Floristic survey of weeds in a public park of Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil

Abstract

Weeds are renowned by their remarkable seed dissemination, which favors their growth in unwanted places. The present study provides a list of the weed species found in Parque da Criança, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil, from data collected between July and August of 2004. A total of 67 species belonging to 18 families were found. Of these, the families Poaceae, Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Fabaceae, Amaranthaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Malvaceae were the most representative, grouping 76% of all species encountered. Poaceae and Asteraceae, which are very representative in the studied park, are amongst the families with the highest number of weed species in Brazil, sharing various features, which favor their development. Based on the data provided in this study, weed control (carried out periodically in the studied area) may be implemented more efficiently, since the processes of controlling weeds are frequently species-specific.

Keywords

• Asteraceae
• Brazil
• public park
• Poaceae
• weeds