Plant diversity on granite/gneiss rock outcrop at Pedra do Pato, Serra do Brigadeiro State Park, Brazil

Abstract

Campo de Altitude, one of the ecosystems associated with the Atlantic Forest, occurs mainly in high plateaus of Southeastern Brazil. The study area is in Serra do Brigadeiro State Park, Southeastern Brazil. We sampled six habitats (swamp field, Vellozia field, high mountain field, scrub slope, high altitude scrub, and cloud forest) that represent three physiognomies (grassland, scrub, and woodland). Overall, 180 species were recorded, belonging to 128 genera and 58 families. The richest families were Orchidaceae (20 species), Asteraceae (19), Melastomataceae (18), Rubiaceae (11), Myrtaceae (9) and Cyperaceae, Lauraceae, Solanaceae and Poaceae with five species each. The genera with highest number of species were: Baccharis, Miconia and Tibouchina with five species each; Solanum with four; Paepalanthus, Myrcia, Myrciaria and Vellozia with three.