Orchidaceae in Iguaçu National Park, Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

Abstract This study presents a synopsis of the Orchidaceae species in Iguaçu National Park (ParNa Iguaçu), one of the largest Atlantic Forest remnants in the state of Paraná. Orchidaceae is represented in the area by 65 species, distributed in 41 genera, the most representative being Gomesa (7 spp.) and Acianthera (6 spp.). Representatives of three subfamilies are present: Vanilloideae (2 spp.), Orchidoideae (12 spp.) and Epidendroideae (51 spp.) which, as expected, presents the greatest richness (78% of the total). Among the species found, five are considered endemic to Brazil, 23 are endemic to the Atlantic Forest (36%) and one is endemic to Paraná. Thirty-one new records were found for the area. The areas of Mixed Ombrophilous Forest (MOF) had 29 exclusive species, the Semideciduous Seasonal Forest (SSF) had 20, while 16 species occur in both phytophysiognomies. A new occurrence was recorded for MOF. Regarding habit, exclusively epiphytic was the most representative (39 spp.), followed by exclusively terricolous (15 spp.), two vines and one mycoheterotrophic species. Among the families already inventoried in ParNa Iguaçu, Orchidaceae is among the richest and the findings of the present study reinforce the importance of floristic studies for cataloging the local flora.

Keywords

• Atlantic forest
• mixed ombrophilous forest
• orchids
• semideciduous seasonal forest.