Flora Of Mauritius Research Articles

In Vitro Culture as an Aid to Conservation of Indigenous Ferns: Diplazium Proliferum

With the ever growing population and economic needs of Mauritius, the flora of Mauritius has never been in more danger and one group of vascular plants is even more in peril; ferns. Diplazium proliferum is indigenous to the Mascarene region and is considered as a rare species in Mauritius. The need to develop a tested in vitro propagation protocol is a must to protect the biodiversity of Mauritius. This experiment was geared towards the establishment of a proper sterilization technique and the effect of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and light on in vitro culture of this fern. Sterilization with 0.05% Mercuric chloride was effective to eliminate fungal contamination and allow germination of spores. Culture media supplemented with BAP did not significantly increase growth rate of both gametophytes and sporophytes of D. proliferum. Present results suggest efficient sterilization methods to be a crucial stage for successful in vitro regeneration of ferns. The established protocol will be used as an optimized baseline protocol for the propagation of other indigenous ferns.

Ethnomedicinal application of native remedies used against diabetes and related complications in Mauritius

Ethnopharmacological relevanceNotoriously, the tropical island of Mauritius has one of the highest prevalence of diabetes worldwide and the economic burden associated with it is alarming. The use of native remedies (NRs) is well anchored in the local culture and it continues to be the cornerstone of therapy for diabetic patients. However, there is currently a dearth of updated primary data on NRs used by Mauritians against diabetes and diabetes related complications (DRCs). This study was therefore designed to record, analyze and document orally transmitted ethnopharmacological knowledge from diabetic patients and traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) in Mauritius concerning NRs commonly used against diabetes and DRCs which might open new avenues to initiate novel antidiabetic drugs discovery. Materials and methodsData was collected following interviews from diabetic patients (n=328) and TMPs (n=20). Eleven quantitative indexes, namely informant consensus factor (FIC), fidelity level (FL), use value (UV), relative frequency of citation (RFC), relative importance (RI), cultural importance index (CII), index of agreement on remedies (IAR), cultural agreement index (CAI), quality use value (QUV), quality use agreement value (QUAV) and ethnobotanicity index (EI) were calculated. Statistical analysis such as Pearson correlation and Chi-squared test were performed to determine any association. ResultsA total of 111 plant species distributed over 56 families, 30 polyherbal formulations and 16 animal species were documented to be traditionally used against diabetes and DRCs. For the first time 8 endemic plants have been recorded to be used against diabetes and DRCs from Mauritius. The most encountered medicinal plant family was Asteraceae. According to the EI, 16.2% of the native plants in Mauritius were used against diabetes and DRCs. As far as we know, Vangueria madagascariensis, Apium graveolens, Petroselinum crispum and Rubus alceifolius with high RFC values are recorded against diabetes and DRCs for the first time. Sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, income, religious belief, education and residence) were found to significantly (p<0.05) influence the use of NRs. The average FIC for all ailments for plant and animal products were 0.94 and 0.87 respectively. Bryophyllum pinnatum, a native plant to Mauritius scored a high FL value (100%) used against diabetic neuropathy, Allium sativum had the highest RI value (2.00) due to its versatility, Aloe vera had the highest RFC (0.61), the CII (0.640) and the highest CAI value (0.635), Psidium guajava had the highest QUAV (0.961) which indicates its high bioactivity and Allium cepa was reported as the most effective plant species (QUV=0.965). According to UV, the most important species was Morinda citrifolia (1.21). Panoply of animal products were reported whereby fish (39.7%) was recorded as the most utilised zootherapy and Salmo salar scored the highest FL (100%) for diabetes. Some animal species (n=14) not previously documented against diabetes and DRCs are reported in the present study. ConclusionOur present investigation revealed that the use of NRs constitutes the common legacy of Mauritians and despite the penetration of allopathic medicine; NRs continue to play a crucial role in the primary health care system of Mauritius. To this effect, it is of uttermost importance to record this knowledge before it disappears. In addition, further experimental investigations are required to elucidate the pharmacological properties of the reported medicinal flora and fauna of Mauritius.

Zoogeography of the ptyctimous mites (Acari: Oribatida) of Madagascar and other eastern Africa islands

On the island of Madagascar and five neighbouring islands: Aldabra, the Comoros, Mauritius, Reunion and the Seychelles, the number of hitherto found Ptyctima species is 57, including 37 Phthiracaroidea (of which ten are new to science), 18 Euphthiracaroidea (one new to science) and two Mesoplophoroidea. Of those 57 species, 30 are endemic (53%), ten Ethiopian species (17%), 12 pantropical species (21%) three oriental (5%) and two semicosmopolitan (3%). Endemism of Phthiracaroidea (62%) is similar to Euphthiracaroidea (59%). Similarity between the ptyctimous fauna of Madagascar and the neighbouring islands is very small—only one or two species are common. Moreover, the fauna of Mauritius is completely different from that of Madagascar. The ptyctimous fauna of Madagascar and the near islands must have been shaped before separation of Madagascar from Africa, which is suggested by the presence of the phylogenetically oldest and the youngest genera of Phthiracaroidea and Euphthiracaroidea. On the other hand, a large number of species of late derived genera Notophthiracarus and Hoplophorella may indicate a relatively late colonization of the islands by Phthiracaroidea. Dispersion of Ptyctima onto Madagascar and the neighbouring islands took place from the east—the Oriental region or from the south— the Australian region.

A New Mascarene Sesuvium (Aizoaceae)

Dr. Philip B. Ayres (1813-1863), while serving in the Mauritian Civil Service, intended writing a Flora of Mauritius. It was he who first recognized the Sesuvium described below as a new species, which he intended to call S. ovatum. Baker, in his Flora of Mauritius and the Seychelles, treated this plant as S. portulacastrum (L.) L., ignoring Ayres' detailed description and the name on his specimen at Kew. During the course of preparing an account of the Aizoaceae for the Flore des Mascareignes it was possible to distinguish the Mascarene plant from the almost pantropic S. portulacastrum. The following description is based largely on a manuscript description by Ayres in the library of the Sugar Industry Research Institute, Mauritius, and on notes by H. H. Johnston in his copy of Baker's Flora of Mauritius and the Seychelles now at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. The seven gatherings not seen by Ayres show considerable variation in leaf-shape, and his original epithet 'ovatum' is no longer entirely apt. Whether this variation is in part due to the degree of salinity of the habitat should be studied in the field. Johnston also lists sight records for the species from Ile au Fouquets, Ile Vacoas, Ile aux Fous, Rocher des Oiseaux, and Ile aux Benitiers. Almost all the labels giving information indicate that the species is confined to 1 5-7 m above sea level, on coral rocks, exposed to salt spray. The exception is the type whose label states 'on sand surrounding salt-water pools near Fort William'.

Mauritius Plants

THE flora of Mauritius is of great interest on account of the geographical position of the Mascarenes, their relation to the great land masses of the Old World and the high endemism of the species. Unfortunately, the remnants of the original vegetation are fast disappearing. It is therefore very necessary to obtain adequate and critical herbarium material upon which must depend the advancement of knowledge of the flora. A complete list of the flowering plants in the herbarium of the Mauritius Institute, compiled by R. E. Vaughan, forms the subject of the first part of a new publication (Mauritius Institute Bulletin) dealing with the taxonomy and ecology of the flora and fauna of the Mascarenes. About eight hundred species are listed, many of which are introduced weeds. Attention is directed to the urgency of acquiring additional material in many of the more interesting genera such as Eugenia, Diospyros (ebony) and Tambourissa, at present inadequately represented in the collection. Further material is also required of the native orchids, of which there were probably more than eighty species in the island, though many have already become extinct owing to the destruction of the large trees on which they were epiphytic.

Contributions to the flora of Mauritius.-I. An account of the naturalized flowering plants recorded from Mauritius since the publication of Baker's ‘Flora of Mauritius and the Seychelles’ (1877).

Contributions to the flora of Mauritius.-I. An account of the naturalized flowering plants recorded from Mauritius since the publication of Baker's ‘Flora of Mauritius and the Seychelles’ (1877).

Additions To The Flora Of Mauritius, As Recorded In Baker's “Flora Of Mauritius And The Seychelles.”

Additions To The Flora Of Mauritius, As Recorded In Baker's “Flora Of Mauritius And The Seychelles.”

Flora of Mauritius and Seychelles

THIS compact volume of nearly 600 pages, adds another to the already long list of colonial floras prepared at Kew and issued under the authority and at the expense of the Colonial Government. It is arranged on the same plan as the other floras, many of them so well known, giving first, some general remarks on the physical geography and botany of the islands, and then that admirable outline of elementary botany prepared by Mr. Bentham, and which contains every definition necessary in descriptive botany, thus enabling the student to follow the technical descriptions given in the “Flora” itself. The work is almost entirely from the pen of Mr. J. G. Baker (the Orchids being by Mr. Le Marchant Moore, and the Palms and Pandani by Dr. I. B. Balfour), and is only another example of the indomitable industry so characteristic of Mr. Baker. The materials at the disposal of the author have been ample, and probably there is but little left to discover in Mauritius, the Seychelles, and Rodriguez, although many forms have not as yet been fully determined owing to the want of perfect specimens. Hence it is desirable that naturalists visiting the islands should endeavour to complete our knowledge of these imperfectly known plants. The smaller dependencies of Mauritius have not been explored botanically, hence there is probably a rich field for the investigator of these numerous islands. It is, moreover, all the more desirable to have these islands explored as the native flora of the islands already known has been completely altered by the introduction of cultivated plants and weeds as well as by the destruction of the native forests. Thus it is probable that in some of the undisturbed islands a rich native flora may be met with, or that some of the forms either rare or extinct on other islands, may yet be comparatively abundant. Flora of Mauritius and the Seychelles: a Description of the Flowering Plants and Ferns of those Islands. By J. G. Baker (London: L. Reeve and Co., 1877.)