DOI: 10.5061/dryad.z8w9ghxbg
title: Vascular plants of Ewe-Adakplame Relic Forest at Kétou in Benin, West Africa

description: Covering 560.14 hectares in the south-east of Benin, the Ewe-Adakplame
 Relic Forest (EARF) is a micro-refugium that shows insular characteristics
 within the Dahomey Gap. It is probably one of the last remnants of
 tropical rain forest that would have survived the late Holocene dry
 period. Based on intensive field investigations through 25 plots (10 m ×
 50 m size) and matching of herbarium specimens, a checklist of 185 species
 of vascular plant belonging to 54 families and 142 genera is presented for
 this forest. In addition to the name for each taxon, we described the life
 form following Raunkiaer’s definitions, chorology as well as threats to
 habitat. The Rubiaceae family was the richest (20 species) followed by the
 Fabaceae (15 species). Life forms showed the preponderance of
 phanerophytes (88%). The Chorological spectrum was dominated by
 Guineo-Congolean species (66%).  Species richness estimated were
 200.52 ± 9.2808 for Bootstrap; 217.62 ± 14.5972; 224.16 ± 15.3725 and
 242.67 respectively for Chao, Jacknife1 and Jacknife2. Bootstrap appears
 to be the estimation closer to the field records. In Benin, EARF is home
 for Rinorea species described as West African forest bio-indicators and
 single location for Nesogordonia papaverifera, Mansonia altissima,
 Englerophytum oblanceolatum, Octolobus spectabilis, Vitex micrantha and
 most of Drypeteae tribe species (Drypetes aframensis, Drypetes afzelii,
 Drypetes gilgiana and Drypetes leonensis) recorded in Benin. Our results
 provides baseline information for further in-depth analysis of vegetation
 history in Benin by raising the question on the past floristic connection
 of the Dahomey gap and community engagement in conservation.
description: The inventory of Ewe-Adapklame Relic Forest (EARF) plant species
 was conducted from February 2014 to December 2017. The forest
 investigation was based on a vegetation map divided into 250,000 m² (500 m
 × 500 m) grids following 6 transects, each of 500 m width and 3000 m
 length. Transects were oriented south-north. The floristic sampling
 covered different components of the EARF. At each stand, a topometer
 (Chaining Buddy, Fremaco Devices, Canada) with disposable filament was
 used to delimit quadrats of 10 m × 50 m. The observation stands were set
 out at intervals of 100 m along each transect line and there was one
 quadrat per plot of 250,000 m². In total, 25 forest quadrats of 500 m²
 were floristically surveyed. To set a preliminary list of EARF flora,
 species identification was fist based on our self-background during the
 sampling field work with photo captures (Olympus Digital Camera SP-620 UZ
 Silver and Samsung Galaxy S7 Android 6.0.1). This approach was combined
 with description session (on field and at the National Herbarium). Voucher
 specimens were systematically collected for specimens whose determination
 is confused. They were compared with voucher specimens of the national
 Herbarium. To access the systematic information notes, the botanical
 nomenclature followed the Analytical Flora of Benin (Akoègninou et al.
 2006). The list of plant species recorded was compared to online resources
 such as the “Catalog of life” (Hassler 2020) and the Benin National Red
 List (Neuenschwander et al. 2011) in order to access botanical information
 notes and the conservation status of species.
description: Take into account the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group Families, Genus
 and Species names update.