A Ecological Baseline Surveys Of: - Lake Bisina - Nature Uganda

Fig. 5 Plants survey Lake Mburo-Nakivali wetland system
4.1.2 Vegetation
The system is set in a regional landscape characterised by Acacia woodland and with undulating
hills covered with grasses which enclose the broad flat valleys. These valleys are tributaries of the
Kagera River and contain seasonal flood plains which drain through papyrus swamps into the various
lakes. This wetland system was described by Langdale-Brown (1964) as Echinochloa grassland
and permanent swamp (Cyperus papyrus swamp). On the ground we found four outstanding
vegetation types namely; Echinochloa grassland, Cyperus papyrus swamp, Seasonal swamp forest
and bushes.
Echinochloa grassland: The Echinochloa grassland is dominated by Echinochloa pyramidalis with
Cyperus dives, C. latifolius and Leersia hexandra as sub dominant.
Permanent swamp (Cyperus papyrus swamp): The permanent wetland is dominated by Cyperus
papyrus and the common associates include Cissampelos mucronata, Dissotis rotundifolia,
Dryopteris sp., Leersia hexandra and Polygonum salicifolium. The tree layer is dominated by
Acacia polyacantha.
Seasonal wetlands: Characterised by Seasonal swamp forest which was found to be colonised
with some species known to be montane like Podocarpus milanjianus, lowland species include
Baikiaea insignis and Spondianthus preusii. Also found were bushes of natural thickets on free
draining sandy loam or sandy clay loams. In Nakivali, Allophylus africana, Pluchea ovalifolia, Croton
sp., Euphorbia candelabrum, Grewia mollis are the most common.
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Ecological Baseline Surveys of Lake Bisina, Lake Opeta, Lake Mburo and Nakivali Wetlands Systems