Floristic Composition, Vegetation Structure and Regeneration Status of Woody Plant Species of Anonu Forest, Chomen Guduru District, Horo Guduru Wollega Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted in Anonu forest in Chomen Guduru District, Horo Guduru Wollega zone, Oromia region,West Ethiopia, with the objective of Floristic Compostion, Vegetation Structure and Regeneration status of some woody Plant species in the Forest. Systematic sampling method were used to collect vegetation data and a total of 32 quadrants each of which was 20mX20m(400m2) area were established at every 100m interval along lines transects for woody species identification. Diameter at breast height and height of woody species were measured and analysed to determine population structural pattern of the forest. A total of 69 species of plants representing 58 species and genera, 11 verncular (local name) genera were recorded. Out of 69 plant species recorded from Anonu natural forest in current study, 37 (53.62%) were trees, 19 (27.53%) were shrubs, 11(15.94%) were herbs and 2(2.89%) species were climbers. From the studied area (Anonu forest) Acacia abyssinica, Acacia seyal, Syzygium guineense,Prunus africana,Vernonia myriantha,Ficus sur,Euphorbia lathryis was the most dominant species and Acaacii (local name) contributed 15(21.73%), followed by Croton macrostachus,Teclea nobilis, Rosa abyssinica, Albizia schimperiana represented by 12(17.39%) species and the third dominant species was Podocarpus falcatus,Brucea antdysenterica,Ocimum foskolei 8(11.59%). In the Forest, the overall Shannon-Wiener diversity index was 3.02 and evenness of woody species was 0.92, indicating that the diversity and evenness of woody species in the forest is relatively high. Phytogeographical comparision of Anonu forest revealed the highest similarity with Moist evergreen montane forest which indicates that this forest isone of the miost evergreen forest in Ethiopia