Taxonomic Diversity of Climbers and the Preferred Support Plant Species at Brackenhurst Botanical Garden, Kiambu County, Central Kenya

Abstract

Kenya has a flora consisting of seven plant distribution regions designated as (K1-K7). According to the early administrative division of Kenya, seven plant distribution regions (K1–K7) had been divided by "Flora of Tropical East Africa" (hereafter FTEA). Brackenhurst Botanical Garden where the current study was undertaken (Hereafter BBG) is located in Kiambu County, central Kenya, therefore falling under K4 region (the central region) and has 4 forest plots, creating great plant diversity. This study examined the current Liana and vines and their support plants diversity in BBG. This survey therefore aimed at compiling and synthesizing existing and where possible, new information on the climbers and support plants in Brackenhurst plots in Limuru, Kenya. The ultimate purpose was to provide stakeholders with information on the climbers’ diversity and the resources derived from them. Information of the native range and their IUCN red list status was also investigated in the current study. The sampling design comprised of meander and patterned searches because of the terrain at the BBG. This method was set up specifically to facilitate ecological sampling of climbers which are notorious for clumped distribution. All the voucher specimens collected were dried and kept in herbaria at JKUAT and BBG. A total of 31 vascular plant taxa from 17 vascular plant families and 27 genera were recorded. The majority of taxa were recorded in the Passifloraceae, Rhamnaceae, and Asteraceae families. The flora of the entire site was rich in climbers and their support plants. The study recommends more research to be done on the ethnobotanical uses of the climbers since most have medicinal value as seen from this study.