Potentiel invasif des espèces végétales exotiques ornementales des jardins de fleurs de la ville de Douala (Cameroun)

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the invasive potential of exotic ornamental plants used in urban gardens in the city of Douala. Methodology and Results: Three sites were chosen: The first was in Bonaberi, the second in Bonamoussadi and the third in Bonanjo with respectively 4, 3 and 3 urban gardens. Survey forms were submitted to the gardeners. Ornamental species in the gardens of the three sites were identified. A rating method identified by allocation percentage of citations species was established.The knowledge of the gardeners on ornamental and invasive species was evaluated. As result of this study: 64 % of the gardeners had some knowledge on ornamental species but their knowledge on the invasive species was limited (72 %). The 54 recorded ornamental species were divided into 44 genera and 28 families. The most represented family were the Euphorbiaceae and the Araceae (with 16.7 % of recorded species). The most represented morphological type is the one of the shrubs (54 %). The recorded species most represented came from Asia and America (81 %). The most functional ways of dissemination are the zoochory and the anemochory (68 %). The percentage of citations assigned to every species established 2 lists, a list of observed species and a list of potentially invasive species. Conclusion and Application findings: Further studies will confirm or invalidate the statute assigned to the recorded species.Keywords: Alien species; invasion; biodiversity; Gardens; horticulture