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Cochlospermum planchonii Hook.f. ex Planch. and Cochlospermum tinctorium Perrier ex A. Rich. are two wild edible plant species (WEPs), widely used in the West African Sudanian zone. Their parts are used as food additive, fodder, medical-magic and ethnoveterinary purposes, dye and arts. Unfortunately, the overexploitation of their rootstocks constitutes a great threat. While, an increasing number of studies reported on their uses, socio-economic importance, biological properties, and the anthropogenic pressure, knowledge on their reproductive biology, threats, domestication, and conservation status are still lacking. It therefore becomes crucial to systematically review literature on the current knowledge to identify research gaps and future research. Hence, this review aimed to critically synthetize knowledge, and gaps therein, to highlight future research for sustainable use and conservation of both species. To this end, publications were searched online in Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Springer Online and Research Gate, using following keywords: “taxonomy”, “distribution”, “ecology”, “botanical description”, “structural characteristics”, “vernacular names”, “uses”, “plant parts used”, “phytochemical” and “pharmacological properties”, “economy”, “propagation”, “pollination”, “reproduction”, “threats”, “conservation” and “domestication” in combination with “C. planchonii” or “C. tinctorium”, “False-cotton”. Out of 423 publications initially recorded, 165 were retained, of which 153 conducted in West Africa; the remaining 12 tackled botanical and taxonomical issues. Most of the publications addressed ethnobotany, chemical and pharmacological properties. Information obtained was compiled, critically analyzed, and discussed; knowledge gaps were keyed out and potential future research was highlited. The review confirmed the over-exploitation of both species mainly for human livelihoods. Both species were valuable sources of compounds and showed various pharmacological activities. A risk of genetic erosion was reported due overharvesting of their rootstocks whose powder was highly marketable. Future studies on their reproductive biology could enable their cultivation in order to reduce anthropogenic pressure and promote their sustainable use and conservation.

This study aims to (1) estimate the effect of Sericostachys scandens density on the species richness of woody species development stages, and (2) evaluate the variation in floristic composi...

Background We undertook ethnobotanical and ecological studies on fodder plants grazed by cattle across Benin national area. The study aims to ascertain the top priority fodder plants in order to catalogue the indigenous knowledge regarding their use. Methods Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and covered 690 breeders and 40 days of pasture walk. These were analysed using similarity index of Jaccard (IS), relative frequency citation (RFC) and fodder value during pasture walk (FVPW). Results We documented a total of 257 fodder plant species, of which 116 recorded during ethnobotanical investigations and 195 during pasture walk. These species belong to 181 genera and 54 families. Both methods shared 52 species. Leaves (58%) and leafy stem (28%) were the most grazed parts of plant. The most common species used as fodder included Andropogon gayanus, Panicum maximum, Pterocarpus erinaceus and Flueggea virosa. The top species with a highest FVPW were Panicum maximum and Pterocarpus erinaceus. A total of 16 species were considered as top fodder plants in Benin. Conclusions The wide diversity of plants reported indicates that there is a number of promising fodder species in the flora of Benin. The insight gained in this study relating to bovine feeds could guide in the selection and introduction of feed innovations that could improve livestock production.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Across Africa, Peul community typically rely on plant-based veterinary knowledge to manage common livestock health problems. Unfortunately, their nomadic life-style being affected by conflicts, land tenure constraints, and drought, they have been shifting to a sedentary life. The process of their settlement led to the erosion of the vast ethnoveterinary skills they had acquired over centuries and forced them to replace the plant and other species they used by commercial products. Aim of the study 1) To collect comprehensive data from the Benin Peul community on common plant-based remedies used to treat livestock diseases and document their preparation and administration. 2) To evaluate the differences and consensus among the Peul community across ecological regions in Benin. Materials and methods We conducted semi-structured interviews among 88 Peul camps, three (03) bioclimatic zones, and 225 transhumant dialog partners, including agro-pastoralists, healers and pastoralists from mid-July to end of December 2015. Detailed information about homemade herbal remedies (plant species, plant part, manufacturing process) and the corresponding use reports (target animal species, category of use and route of administration) was collected. Results A total of 418 homemade remedies were reported, of which 235 involved only one plant species (Homemade Single Species Herbal Remedy Reports; HSHR). Information on a total of 310 use reports (UR) were mentioned for the 235 HSHR, and they included 116 plant species belonging to 39 botanical families. Among them, 229 UR were indicated for cattle, 43 UR for poultry, and 38 UR for sheep and goats. The most cited plant species were Khaya senegalensis (19 HSHR; 8.08%), Parkia biglobosa (14 HSHR; 5.95%), Euphorbia unispina (11 HSHR; 4.68%), and Anogeissus leiocarpus (6 HSHR; 2.55%). The URs were indicated for the treatment of viral, parasitic and bacterial diseases but also for multifactorial disorders like diarrhoea, fever, threatened abortion, agalactia etc. The number of plants referred to HSHR decreased from Sudanian to Guineo-congolian zones in concordance with the presence of Peuls. Conclusion The Peul community holds a huge ethnoveterinary knowledge, which needs to be documented, valorised, and promoted. It appears vital to assess phytochemical and pharmacological properties of the most reported species, and their availability across the ecological zones in order to ensure their sustainable use and before this indigenous knowledge disappears completely.

Objectif : Rechercher la similarite entre les usages lies aux plantes sollicitees en ethnomedecines veterinaire et humaine afin de contribuer a la valorisation de ces connaissances endogenes dans la zone cotonniere du centre-Benin. Methodes et Resultats : Des enquetes ont ete realisees individuellement aupres de 105 eleveurs, agroeleveurs et guerisseurs traditionnels. Les parametres de diversite floristique, ceux relatifs aux pratiques ethnobotaniques et les facteurs socioculturels determinant la connaissance ethnobotanique sont utilises pour les diverses comparaisons basees sur des tests de Khi Deux de Pearson et de deux proportions. La frequence (S) d’especes ou d’usages communs a ete calculee pour evaluer le taux de similarite entre les deux types de medecine. Quatre-vingt douze (92) especes de plantes impliquees dans la composition de 122 recettes ont ete recensees pour les deux types de medecines. Globalement, la similarite est tres grande entre les deux types de medecine en termes de plantes utilisees (86,69%) et grande en termes d’usages rapportes (65%). Conclusion et applications des resultats : Certaines connaissances ethnoveterinaires proviendraient de la medecine humaine et vice-versa. Les plantes efficaces utilisees en ethnomedecine veterinaire pourraient etre indiquees dans le traitement des memes maladies chez l’homme en cas d’une similarite d’agents pathogenes. Les etudes phytochimiques, pharmacologiques et cliniques devraient etre envisagees pour la valorisation effective de ces plantes. Mots cles . Ethnomedecines veterinaire et humaine, origine, similarite, Centre-Benin.

In a twenty-year effort at Drabo, southern Benin, small remnant forests, young fallow and agricultural fields were linked and rehabilitated to develop a 14 ha forest reserve. Forest regrowth was encouraged by managing the natural growth of the local fallow vegetation and by bringing in seeds and other propagules from forest islands of Benin. The succession to shade-tolerant woody forest species of Guineo-Congolian origin at the expense of extra-regional herbs, the co-existence of species with slightly different requirements, and the fate of exotic trees in this natural forest are described. A quantitative assessment of a homogeneous lot indicated 397 trees per ha, with stem diameters >10 cm, 43.7% of them below 20 cm, and a rich undergrowth of 72600 smaller plants per ha, proof of active rejuvenation. Only 4.2% of all plants resulted from the 1041 introduction events, i.e., species per date, mostly of the 253 plant species that were new to Drabo. A total of 635 species were recorded, but 50 did not survive and four are yet to be identified. In June 2016, the total of 581 known living species included 224 trees. Among all plants, 244 hailed from the Guineo-Congolian zone with 17 of Upper Guinean and four of Lower Guinean origin, 113 from the three savannah zones, and 224 were of extra-regional origin. Overall, 72.8% of all woody plants, such as many climbers, all shrubs and trees, were of forest and savanna origin (GC, SG, SZ and S), whereas 70.4% of all herbs came from other regions (At, PAL and Pt). Only 7.0% of all species from the GC zone were in decline; but the further away the plants originated from, the larger the decline in numbers and vigour, up to 64.6% among plants of pan-tropical origin. Particularly pan-tropical herbs became ever rarer, with 80.0% of them declining and confined to the few open spaces along paths. In 2017 the forest harboured 52 threatened species, with threat categories EW, CR, EN or VU on the Red List of Benin, out of 73 IUCN-listed species that could possibly survive in Drabo. Some of these species occur in only one or two other locations in Benin. The biodiversity richness of the rehabilitated forests of Drabo now rivals that of natural rainforest remnants of the region. As the surrounding landscape becomes ever more impoverished because of the high human population and its ever increasing impact, the maintenance of such managed islands of biodiversity is critical. By establishing rare local species from other locations we can compensate for direct human destruction and long-term stochastic loss of species in this highly fragmented landscape where natural seed dispersal is difficult. Benin, sacred forest, threatened plants, IUCN Red List, forest regeneration, Guineo-Congolese semi-deciduous forest

The management schemes of four rain forest patches in southern Benin and south-western Nigeria, which led to the successful protection of numerous threatened plants and animals over the last 20 plus years, are analysed. Since climatic conditions are similar, tree composition depends largely on different availability of water and documented biodiversity mostly on the availability of taxonomic expertise. Management differs according to accessibility and human population pressure, from total closing off of the forest by an international institute near the mega-polis Ibadan to unmarked borders near Lanzron, a remote village in the lower Ouémé Valley, where foreigners are mostly excluded from visiting the site. In Benin, trees and wildlife (antelopes and monkeys) seem best protected where the local vodoun beliefs are adhered to. This is, however, not sufficient and development aid to support and benefit the local population is needed as exemplified in Zinvié. At the Ibadan and Drabo sites, long-term protection is assured by legally-binding land-titles. Since for all of Lanzron and part of Zinvié these are lacking securing them is a priority. In Ibadan, Nigeria, a major rehabilitation effort is concentrated on bringing relatively old grass land and former village sites under forest cover by planting local trees. Rehabilitation in Drabo, in southern Benin, relies on enriching the naturally occurring fallow succession with rare species from nearby threatened sacred forests. We demonstrate that reversing biodiversity loss is possible but requires a long-term commitment. Recommendations for protecting, stabilizing and enhancing similar small hotspots of biodiversity are made.

Au Bénin, les animaux domestiques continuent de payer un lourd tribut à diverses pathologies. Une enquête a été conduite au Nord-Bénin pour recenser les recettes à usages vétérinaires, sélectionner les plus crédibles et évaluer la vulnérabilité des plantes impliquées. Elle a consisté à des interviews individuelles semistructurées auprès de 60 éleveurs. Au total 56 espèces végétales ont été citées. Elles sont reparties en 50 genres et 22 familles. Les familles les plus représentées en espèces sont : Leguminosae (34%) et Combretaceae (11%). Au total 86 recettes ont été recensées pour traiter 31 pathologies avec la Fièvre aphteuse comme la plus fréquente (19%). Les fréquences de recettes (Fr) et de citation des recettes (Fcr) ont permis de sélectionner celles qui sont plus crédibles. Les écorces de tige sont plus citées avec un pourcentage de 61%. Huit (08) modes de préparation sont indiqués avec la décoction (49%) comme la plus fréquente. Trente et un (31) espèces se sont révélées vulnérables. Cette étude a permis la sélection de quelques recettes crédibles. Les recherches phytochimiques ultérieures montreront les potentialités réelles des plantes citées dans le traitement des pathologies animales.Mots clés : Plantes, médecine vétérinaire, Fr, Fcr, Bénin