Non-arboreal vascular flora of a ravine forest in the Mantiqueira Range, Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

Serra Negra is an important remnant of Atlantic Forest located in the southern part of the Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais, in Mantiqueira Range, composed by a mosaic of "campos rupestres" (on quartzite outcrops), cloud scrubs, lower-montane to upper montane seasonal semi-deciduous forests or evergreen cloud forests, and riparian to interfluvial forests. Despite floristic importance of this area, there are only two Natural Patrimony Private Reserves: São Lourenço do Funil and Serra Negra. The study area is a ravine forest fragment (evergreen forest), comprising ca. 0.9 ha, localized in the Cânion do Ribeirão do Funil, in Funil Village, municipality of Rio Preto, southern of Serra Negra. The present study was carried out from 2004 to 2009 and its goals were: (1) to survey the non-arboreal vascular flora of the area, (2) discuss plant habits and habitats, and (3) describe the physiognomy of this forest fragment. A total of 157 taxa of vascular plants (41 ferns and 116 angiosperms) were recorded, belonging to 48 families (10 of ferns and 38 of angiosperms). The richest families of ferns and angiosperms were Pteridaceae (11 spp.) and Orchidaceae (27 spp.), respectively. The most representative habit was herbaceous (124 spp.), within which epiphyte species (42 spp.) must be emphasized, representing about 25% of all recorded species. Twelve species are cited in the endangered species list of Minas Gerais State (two ferns and 10 angiosperms). The high number of species found in this small area remarks the importance of this fragment for the knowledge of biodiversity of Serra Negra, in particular, and Minas Gerais, in general. In addition, the results reinforce the need of an action plan addressed to the conservation of the region.