Diospyros barteri Hiern (Ebenaceae): new records for the vascular flora of Benin

By

Dassou, Gbèwonmèdéa Hospice
Adomou, Aristide Cossi
Kpétikou, Chabi Ghyslain
Neuenschwander, Peter

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2024-5-22

Original Publication

Check list : journal of species lists and distribution

Volume

20

Series / Issue

Issue: 3

Pages

636--640

Subjects

first record , sacred forest , species monitoring

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

[São Paulo, Brazil] Luís Felipe Toledo 2005-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15560/20.3.636

 

Abstract

Diospyros barteri was recorded for the first time from Dodja, a sacred forest in the Commune of Abomey-Calavi, Benin. We provide a detailed description, illustration, habitat, ecology, flowering period, and population size of this species. These occurrences fill a gap in the distribution of the species in the Dahomey-Gap territory. Our new records show the importance of botanical surveys in sacred forests which are hotspots of biodiversity in the country. However, sacred forests are unfortunately poorly maintained and managed and are difficult to access because they serve as central sites for ceremonies of local divinities in vodun celebrations.