Nigerian Vegetation 

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Welcome to class! 

In today’s class, we will be talking about Nigerian vegetation. Enjoy the class!

Nigerian Vegetation 

CONTENT

1. Meaning of Vegetation
2. Types of Vegetation
3. Importance/uses of Vegetation resources in Nigeria

Meaning of vegetation

Vegetation is the plant cover of the earth surface; it is in the form of trees, shrubs, grasses and legumes.

Nigerian Vegetation is made up of three types, there are:

1. Forest vegetation (possesses significant tree cover)
2. Savanna vegetation (possesses insignificant tree cover, it has scattered trees with grasses in between)
3. Montane vegetation (found in mountain areas with a high proportion of grasses).

Forest vegetation:

Forest vegetation is made up of tall trees with aerial and buttress roots, the vegetation is evergreen

Types of forest vegetation

• Mangrove Swamp Forest:

It is found in the delta and coastal parts of Nigeria such as Port Harcourt, Warri, Uyo and Calabar.

Characteristics of swamp forest

1. It has tall, woody trees
2. It has aerial roots
3. Trees found include white mangrove and red mangrove
4. It has evergreen trees with broad leaves

Evaluation

1. What is Vegetation?
2. List the three types of Vegetation found in Nigeria.

• Rain Forest:

It is found in the southern parts of Nigeria such as Benin, Sapele, Akure, Ibadan Abeokuta etc.

Characteristic of rain forest

1. It has tall trees with buttress roots evergreen and broad leaves
2. Trees exist in different heights; these are bottom, middle and upper layers
3. Presence of climbers, creepers, epiphytes and parasitic plants
4. It has numerous heterogeneous species of trees such as Iroko, Obeche, Mahogany and African walnut

Evaluation

1. List three characteristics of mangrove forest
2. List three characteristics of rain forest

 

• Savanna Vegetation:

Savanna means grasslands, the savanna vegetation in Nigeria is divided into; Guinea Savanna, Sudan Savanna and Sahel Savanna.

 

1. Guinea Savanna: This is found in Enugu, Lokoja, Ilorin, Markudi, Osogbo, etc.

Characteristics of guinea savanna

1. It consists of tall grasses and few scattered trees
2. The trees are deciduous
3. The trees have tiny leaves to reduce transpiration
4. Grasses are green during the rainy season and turn brown in the dry season
5. The trees found in these areas are: Oil palm, dum palm, shea butter, Isoberlinaetc
6. It is the largest of all vegetation belts in Nigeria

2. Sudan Savanna: This vegetation belt is found in Sokoto, Kastina, Kaduna, Kano, Dutse, Bauchi, etc.

Characteristics of Sudan savanna

1. It has short numerous grasses
2. Presence of scattered and short deciduous trees
3. Some trees have thorns while others have thick barks
4. Plant species include acacia, date palm, silk cotton plants, baobab

3. Sahel Savanna: This is found in Maiduguri and Damaturu (north belt of the country).

Characteristics of Sahel savanna

1. It has short scanty grasses
2. Presence of short and tough shrub/trees
3. Grasses are fewer, poorer and in patches
4. It has many drought-resistant and scattered plants
5. Plant species are acacia, gum Arabic, date palm and baobab
6. Sparse rainfall discouraging cultivation of crops.

Evaluation

1. List three characteristics of guinea savanna.
2. List three characteristics of Sudan savanna.

• Montane Vegetation:

This is found in highlands areas like Jos and Adamawa with a high population of grasses.

Characteristics of Montane vegetation

1. It is associated with highland areas
2. It has varied trees at its windward (facing the wind) side.
3. Presence of short, scattered and deciduous trees.
4. It has grasses at its leeward (sheltered from the wind) side.
5. It is highly populated with grasses.

Importance of vegetation

1. It serves as a source of food
2. Timbers are obtained from the forest
3. Leaves and grass are used in roofing
4. Roots, barks and leaves are used for medicinal purpose
5. Sources of raw materials for industries
6. Provision of sites for tourism
7. Source of employment for hunters, lumbermen, forest officers, etc.

General evaluation

1. What is Vegetation?
2. List three characteristics of Sahel Savanna
3. What are the forest and savanna?
4. List three characteristics of Montane Vegetation
5. List five importance of Nigerian Vegetation

Theory

1. List four characteristics of swamp forest
2. List two characteristics of the rain forest.
3. What are the three types of vegetation in Nigeria
4. List three forest trees

 

In our next class, we will be talking about Propagation of Crops.  We hope you enjoyed the class.

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