[en] Landscape Ecological Survey of the Bipindi-Akom II ... - ITTO

Plant communities communities
Ha
lIb
lIe III IV ·V··
Differentiating Maranthes -
Podococcus
Strombosia -Diospyros - Diospyros" " Carapa- Xylopia- Xylopia- Macaranga-
Macaranga-
species:
AnisophyUea
- PolyalthiaPolyalthia Polyalthia Polyalthia
community
community
community
Polyalthia . MitragynaMusangaChroni.OI!iena
Mitragyna Musanga Chroni.ol!iena
community
• commullity commUllity ..• , community ,. cOmmunity
Elaeis guineensis
+
III ... 11 III
Mitragyna stipulosa
Carapa 'species I'
III
Trichillia heudelotii
+
+
III
Xylopia 'group l'
+
11
II
IV
11 II
Fagara macrophylla +
11
11 11 II 11 IV
III
Thaumantoc. 'group l'
I
IV IV
11 II
Eribroma 'group l'
+
.IlI + II II
Terminalia superba
11 +
11
Myrianthus arboreus
n
II
Musanga cecropioides +
+
II 11
IV
Funtumia elastica
III
Rauvolfia macrophylla
+
U'
Macaranga 'group l'
Chromolaena odorata
Milicia excelsa
Rauvolfia vomitoria
Ceiba pentandra
Trifolium 'species l'
Anchom. 'species l'
Manihot esculenta
+
II II
+
+
+ +
+
IV····· IV···'··
IV·· IY'
Ill"· n.I.·.· ..
(II1) (Ill) .. '.
m· In
(!HY UIl)·· .. i ••.
Frequency classes: classes: . . = absent; r = occurring occurring once; + + = present in 1-9% of the releves; releves; 1= 1= 10-19%; 11 II = 20-39%; III = 40-59%; IV =
60-79% and V = 80-100% () = cultivated.
6.4 PLANT COMMUNITIES
In this section the floristic composition, the physiognomy and the distribution of the seven plant
communities are described. A A tentative comparison comparison with the vegetation types described described by
Letouzey (1968, 1985) and UNESCO (1981), and an ecological interpretation is included.
6.4.1 Marantbes Marantbes - Anisopbyllea community (I)
The Maranthes-Anisophyllea community includes submontane primary and old secondary forests;
its distribution within the TCP research area is restricted to hill and mountain tops surpassing 700
m m asl. asl. Differentiating species species of this community are Drypetes Drypetes 'group 1', Anisophyllea polyneura,
Maranthes glabra, Scorodophloeus zenkeri, Gambeya 'group l' Cola attiensis, Garcinia lucida
and Diospyros hoyleana.
In general, the physiognomy of this forest is characterized by the absence of emergents. Three
structural structural layers can be be distinguished. The tree layer forms an an irregular canopy at a height of 15-20
m, occasionally reaching 35 m, with an external foliage cover cover of 70-80 %. The canopy is is often
climber infested and the presence of epiphytic mosses is is characteristic. The broad-leaved broad-leaved trees, trees,
probable both evergreen and deciduous, are branched at low heights and may have a a crooked form.
Stilt roots are common. Scorodophloeus zenkeri, Carapa 'group 1', Monopethalanthus spp.,
Uapaca guineensis, Santira trim era, Allanblackia kisonghi, Anisophyllea polyneura, Baphia
lepitobotryx, Coelycaryon preussi, Maranthes glabra and Tetraberlinia bifoliata are relatively
common in the canopy. canopy. In some some localities palms palms (Raphia (Raphia 'species 1 ') are present. The shrub layer
(3-7 (3-7 m), sometimes replacing the tree tree layer layer as canopy, varies from closed to very open. The shrub
layer layer is mainly composed of saplings of forest trees. Only a few shrub species are present.
62
IV
·V·'