Floristic composition, abundance, and distribution pattern of woody plants in a tropical savanna in northern Ghana

Abstract

The floristic composition, abundance and distribution pattern of woody plants in a tropical savanna in the Sinsabligbini Forest Reserve in northern Ghana was studied using 15 circular vegetation plots of 10 m radius. In total, 2534 individuals of woody plants belonging to 62 species in 19 families were identified. The most species rich and abundant families were Fabacaeae, Combretaceae and Rubiaceae. The abundant woody plants included Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wright & Arn. (Fabaceae), Ptelcopsis suberosa Engl. & Diel. (Combretaceae), Combretum collinum Fresen. (Combretaceae), Dalbergia afzeliana G. Don. (Fabaceae) and Terminalia mollis Laws. (Combretaceae). The majority (80.6%) of the woody plant species were found to be highly aggregated in their pattern of distribution while twelve species showed some degree of randomness. The study has shown that the floristic composition and abundance of plants is very variable in different areas of the Guinea Savanna Zone.