Preliminary ecological studies on Lithophytes and Chasmophytes in South‐West Nigeria

Abstract

AbstractRocky areas constitute unfavourable habitat for plant growth due to lack of soil, water and nutrients. The number of plants were more during wet season than the dry season. Based on the Importance Value Index (IVI), nineteen species organized into Euphorbia‐Tridax‐Commelina community.Study was focussed on dominant plants, namely love grass Eragrostis tenella (L.) P. BEAUV. ex ROEM. et SCHULT.), garden spurge (Euphorbia hirta L.), guinea grass (Panicum maximum JACQ.) and Tridax procumbens L. Guinea grass was the tallest having highest specific leaf area, and contributed maximum biomass. The highest leaf‐area ratio wa for garden spurge. A high association index exist between garden spurge and T. procumbens; love grass and T. procumbens; and guinea grass and red spiderling (Boerhavia coccinea). Conductivity, moisture content, organic matter, contents of potassium und sodium were higher in the soils from crevices as compared to that from rock surface, pH was alkaline. Seeds of love grass were the lightest. The percentage germination for the four plants were maximum in continuous light, at 20 °C and when sown at surface soil.