Flora of the Niger River Basin: Grasses, Trees, Shrubs, Herbs, and Aquatic Life

The Niger River, West Africa's principal waterway, traverses diverse ecosystems—from the Guinea Highlands through the Sahel to the massive Niger Delta. Its basin hosts extraordinary plant biodiversity, categorized below.

Grasses (Poaceae)

• Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum)
• Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus)
• Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides)
• Thatching grass (Hyparrhenia spp.)
• Wild rice (Oryza longistaminata)

Trees

• Acacia (Acacia spp.) – Sahel savanna dominant
• Baobab (Adansonia digitata) – Iconic "upside-down tree"
• Borassus palm (Borassus aethiopum) – Palmyra palm
• Burkea africana – Savanna hardwood
• Ficus (Ficus spp.) – Fig trees, keystone species
• Shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) – Source of shea butter
• Tamarind (Tamarindus indica)
• Vitex doniana – Black plum

Shrubs

• Combretum glutinosum
• Guiera senegalensis
• Lantana camara (invasive in places)
• Mimosa pudica (sensitive plant)
• Ziziphus mucronata (buffalo thorn)

Herbs

• Bacopa monnieri (water hyssop)
• Centella asiatica (gotu kola)
• Jussiaea repens (creeping water primrose)
• Mentha spicata (spearmint)
• Ocimum basilicum (basil)

Aquatic Plants

• Ceratophyllum demersum (hornwort)
• Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth – invasive)
• Hydrilla verticillata
• Ipomoea aquatica (water spinach)
• Lemna minor (duckweed)

Algae

• Chlorella vulgaris
• Microcystis aeruginosa (toxic cyanobacteria)
• Scenedesmus quadricauda
• Spirulina platensis (edible cyanobacterium)
• Ulva lactuca (sea lettuce)

Ecological Note: The Niger's seasonal flooding (the "Inner Niger Delta" flood pulse) drives this productivity, supporting fisheries, agriculture, and pastoralism for millions. Invasive species like water hyacinth and toxic algal blooms are growing threats.