Floristic composition of a Neotropical inselberg from Espírito Santo state, Brazil: an important area for conservation

By

Couto, Dayvid Rodrigues
Francisco, Talitha Mayumi
Manhães, Vitor Da Cunha
Machado, Henrique Dias
Pereira, Mirian Cristina Alvarez

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2017-2-11

Original Publication

Check list : journal of species lists and distribution

Volume

13

Series / Issue

Issue: 1

Pages

2043--12

Subjects

Atlantic forest , Conservation , diversity , rocky outcrops , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

[São Paulo, Brazil] Luís Felipe Toledo 2005-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15560/13.1.2043

 

Abstract

Our study on granitic and gneissic rock outcrops on Pedra dos Pontões in Espírito Santo state contributes to the knowledge of the vascular flora of inselbergs in southeastern Brazil. We registered 211 species distributed among 51 families and 130 genera. Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae and Polypodiaceae were the most representative families. Concerning vegetative habit, herbs were predominant and about the preference for substrates, holorupicolous species and epiphytes were most speciose. The richest rocky habitat type was woody thicket, with 122 exclusive species. In total, 27 of the species registered in our study are cited on official lists of endangered plant species from Espírito Santo state and Brazil. In addition, two new records of angiosperms for Espírito Santo flora and two new species were recorded for the area. Our data demonstrates the importance of the area for conservation of unique biodiversity that serves as a sanctuary for a rich rupicolous flora composed of endemic and endangered species, some of which are new to science.