Browsing by Author "Odu, E. A."

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    Ecological Studies of Bryophytes on Unplastered Sandcrete Walls Around Ile-Ife.
    (Obafemi Awolowo University, 1986) Akinfenwa, Folasade Olayemi; Odu, E. A.
    Some aspects of the ecology of bryophytes on unplastered sandcrete walls around Ile-Ife were investigated over a period of more than 12 months. Two turf-forming bryophytes, Barbula indica and Bryum coronatum, were the commonest mosses encountered on these substrates. No bryophyte was found growing on burnt bricks or mud walls. Whereas Barbula is not a successful species as far as sexual reproduction is concerned, Bryum freely produces sporophytes. Reproduction in Bryum thus includes sexual methods while Barbula reproduces vegetatively by means of gemmae which are produced abundantly on almost every shoot. Gemmae and spores of these mosses, apparently present in the air when washed down by rain, form important sources of new plants on basic substrates. pH is an important factor in controlling the distribution of the mosses. Different stages of development of the moss species, e.g. diaspore germination and protonemal growth are favoured respectively at pH levels 4-12 and 6-10, but maximum shoot growth was observed at pH 10.Under favourable conditions, Bryum shoots establish within 3-4 months but Barbula takes a much longer time to establish.
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    Taxonomic Evaluation of Homosporous Leptosporangiate Ferns (Pteridophytes) in Southwestern Nigeria
    (2011) Oloyede, F. A.; Odu, E. A.
    Taxonomical studies of leptosporangiate ferns collected from Southwestern Nigeria were carried out for taxonomic re-evaluation, additional diagnostic features and for establishing the missing gaps in the taxonomy of fern species in this region. The habitats from where these ferns were collected include humid areas, waterlogged, road sides and rock crevices. Features investigated were rhizomes, croziers, fronds, ramenta, stipe's colour; leaf type: shape, hairiness, margins, length and breadth; apex shape and type; leaflet shape and margins, indusia, spores, sporangia and sori arrangements. These features were used to construct artificial taxonomic key for the thirteen families of ferns collected. The quantitative data obtained were coded for statistical analysis using Principal Component Analysis. Different growth forms and growth duration were also recorded. The results of the scatter diagram shows how closely or distantly related these fern species are to one another. The dendogram showed two main clusters, two sub-clusters and four minor sub-clusters. An artificial taxonomic key produced was found valuable for the identification of the thirteen families of ferns studied. Most of these ferns are perennials accumulating biomass while few are annals. The ferns had different growth forms such as spreading, tangle and climbing. The agreement of the results of dendogram and scatter diagram showed that ferns form natural groupings with their close or distant relationships. The possession of tubers, rhizomes, gemmae and numerous spores by a fern species is an adaptation for effective distribution and dispersal.