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J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage.
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Vol. 23 (4) 585-592 April 2019
Electronic ISSN 1119-8362 http://ww.bioline.org.br/ja
Checklist of Weeds in University of Port Harcourt and Its Environs
*EKEKE, C; OGAZIE, CA; AGBAGWA, IO
Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science
University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author Email: ekeke.uc@gmail.com
ABSTRACT: We took inventory of the weeds in and around the University of Port Harcourt to determine their family,
genus and species compositions and thereby generate their checklist. Three hundred and twenty-two (322) species of
weeds belonging to 172 genera and 45 families were identified. Among these weed species, the grasses (Poaceae) having
72 species and 40 genera was the dominant weed identified. This is followed by Fabaceae (25 species in 16 genera),
Cyperaceae (53 species in 14 genera), Asteraceae (15 species in 12 genera) and Commelinaceae (20 species in 8 genera).
Others include Tiliaceae (7 species in 6 genera), Euphorbiaceae (13 species in 7 genera), Amaranthaceae (5 species in 4
genera), Rubiaceae (6 species in 5), Convolvulaceae (10 species in 4 genera), Solanaceae (8 species in 4 genera),
Cucurbitaceae (5 species in 4 genera), Malvaceae (7 species 3 genera) and Verbenaceae (5 species in 3 genera).
Anacardiaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Boraginaceae, Crassulaceae, Hydrophyllaceae, Loganiceae, Lythraceae,
Melastomataceae, Sapinaceae, Sapindaceae, Selaginellaceae, Sphenocleaceae, Sterculiaceae and Urticaceae with one
species in one genus were the least dominant families. These weeds are found in wet or dry land (open fields, cultivated
Lands, abandoned fallow and lawns) but predominantly found in open fields. The Perennials (54.98%) are the dominant
weeds followed by annuals (42.42%) while bi-annuals (2.60%) were the least. The broad leaves were the dominant weeds
and constituted 76.47% of the weeds identified, followed by grasses 14.03% and sedges 9.50%. This finding, therefore,
presents the first comprehensive inventory of weeds in the University of Port Harcourt.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v23i4.2
Copyright: Copyright © 2019 Ekeke et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons
Attribution License (CCL), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is properly cited.
Dates: Received: 30 February 2019; Revised: 27 March 2019; Accepted 12 April 2019
Keywords: weed, Poaceae, Loganiceae, Melastomataceae
Weeds are genetically diverse and many common
weed species also have the ability to establish
themselves rapidly in the field (Mikulka and Chodová,
2000). This is primarily due to their ability to produce
a large number of viable seeds or vegetative tissues
such as rhizomes in a single growing season (Shetto et
al., 1994). In recent times, a considerable increase in
infestation of arable land with perennial weeds have
been reported (Winkler, 2000). This trend was
attributed to the failure of the farmers to carry out
cultural practices as well as poor weed control
management practices during this process (Mikulka
and Chodová, 2000). Weeds compete with crops for
water, soil nutrients, light and space and thus reduce
crop yields (Sankaran and Mani, 1972; Rao, 1983;
Croon et al., 1984; Rain, 1984) and are major causes
of low yield in cassava and the main constraint limiting
the competitiveness of cassava farmers in the country
(Daily Post, 2018). They also contribute to a reduction
in maize yield (Shetto et al., 1994; Crammer 1976),
rice, wheat, sorghum and millet (Crammer, 1976).
West Africa lies in the tropics and sub-humid tropics
which are characterized by high temperatures and
humid ecosystems, a situation which makes the region
*Corresponding Author Email: ekeke.uc@gmail.com
conducive to weed growth. Hence, weeds constitute a
significant component of the pest complex in African
farms, consequently, an important constraint in the
agricultural production system (Takim and Amodu,
2013). Identification and proper documentation of the
weeds help the farmers to identify the best practice to
tackle the different species of weeds. In and around the
University of Port Harcourt, there is no comprehensive
data on the weeds and presents the checklist of the
weed in this area for the first time.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The weed enumeration was based on plot-less
sampling technique. The sampling of the grasses were
done randomly along the roads, foot paths, tracts, open
fields, farms, etc without any specific plot or quadrat
size (Mueller-Dombois and Ellengerg, 1974). The
weeds were identified using the handbook of West
African Weeds (Akobundu and Agyakwa, 1998;
Akobundu et al., 2017; Hutchinson and Dalziel, 1954;
Lowe, 1974; Stanfield and Lowe, 1970). Data on
weeds species were collected at monthly intervals for
five months during the blooming period (June to
October) in 2016 and 2017.
Checklist of Weeds in University of…..
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A total of 322 weed species belonging to 172 genera
and 45 families were identified in and around the
University of Port Harcourt (Tables 1 and 2). Based on
the number of species, Poaceae family had the
maximum species composition of 72 species (22.36%)
out of 322 weed species identified. It is followed by
Cyperaceae 53 (16.46%), Fabaceae 25 (7.76%),
Asteraceae 15 (4.66%), Euphorbiaceae 13 (4.04%),
Convolvulaceae 10 (3.11%), Moraceae 9 (2.80%),
Solanaceae 8 (2.48%), Tiliaceae and Malvaceae 7
(2.17%) each, Tiliaceae and Rubiaceae 6 (1.86%)
each,
and
Amaranthaceae,
Cucurbitaceae,
Verbenaceae and Vitaceae 5 (1.55%). The least
number of species were in Zingiberaceae,
Anacardiaceae,
Asclepiadaceae,
Boraginaceae,
S/N
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
586
Crassulaceae,
Hydrophyllaceae,
Loganiceae,
Lythraceae,
Melastomataceae,
Sapinaceae,
Sapindaceae,
Selaginellaceae,
Sphenocleaceae,
Sterculiaceae and Urticaceae (Table 2). Also,
members of the family Poaceae with 40 genera
(23.26%) had the highest number of genera, followed
by Fabaceae 16 (9.30%), Cyperaceae, 14 (8.14%),
Asteraceae 12 (6.97%), Commelinaceae 8 (4.65%),
Euphorbiaceae 7 (4.07%), Tiliaceae, Rubiaceae and
Cucurbitaceae 5 (2.91%) each, Convolvulaceae,
Amaranthaceae and Solanaceae 4 (2.33%) genera
each, Malvaceae, Verbenaceae, Acanthaceae,
Apocynaceae and Araceae 3 (1.74%) genera each and
Scrophulariaceae,
Portulacaeae,
Lamiaceae,
Passifloraceae, Piperaceae and Sapindaceae 2 (1.16%)
genera each (Table 2).
Table 1: Checklist of weed species identified in the study area
Name of Weed
Family
Asystasia gangetica (Linn.) T. Anders
Acanthaceae
Hypoestes forskalei (Vahl) Soland. Ex Roem. & Schult.
Acanthaceae
Hypoestes sp.
Acanthaceae
Nelsonia canescens (Lam.) Spreng.
Acanthaceae
Alternanthera sessilis (L.) DC.
Amaranthaceae
Amaranthus spinosus Linn.
Amaranthaceae
Amaranthus viridis Linn.
Amaranthaceae
Celosia leptostachya Benth.
Amaranthaceae
Cyathula prostrata (L.) Blume
Amaranthaceae
Gomphrena celosioides Mart.
Amaranthaceae
Spondias mombin Linn.
Anacardiaceae
Rauvolfia vomitoria Afzel.
Apocynaceae
Tabernaemontana longiflora Benth.
Apocynaceae
Voacanga africana Stapf
Apocynaceae
Colocasia esculenta (Linn.) Schott
Araceae
Syngonium podophyllum Schott
Araceae
Xanthosoma mafaffa Schott
Araceae
Pergularia daemia (Forsk.) Chiov.
Asclepiadaceae
Ageratum conyzoides Linn.
Asteraceae
Aspilia Africana (Pers.) C.D. Adams
Asteraceae
Chromoleana odorata (L.) R.M. King & Robinson
Asteraceae
Eclipta alba (L.)Hassk
Asteraceae
Eleutheranthera ruderalis (Sw.) Sch.Bip.
Asteraceae
Emilia coccinea (Sims) G.Don
Asteraceae
Emilia praetermissa Milne-Readhead
Asteraceae
Emilia sonchifolia (Linn.) DC.
Asteraceae
Ethulia conyzoides
Asteraceae
Melanthera scadens (Schum. & Thonn.) Roberty
Asteraceae
Spilanthes sp.
Asteraceae
Synedrella nodiflora Gaertn.
Asteraceae
Tridax procumbens Linn.
Asteraceae
Vernonia cinerea (Linn.) Less
Asteraceae
Vernonia sp. Linn.f.
Asteraceae
Heliotropium indicum Linn.
Boraginaceae
Cleome rutidosperma DC.
Cleomaceae
Cleome viscosa L.
Cleomaceae
Combretum bracteatum (Laws.) Engl. & Diels
Combretaceae
Combretum platypterum (Welw.) Hutch. & Dalz.
Combretaceae
Combretum racemosum P. Beauv.
Combretaceae
Commelina diffusa Burm. f.
Combretaceae
Aneilema beninense (P. Beauv.) Kunth
Commelinaceae
Aneilema sp
Commelinaceae
Aneilema umbrosum (Vahl) Kunth
Commelinaceae
Aneilema umbrosum subsp. umbrosum J. K. Morton
Commelinaceae
Aneilema umbrosum subsp. ovato- oblongum (P.
Commelinaceae
Beauv.) J. K. Morton
EKEKE, C; OGAZIE, CA; AGBAGWA, IO
Habitat
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF/WL
OF/CL
OF/CL
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF/CL
WL/BF
OF/CL
OF/BF
OF
OF
OF
OF/WL
OF
OF
OF
OF
WL
OF
OF
OF
OF
WL/BF
OF
OF/WL
OF
OF
OF/BF
OF/BF
OF/BF
OF/BF
OF/CL
OF/CL
CL
CL
Lifeform
A
A
A
BA
A
A
A
A
A
A
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
A
A
P
A
A
A
A
A
A
P
P
A
BA
P
A
A
A
A
P
P
P
P
A/P
A/P
A/P
A/P
CL
A/P
Checklist of Weeds in University of…..
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
587
Commelina benghalensis var. benghalensis J. K. Morton
Commelina benghalensis var. hirsuta C. B. Cl.
Commelina diffusa subsp. diffusa J. K. Morton
Commelina erecta L. subsp. erecta
Commelina erecta Linn.
Commelina forskalaei Vahl
Commelina thomasii Hutch.
Corchorus trilocularis Linn.
Cyanotis arachnoidea C. B. Cl.
Cyanotis lanata Benth.
Floscopa aquatica Hua
Murdannia tenuissima (A. Chev.) Brenan
Palisota hirsute (Thunb.) K.Schum.
Stanfieldiella imperforata (C. B. Cl.) Brenan
Hewittia malabarica (L.) Suresh
Hewittia sublobata Linn.
Ipomoea aquatica Forsk.
Ipomoea asarifolia (Desr.) Roem. & Schult.
Ipomoea cordatotriloba Dennst.
Ipomoea involucrata P. Beauv.
Ipomoea mauritiana Jacq.
Ipomoea quamoclit Linn.
Lepistemon owariense (P.Beauv.) Hallier f.
Merremia aegyptia (Linn.) Urban
Bryophyllum pinnatum (Linn.) Oken
Lagenaria breviflora (Benth.) Roberty
Luffa aegyptiaca Mill.
Momordica charantia Linn.
Zehneria capillacea (Schumach.) C. Jeffrey
Croton
Zehneria scabra (L. f.) Sond. subsp. scabra
Commelinaceae
Commelinaceae
Commelinaceae
Commelinaceae
Commelinaceae
Commelinaceae
Commelinaceae
Commelinaceae
Commelinaceae
Commelinaceae
Commelinaceae
Commelinaceae
Commelinaceae
Commelinaceae
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulaceae
Crassulaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Cucurbitaceae
OF/CL
OF/CL
OF/CL
WL/CL
OF/CL
OF/CL
OF/CL
OF
OF
OF
CL
OF
WL
CL
OF
OF
WL
OF/WL
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
CL
OF
A/P
A/P
A/P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
A/P
A/P
P
P
P
A
P
P
P
BA
P
A
P
A
P
P
A
P
P
P
A
Bulbostylis barbata (Rottb.) C.B.Cl.
Cirpus angolensi C. B. Cl. var. brizaeformis (Hutch.)
Hooper
Cyperus compressus Linn.
Cyperus cuspidatus Kunth
Cyperus dichroöstachyus Hochst. ex A. Rich.
Cyperus difformis Linn.
Cyperus distans Linn.f.
Cyperus esculentus Linn.
Cyperus haspan Linn.
Cyperus iria Linn.
Cyperus polystachyos (Rottb.) P. Beauv. var.
polystachyos
Cyperus pustulatus Vahl.
Cyperus rotundus Linn.
Cyperus sp.
Cyperus tuberosus Rottb.
Eleocharis acutangula (Roxb.) J.A. Schultes
Fimbristylis dichotoma var. pluristriata (C.B. Cl.)
Napper
Fimbristylis ferruginea (Linn.) Vahl
Fimbristylis hispidula (Vahl) Kunth subsp. hispidula
Fimbristylis littoralis Gaudet
Fuirena ciliaris (Linn.) Roxb.
Fuirrena umbellata Rottb.
Hypolytrum heteromorphum Nelmes
Hypolytrum purpurascens Cherm.
Kyllinga brevifolia Rottb.
Kyllinga bulbosa Beauv.
Kyllinga bulbosa P.Beauv.
Kyllinga erecta Schumach.
Kyllinga erecta Schumach. var. erecta
Kyllinga erecta Schumach. var. polyphylla (Kunth)
Hooper
Kyllinga erecta Schumacher var. erecta
Kyllinga erecta var. africana (Kuk.) Hopper
Kyllinga erecta var. polyphylla (Kunth) Hooper
Kyllinga nemoralis (Forst.) Dandy ex Hutch.
Cyperaceae
OF/CL
P
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Cyperaceae
OF/WL
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
OF/WL
OF
WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
Cyperaceae
OF/WL
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
WL
OF/WL
WL
WL
WL
WL
WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
P
P
P
A
A
P
A
A
P
P
P
P
P
Cyperaceae
OF/WL
P
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
P
P
P
P
Cyperaceae
EKEKE, C; OGAZIE, CA; AGBAGWA, IO
P
P
P
P
P
P
Checklist of Weeds in University of…..
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
Kyllinga odorata Vahl
Kyllinga peruviana Lam.
Kyllinga pumila Michx.
Kyllinga squamulata Thonn. Ex Vahl
Kyllinga tenuifolia Steud.
Lipocarpha chinensis (Osbeck) Kern
Mariscus alternifolius Vahl
Mariscus dubius (Rottb.) C.E.C. Fischer
Mariscus flabelliformis Kunth var. flabelliformis
Mariscus ligularis (L.) Urban
Mariscus longibracteatus Cherm.
Mariscus quarrosus (Linn.) C.B. Cl.
Mariscus tomaiophyllus (K. Schum.) C.B. Cl.
Pycreus macrostacyos (Lam.) J.Raynal
Rhynchospora corymbosa (Linn.) Britt.
Schoenoplectus senegalensis (Hochst. Ex Steud.) Palla.
Scleria naumanniana Boeck
Scleria verrucosa Willd
Dioscorea bulbifera
Dioscorea sp.
Acalypha fimbriata Schum. & Thonn.
Alchornea cordifolia (Schum & Thonn) Mull. Arg.
Alchornea laxiflora (Benth.) Pax & K. Hoffm
Croton hirtus L'Hérit
Croton lobatus L.
Euphorbia heterphylla Linn.
Euphorbia hirta Linn.
Euphorbia hyssopifolia Linn.f.
Euphorbia prostrata Ait
Euphorbia thymifolia Linn.
Phyllanthus niruri var. amarus (Schumach. & Thonn.)
Learndri
Phyllanthus sp. Linn.
Phyllanthus urinaria Linn.
Anthonotha macrpphylla P.Beauv.
Senna alata (L.)Roxb.
Senna hirsuta (Linn.) Irwin & Barneby
Senna sp.
Dialum guineensis Willd.
Aeschynomene indica Linn.
Mimosa invisa var. inermis Adelb.
Mimosa pigra Linn.
Mimosa pudica Linn.
Schrankia leptocarpa DC.
Baphia nitida Load.
Calopogonium mucunoides Desv.
Centrosema pubescens Benth.
Crotolaria retusa Linn.
Desmodium scorpiurus (Sw.) Desv.
Desmodium triflorum (Linn.) DC.
Dolichos sp.
Indigofera sp
Indigofera spicata Forsk.
Lonchocarpus cyanescens (Schum. & Thonn.) Benth.
Millettia aboensis (Hook. f.) Bak.
Mucuna cochinchinensis (Lour) A. Chev.
Mucuna pruriens (Linn.) DC. var. pruriens
Mucuna pruriens var. utilis (Wall. ex Wight) Bak. ex
Burck
Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth.
Hydrolea pulustris (Aubl.) Rausch
Icacina senegalensis A. Juss.
Icacina trichantha Oliv.
Platostoma africanum P. Beauv.
Solenostemon monostachyus subsp. monostachyus (P.
Beauv.) Briq.
Spigelia anthelmia Linn.
Ammannia baccifera L.
Hibiscus asper Hook. f
Malvastrum coromandelianum (Linn.) Garcke
588
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae
Dioscoreaceae.
Dioscoreaceae.
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
BF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
A
P
P
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
Euphorbiaceae
OF
A
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
OF
OF
OF/BF
OF
OF
OF
OF/BF
OF
OF
OF/WL
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
WL/BF
A
A
P
P
A
A
P
A
A
P
P
A
P
A
P
A
P
P
A
A
P
P
P
A
A
Fabaceae
OF
A
Fabaceae
Hydrophyllaceae
Icacinaceae
Icacinaceae
Lamiaceae
OF
WL
OF
OF
OF/WL
P
A
P
P
A
Lamiaceae
OF
P
Loganiceae
Lythraceae
Malvaceae
Malvaceae
OF
WL
OF
OF
A
A
A
BA
EKEKE, C; OGAZIE, CA; AGBAGWA, IO
Checklist of Weeds in University of…..
589
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
Sida acuta Burm.f.
Sida cordifolia Linn.
Sida garckeana Polak.
Sida linifolia Juss ex Cav.
Sida rhombifolia Linn.
Heterotis rotundifolia (Sw.) Jac.-Fél.
Ficus exasperata Vahl.
Ficus lyrata
Ficus morobensis
Malvaceae
Malvaceae
Malvaceae
Malvaceae
Malvaceae
Melastomataceae
Moraceae
Moraceae
Moraceae
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF/WL
OF/BF
OF/BF
OF/BF
P
P
P
BA
P
P
P
P
P
188
Ficus ovata
Moraceae
OF/BF
P
189
190
Ficus retusa
Ficus spp.
Ficus sycomorus sub. sp. gnaphalocarpa (Mig.) C. C.
Berg.
Ficus triangularis
Ficus varirfolia
Moraceae
Moraceae
OF/BF
OF/BF
P
P
Moraceae
OF/BF
P
Moraceae
Moraceae
OF/BF
OF/BF
P
P
Boerhavia coccinea Mill.
Boerhavia diffusa L.
Nymphaea lotus Linn.
Nymphaea maculata Schum & Thonn.
Ludwigia abyssinica A. Rich.
Ludwigia decurrens Walt.
Ludwigia hyssopifolia (G.Don) Exell
Ludwigia linifolia Vahl
Adenia gomefora Forsk.
Passiflora foetida Linn.
Peperomia pellucida (L.) H. B. & K
Piperaceae
Acroceras amplectens Stapf.
Acroceras zizanioides Dandy
Andropogon ascinodis C.B. Cl.
Andropogon sp.
Andropogon tectorum Schum. & Thonn.
Axonopus compressus (Sw.) P. Beauv.
Bambusa vulgaris Wendel. &
Brachiaria comata (A. Rich.) Stapf
Brachiaria deflexa (Shumach.) C.E.Hubbard ex Robyns
Brachiaria distachyoides Stapf
Brachiaria lata (Shumach.) C. E. Hubbard
Brachiaria stigmatisata (Mez) Stapf
Chloris pilosa Schumach.
Chrysopogon aciculatus (Retz.) Trin.
Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf
Cynodon dactylon (Linn.) Pers.
Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst
Dactyloctenium aegyptium (Linn.) P.Beauv.
Digitaria adscendens Henr.
Digitaria argillacea (Hitchc. & Chase) Fernald
Digitaria debilis (Desf.) Willd.
Digitaria horizontalis Willd.
Digitaria longiflora (Retz.) Pers.
Echinochloa colona (Linn.) Link
Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn.
Eragrostis atrovirens (Desf.) Trin. ex Steud.
Eragrostis gangetica Steud.
Eragrostis sp.
Eragrostis tenella (Linn.) P.Beauv. ex. Roem & Schult.
Euclasta condylotricha (Hochst. ex Steud.) Stapf
Guaduella densiflora Pilger
Hackelochloa granularis (Linn.) O.Ktze.
Hyparrhenia rufa Stapf
Hyparrhenia involucrata Stapf
Imperata cylindrica (Linn.) Raeuschel var. africana
(Anderss) C.E. Hubbard
Leersia hexandra Sw.
Leptochloa caerulescens Steud.
Leptochloa filiformis Beauv.
Oplismenus burmannii (Retz.)P.Beavu.
Oryza sativa Linn.
Nyctaginaceae
Nyctaginaceae
Nymphaeaceae
Nymphaeaceae
Onagraceae
Onagraceae
Onagraceae
Onagraceae
Passifloraceae
Passifloraceae
Piperaceae
Piperaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
OF
OF
WL
WL
WL
WL
WL
WL
OF
OF
OF/CL
WL
WL
WL
OF
OF
OF
OF
WL/CL
OF/WL
OF
OF/WL
OF
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/CL
OF/CL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF
CL
CL
CL
OF
CL
OF/WL
OF
OF/CL
OF/CL
OF/CL
OF/CL
OF/CL
CL
OF/CL
CL
CL
P
P
P
P
BA
A
A
A
A
A
P
P
A
P
A
A
A
P
P
A
A
A
A
A
A
P
P
P
P
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
P
P
P
A
P
A
A
A
A
Poaceae
OF/BF
P
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
WL/CL
WL/CL
WL/CL
OF/CL
BF
P
A
A
A
A
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
EKEKE, C; OGAZIE, CA; AGBAGWA, IO
Checklist of Weeds in University of…..
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
Oxytenanthera abyssinica Munro
Panicum brevifolium Linn.
Panicum brevifolium Linn.
Panicum fluviicola Steud.
Panicum laxum Sw.
Panicum maximum Jacq.
Panicum walense Mez
Paspalum conjugatum Berg.
Paspalum notatum Flüegge
Paspalum scrobiculatum Linn.
Paspalum vaginatum Sw.
Pennisetum pedicellatum Trin.
Pennisetum polystachion (Linn.) Schlt.
Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.
Pennisetum subangustem
Perotis indica (Linn.) O. Ktze
Rhynchelytrum repens (Willd.) C. E. Hubbard
Rottboellia cochinchinensis (Lour.) Clayton
Saccharum officinarum Linn.
Sacciolepis africana Hubb. & Snowden
Setaria barbata (Lam.) Kunth
Setaria megaphylla (Steud.) Dur. & Schinz
Setaria pumila (Poir.) Roem. & Schult
Sorghum arundinaceum (Desv.) Stapf
Sorghum sp.
Sporobolus pyramidalis Beauv.
Sporobolus pyramidalis P. Beauv.
Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze
Zea mays L.
Zoysia tenuifolia Willd. ex. Thiele
Talinium triangulare (Jacq.) willd.
Portulaca oleracea Linn.
Portulaca quadrifida Linn.
Diodia sarmentosa Sw.
Mitracapus villosus (Sw.) DC.
Oldenlandia corymbosa Linn.
Oldenlandia herbacea (Linn.) Roxb.
Pentodon pentandrus Schum. & Thonn.) Vatke
Spermacoce ocymoides Burm.f.
Paullinia pinnata Linn.
Allophylus africanus P. Beauv.
Lindernia cruatacea (Linn.) F.Muelly
Lindernia numulariifolia (D. Don) Wettst.
Lindernia sp.
Scoparia dulcis Linn.
Selaginella myosurus (Sw.) Alston
Datura metel Linn.
Physalis angulata Linn.
Physalis micrantha Linn.
Schwenckia americana Linn.
Solanum macrocarpon Linn.
Solanum nigrum Linn.
Solanum sp.
Solanum torvum Swartz
Sphenoclea zeylanica Gaertn.
Melochia corchorifolia Linn.
Clappertonia ficifolia (Willd.) Decne.
Glyphaea brevis (Spreng.) Monachino
Grewia sp.
Triumfetta cordifolia A.Rich.
Triumfetta rhomboidea Jacq.
Urena lobata Linn.
Pouzolzia guineensis Benth.
Clerodendrum sp. Linn.
Clerodendrum volubile P.Beauv.
Lantana camara Linn.
Stachytarpheta cayennensis (L.C. Rich) Schau.
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (Linn.) Vahl
Cissus aralioides (Baker) Planch.
Cissus cymosa
590
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Poaceae
Portulacaeae
Portulaceae
Portulaceae
Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
Sapindaceae
Sapindaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Selaginellaceae
Solanaceae
Solanaceae
Solanaceae
Solanaceae
Solanaceae
Solanaceae
Solanaceae
Solanaceae
Sphenocleaceae
Sterculiaceae
Tiliaceae
Tiliaceae
Tiliaceae
Tiliaceae
Tiliaceae
Tiliaceae
Urticaceae
Verbenaceae
Verbenaceae
Verbenaceae
Verbenaceae
Verbenaceae
Vitaceae
Vitaceae
EKEKE, C; OGAZIE, CA; AGBAGWA, IO
CL
OF
OF/CL
OF/CL
OF/WL
OF
CL/BF
WL/BF
OF
OF/WL
WL
BF
OF
OF
OF
CL/BF
CL/BF
OF
BF
WL
OF
WL
OF
OF/BF
OF
OF
OF
OF
BF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF/WL
OF
WL
OF
OF
OF/BF
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF/WL
OF
WL
OF
OF/CL
OF/CL
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF/CL
WL
OF/WL
WL
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF/BF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF
OF/BF
P
A
A
A
A
P
A
P
P
P
A
A
A
P
A
A
A
A
A
P
A
P
A
A/P
A
P
P
A
A
A/P
P
P
P
P
A
A
A
P
A
P
P
A
A
A
A
A
P
A
A
A
A
A
A
P
A
p
P
P
P
P
P
P
A
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Checklist of Weeds in University of…..
591
318
Cissus gracills Guill. & Perr.
Vitaceae
OF
319
Cissus simsiana
Vitaceae
OF/BF
320
Cissus sp.
Vitaceae
OF
321
Costus afer Ker-Gawl.
Zingiberaceae
OF
322
Costus dubbius (Afzel.) K.Schum.
Zingiberaceae
WL
OF – Open field, A- annual, P- perennial, BA- bi-annual, CL- cultivated land, BF- bush fallow, WL- wetland
S/N
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Total
P
P
A
A
P
Table 2: Summary of weeds species based on families, genera, and species
Number of
Number of
FAMILY
S/N
FAMILY NAME
NAME
Genera Species
Genera
Species
Acanthaceae
3
4
24
Malvaceae
3
7
Amaranthaceae
4
5
25
Melastomataceae
1
2
Anacardiaceae
1
1
26
Moraceae
1
9
Apocynaceae
3
3
27
Nyctaginaceae
1
2
Araceae
3
3
28
Nymphaeaceae
1
2
Asclepiadaceae
1
1
29
Onagraceae
1
4
Asteraceae
12
15
30
Passifloraceae
2
2
Boraginaceae
1
1
31
Piperaceae
2
2
Cleomaceae
1
2
32
Poaceae
40
72
Combretaceae
1
4
33
Portulacaeae
2
3
Commelinaceae
8
20
34
Rubiaceae
5
6
Convolvulaceae
4
10
35
Sapindaceae
2
2
Crassulaceae
1
1
36
Scrophulariaceae
2
4
Cucurbitaceae
5
5
37
Selaginellaceae
1
1
Cyperaceae
14
53
38
Solanaceae
4
8
Dioscoreaceae.
1
2
39
Sphenocleaceae
1
1
Euphorbiaceae
7
13
40
Sterculiaceae
1
1
Fabaceae
16
25
41
Tiliaceae
5
6
Hydrophyllaceae
1
1
42
Urticaceae
1
1
Icacinaceae
1
2
43
Verbenaceae
3
5
Lamiaceae
2
2
44
Vitaceae
1
5
Loganiceae
1
1
45
Zingiberaceae
1
2
Lythraceae
1
1
172
322
Broad leaves constituted 61.56% of the total weed
species encountered while grasses and sedges
constituted 21.88% and 16.56% respectively (Figure
1).
Fig 2: Percentage composition of weeds based on their life form
Fig 1: Percentage composition of broad leaves, grasses, and sedges
in the study area
Perennials were the dominant weed species identified
in the study area and comprised 54.55% of the total
weed species while annuals had 40.13%,
annuals/perennials 3.76% and bi-annuals had 1.57%
(Figure 2). Based on habitat distribution, 133 weed
species were found in the open fields only, 65 species
in open fields/wetlands, 31 species in only wetland, 28
species in open fields/cultivated lands, 22 in open
fields/bush fallow, 14 species in cultivated lands only,
7 species in wetlands/bush fallow and 2 species in bush
fallow (Tables 1 and 3).
Table 3: Summary of distribution weeds species based on habitat
Habitat
No. of species
Open fields (OF)
133
Open fields/Wetlands (OF/WL)
65
Wetlands (WL)
31
Open fields/Cultivated lands (OF/CL)
28
Open fields/Bush fallow (OF/BF)
22
Cultivated lands (CL)
14
Wetlands/Bush fallow (WL/BF)
7
Bush fallow (BF)
5
Cultivated lands/Bush fallow (CL/BF)
2
The results from this study showed that broadleaves
were the dominant weed in and round the University
of Port Harcourt. However, members of the Poaceae
family dominated the weed community. Other
EKEKE, C; OGAZIE, CA; AGBAGWA, IO
Checklist of Weeds in University of…..
dominant weed families encountered were
Cyperaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae,
Convolvulaceae, Moraceae, Solanaceae, Tiliaceae,
and Malvaceae. Similar observations have been made
in sugarcane and legume farms that the broadleaves
were the dominant weed species, followed by grasses
and sedges (Takim and Amodu, 2013; Lemerle and
Murphy, 2000). Studies have also shown that the more
diverse the land use system, the more diverse the weed
community with less dominant and troublesome
species, the more the broadleaves (Cardina et al.,
1998). This, however, suggests that there are farming
and bush clearing activities within the study area and
is evident as most of the weed species are found in
open
fields,
open
fields/wetlands,
open
fields/cultivated lands and open fields/bush fallow.
Furthermore, our study showed that perennials and
annuals were the predominant weeds identified. In the
same vein, perennial weed species have been reported
to grow more on less-disturbed and more stable
environments. Similarly, our study area is lessdisturbed which inform the dominance of broadleaf
weeds and support the findings of Clements et.al.
(1996).
Conclusion: The results from this study showed Three
hundred and twenty-two (322) species of weeds
belonging to 172 genera and 45 families within
University of Port Harcourt and its environs with the
broadleaves dominating among the weeds. This report
represents the first comprehensive inventory on weeds
in the University of Port Harcourt and its environs.
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EKEKE, C; OGAZIE, CA; AGBAGWA, IO
Ikechukwu Agbagwa