Daniel A. Zhigila

Gombe State University · Botany

Aim: Leaf epidermal microscopies of twelve accessions of S. indicum were studied to facilitate their taxonomic stand and may be used for the delimitation of the accessions. Methods: Fresh leaves of twelve accessions of S. indicum were studied under light microscope to examine their stomatal features, epidermal cell shapes and anticlinal cell-wall p...

ABSTRACT Fresh flowers of five species of Amaranthus were studied and documented in detail using light microscope to examine their morphology and pollen characteristics in relation to taxonomy. These species include Amaranthus spinosus, A. viridis, A. hybridus, A. australis and A. tricolor. The species showed close relationship in their pollen surf...

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea Linn.) of the family Fabaceae (Leguminosae) and sub-family Palpilionoideae is widely consumed by people worldwide. It is so popular in the northern Nigeria where there were pyramids of groundnut in the 1950s and 1960s but because of discovery of petroleum, groundnut along with some other economic crops like cocoa and pal...

In the present study, an account was made to pollen morphology as an aid in taxonomy of twelve accessions of Sesamum indicum collected from Northern Nigeria. The accessions are ex-gombe 6, kenana 4, lale-duk, ex-gombe 5, ex-sudan, adawa-wula, adawa-ting (improved), adawa ting, ex-gombe 4, ex-gombe 1, ex-gombe 3 and ex-gombe 2; Keeping in view the i...

Variations in the fruit morphological features of Capsicum annuum varieties were studied. Varieties studied include var. abbreviatum, var. annuum, var. accuminatum, var. grossum, and var. glabriusculum. The fruit morphology revealed attenuated fruit shape with rounded surfaces in var. glabriusculum, and cordate fruit shape with flexuous surface in...

Background and aims The quartz fields of the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) are arid and island-like special habitats, hosting about 142 habitat-specialized plant species of which 81% are local endemics, characterized by a rapid turnover of species between and among sites. We use several phylogenetic community metrics to i) examine species di...

Poales are one of the most species‐rich, ecologically and economically important orders of plants and often characterise open habitats, enabled by unique suites of traits. We test six hypotheses regarding the evolution and assembly of Poales in open and closed habitats throughout the world, and examine whether diversification patterns demonstrate p...

We test the hypothesis that the Thesium (Santalaceae) collection previously known as Thesium sp. D.A.Zhigila & A.M.Muasya 1006 is new to science. We formally describe and name it T. schmiedeliae. The new species is an erect to suberect shrublet, c. 20 cm tall, glaucous in overall appearance, with stems terete in transverse section, and leaves bract...

Poales are one of the most species-rich, ecologically and economically important orders of plants and often characterise open habitats, enabled by unique suites of traits. We test the hypotheses that Poales species are assembled into distinct phyloregions, with centres of high phylogenetic diversity and endemism clustered in tropical regions, and t...

Ecologically specialized plants are expected to be at greater risk of extinction than generalists due to climate change. Such risk is greatest in biodiversity hot-spots such as the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR), which accommodates both ecological specialists and generalists. Thesium L., a genus with the highest number of species in Santalace...

Tinnea gombea, endemic to the Sudan savanna grasslands in northern Nigeria, is described and illustrated. We used integrative evidence from morphological characters, ecology and molecular phylogenetic data. The new species is morphologically and ecologically similar to T. barteri and T. aethiopica, but can be readily delimited from these taxa by un...

As recently circumscribed, Sesamum was rendered monophyletic by including the three segregate genera Ceratotheca, Dicerocaryum and Josephinia. Here, the monophyly of Sesamum and the currently accepted infrageneric taxa was tested using expanded phylogenetic analyses. In addition, nine taxonomically useful morphological characters were optimized on...

Taxonomic identification of algae at both generic and species levels is problematic owing to several reasons including cells’ fragility, sensitivity to chemical fixatives and inconspicuous morphological features. The planktonic algae in tropical African dams have been particularlyproblematic given the paucity of algal taxonomic experts in this regi...

Pollen grain morphology of 20 species belonging to 18 genera in 11 families of some ornamental plants was employed for palynology. Polleniferous materials were properly collected, identified and utilized with the view of ascertaining their relevance to systematic. Seven types of pollen apertures namely – triporate, inaperaturate, monoporate, dicolp...

According to recent research, severe human-induced deforestation is causing 65 percent of the thirty Forest Reserves spread over Gombe State to progressively transform into the desert. The research was done in the Wawa-Zange Forest Reserve in Gombe State, Nigeria, to assess the richness of woody species and biodiversity preservation. The vegetation...

Citation: Zhigila DA, Muasya AM (2022) Thesium muasyae (Santalaceae), a new species from the limestone fynbos of the Overberg, South Africa. PhytoKeys 201: 1-14. https://doi. Abstract Thesium muasyae, a new species of the family Santalaceae, is described and illustrated. This species has unique morphological and ecological characters, differentiati...

There are few regional or sub-regional plant checklists in Nigeria and no statewide plant checklist of Gombe State, Nigeria exists. To bridge this knowledge gap, random vegetation surveys were conducted in 2019 and 2020 in eight (8) of the 11 Local Government Areas of Gombe State: Gombe (Gombe metropolis), Dukku (Wawa Zenge forest reserve), Kwame (...

Recent phylogenetic hypotheses reveal that Thesium (Santalaceae) is paraphyletic with respect to Austroamericium, Chrysothesium, Kunkeliella and Thesidium, suggesting the need for generic realignment. In addition, existing subgeneric and sectional classifications of this large genus lack a phylogenetic basis, thus compromising their predictive valu...

Recent phylogenetic hypotheses reveal that Thesium (Santalaceae) is paraphyletic with respect to Austroamericium, Chrysothesium, Kunkeliella and Thesidium, suggesting the need for generic realignment. In addition, existing subgeneric and sectional classifications of this large genus lack a phylogenetic basis, thus compromising their predictive valu...

Six new species of Thesium endemic to the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) of South Africa are described and illustrated. These are Thesium aspermontanum, T. dmmagiae, T. neoprostratum, T. nigroperianthum, T. rhizomatum, and T. stirtonii. In addition, Thesium assimile var. pallidum is elevated to species rank as T. sawae. Morphological and ecol...

Thesium L., section Hagnothesium is endemic to the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR), South Africa. In the past there has been a propensity in revisionary work of the section Hagnothesium to split taxa into distinct species or vice-versa. Consequently, 15 different names exist although only 6 are accepted formally. Following recent molecular phy...

Abstract Macrofungi are extensive in diversity and play an essential role in sustaining ecosystems. However, the size and quality of their habitat is decreasing and extinction threatens the remaining 95 % of the world’s undiscovered fungal species. This study was carried out to document the diversity and composition of macrofungi in Ngel Nyaki M...

Chemical mutagens (e.g. sodium azide and nitrous acid) are important tools in crop improvements because they produce resistance against pathogens in crops to improve their yield and quality traits. This study investigates the morphological and anatomical effects of sodium azide and nitrous acid on Citrullus lanatus and Moringa olefeira at various c...

Historically, there is evidence to suggest that communities in the developing countries are still using plant-based materials as one of the strategies for purifying drinking water. In this review, the coagulant properties of Moringa oleifera seeds extract were quantitatively evaluated toward suitable wastewater treatment and examining its coagulati...

An experiment was conducted to determine the post-harvest storage potentials and shelf-life in eight varieties of onion Namely-Ex-Dutsi; Ex-Huguma; Ex-Kudan; Ex-Kura; Ex-Romi; Wuyan Bijimi; Ex-Kwadon; and Wabe. The study was conducted between March and June 2016 at the Biological Garden of the Department of Biological Sciences, Gombe State Universi...

Eight (8) varieties of onions (Allium cepa) were characterized for total proteins using agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE-PAGE) and proximate chemical components. Total proteins were electrophorecally separated on 12% agarose gels by standard protocols. A total of 4 polypeptide bands were observed, of which 2 (25%) were polymorphic and 6 (75%) were...

Guiera senegalensis (family: Combretaceae) leaves have been in use for quite long period of time, as traditional medicine in rural areas of developing nations such as Nigeria. It has purportedly been used in the treatment of tumours and related infections by the Nigerian natives especially those in the northern part of the country with no scientifi...

In order to develop conservation guidelines, information on the state of Sudanian forests is urgently needed. We described the species composition, structure and diversity of woody species in four communities of Zamfara State – Tungar Kolo, Kwashabawa, Kwarin shinkafi and Gurbin baure. All woody species were systematically identified and measured i...

The aim of this paper is to present the results of the assessment of shrub species in Kanawa forest reserve in Gombe State, Nigeria. The study was conducted between 2009-2011 in Kanawa Forest Reserve in order to obtain a shrub diversity data. The Point Centered Quarter method for Sampling grassland and woodland was employed for the study. Six sites...

The wide range of uses of Moringa oleifera in recent time has witnessed increasing demand of its foliar and seed products in nutritional, medical and ecological applications. The upsurge of demand for these products needs to be balanced with new varieties of improved performance to meet the supply chain. To achieve this, morphological diversity ass...

The diversity and phytogeography of woody plant species in the West Tangaza Forest Reserve, Sokoto, Nigeria was studied. Taxonomic/floristic and geographical diversity were integrated to put the forest in focus for the local and global conservation efforts that it deserves. Stratified random sampling using point centred quarter (PCQ) method was emp...

Variations in the morphological features of Adansonia digitata L. were studied, which may be used for the delimitation of varieties in the species. The wide range of uses of these naturalised trees in the world have in recent time witnessed increasing demand of their foliar, bark, root, fruit and seed products in nutritional, fibre and medical appl...

Fresh leaves of twelve accessions of Sesamum indicum were collected after 12 weeks of planting and morphological-histology of trichomes were studied. These features may be used for the delimitation and determination of pharmaceutical potentials of the accessions. These accessions were found to exhibit high degree of heterogeneity in their trichome...

A b s t r a c t K e y w o r d s Ferns and fern allies belong to the order Filicales. They are homosporous leptosporangiate Pteridophytes, seedless (cryptogamic), flowerless, vascular plants found mostly in the humid areas. Ferns are selected for their unique foliage color, upright habit, round, delicate beauty and excellent garden performance and a...

Morphometric Study of Accessions of Sesamum indicum L. Collected fron Nigeria

Leaf epidermal micro morphological features were studied in five verities of Capsicum annum L. both quantitatively and qualitatively to evaluate the reliability of these characters for taxonomic consideration. These varieties are difficult to be recognized by using their dry samples. Varieties studied include var. abbreviatum, var. annuum, var. acc...

ABSTRACT Macro-morphology and phytogeographical studies were carried out on the species of Poaceae in Gombe State, Nigeria. The study provided a preliminary template on which a more comprehensive Poaceae name vocabulary in Hausa and other languages in Gombe could be developed. Twenty-seven species in 18 genera of the family were identified and stud...

ABSTRACT Variations in the morphological features of Moringa oleifera Lam. and Adansonia digitata L. were studied, which may be used for the delimitation of varieties in the species. The wide range of uses of these naturalised trees in Nigeria have in recent time witnessed increasing demand of their foliar and seed products in nutritional, medical...

Morphological studies of twelve accessions of Sesamum indicum L. were carried out in order to find out characters which may be used for the delimitation of the accessions in Nigeria. The qualitative characters used included growth morphology, leaf shape, leaf type, leaf margin, leaf arrangement, leaf surface, form of stipule, colour of dot at stipu...

Fresh leaves of twelve accessions of S. indicum were studied to examine their stomatal features, trichomes, epidermal cell shapes and anticlinal cell-wall patterns which may be used for the delimitation of the accessions. The twelve accessions of S. indicum studied have amphistomatic leaves, i.e. having stomata on both surfaces. Four types of stoma...

ABSTRACT Seeds of Khaya senegalensis were collected from Chinene, Gwoza Local Government, Borno State, Nigeria. From these, 1.45kg each was subjected to traditional (hand) and soxhlet (hexane) methods of extraction respectively. The volume of oil extracted were 620ml and 640ml for hand extraction and soxhlet extraction respectively. The oils were c...

Seeds of Khaya senegalensis were collected from Chinene, Gwoza Local Government, Borno State, Nigeria. From these, 1.45kg each was subjected to traditional (hand) and soxhlet (hexane) methods of extraction respectively. The volume of oil extracted were 620ml and 640ml for hand extraction and soxhlet extraction respectively. The oils were compared u...