28 Sunderland et al. impressive ca<strong>the</strong>dral-like effect. The Myristicaceae is represented by large numbers <strong>of</strong> Scyphocephalium mannii and Coelocaryon preussii. O<strong>the</strong>r trees present <strong>in</strong>clude Allanblackia floribunda, Tapura africana, Bielschmiedia obscura, Canthium arnoldianum, Chrysophyllum beguei, C. boukokoensis, Zanthoxylum heitzii, Aubrevillea kerst<strong>in</strong>gii, Pseudospondias microcarpa, Camptostylus mannii, Maran<strong>the</strong>s glabra, Newtonia grandifolia, and Dacryodes kla<strong>in</strong>eana. The ridge forests are not only species diverse. Their flora is also unique <strong>in</strong> TFR. In <strong>the</strong> Kekpani/Basho hills, <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g species were not recorded elsewhere dur<strong>in</strong>g our surveys: Allophyllus bullatus, Anisophyllea polyneura, Anopyxis kla<strong>in</strong>eana, Antrocaryon kla<strong>in</strong>eanum, Aulacocalyx talbotii, Camptostylus mannii, Chytranthus mortenhanii, Cola anomala, C. verticillata, C. semecarpophylla,Dialium pachyphyllum, Diospyros cococarpa, D. physocalyc<strong>in</strong>a, Drypetes preussii, Lecaniodiscus cupanioides, Leonardoxa africana, Manniophyton fulvum, Maprounea membranacea, Microdesmis zenkeri, Petersianthus africanus, Pterygota macrocarpa, Rhabdophyllum aff<strong>in</strong>e, Soyauxia gabonensis, Strychnos asterantha, Trichilia gilgiana, Trilipisium madagascariensis, Uapaca acum<strong>in</strong>ata, Uapaca staudtii, and Uvariodendron connivens The understory <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ridge forests is relatively open with a notable absence <strong>of</strong> herbs and smaller shrubs. The genera Cola and Diospyros dom<strong>in</strong>ate this layer, and <strong>in</strong> many areas Cola semecarpophylla form sparse, monospecific stands. 4.2.3 Mid-elevation forest (500-800 m) At higher elevations, particularly <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Reserve, <strong>the</strong>re is a dist<strong>in</strong>ct and perceptible shift <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> forest—from strictly lowland forest to mid-elevation and, consequently, montane forest and savannah grassland. The characteristic vegetation <strong>of</strong> mid-elevation forest is particularly evident <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> dramatic alteration <strong>in</strong> relief from <strong>the</strong> villages <strong>of</strong> Matene to Mende, where <strong>the</strong> forest changes from lowland forest (200 m) to midelevation forest (700 m) over a relatively small l<strong>in</strong>ear distance. <strong>Takamanda</strong>: <strong>the</strong> Biodiversity <strong>of</strong> an African Ra<strong>in</strong>forest Alower canopy, a denser understory, and an <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>of</strong> epiphytic flora, particularly Pteridophytes and Orchidaceae, characterize <strong>the</strong> mid-elevation forest. The tree flora is dom<strong>in</strong>ated by <strong>of</strong> Vitex don<strong>in</strong>iana and V. ferrug<strong>in</strong>ea (Figure 4), <strong>the</strong> latter species occurr<strong>in</strong>g only <strong>in</strong> mid-elevation forest. The flora is less diverse than <strong>the</strong> lowland forest, and <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong> species <strong>in</strong>clude Anthonotha cladantha, Homalium dolichophyllum, Tabernaemontana pachysiphon, Syzygium gu<strong>in</strong>eense, Santiria trimera, Garc<strong>in</strong>ia smeathmannii, Dactyledenia mannii, Allanblackia floribunda, Spondianthus preussii, and Xylopia staudtii. O<strong>the</strong>r species characteristic <strong>of</strong> this forest formation and not encountered elsewhere <strong>in</strong> TFR are Aidia micrantha, Bielschmiedia preussii, Camptostylus mannii, Casearia barteri, Carpolobia lutea, Clausena anisata, Garc<strong>in</strong>ia afzelii, Homalium doligophyllum, Hymenocardia acida, Microdesmis puberula, Ophiobotrys zenkeri, Oricia trifoliolata, Spondianthus sp., Synsepalum msolo, Syzygium gu<strong>in</strong>eense, and Trichilia heudelotii. Not surpris<strong>in</strong>gly, <strong>the</strong> tree flora <strong>of</strong> this forest formation conta<strong>in</strong>s both lowland and montane elements, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Strombosia grandifolia, Strombosiopsis tetandra, Cola ficifolia, Tabernaemontana pachysiphon, Santiria trimera, Allanblackia floribunda, and Garc<strong>in</strong>ia smeathmannii, which are generally regarded as lowland species, and Vernonia frondosa, Syzygium gu<strong>in</strong>eense, Olea capensis, Psychotria mannii, and Schefflera abyss<strong>in</strong>ica, which are generally found at higher altitudes. The middle layer <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mid-altitude forest is dom<strong>in</strong>ated by R<strong>in</strong>orea dentata, Ixora marcrocarpa, numerous Salacia sp., Dichranolepis disticha, Campylospermum flavum, C. mannii, C. reticulatum, C. subcordatum, Dichapetalum heudelotii, Idertia axillaris, Massularia acum<strong>in</strong>ata, Ixora nematopoda, and Lasianthus batangensis. The tree fern Cya<strong>the</strong>a manniana also occurs at <strong>the</strong>se altitudes, mostly along streams and rav<strong>in</strong>es. The herbaceous Acanthaceae are well represented (Acanthus montanus, Crossandrella dusenii), and many species such as Brachystephanus nemoralis, Oreocanthus mannii, and Brilliantasia owariensis form dense thickets.
Vegetation Assessment Figure 4. Structure and composition <strong>of</strong> mid-elevation forest habitat <strong>in</strong> <strong>Takamanda</strong> Forest Reserve, Cameroon, from biodiversity plots, show<strong>in</strong>g relative density and relative basal area by (a) species, and (b) family. (a) Vitex ferrug<strong>in</strong>ea Anthonotha cladantha Chrysophyllum sp. Homalium dolichophyllum Syzygium gu<strong>in</strong>eense Tabernaemontana pachysiphon Santiria trimera Garc<strong>in</strong>ia smeathmannii Drypetes sp. 1 Tricalysia sp. (b) Verbenaceae Leg-Caesalp<strong>in</strong>ioideae Sapotaceae Samydaceae Myrtaceae Apocynaceae Rubiaceae Euphorbiaceae Guttiferae Burseraceae Relative Density Relative BA 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 Relative Density Relative BA 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 29 SI/MAB Series #8, 2003