Characterization of the Ornamental Flora of Saint-Louis City (Senegal): Diversity, Uses, and Decorative Organs

Abstract

In Senegal, with urbanization and the greening of public and private spaces, the ornamental sector is booming, marked by an expansion of horticultural stations in cities. This sector creates jobs in the cultivation, sale, and maintenance of plants. However, the development of this activity faces a number of problems, such as a lack of structure, limited access to inputs, and technical supervision. The lack of economic recognition of ornamental products is also an obstacle to their development and professionalization. Despite its great potential, the floristic diversity of ornamental gardens remains poorly documented. This study was therefore proposed to characterize the ornamental flora of Saint-Louis city and to identify the main uses and embellishment organs of the plants listed. A floristic inventory, followed by a semi-structured interview with the city’s 19 tree nurseries, resulted in the identification of 134 ornamental species belonging to 114 genera grouped into 58 families. The flora is largely dominated by Angiosperms (93%), with a high preponderance of dicotyledons (64.93%) and monocotyledons (29.85%). The most represented families in terms of number of species in the flora are, in descending order, Arecaceae (7.46%), Lamiaceae (6.72%), Apocynaceae and Euphorbiaceae (5.22% each), Acanthaceae, Araceae, and Asparagaceae (4.48% each). The results also show that ornamental use is more widespread, with a proportion of 41.79%. These results indicate that, in addition to their aesthetic role, some plants are used for medicinal purposes (28.36%), animal feed (5.22%), and human consumption (4.48%). Three main decorative organs of plants are valued: foliage and growth habit (61%), flowers (29%), and foliage and flowers (10%). This characterization is an important tool for better management and valorization of urban ornamental flora.