list of figures - Terry Sunderland

and observations have built upon Letouzey’s original classification (Gartlan, 1989;
Thomas, 1994).
Based on preliminary Mount Cameroon Project inventory results, Thomas (1994)
suggests that the vegetation of Mokoko is comprised of two forest types that intergrade
completely. To the south, where the rainfall is higher is what Letouzey (1985)
described as Atlantic Biafran Forest with Caesalpiniaceae with Oubangia alata
(Scytopetalaceae) and other coastal indicators such as Protomegabaria stapfiana
(Euphorbiaceae), Dichostemma glaucescens (Euphorbiaceae), Octoknema affinis
(Octoknemataceae), Tapura africana (Dichapetalaceae) and many members of the
Olacaceae.
Moving progressively northwards, the coastal forest grades into Atlantic Biafran
forest with Caesalpiniaceae well represented by gregarious genera such as Didelotia,
Hymenostegia afzelii, Microberlinia bisulcata, Monopetalanthus, Plagiosiphon and
Tetraberlinia bifoliolata. The Myristicaceae are also an important component of this
forest, represented in particular by Coelocaryon preussii, Scyphocephalium mannii
and Staudtia stipitata. The narrow endemic Medusandra richardsiana
(Medusandraceae) along with Oubangia alata (Scytopetalaceae) dominate the
understorey along with Garcinia mannii (Guttiferae) and Lasianthera africana
(Icacinaceae), the latter of which are both important NTFP resources. The genera Cola
(Sterculiaceae) and Diospyros (Ebenaceae) are also important components of the
lowland forests of northern Mokoko. Cable and Cheek (1998) suggest that the forest
types found in the northern Mokoko area exhibits clear affinities with the southern
Korup area and, to a lesser extent, to the forests immediately south of the Sanaga.
The vegetation was also described by Gartlan (1989) as having certain semideciduous
elements at its western edge. These latter elements originate from the rain
shadow present to the north of Mount Cameroon which has species communities
present more often associated to those of the drier, eastern parts of Cameroon such as
Triplochiton (Sterculiaceae) Ceiba (Bombacaceae) and many other representatives of
the Meliaceae and Sterculiaceae. The presence of these species more commonly
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