Floristic Composition and Community analysis of Gendo Moist Montane Forest of East Wellega, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Gendo Forest is one of the moist montane forests found in eastern highlands, East Wellega Zone, Ethiopia, containing diverse animals and plant species. The objectives of the present study were to investigate floristic composition and community structure to produce floristic document and appropriate recommendation based on the outcome of the study. Seventy two plots each 20 m X 20 m, 400 m² were laid along eight transect lines along elevation gradient in systematic sampling. About 168 species, belonging to 140 genera and 65 families were recorded from the field data of Gendo Forest. The two most diverse families were Asteraceae, with 18 (12.9%) genera and 24 (14.3%) species and Fabaceae 17 (12.1%) genera and 21 (12.5%) species. The next large families were Poaceae with 7 (5%) genera, 8 (4.76%) species, Acanthaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Lamiaceae each having 6 (4.3%) genera and 8, 6, and 7 species respectively while the rest 59 families were containing 1-3 species. There were about 33 (19.6) trees, 56(33.3%) shrubs and 79 (47%) herbs were recorded. There were also 15 (9.9%) climbers. There were about 18 endemic species, 2 (1.2%) trees, 2 (1.2%) shrubby tree, 4 (2.5%) shrubs and 8 (4.8%) herb. About 12 (6.9%) and 152 (90.5%) of the total species documented were monocots and dicots respectively while 2 (1.2%) and another 2 (1.2%) were ferns and gymnosperms respectively. Only 3 (1.8%) species were recorded as hemi-parasitic plants. Gendo Forest also contained 9 (5.3%) of those 24 economically recognized national timber tree species (EFAP, 1994). Moreover, since the forest is yet not recognized in forest priority areas, it is recommended that it should be included in forest priority areas for further conservation and management.

Keywords: Gendo Forest, Floristic composition, Moist Montane Forest, Plant Community