Distribution study of tree diversity in Aswan Botanical Garden

Author : R.M.M. Sayed; M.I. Bahnasy; H.R. Habeeb and T.M. Noor-El-Deen

To evaluate the diversity of tree species presented in Aswan Botanical Garden, Aswan, Egypt, by determining the numbers, morphological characteristics and some diversity indices, many visits to the garden were done from January up to November 2023 to collect the required data. Aswan Botanical Garden (17.0 fed) contained 209 tree species, 851 tree individuals and 43 plant families. The southern section with an area of 5.0 fed contained the highest number of individuals and density/fed compared to middle and northern sections (7.0 and 5.0 fed area, respectively). In the whole garden, the old trees recorded the highest number of trees. The highest number of young age tree species were observed in the middle section then the northern then the southern. Fabaceae family recorded the highest number of individuals and species for the whole garden followed by Moraceae, Myrtaceae, Malvaceae, Bignoniaceae then Meliaceae. There were no dominant species in the garden, while the biodiversity indices showed high diversity and equal abundance in the whole garden and its sections, the middle section recorded the highest indices. Ficus microcarpa recorded the highest number of individuals in the whole garden. Khaya senegalensis, Alstonia scholaris, Bombax ceiba, Pterygota alata and Syzygium grande recorded the tallest trees in the whole garden (22.0 m), while Bombax ceiba, Ficus sycomorus and Ficus microcarpa recorded the highest DBH (184.62, 182.07 and 171.89 cm, respectively). Aswan Botanical Garden contained 14 tree species and according to the IUCN website these tree species under these categories are classified as, endangered, vulnerable or near threatened. This study referred to the crucial role of Aswan Botanical Garden in Egypt in preserving several important tree species with economic value that provide high-quality timber used for a variety of uses in the wood industry i.e. Swietenia macrophylla, Swietenia mahagoni, Khaya senegalensis, Tectona grandis, Eucalyptus sp., Corymbia citriodora, Acacia sp., Albizia sp., Tipuana tipu, and Dalbergia sp.

Keywords : Aswan Botanical Garden, morphological characteristics, diversity indices, Fabaceae family, Ficus microcarpa,

Received:4/20/2024 12:00:00 AM; Accepted: 5/25/2024 12:00:00 AM