The Jijoca of Jericoacoara lake is located at Ceará Coastal Zone, Northeast of Brazil (2º50'10'' e 2º55'32''S - 40º28'32'' e 40º24'09''W), and it has sand dunes on the Northern shore and arboreal semi-deciduous vegetation around the other lakesides. A floristic and communities structure survey of aquatic flora was conducted. Plant samples were collected and included in the EAC Herbarium. The density, frequency, and cover were measurements used in describing communities by intercept transect sampling. Sampling was carried out in Jijoca of Jericoacoara lake at 10 localities, except areas with human impact, such as urban and agricultural areas. A list of 45 species, their life forms and vegetation structure are presented. The higher importance value index (IVI) species were Eleocharis mutata (L.) Roem. & Schult., Paspalidium geminatum Stapf, Eleocharis atropurpurea (Retz.) Kunth, Nymphoides indica (L.) Kuntze, and Echinodorus tenellus (Mart.) Buchen. The most common life-form was "emergent bottom-rooted plants with amphibious habit". In relation to depth, species diversity increased from the deeper areas and peaked at 0-0,5 m above water level.
aquatic macrophytes; wetland; coastal lakes
