Plant biodiversity status of Kimvula territory in the South-West of DR Congo

Abstract

The present study was carried out in the territory of Kimvula in the south-west of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The floristic survey conducted shows that the Kimvula flora has 1,065 species distributed in 666 genera and 159 families. The best represented families are Fabaceae (12.21%), Poaceae (7.79%), Asteraceae (5.54%), Rubiaceae (5.07%), Apocynaceae (4.04%) and Malvaceae (4.04%). The analysis shows the ecological characteristics, as regards the morphological types, this flora is dominated by woody species (50%) while the dominant life forms are phanerophytes (50%). Examination of leaf dimensions indicates the abundance of mesophyll (37.4%) and sarcochores (36.9%) are the types of diaspores best represented in Kimvula. The results of phytogeography distribution reveal the abundance of wide distribution species (65.5%) and low presence of endemic species (1.6%). The disturbance index (29.30%) shows that ecosystems of the study area are less disturbed and Shannon-Weaver diversity index shows that secondary forest (4.8 bits) is the most diversified plant formation.