by
Dahlia D. Soriano, MS Bio
ABSTRACT
An inventory and assessment of the floristic composition of Burnham Park in Baguio City was conducted. The study aimed to generate a listing of plant species that make up the overstorey and understorey of Burnham Park. It also assessed its current status in terms of density, relative density, frequency, coverage, relative coverage and importance value. The inventory and assessment of the existing floristic composition of Burnham Park was carried out by using the standard quadrat method. Four stations were selected namely, Burnham Lake Drive, Rose Garden, Picnic Grove and the Skating Rink. A total of 30 quadrats for overstorey and understorey were laid for the four stations. There were 12 quadrats for Burnham Lake Drive; eight quadrats for Rose Garden; four quadrats for Picnic Grove; and 6 quadrats for Skating Rink. The intervals of the quadrats were based on the total length of the baseline per station. A total of 3,004 numbers of individual species were identified and recorded. Out of 72 species, 19 were species of trees, 8 species of shrubs, 39 species of herbs and 6 species of grass. For the overstorey vegetation, out of 230 total numbers of individuals 22 species were identified and distributed in 15 families and 1 unidentified species. The top 3 most dominant species were the Family Myrtaceae, Moraceae and Bignoniaceae. While the understorey vegetation composed of 2,774 numbers of individuals. Fifty species were identified and distributed in 26 families and 1 unidentified species. The Family Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Fabaceae have the most representative species in the understorey. The floristic composition of Burnham Park was characteristically composed of varied plant species that are widely used as ornamentals and landscaping. Others were found to have medicinal value. Out of the 72 species, two were identified as Philippine endemic: Cynodon dactylon and Cyperus rotundus and two were considered to be in the list of threatened species: Cupressus sempervirens and Araucaria bidwillii.
Source: UB Research Journal, Vol. XXXIII, No. 1, January – June 2009
