Broadleaved forests

With the exception of some stands of human origin, such as those of cad (Acacia albida) around many villages and borassus palms (Borassus aethiopium) in the south-west of the country, closed broadleaved forests are represented mainly by gallery forests and Sudano-Guinean closed dry forests in the south-west where rainfall is over 1 000 mm.

The most frequent species in gallery forests along permanent rivers and in permanently moist gully-like valleys are Berlinia grandiflora, Khaya senegalensis, Syzygium guineense and Cola cordifolia, as well as Carapa procera, Pentadesma butyracea and Adina microcephala in the more southern gallery forests. Palms, especially the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), Calamus decratus, Raphia sudanica and Phoenix reclinata, found in swampy regions, as well as Pandanus candelabrum, also form part of the vegetation of the gallery forests.

Some vestigial forest islands, authentic closed dry forests determined by particular microclimatic conditions, are found especially along the southern border of the country. These islands of dry forest also include some species belonging to the vegetation of tropical rainforests. Apart from the species found in the surrounding open forest and savannah woodland, the most widespread species are Diospyros mespiliformis and Tamarindus indica.

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last updated: Monday, January 12, 2004