Floristic survey of the herbaceous-shrub layer of a gallery forest in Alto Paraíso de Goiás - Go, Brazil

Abstract

Flowering species of the herbaceous and shrubby layer were sampled in a gallery forest at Portal da Chapada, Alto Paraíso de Goiás-GO in the Chapada dos Veadeiros during 12 months growing within 4.5 meters on either side of a raised pathway 2.4 Km long. The collections were included to University of Brasilia Herbarium (UB). A total of 138 species (103 genera and 40 families) were recorded; the most species-rich families were Asteraceae (22), Poaceae (14), Rubiaceae (12), Fabaceae (11) and Melastomataceae (7). The richest family in number of genera was Asteraceae (19), followed by Poaceae (8), Fabaceae (8) and Rubiaceae (7). The results showed a meaningful increase in the Chapada dos Veadeiros flora, especially considering the herbaceous-shrubby layer of the gallery forests (223.6%). Despite the richness of the flora, the number of endemics species in the Goiás State was only 1.5%.