-Aug-83 04-Jan-79 24-Nov-86 27-Jun-79 24-Nov-86 25-Jul-60 14-Apr-62 21-Jan-79 11-May-78 29-Dec-65 29-May-75 20-Jul-81 28-Mar-72 26-Sep-76 05-Jan-74 23-Aug-82 20-Jul-81 09-Jun-79 18-Mar-86 17-Aug-65 03-Jan-86 24-Jun-75 17-Apr-89 30-Apr-62 05-Nov-73 30-Apr-62 15-Jul-70 02-Jun-09 13-Nov-75 Onyechuson 28-Mar-64 Voucher ID FHI 20336 FHI 103688 FHI 78107 FHI 75205 HNC 50596 FHI 95067 HNC 64379 FHI 92242 FHI 98646 SFRK 28391 SFRK 6261 FHI 63061 FHI 87370 FHI 6969 FHI ABU 947 FHI 102936 GCH 43435 GCH 4650 GCH 44715 HNC 48253 FHI 84378 GCH 47068 FHI 102216 GCH 7781 HNC 56603 GCH 44613 FHI 103697 GCH 6226 GCH 45939 GCH GCH 40483 LUH FHI 177683 FHI FHI 154222 Onuminya and Ogundipe Table 3. Contd. Species Eriocoelum pungens Radlk. ex Engl. Eriocoelum racemosum Bak. Ganophyllum giganteum (Chev.) Hauman. Haplocoelum gallaense (Engler) Radlk. Harpullia zanguebarica (Oliv.) Radlk. Laccodiscus pseudostipularis Radlk. Lecaniodiscus punctatus J.B. Hall Lepisanthes senegalensis (Juss. ex Poir.) Leenh. Lychnodiscus brevibracteatus R. Fouilloy Lychnodiscus danaensis Aubreville and Pellegrin. Lychnodiscus grandifolius Radlk. Lychnodiscus reticulatus Radlk. Melicoccus bijugatus Jacq. Nephelium lappaceum L. Pancovia bijuga Wild. Pancovia harmsiana Gilg. Pancovia laurentii (De Wild.) Gilg ex De Wild. Pancovia sessiliflora Hutch. and Dalz. Pancovia turbinate Radlk. Placodiscus attenuates J.B. Hall Placodiscus bacoensis Aubrév. and Pellegr. Placodiscus boya Aubrév. and Pellegr. Placodiscus bracteosus J.B. Hall Placodiscus cuneatus Radlk. ex Engl. Placodiscus glandulosus Radlk. Placodiscus letestui Placodiscus oblongifolius J.B. Hall Placodiscus pseudostipularis Radlk. Placodiscus pynaertii De Willd. Placodiscus riparius Keay Placodiscus turbinatus Radlk. Sapindus trifoliatus L. Schleichera trijuga Willd. Location Abidjan Benso Youkadouma Victoria Mamfe Kibi-Akwadum Imo Yaoundé Asukese Kribi Obubra Victoria Kade Lagos Bertoua Mesamena Cross river Marone Kissi Yakossi Yokadouma Ashanti Yaoundé Ndikinimiki Cross river Beberi Beberi Congo Njala Korup Abeokuta Limbe Botanic Gardens Collector(s) De WILDE, J.J Enti, A.A Letouzey, R Letouzey, R Date 29-Sep-63 Sep-59 2-Jul-63 20-Jul-86 Florey, J.J. Hall, J.B. Ohaeri, A.O. Letouzey, R Enti, A.A Bos, J.J Ariwaodo, J.O Ogu Hall, J.B Jullick, R Letouzey, R Letouzey, R Letouzey, R Abbiw and Hall, J.B. Hall, J.B Hall, J.B and Abbiw Letouzey, R Vigne, G Letouzey, R Latilo, A and Oguntayo Leewenberg, A.J. Hall, J.B and Abbiw Abbiw and Hall, J.B. Deighton, J.C. Odewo, T.K Daramola, B.O. De WILDE, J.J Nov-72 25-Nov-77 13-Sep-88 6-Jul-72 02-Mar-73 15-Dec-69 18-May-77 13-Apr-60 14-Jul-76 06-May77 20-Jan-60 21-Feb-62 16-Oct-73 12-Aug-75 2-Mar-75 6-Apr-76 08-Feb-71 Jan-30 21-Nov-63 8-Jan-72 28-Feb-73 23-Feb-59 20-Aug-75 14-Sep-46 17-Sep-51 3-Apr-88 31-Aug-68 14-Mar-34 Voucher ID GCH 53159 GCH 7306 HNC 7361 HNC 59423 FHI 9291 FHI 39252 GCH 46960 ABU 2619 SFRK 28388 FHI 79666 HNC 31755 FHI 88761 FHI 52431 GCH 46110 FHI 56562 SFRK 2926 SFRK 6223 SFRK 72404 GCH 45363 GCH 47087 GCH 3193 SFRK 23551 GCH 2694 HNC SFRK 28397 FHI 67759 GCH 2796 GCH 45568 FHI 15475 FHI 39473 FHI 10543 FHI 61564 FHI 12061 629 630 Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv. Figure 1. Number of taxa encountered per country visited. Plate 1. Diversity of life forms within the family Sapindaceae in West Africa. (A.) Tree Species; (B.) Shrub (C.) Climbling Form (D.) Compound leaves with inflorescence in Allophylus (E.) Simple leaves of Dodonea viscosa (F.) Trifoliate leaves of Allophylus (G.) Drupe in clusters (H.) Trilobed dehiscent capsule of Blighia (I.) Trilobed inflated fruit of Cardiospermum. Scale: 20 mm. Onuminya and Ogundipe Figure 2. Distribution of sapindaceae in West Africa and western Cameroon: White dots show the locations. Table 4. Percentage number of species encountered according to genera. Genera Allophylus Aporrhiza Blighia Cardiospermum Chytranthus Deinbollia Dodonaea Eriocoelum Ganophyllum Glenniea Haplocoelum Harpulia Laccodiscus Lecanodiscus Lepisanthes Lychnodiscus Majidea Melicoccus Nephelium Pancovia Paullinia Placodiscus Radlkofera Sapindus Schleichera Zanha Total Number of species encountered 16 3 3 3 10 12 1 6 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 4 1 1 1 10 1 15 4 2 1 1 104 Percentage number of species 15.1% 2.8% 2.8% 2.8% 9.4% 11.3% 0.9% 5.7% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 1.9% 1.9% 0.9% 3.8% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9% 9.4% 0.9% 14.2% 3.8% 1.9% 0.9% 0.9% 100 631 632 Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv. Figure 3. Number of life forms of family Sapindaceae represented in West Africa. conservation. This is confirmed in this study as it was observed that some of the species earlier recorded in some of the reserves were no longer found largely due to the high rate of deforestation and agricultural activities going on in the reserves. This study provides a virtual guide to field identification of members of the family Sapindaceae in West Africa and can be seen as a step in solving taxonomic identification problems and biodiversity conservation as a whole. It is therefore expected that this report will assist scientists in the area for on-the spot identification of plants in the field. Conflict of Interests The author(s) have not declared any conflict of interests. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to thank the Explorers Club USA (www.explorers.org) for their financial support. Also special thanks go to Dr Jean M. Onana (Herbier National du Cameroun, Yaounde), Dr I. K. Asante (Department of Botany, University of Ghana, Legon), Mr. Gilbert Kimeng and Mr. Kossi Adjonou for their technical support. REFERENCES Acevedo-Rodríguez P, Van Welzen PC, Adema F, van der Ham RWJM. (2011). Sapindaceae. In: K. Kubitzki (ed.) The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants: Flowering Plants. Eudicots: Sapindales, Cucurbitales, Myrtaceae. Volume X. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg. pp. 357-407. Adeyemi TO, Ogundipe OT (2012). Biodiversity of Sapindaceae in West Africa: A Checklist. Int. J. Biodiver. Conserv. 4(8):326-331 Adeyemi TO, Ogundipe OT, Olowokudejo JD (2013). A Review of the Taxonomy of African Sapindaceae based on Quantitative and Qualitative Characters. Ife J. Sci. 15(2):303-314 Alamu LO, Agbeja BO (2011). Deforestation and endangered indigenous tree species in South-West Nigeria. Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv. 3(7):291 297. Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG II) (2003). An update of the angiosperm phylogeny group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG II. Bot. J. Linn. Soc.141:399-436. Cheek M, Onana JM, Pollard BJ (2000). The Plants of mount Oku and the Ijim ridge, Cameroon: A Conservation Checklist. RoyalBotanic Gardens, Kew, London. 211pp. Fouilloy R, Hallé N (1973). Flora of Cameroon: Sapindaceae. Volume 16. National Museum of Natural History, Paris. 202pp. Heywood VH (1978). Flowering Plants of the World. Oxford University Press, London. 335pp. Hutchinson J, Daziel JM (1958). Flora of West Tropical Africa. Volume 1, Part 2. Crown Agents for Overseas Government and Administrations, Millbank, London. 828pp. Keay RWJ, Onochie CFA, Stanfield DP (1964). Nigerian Trees. Volume II Department of Forest Research, Ibadan. 495pp. Kent M, Coker P (1985). Vegetation Description and Analysis. John Wiley andSons, London, UK. 401pp. Magurram AE (1988). Ecological Diversity and its Measurement. Chapman and Hall, London. 179pp. Pelemo OJ, Akintola BA, Temowo OO, Akande EO, Akoun M (2011). Effects of Landscape Change on Biodiversity in Nigeria: Remote Sensing and GIS Approach. Cont. J. Environ. Design Manag. 1(2):22–29. Singh G (2004). Plant Systematics: An Integrated Approach. Science Publishers, New Hampshire, Enfield. 561pp. Ubom R (2010). Ethnobotany and Biodiversity Conservation in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Int. J. Bot. 6:310-322. Onuminya and Ogundipe APPENDIX 633 634 Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv. Cardiospermum grandiflorum Cardiospremum halicacabum Chytranthus macrobotrys Chytranthus setosus Chytanthus sp ii Chytranthus talbotii Onuminya and Ogundipe 635 636 Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv. Placodiscus sp (i) Placodiscus sp (ii) Radlkofera calodendron Radlkofera sp (i) Sapindus saponaria showing fruit Zanha golugensis