The survey of the Orchidaceae from the Distrito Federal (DF), the administrative region of the Brazilian capital located at the center of the country, is presented. Currently, 72 genera and 254 taxa (246 species and eight subspecific taxa) are recognized, 17 (6.7%) of which are known only locally. The most representative genera are Habenaria (74 species and three subspecific taxa), Cyrtopodium (17 species), Cleistes (13 species) and subtribe Spiranthinae (11 genera, 34 species and two subspecific taxa). Genera like Epidendrum (eight species), Pleurothallis (seven species), Oncidium (six species) and Maxillaria (three species) are abundant in the Atlantic rain forest in southeastern Brazil, but poorly represented in the region. About 73% of the Orchidaceae from the DF are terrestrials, in contrast with the Atlantic forest and Amazon region, were the epiphytes predominate. The Distrito Federal is the better-sampled region and has the higher number of Orchidaceae in the cerrado region, comprising about 51% of the orchids known from this biome. The aim of this survey is to subsidize the monograph of the family for the forthcoming "Flora of the Distrito Federal".
Orchidaceae; orchids; floristic survey; cerrado vegetation; Federal District; Brazil
