Ferns and lycophytes in Mirador State Park, Maranhão, northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Abstract We present a floristic and taxonomic inventory of the ferns and lycophytes in Mirador State Park – the largest strictly protected area in Maranhão and the second largest in the Brazilian Cerrado. We also provide information on the geographic distribution and conservation status of the recorded species. Fieldwork was conducted between 2023-2024, covering 52 sampling points across different vegetation types within the park. We recorded 29 species distributed in 20 genera and 15 families, including five species of lycophytes distributed in four genera and two families and 24 species of ferns distributed in 16 genera and 13 families. The most representative families were Pteridaceae and Lycopodiaceae, with four species each. Most species were terrestrial, occurred in gallery forests, and exhibited a Neotropical distribution pattern. Among the recorded species, only Lycopodiella longipes (Hook. & Grev.) Holub, Cyclosorus interruptus (Willd.) H.Itô and Schizaea elegans (Vahl) Sw. have an assessed conservation status and are classified as least concern (LC).