Floristic survey of the Mata do Junco Wildlife Refuge, Capela, Sergipe State, Brazil

ABSTRACT

Seeking to expand the floristic studies for the Atlantic rainforest, we herein present, based on field trips (January 2011 to April 2013) and herbarium records, a list of vascular plants found in the Mata do Junco Wildlife Refuge, State of Sergipe, Northeastern Brazil. We registered a total of 380 species, 244 genera and 80 families, with 45 new occurrences for the Atlantic rainforest of the State of Sergipe. The most representative families were Fabaceae (36 species), Cyperaceae (29) and Poaceae (28). Herbs were the most representative regarding habit (167 species or 44%). We found two threatened species: Caesalpinia echinata Lam. and Campylocentrum pernambucense Hoehne, both in the "endangered" category. Overall, the results indicate that the Mata do Junco Wildlife Refuge is floristically similar to other areas of Atlantic rainforest in the State of Sergipe. Moreover, the existence of new records and of a threatened native species reinforces its importance for conservation.

Keywords:
Atlantic Rainforest; Floristic Similarity; Protected Areas