ASSESSMENT OF PLANT SPECIES OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE CONSERVED IN HOMEGARDENS OF NSIT UBIUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

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1 Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 8(1): ASSESSMENT OF PLANT SPECIES OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE CONSERVED IN HOMEGARDENS OF NSIT UBIUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA ABSTRACT Udofia, S. I., Owoh, P. W., Ukpong, E. E. and Ekpo, I. E. Department of Forestry and Wildlife, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Homegardens play crucial roles in the livelihood of the people of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The rural people depend on homegardens for food, medicine, small poles and income generation. The study was conducted to assess the extent of the availability of plant species that meet the socio-economic needs of the people of Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Simple random sampling was used to select 420 homegardens from 14 villages for enumeration and 20m x 20m quadrat was established at each of the sample homegardens. Simpson s Diversity Index and Menhinick s Richness Index were used to estimate diversity and richness of plant species respectively. A total of 84 plant species were identified to be of socio-economic importance to the people of Nsit Ubium Local Government Area in the generation of income, food, medicine, fodder for animals, beautification of the environment and erosion control. The plant species comprised 48 families and 5 life forms (trees, shrubs, palms, climbers and herbs). High species diversity of and high richness index of were computed for the plant species. Appropriate conservation methods should be applied in homegardens of Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria so that they can sustain the rich and diverse plant species. Keywords: Assessment, plant species, socio-economic, homegardens INTRODUCTION As people changed from exclusively hunting and gathering lifestyle and settled in small communities, there will be need for food, fuel, fiber, materials and shelter, even as available land becomes scarcer with time and population explosion. Adoption of homegarden agroforestry practice could solve the challenge of the myriad of needs. Homegarden is described as an agroforestry practice that combines physical, social and economic functions on the area of land around the family home. The area is used as a place of work and for storage and processing of farm produce. It is also a place where people live and dispose of wastes (AVRDC, 1993). Homegardens are intensively cultivated agroforestry practice managed within the compounds of individual homes. They involve the deliberate management of multipurpose trees and shrubs (the woody component) grown in intimate association with herbaceous species mainly annual, perennial, and seasonal agricultural crops and livestock. Homegardens or home farms have been established next to homes since prehistoric times. The most important characteristics of homegardens are the location adjacent to homes, close association with family activities and a wide diversity of crop and livestock species to meet diverse family needs (Udofia, 2007). Homegardens are frequently identified as traditional agroforestry practices with complex structure and multiple functions (Udofia, 2007). They help to conserve plants, both wild and domesticated because of their uses to household. Thus, homegardens have attracted much research attention during the past few decades for several reasons, first, they are an attractive model for research and the design of sustainable agro-ecosystem. Secondly homegarden practice is a vital reservoir of unique genetic diversity. Detail studies of homegardens have therefore, been undertaken recently in order to obtain a better understanding of the role of homegardens in the management and conservation of genetic diversity in both in-situ and ex-situ conditions (Udofia, 2007). Homegardens, with their diversified agricultural crops, trees and/or animals are of vital importance in subsistence economy of many regions of the tropics. The most conspicuous characteristics of all homegardens are their layered canopy arrangement and admixture of compatible species with each component occupying a specific place and function (Udofia, 2007). Growing diverse plant species in homegardens is to enhance use-value of the species to households as income generation, food, nutritional supplements and medicine. The dynamics of homegardens as an important agroforestry practice must be well understood. Such understanding in size and management of the garden becomes essential because the extent to which they supply the major part of a family s subsistence requirement differs considerably within the same geographical region, from a backyard farm grown with herbs and fruits to a large space for the family s poultry and flock. Personal preference, socioeconomic status and culture seem to be the main determinants of the appearance, function and structure of homegarden (Christanty, 1990). The rural homesgardens usually have more layers of plant canopy and thus, are more complex than the urban gardens. The crops and trees planted in homegardens are carefully arranged to provide for specific functions and benefits which are primarily economic in nature (Okeke and Udofia, 2009). NJAFE VOL. 8 No. 1,

2 Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 8(1): Although homegardens have been extensively described, there is a lack of quantitative data about their management. The main reason that they have not been studied is that rigorous and complex oriented methodologies are not available, and those that have been developed for single-species system are not applicable to such complex system (Nair, 2001). Hence, there is need to conduct both economic and ecological analyses of homegarden so as to understand the potential benefits and identify potential risks associated with homegarden cultivation. The aim of this study is to identify the various plant species in the homegardens of Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, that are of socio-economic importance and to determine their richness and diversity statuses. MATERIALS AND METHODS Description of the study area The study was carried out in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area which lies between longitudes 7 o 45/ and 8 o 10/ and latitudes 4 o 50 / and 4 o 30 / North. It is bounded by Eket, Esit Eket, Ibeno, Okobo, Nsit Ibom, Etinan, Ibesikpo/Asutan and Nsit Atai Local Government Areas. The climate of Nsit Ubium is characterized by two seasons namely; the dry and wet or rainy seasons. The high points of these seasons are noticeable. The wet season is characterized by relatively heavy rainfall ( mm), high humidity and heavy cloud cover which significantly reduces sunshine and temperature. The soil of Nsit Ubium has a simple pattern of sedimentary geological formation. This consists mainly of sands of tertiary coastal plains. The soils are very deep and range from dark grayish brown to very dark-grey sand, to loamy sand surface over dark yellowish brown, to reddishbrown clay-loam sub-soils. The soil is generally well supplied with phosphorus. The Local Government consists of two clans; Nsit and Ubium with 22 and 33 villages respectively. It has a population of 272,300 (FRN, 2007). Sampling design and data collection: Simple random sampling was used to select 14 villages (30%) from 33 villages for study. At each sampling village, systematic method was used to select 30 sampled homegardens for enumeration using 20m x 20m quadrat per homegarden, bringing the total enumerated size to ha in the entire study area. Physical count was used for the estimation of all plant species of socio-economic importance found, while data were analyzed using Menhinick s (1964) index and Simpson s (1949) index as follows: a) Species Richness index This was analyze by the use of Menhinick s (1964) formula: R = S N Where R = Menhinck s (1964) plant species index S = number of species N = total number of individuals b) Species Diversity Index This was calculated with the Simpson s (1949) index as follows: D = n 1 (n-1) N(N-1) Where D N n i = the index of diversity = total no of individuals encountered = no of individuals of ith species encountered RESULTS Table 1 shows that 84 plant species of socio-economic importance were identified in the study area with 48 families and classified into life-forms as: 23 trees, 14 shrubs, 32 herbs, 12 climber, and 2 palms. Justicia schimperi had the highest density of 608 ha -1 (Table 1). The leaves of the species are used to treat chest and heart problems. Talinum triangulare had a density of 579 ha -1 and the leaves are used as vegetables, medicine, as well as feed for poultry. Manihot esculenta had a density of 573 ha -1, it is a vegetable food species and is used for various dishes, flour, starch, medicine, fodder, flavour, gum and fodder. Dioscoreaceae had the highest number of species (5), followed by Annonaceae (4), and Acanthaceae (4). Verbenaceae, Arecacea, Rutaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Anacardiaceae, Solanaceae had 3 species each, while others had 2 and 1 species (Table 2). NJAFE VOL. 8 No. 1,

3 Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 8(1): Table 2: Families of plant species of socio-economic importance conserved in homegardens of Nsit Ubium LGA of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria Family No. of Species Family No. of Species Verbenaceae 3 Meliaceae 1 Arecaceae 3 Anacardiaceae 3 Icacinaceae 1 Musaceae 2 Bromeliaceae 1 Apocynaceae 2 Moraceae 2 Convolvulaceae 1 Araceae 2 Acanthaceae 4 Sterculiaceae 1 Amaranthaceae 2 Gramineae 2 Leguminosae 2 Burseraceae 1 Marantaceae 1 Gnetaceae 1 Costaceae 1 Rutaceae 3 Clusiaceae 1 Rubiaceae 2 Lauraceae 1 Asteraceae 2 Irvingiaceae 1 Sapotaceae 2 Solanaceae 3 Caricaceae 1 Gramineae 1 (Poaceae) Annonaceae 4 Crassulaceae 1 Euphorbiaceae 3 Combretaceae 1 Malvaceae 2 Zingiberaceae 1 Dioscoreaceae 5 Piperaceae 1 Portulacaceae 2 Asclepiadaceae 1 Cucurbitaceae 2 Liliaceae 1 Lamiaceae 1 Smilacaceae 1 Brgnoniacea 1 Tiliaceae 2 Myrtaceae 1 Cyperaceae 1 Table 3: Plant life-forms and number of species of socio-economic importance conserved in homegardens of Nsit Ubium LGA of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria Life-form No. of Species Tree 23 Shrub 14 Herb 32 Climber 13 Palm 2 DISCUSSION Socio-economic importance of plant species Homegardens have continued to serve as an important agroforestry practice that supplies food resources and generate income for households in Nigeria, and they are known for their stable yields, very varied products, continuous or repeated harvests during the year and low inputs. According to Soemarwoto (1987), the Lima homegardens, with an average size of 200m 2, produced an income of US$28.33 in five months. This is in addition to unestimated proportion consumed as food. Okeke and Udofia (2009) found that homegardens in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria generated monthly income of between N and N12, across the three agroecological zones of coastal, freshwater swamp and lowland rainforest. Beside these, homegardens in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, are reported to serve as dependable sources of vegetables, timber and food in addition to environmental services such as erosion control, carbon sequestration, and protection of houses from windstorm. A total of 84 plant species of socio-economic importance were identified in homegardens of Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. These plant species were found to serve for food, medicine, timber, fuelwood, beautification, fodder for animals, articles or produce for markets for income generation and environmental services. Many plant species were found as border and boundary plants as well as living fences; homegarden soils in the study area were found to be stable. Soemarwoto (1987) stated that the ecological functions of homegardens have generally been taken for granted and only mentioned in passing. The protective effect of homegardens on soil erosion is derived from its multistory structure. Over 60% of the plant species found were medicinal plants. This explains the extent to which people rely on homegardens as sources of herbal medicine in the study area. In Mexico, Ahmad, et al., (1980) reported that the NJAFE VOL. 8 No. 1,

4 Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 8(1): percentage of total produce from homegardens consumed by households were as follows: fruit 46, coconut 83.70, vegetables 94.70, medicinal plant 95.50, and tubers and roots Other important products for home consumption were fuelwood and construction materials for handicraft and home industry. Homegardens, thus, play crucial roles in the socio-economic lives of the people of Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Oral discussions with homegarden owners in the study area revealed that various products for local markets were harvested almost weekly and that homegardens produced reasonable consumables for homes on daily basis, unlike other agroforestry practices. There is need to train people on the best methods to manage homegardens in the study area so as to sustain their livelihood importance. The poorest people in the study area were found to depend most on homegardens. Some of them complained of inadequate money to buy land for distant farming or could not wait for years of fallow in shifting cultivation practice. Diversity and richness of plant species Diversity refers to the number of equally-abundant types needed for the average proportional abundance of the types to equal that observed in the dataset of interest, as, in plants, while richness simply quantifies how many different types the dataset of interest contains (Tuomisto, 2010). To measure diversity, Simpson index is used to understand the degree of concentration when individuals are classified into type, whereas richness can be measured using Menhinick s index (Simpson, 1949; Menhinick, 1964). Diversity and richness are important ecological tools that will enable one to understand biological productivity of an ecosystem or nature and how it can best serve mankind (Rana, 2007). Homegarden is an important agroforestry practice that requires clear understanding of the development of plants in terms of diversity and richness. This will guide scientists and conservationists to design appropriate management systems that will ensure sustainability of plant species in the ecosystem. The computed Simpson s diversity index of and high richness index of for homegardens in Nsit Ubium LGA of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria showed high prevalence of plants of socio-economic values. The implication of the result is that homegardens in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, are very relevant in the livelihood of the people. This is because the high plant diversity and high richness of plants present arrays of different plant species that could be used for various purposes such as food, medicine, income generation and environmental services. A total number of 84 plant species were enumerated in homegardens of Nsit Ubium Local Government Area and all of them are used for two or more purposes for human benefit. The result compares favourably with Udofia (2007) who found that plant species in homegardens of Akwa Ibom State ranged between 53 and 102 from coastal to the lowland rainforest agro-ecological zones of the State. About 80% of the plant species have showings of more than 10 individuals per hectares indicating good availability of such plant species in ecological studies. Plant species that are less than 10 individuals per hectare are considered endangered (Parthasarathy and Karthikeyan, (1977) The favourable diversity and richness rating of plant species of socio-economic importance in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, calls for proper conservation management in order to ensure sustainability of the rich biodiversity status. CONCLUSION It is important to acknowledge the crucial roles that homegargens play in the livelihood of man. The study has shown that homegardens are extremely essential in household economy in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Of particular importance is the fact that the poor, who cannot afford additional land for farming activities, rely only on homegardens for all their food needs. The study revealed that homegardens were rich in plant species which guarantee food, medicine, timber, small poles, fuelwood, vegetables, income and stabilization of soils around homes. Homegardens were found to be cultivated throughout the year on a continuous basis with sustained yield, and without external inputs such as chemicals and mainly with family labour. RECOMMENDATIONS The management of many plant species in single land unit demands knowledge of how each plant species affects or interacts with another. Homegarden owners require technical advice on how to manage the individual plant species growing in mixture with others to continue to yield for future consumption and income generation. This could be actualized through robust agroforestry extension service. REFERENCES Ahmad, H. A., Martadihardja and Suharto Social and Cultural Aspects of Homegarden. Tropical Ecology and Development. The International Society of Tropical Ecology, Kuala Lumpa. Malaysis. AVRDC Homegardening: A Techno-guide. Bangkok, Thailand. NJAFE VOL. 8 No. 1,

5 Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 8(1): Christianty, L Homegardens in Tropical Asia, with Special References to Indonesia Homegardens in Tropical America: A Review. In: Landaver, K. and Brazil, M. (eds.), Tropical Homegardens. United Nations University Press, Tokyo, Japan. pp Menhinick, E. F A Comparison of some Species Individuals Diversity Indices Applied to Samples of Field Insect. Ecology, 45: Nair, P. K. R Do Tropical Homegardens elude Science, or it is the other Way Round? Agroforestry Systems, 53: Okeke, A. I. and Udofia, S. I Income Generation from Homegardens of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Food Production in a Developing Economy. 1st Edition. Afro-Euro Centre for Development Studies, Granada, Spain. pp Parthasarathy, N. and Karthikeyan, R Tree and liana species diversity and population structure in a tropical dry evergreen forest in South India. Tropical Ecology, 14: Rana, S. V. S Essentials Ecology and Environmental Science. 3rd Edition. Prentice Hall of India Private Ltd. New Delhi, India. pp Simpson, E. H Measurement of Diversity. Nature, 163:688. Soemarwoto, O Homegardens: A Traditional Agroforestry System with a Promising Future. In: Steppler, H. A. and Nair, P. K. R. (eds), Agroforestry: A Decade of Development, pp ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya. Udofia, S. I Status of Homegardens in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Unpublished Ph.D Dissertation, Department of Forestry and Environmental Management, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria pp NJAFE VOL. 8 No. 1,

6 Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 8(1): Table 1: Plant species of socio-economic importance found in homegardens of Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria Plant Species Family Common Name Ibibio Name Life-form Socio- economic importance Density (ha -1 ) Gmelina arborea Verbenaceae Gmelina Eto udaikan Tree - It is used as timber 12 - It is an excellent fodder for goats & sheep Elaeis guineensis Arecaceae Oil palm Eyop Tree - Palm oil expressed from outside fibre of palm fruits - It is used in food preparation, soap, margarine and candle making 8 - It is also used to make tinplate Dacryodes edulis Burseraceae Native pear Eben Tree - The roots are used as chewing-stick to treat 9 recalcitrant Lasienthera africanum Lcacinaceae Editan Shrub - It is widely used in the enema form, to treat indigestion, stomach discomfort and internal heat 265 Ananas sativus Bromeliaceae Pineapple Eyop-mbakara Biennial herb - It is used as flavouring in making soft drinks 60 Ficus exasperate Moraceae Sand paper tree Ukuok Shrub - It is used as a fodder for goats and elephants 8 Xanthosoma mafaffa Araceae Cocoyam Atamkpon- Herb - The cormels are eaten roasted, boiled or cooked 487 mbakara Cola argentea Sterculiaceae Ndiya Tree - The fruits are brittle and edible. They are delicious 14 Saccharum officinarum Gramineae Sugarcane Mbokko Herb - Sugarcanes have been grown for chewing since 14 ancient times. - It is a satisfying sweet cooling drink. Gnetum africanum Gnetaceae African salad Afang Climbing herb - The leaves are eaten as salad 172 Citrus sinensis Rutaceae Sweet orange Osokoro Tree - The fruit is edible and has high vitamin C content 23 Heinsia crinata Rubiaceae Bush apple Atama Shrub - The leaf poultice is used to cure craw-craw and other 34 skin infections Vernonia amygdalina Asteraceae Better leaf Etidot Shrub - The leaves are used as vegetable 16 Gambeya albidum Sapotaceae African starapple Udara Tree - The fruits are delicious. 5 Syn. Chysophyllum albidum - It is used as timber Carica papaya Caricaceae Pawpaw Popo Perennial herb - Latex is used in the treatment of turmorus - Root ashes are used as a salt substitute. - It is used medicinally in case of weak digestion 47 Treculia africana Moraceae African bread Adian Tree - It is used a timber. The root decoction is drunk to kill fruit intestinal worms (anthelmintics) 4 Annona muricata Annonaceae Sorp sop Sawa-sawa Small tree - The white juicy flesh of the fruit is edible and aromatic 8 Citrus aurantifolia Rutaceae Lime Nkpiri sokoro Shrub - The acid fruits is edible. Lime juice is used as an appetizer, for relief of cramps. 15 NJAFE VOL. 8 No. 1,

7 Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 8(1): Croton zambesicus Euphorbiaceae Eto oduma Tree - The leaf decoction is drunk to treat diarrhea 14 Abelmoschus esculentus malvaceae Okra Etikke Herb - The leave, pods, seeds and flower are edible. 70 Dioscorea dumetorum Dioscorea ceae Sweet yam Anem Annual climber - The tubers are edible 60 Talinum triangulare Portulacaceae Water leaf Mmon-mmon Perennial herb - It is used as vegetable ikon 579 Dioscorea rotundata Discoreaceae White guinea yam Eka edia Climber - The tubers are edible cooked as porridge 26 Telfairia occidentalis Cucurbitaceae Fluted pumpkin Ikon ubon Annual climber - The leaves and tender stem are edible. An edible oil is extracted from the seeds 61 Ocimum gratissimum Lamiaceae Tea bush Nton Shrub - The leaves are edible. Leaf infusion of plant cures catarrah, fever, diarrhea, stomach, headache and cough 75 Manihot esculenta Euphorbiaceae Cassava Iwa Shrub - Cassava is one of the most important food plants in the tropics. - It is used as garri. It is used to prepare local gum Cocos nucifera Arecaceae Coconut Isibyop Perennial palm - It is a good substitute for oral rely rehydration therapy 26 Crescentia cujete Bignoniaceae Calabash tree Ikimeto Tree - The whole plant is used as ornamental tree 4 Raphia hookeri Areacaceae Wine palm Ukod Tree (palm) - Wine palm yields palm wine, a popular refreshing sweet sugary drink especially when fresh. The drink is important in the social, cultural and economic nexus of the people - Bamboo (leaf midrib) is used as building material in thatched and temporary uses Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae Mango Manko Tree - The fruits are edible. It is used as timber 15 Discorea cayenesis Discoreaceae Yellow guinea yam Akpaana Annual climber - The tubers are edible 55 Musa sapientum Musaceae Banana Mboro Herb - The leaves, fruit & peels of fruit are fodder for goat and sheep - Banana fruits are edible Alstonia boonei Apocynaceae Pattern wood Ukpo Tree - It is used as timber. The plant is hypotensive - Bark infusion is used to cure jaundice. 8 Musa sapietum var. paradisiaca Musaceae Plantain Ukom Herb - The fruits are eaten (unripe or ripe) - Plantain are very digestive and are a valuable food for children, invalids and diabetics Ipomoea botatas Convoluulaceae Sweet patato Ediam Perennial herb - The tender leaves and the young shoots are eaten as vegetable - The tubers are eaten-boiled, roasted or fried. - Tubers are used to make starch NJAFE VOL. 8 No. 1,

8 Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 8(1): Dioscorea alata Dioscoreceae Water yam Ebige Annual climber - The tubers are edible. It is popular ingredient, (in the form of fritters,) in ritual sacrifice, especially that 42 involving release of people from the world of witchcraft Dioscorea buibifera Dioscoreaceae Aerial yam Edomo Annual climber - The bulbs are edible and popularly roasted. 39 Justicia schimperi Acanthaceae Hunter s weed Mmeme Herb - The leaves are used to treat chest and heart problems. The leaves are edible 608 Citrus reticulata Rutaceae Tangerine Sokoro Tree - The fruit pulp is edible- tangerine juice is canned mbakara 16 Eremomastax speciosa Acanthaceae African blood tonic plant Ndana edem Herb - The root extract is taken as enema to treat spleen problems 67 Amaranthus caudatus Amaranthaceae African spinach Inyang afia Annual herb - The whole plant is used as enema to treat pile 22 Psidium guajava Myrtaceae Guava Woba Shrub - The ripe fruits are sweet and eaten fresh 16 Azadirachta indica Meliaceae Neem Dogonyaro Tree - It is used as timber, timber is hard, red, durable, attractive and used for joinery and high class furniture 11 Tetrapleura letraptera Leguminosae Aidan tree Uyayak Tree - The fruit are aromatic and popular as soup 5 Garcinia kola Clusiaceae Bitter kola Efiad Tree - The seeds are chewed alone, with alligator paper and/or cola nuts to treat cough 12 Emilia sonchifolia Asteraceae Shaving brush Utimense Herb - The leaf is used to rub lavishly all over a baby with high fever to bring down the temperature 68 Marantochoa cuspidata Marantaceae Yourba softcane Aya Forest herb - The leaves are popularly used for wrapping 107 Costus afer Costaceae Bush cane Mbritem Forest herb - The boiled leaves are used as soothing fermentation for rheumatic pains 217 Persea americana Lauraceae Avocado pear Eben mbakara Tree - The fruits are edible. Adecoction of the dry leaves controls hypertension. 7 Irvingia gabonensis Irvingiaceae African mango Uyo Tree - The fruits pulp is edible. Sweet and refreshing to the taste. 7 Cymbopogon citratus Gramineae Lemon grass Ebana Herb - It is popularly used in the treatment of malaria. (Poaceae) 13 Maesobotrya barteri Euphorbiaceae Squirrel cherry Nyanyated Shrub - Twigs and small branches are used as chewing sticks 8 Capsicum frutescens Solanaceae Sweet pepper Ntuen okpo Shrub - Sweet peppers are external 53 stimulant and counter irritant Xylopia aethiopica Annonaceae African pepper Ata Tree - The fruits are spice, flavour and condiment. 8 NJAFE VOL. 8 No. 1,

9 Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 8(1): Bryophyllum pinnatum Crassulaceae Air plant Ndodob Perennial herb - The leaf-juice is used as styptic and vulnerary 36 Asystasia gangetica Acanthaceae Mkpah - uton ntok eyin Perennial herb - The leaves are edible; they are cooked in palm fruit, filtrated and fed to babies 176 Achyranthes aspera Amaranthaceae Devil s whip Udok mbiod Herb - It is used to soften cough, and increase urine flow (leave) 41 Anacardium occidentale Anacardiaceae Cashew Kasiu Evergreen tree - The fruits (nuts) is edible and highly nutritional but must be roasted before eating 13 Terminalia catappa Combretaceae Indian almond Mbansan Tree - It is planted as a shade tree, windbreak and mbakara ornamental plant 8 - The fruits and seed are edible Baphia nitida Leguminosae Camwood Afuo shrub - Twigs and small branches are popularly used as chewing stick 25 Aframomum meleguata Zingiberaceae Alligator pepper Ntue ibok Perennial herb - The seeds are revulsive and carminative 9 Piper guineense Piperaceae Guinea black pepper Odusa Climber - The leaves are aromatic and used as vegetable, spice, spinach or flavouring. It is a spicy mild pugent 37 Zea mays Grmaineae Maize Akakpa Herb - The grains are edible. Fresh maize is roasted or boiled - Maize starch is used to make ethyl bropyl alcohol 41 Acanthus montanus Acanthaceae Leopard s tongue Mbara-ekpe Herb - Leave decoction is drunk to cure cough and whooping cough 41 Dennettia tripetala Annonaceae Pepper fruit Nkarika Shrub - The mature green or ripe fruits are eaten for their beautiful aroma and pepper/spicy sensations 12 Spondias mombin Anacardiaceae Hogplum Nsukakara Tree - Fruits are edible especially by children: The leaves are fed to goats with delayed release of the placenta to accelerate its release - It is used to make live fences, yam barns, etc. Caladium bicolor Araceae Ornamental cocoyam Ikpo ekpo Perennial herb - The rhizomes are fed to pigs after boiling 62 Uvaria chamae Annonaceae Finger root Nkarika ikot Woody climber - The root is regarded as a purgative and antipyretic while the root/bark is used to treat dysentery and respiratory catarrh 13 Strophanthus Apocynaceae Arrow poison Ibok idan Woody climber - Enema from the pounded bark is used in the treatment sarmentosus of gonorrhea 17 Gongronema latifolium Asclepiadaceae Utasi Woody climber - It is used as a vegetable. In soups, it impacts it beautiful and agreeable bitter taste to the food. 47 Hibiscus surattensis Malvaceae Prickly hibiscus Afat iban Climber - The herb is decorative and could be used in amenity planting along pations NJAFE VOL. 8 No. 1,

10 Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment. 8(1): Aloe vera Liliaceae Barbados aloe Akokafid Herb - Aloe juice is used to treat skin infections - eczema, ringworm, athlete s foot, acne, psoriasis, etc. 14 Diodia scandens Rubiaceae Turtle s shell Edem ikid Herb - The leaf juice is used to stop bleeding - The leaf extract is used to treat bruises and minor cuts 13 Smilax anceps Smilacaceae West Africa Obufat Climber - It is an excellent antidote after taking a deadly poison. sarsaparilla - The roots are diuretic 7 Synsepalum dulcificum Sapotaceae Magic-plant Npantun Shrub - The pulp is locally used to sweeten palm wine 15 Datura stramonium Solanaceae Jimson weed Nnya-ekpo Annual herb - The pulverized leaves are used as analgesic sedative, anti-jussive and anti-asthmatic. 26 Lycopersicum esculentum Solanaceae Tomato Tomato Climber - The fruits are eaten raw, per se and in salads - They are served as cooked vegetables, used as flavouring in sauce, stews, soups and pickled Stachytarpheta cayennensis Verbenaceae Bustard vervain Adian-umon Herb - Our local fowl feed on it 17 Glyphaea brevis Tiliaceae Ndodido Shrub - It is popular chewing stick with a sweet silky pulp 45 Tectona grandis Verbenaceae Teak Tiik Tree - It is used as timber. The whole plant is a popular avenue tree. Used in treatment malaria. 5 Lagenaria breviflora Cucurbitaceae Wild colocynth Ndise ikot Herb - The fruit is used as a cathartic- cleansing and purgative 8 Cyperus esculentus Cyperaceae Earth nut Isib ison herb - The nuts are chewed and swallowed to cure constipation 17 Portulaca oleracea Portulacaceae Pigweed Uton-ekpu Herb - The whole plant is used as fodder for poultry, pigs and ostriches. 142 Corchorus olitorius Tiliaceae Bush okra Etinyon Annual herb - Tender shoots and leaves are edible - The whole plant forms hedges NJAFE VOL. 8 No. 1,