Knowledge Gaps in Taxonomy, Ecology, Population Distribution Drivers and Genetic Diversity of African Sandalwood (<i>Osyris lanceolata</i> Hochst. & Steud.): A Scoping Review for Conservation
The increasing demand for ornamental, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products is driving exploitation of plant species globally. Sub-Saharan Africa harbours unique and valuable plant resources and is now a target of plant resource depletion. African Sandalwood (<i>Osyris lanceolata),</i> a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-08-01
|
| Series: | Plants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/9/1780 |
| _version_ | 1797517526572204032 |
|---|---|
| author | Ben Belden Mugula Samuel Kuria Kiboi James Ireri Kanya Anthony Egeru Paul Okullo Manuel Curto Harald Meimberg |
| author_facet | Ben Belden Mugula Samuel Kuria Kiboi James Ireri Kanya Anthony Egeru Paul Okullo Manuel Curto Harald Meimberg |
| author_sort | Ben Belden Mugula |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The increasing demand for ornamental, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products is driving exploitation of plant species globally. Sub-Saharan Africa harbours unique and valuable plant resources and is now a target of plant resource depletion. African Sandalwood (<i>Osyris lanceolata),</i> a multi-purpose and drought-tolerant species, has seen increased exploitation for the last thirty years and is now declared endangered. Initiatives to conserve <i>O. lanceolata</i> are not yet successful in Africa due to poor understanding of the species. This review surveys relevant research on the ecology, taxonomy, population dynamics, genetic diversity and ethnobotany of <i>O. lanceolata</i>, and highlights gaps in the literature for further research. A scoping review of grey literature, scholarly papers and reports was applied with pre-determined criteria to screen relevant information. Review findings indicate <i>O. lanceolata</i> is a globally distributed species with no identified center of origin. In Africa, it ranges from Algeria to Ethiopia and south to South Africa; in Europe it occurs in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands; in Asia from India to China, and also on Socotra. The species has a confusing taxonomy, with unresolved issues in nomenclature, country range distribution, extensive synonymisation and variation in growth form (shrub or tree). The species population is reported to be declining in Africa, but information on population dynamics across its entire range of distribution is anecdotal. Additionally, ecological factors influencing spatial distribution and survival of the species remain unknown. A variety of uses are reported for <i>O. lanceolata</i> globally, including: cultural; medicinal and food; dye; perfumery; timber; ethnoveterinary and phytoremediation. Key research areas and implications for conservation of <i>O. lanceolata</i> in Sub-Saharan Africa are proposed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:17:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-daa89ad0a2564dcaa79c14e6adc435f1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:17:46Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-daa89ad0a2564dcaa79c14e6adc435f12023-11-22T14:51:37ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472021-08-01109178010.3390/plants10091780Knowledge Gaps in Taxonomy, Ecology, Population Distribution Drivers and Genetic Diversity of African Sandalwood (<i>Osyris lanceolata</i> Hochst. & Steud.): A Scoping Review for ConservationBen Belden Mugula0Samuel Kuria Kiboi1James Ireri Kanya2Anthony Egeru3Paul Okullo4Manuel Curto5Harald Meimberg6School of Biological Sciences, College of Biological and Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi P.O. Box 30197-00100, KenyaSchool of Biological Sciences, College of Biological and Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi P.O. Box 30197-00100, KenyaSchool of Biological Sciences, College of Biological and Physical Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi P.O. Box 30197-00100, KenyaCollege of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, UgandaNational Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), Entebbe P.O. Box 295, UgandaDepartment of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, Institute of Integrative Nature Conservation Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor Mendel-Straße 33, A-1180 Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, Institute of Integrative Nature Conservation Research, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor Mendel-Straße 33, A-1180 Vienna, AustriaThe increasing demand for ornamental, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products is driving exploitation of plant species globally. Sub-Saharan Africa harbours unique and valuable plant resources and is now a target of plant resource depletion. African Sandalwood (<i>Osyris lanceolata),</i> a multi-purpose and drought-tolerant species, has seen increased exploitation for the last thirty years and is now declared endangered. Initiatives to conserve <i>O. lanceolata</i> are not yet successful in Africa due to poor understanding of the species. This review surveys relevant research on the ecology, taxonomy, population dynamics, genetic diversity and ethnobotany of <i>O. lanceolata</i>, and highlights gaps in the literature for further research. A scoping review of grey literature, scholarly papers and reports was applied with pre-determined criteria to screen relevant information. Review findings indicate <i>O. lanceolata</i> is a globally distributed species with no identified center of origin. In Africa, it ranges from Algeria to Ethiopia and south to South Africa; in Europe it occurs in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands; in Asia from India to China, and also on Socotra. The species has a confusing taxonomy, with unresolved issues in nomenclature, country range distribution, extensive synonymisation and variation in growth form (shrub or tree). The species population is reported to be declining in Africa, but information on population dynamics across its entire range of distribution is anecdotal. Additionally, ecological factors influencing spatial distribution and survival of the species remain unknown. A variety of uses are reported for <i>O. lanceolata</i> globally, including: cultural; medicinal and food; dye; perfumery; timber; ethnoveterinary and phytoremediation. Key research areas and implications for conservation of <i>O. lanceolata</i> in Sub-Saharan Africa are proposed.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/9/1780hemiparasitesmolecular ecologypopulation geneticsconservation strategies |
| spellingShingle | Ben Belden Mugula Samuel Kuria Kiboi James Ireri Kanya Anthony Egeru Paul Okullo Manuel Curto Harald Meimberg Knowledge Gaps in Taxonomy, Ecology, Population Distribution Drivers and Genetic Diversity of African Sandalwood (<i>Osyris lanceolata</i> Hochst. & Steud.): A Scoping Review for Conservation Plants hemiparasites molecular ecology population genetics conservation strategies |
| title | Knowledge Gaps in Taxonomy, Ecology, Population Distribution Drivers and Genetic Diversity of African Sandalwood (<i>Osyris lanceolata</i> Hochst. & Steud.): A Scoping Review for Conservation |
| title_full | Knowledge Gaps in Taxonomy, Ecology, Population Distribution Drivers and Genetic Diversity of African Sandalwood (<i>Osyris lanceolata</i> Hochst. & Steud.): A Scoping Review for Conservation |
| title_fullStr | Knowledge Gaps in Taxonomy, Ecology, Population Distribution Drivers and Genetic Diversity of African Sandalwood (<i>Osyris lanceolata</i> Hochst. & Steud.): A Scoping Review for Conservation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Knowledge Gaps in Taxonomy, Ecology, Population Distribution Drivers and Genetic Diversity of African Sandalwood (<i>Osyris lanceolata</i> Hochst. & Steud.): A Scoping Review for Conservation |
| title_short | Knowledge Gaps in Taxonomy, Ecology, Population Distribution Drivers and Genetic Diversity of African Sandalwood (<i>Osyris lanceolata</i> Hochst. & Steud.): A Scoping Review for Conservation |
| title_sort | knowledge gaps in taxonomy ecology population distribution drivers and genetic diversity of african sandalwood i osyris lanceolata i hochst steud a scoping review for conservation |
| topic | hemiparasites molecular ecology population genetics conservation strategies |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/9/1780 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT benbeldenmugula knowledgegapsintaxonomyecologypopulationdistributiondriversandgeneticdiversityofafricansandalwoodiosyrislanceolataihochststeudascopingreviewforconservation AT samuelkuriakiboi knowledgegapsintaxonomyecologypopulationdistributiondriversandgeneticdiversityofafricansandalwoodiosyrislanceolataihochststeudascopingreviewforconservation AT jamesirerikanya knowledgegapsintaxonomyecologypopulationdistributiondriversandgeneticdiversityofafricansandalwoodiosyrislanceolataihochststeudascopingreviewforconservation AT anthonyegeru knowledgegapsintaxonomyecologypopulationdistributiondriversandgeneticdiversityofafricansandalwoodiosyrislanceolataihochststeudascopingreviewforconservation AT paulokullo knowledgegapsintaxonomyecologypopulationdistributiondriversandgeneticdiversityofafricansandalwoodiosyrislanceolataihochststeudascopingreviewforconservation AT manuelcurto knowledgegapsintaxonomyecologypopulationdistributiondriversandgeneticdiversityofafricansandalwoodiosyrislanceolataihochststeudascopingreviewforconservation AT haraldmeimberg knowledgegapsintaxonomyecologypopulationdistributiondriversandgeneticdiversityofafricansandalwoodiosyrislanceolataihochststeudascopingreviewforconservation |