Biodiversity Monitoring Program in the Mwaro ecological corridor, Mikeno Sector, Parc National des Virunga

3.3.4. Herbaceous plant species identified in Mwaro corridor.

Table 14. List of herbaceous species of the ecological corridor of Mwaro

N°	Species		Vernacular name		Presence in segments
1	Acalypha bipartite				2.3.6
2	Acanthopale pubescens				1
3	Achomanes gigantean				5.6
4	Achyranthes aspera				6
5	Adenia rumicifolia		Umuvuvu		1.2.3
6	Adenostemma perrottetii				1.5.6
7	Agavaceae		Ichagara		5

Page 37

8

	Alchemilla cryptantha		4.5
9	Alchemilla kiwuensis		5.6.7
10	Alsophilla manniana		5.6
11	Anagalis angustiloba		5
12	Arthopteris orientalis		1.2.7
13	Asplenium helotamnus		7
14	Asplenium sandersoni		1
15	Asplenium sp.		2
16	Basella alba	Umunyanja	1.2.3.4.5.6
17	Begonia meyeri-johannis		6
18	Blechnum attenuatum		5.6
19	Blotiella crenata		1
20	Brillantaisia patens	Urubondi	4.5.6
21	Carduus nyasanus var. nyassanus		5
22	Cineraria deltoidea		7
23	Cissus humberti		1.2.3
24	Clausena anisata		1
25	Clematis simensis		2.3.4.5.6.7
26	Clerodendron johnstonii		6
27	Coccinia milbraedii	Muhisha ya batwa	1.2.3.4.6
28	Conyza sumatrensis		6
29	Crassocephalum ducis-aprutii		4.5.6.7
30	Crassocephalum montuosum		1.5.6
31	Culucasia sp.		1
32	Cyperus sp.		1
33	Desmodium rependum		1.2.3.5.6
34	Dichrocephala integrifolia		5
35	Dioscorea sp.		1
36	Discopodium penninervium	Ikijojo	4.5.6.7
37	Dracaena afromontana		4.5.6
38	Dracaena laxissima		1
39	Dryopteris manniana	Rushihe	1.3.4.5.6.7
40	Elatostema monticola		5.6.7
41	Embelia schimperi		1.7
42	Ensete ventricosum		4
43	Erytrococca bogensis		1.2
44	Galliniera coffeoides		6
45	Galium chloroionanthum		4.5.6.7
46	Geranium aculeolatum		1.2
47	Gouania longispicata		1.2.3
48	Gutenbergia cordifolia		1
49	Gynura rwenzoriensis		2.3.4.5.6.7
50	Histiopteris incisa		7
51	Hypericum revolutum		6.7
52	Impatiens burtonii	Indodori	1.4.5.6.7
53	Impatiens niamniamensis		1.3
54	Ipomoea involucrata		1.2
55	Jasminium abyssinicum		1.2
56	Lactuca sp.		6
57	Laportea alatipes		4.5.6.7

Biodiversity survey of Mwaro corridor, Altitudinal distribution of the vegetation and assessment of Gorilla food availability

58

	Laportea ovalifolia		2.3.4.5.6
59	Lilium sp.		6
60	Lobelia giberroa		7
61	Melanthera scadens		3
62	Microglossa densiflora		4.6
63	Mikania cordata		4
64	Mikaniopsis rwandens		1.7
65	Mimulopsis arborescens		4.5.6
66	Mimulopsis solmsii	Mulyasenge,Runayo	1.2.3.4.5.6
67	Momodica foetida		2.3.4
68	Oplismenius sp.		1
69	Oreosyce africana	Umwishwa	1.2.3.5.6
70	Oxyanthus speciosus		1
71	Pannicum calvum		6
72	Peperomia fernandopoiana		1.6
73	Peucedanum aculeastrum		6.7
74	Peucedanum linderi		5.7
75	Pilea rivularis		1.2.3.4.6.7
76	Piper capens	Urubondi	1.2.4
77	Plectranthus sp.		1
78	Polygonum nepalens		5.6.7
79	Polygonum setosulum		5.6
80	Pseudocyclosorus pulcher		5
81	Psychotria mahonii		2.6
82	Pteris dentata
83	Pteris sp.		1
84	Ranunculus multifidus		5.6
85	Rubia cordifolia		2
86	Rubus steudneri		2.3.5.6.7
87	Rubus pinnatus		5.6.7
88	Rumex bequaertii		5.6
89	Senecio mannii		5.6.7
90	Senecio maranguensis		6
91	Senecio marietae		7
92	Senecio subsessilis		4.6.7
93	Setaria sp.		1
94	Sinarundinaria alpina		5.7.7
95	Smilax kraussiana		1.2
96	Solanum nigrum		5.6.7
97	Solenostemon sylvaticum		6.7
98	Stachys aculeolata		4.5.6.7
99	Basella alba		1.2.3.4.6.7
100	Strombosia scheffleri		1
101	Tacazzea apiculata		1.2.3.7
102	Thalictrum rhynchocarpum		2.4.5.6.7
103	Urera camerounense		1
104	Urera hypselodendron	Umuse	1.3.4.5.6
105	Urtica massaica		1.5
106	Vernonia adolfi-fridericii	Kiheheri	7
107	Vernonia auriculifera		1.2.3.4.5.6

Page 39

Table 14 shows 107 species of herbs for all 7segments delimited along the 7 Km line transect. Species with wider distribution, that is to say those found on at least 5 of 7 segments are: Basella alba, Clematis simensis, Coccinia milbraedii, Desmodium rependum, Dryopteris manniana, Gynura rwenzoriensis Impatiens burtonii, Laportea ovalifolia, Mimulopsis solmsii, Oreosyce Africana, Stephania abyssinica, Thalictrum rhynchocarpum, Urera hypselodendron and Vernonia auriculifera.

Table 15. List of species eaten by mountain gorillas identified along the 7 Km line transect plotted in Mwaro.

N°	Species	Family	Vernac.name	Tot seg	Item eaten
1	Basella alba	Basellaceae	Umunyanja	1.2.3.4.5.6	Leaves
2	Begonia meyeri-johannis	Begoniaceae		6	Leaves and stem
3	Brillantaisia patens	Acanthaceae	Urubondi	4.5.6	Leaves
4	Carduus nyasanus var. nyassanus	Asteraceae		5	Leaves
5	Desmodium rependum	Fabaceae		1.2.3.5.6	Flowers
6	Discopodium penninervium	Solanaceae	Ikijojo	4.5.6.7	Leaves
7	Dombeya goetzeni	Malvaceae	Umukore	2,4,5	Leaves, Barks
8	Ensete ventricosum	Musaceae		4	Flowers
9	Galium chloroionanthum	Rubiaceae	Rukararambwe	4.5.6.7	Stems and Leaves
10	Galliniera coffeoides	Rubiaceae	Kibonobono	3.4.5.6	Fruit
11	Gouania longispicata	Rhamnaceae		1.2.3	Stem
12	Impatiens burtonii	Balsaminaceae	Indodori	1.4.5.6.7	Fruit
13	Impatiens niamniamensis	Balsaminaceae	Umutondoli	1.3	Fruit
14	Impatiens purpureo-violacea	Balsaminaceae	Umutondoli	1.2.4.5.6.7	Fruit
15	Ipomoea involucrata	Convolvulaceae	Umuhurura	1.2	Flowers and Leaves
16	Lactuca sp.	Asteraceae		6	Leaves
17	Laportea alatipes	Urticaceae		4.5.6.7	Leaves
18	Lobelia giberroa	Lobeliaceae		7	Pith
19	Maesa lanceolata	Myrsinaceae	Umuhanga	5.6	Fruit
20	Mimulopsis arborenscens	Acanthaceae	Urungunga	4.5.6	Stem and Leaves
21	Mimulopsis exellens	Acanthaceae	Runayu	6.7	Stem and Leaves
22	Mimulopsis solmsii	Acanthaceae	Mulyasenge	1.2.3.4.5.6	Stem and Leaves
23	Momordica schimperiana	Cucurbitaceae	Umutangatanga	2.3.4	Fruit
24	Nuxia congesta	Loganiaceae		2	Leaves and Fruits
25	Peucedanum aculeastrum	Apiaceae		6.7	Leaves
26	Peucedanum linderi	Apiaceae		5.7	Leaves
27	Piper capens	Piperaceae	Urubondi	1.2.4	Pith
28	Polygonum nepalens	Polygonaceae		5.6.7	Leaves
29	Rubia cordifolia	Rubiaceae		2	Stem and Leaves
30	Rubus kirungensis	Rubiaceae	Umukeri	5.6.7	Fruit
31	Rubus pinnatus	Rosaceae	Umukeri	5.6.7	Fruit
32	Rubus steudneri	Rosaceae	Umukeri	2.3.5.6.7	Fruit
33	Rumex abyssinica	Polygonaceae		4.5	Leaves
34	Rumex bequaertii	Polygonaceae		4.5.6	Root
35	Senecio mannii	Asteraceae		5.6.7	Leaves and Pith
36	Sinarundinaria alpina	Poaceae	Umugano	5.7.7	Leaves
37	Tacazzea apiculata	Asclepiadaceae	Umurondorondo	1.2.3.7	Stems and Leaves
38	Thalictrum rhynchocarpum	Ranunculaceae		2.4.5.6.7	Stems and Leaves
39	Urera hypselodendron	Urticaceae	Umuse	1.3.4.5.6	Bark and Pith

Biodiversity survey of Mwaro corridor, Altitudinal distribution of the vegetation and assessment of Gorilla food availability

Figure 24. Distribution of animal signs along the 7 Km line transect of Mwaro

40

	Urtica massaica	Urticaceae	Kanyamabya	1.5	Roots
41	Vernonia adolfi-fridericii	Asteraceae	Kiheheri	7	Leaves
42	Vernonia auriculifera	Asteraceae		1.2.3.4.5.6	Pith
43	Vernonia kirungae	Asteraceae	Ikigaragara	3.4.5	Pith
44	Vernonia lasiopus	Asteraceae		2.3.4	Pith
45	Xymalos monospora			1,2	Fruit

It appears from Table 15 that from all identified 181 plants species in the Mwaro corridor, 45 are reported consumed by the mountain gorilla in the Mikeno sector. Ten species were registered on most of the 7 segments and, therefore, regarded as species of wider distribution in this corridor. These include Basella alba, Desmodium rependum, Discopodium penninervium Impatiens burtonii, Impatiens purpureo-violacea, Mimulopsis solmsii, Urera hypselodendron, Vernonia auriculifera and Tacazze apiculata.