Floristic composition of a freshwater swamp forest remnant in southeastern Brazil

Abstract

The floristic composition in a freshwater swamp forest remnant located in the municipality of Botucatu, São Paulo state, Brazil, was studied. Only Angiosperms were collected in the area by means of random walks. A total of 92 species were registered. The families with greater species richness were: Orchidaceae (17 species), Rubiaceae (8) and Myrtaceae (5). The arboreal component was predominant. The profile diagram of the vegetation showed a well-defined stratification, with a continuous canopy and an inferior tree layer composed mainly by individuals of Euterpe edulis Mart.. A comparison among the angiosperms of the study area and those of ten swamp forests in São Paulo state suggests that the geographic position and other ecologic peculiarities of these forests, besides soil flooding, are factors that can influence their similarity concerning the floristic composition.