Browsing by Author "Jonathan, Johnny"

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Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants utilized by forest edge communities in southern Sierra Leone
(Academic Journals, 2022-01-21) Jonathan, Johnny
A total of 128 medicinal plant species belonging to 71 genera and 46 families were identified and used to treat 42 human ailments. Euphorbiaceae was the leading family with 14 species, followed by Rubiaceae and Leg-Caesalpiniaceae with 12 and 8 species, respectively. Seven species (Coffea stenophylla, Garcinia afzelii, Mitragyna stipulosa, Irvingia gabonensis, Milicia regia, Nauclea diderrichii and Nesogordonia papaverifera) are of conservation concern. Herbs are the highest followed by shrubs, trees, climbers and epiphytes. Leaves are the most used parts, followed by roots, fruits, stems, flowers, nuts, tubers and seeds. The highest calculated Relative Frequency of Citations Index (RFC) was for Musa sapientum, followed by Zingiber officinale, Anisophyllea laurina, Cola nitida, Nauclea latifolia, Tetracera potatoria Allophylus africanus, Cassia sieberiana and Termitomyces microcarpus. The highest Use Value index (UV) was calculated for Cola nitida (1.9) followed by Nauclea latifolia (1.56), Zingiber officinale (1.55) Ficus exasperata and Tetracera potatoria (1.44) respectively. Medicinal plants knowledge is strongly associated with the elderly in secret societies which are structured along gender lines. Plant use for medicinal reason actually addresses a significant part of the way of life and customs of the people living in this area and other rural locations in Sierra Leone. Key word: Medicinal plants, ethnobotany, indigenous technical knowledge, Sierra Leone forests.
Germination and regeneration dynamics of the native tree species Guibourtia copallifera in Kasewe Forest Reserve, Moyamba District
(Academic Journals, 2025-08-22) Jonathan, Johnny
Guibourtia copallifera, native to West Tropical Africa, has a restricted geographic range in Sierra Leone, being common only in the Kasawe Forest Reserve. This species faces challenges in regeneration due to human pressures such as farming, logging, and charcoal production. Despite successful growth in plantations, there is minimal natural seedling establishment. The specific objective was to determine the effect of shade, leaf litter, and planting depth on germination success. Germination was significantly higher in the forest habitat compared to ex-situ trials, with dark forest conditions yielding the best results. Germination success decreased with increased planting depth. Seeds on the soil surface in deep shade had the highest success. Leaf litter negatively impacted germination. Seeds in full sunlight had the lowest germination rates, and intermediate light conditions supported better seedling survival. Trials at Njala University’s Gmelina plantation showed poorer germination results compared to those at Kasawe (p < 0.001, df = 4, F = 31.7), suggesting that light quality plays a significant role in seed germination. Overall, seedling survival was best under moderate light. Increased leaf litter hindered germination. Further research is needed to understand how seed germination and seedling growth contribute to forest regeneration and species coexistence in this ecosystem. Key words: Biomass, forest degradation, Guibourtia copallifera, light intensity, planting depth, seeds.