The restinga vegetation of the Grussaí/Iquipari drainage basin (21°44'S, 41°02'O), with an area of 4,800 ha, was studied. A 25 ha (2,500 x 100m) transect was set up from the sea inland, sampling being carried out from 1995 to 1997. The four physiognomic unities that occur in the area were studied and, using the Cover Value Index, the most characteristic species in each formation were determined. 1) Beach Grass Formation: Remirea maritima, Ipomoea imperati, Sporobolus virginicus and Chamaecyse thymifolia; 2) Beach Grass and Shrub Formation: Schinus terebinthifolius, Eugenia sulcata, Pilosocereus arrabidae and Cereus fernambucensis; 3) Clusia Formation: Pera glabrata, Eugenia sulcata, Sideroxylon obtusifolium and Scutia arenicola; 4) Restinga Forest Formation: Maytenus obtusifolia, Pera glabrata, Protium heptaphyllum and Coccoloba alnifolia. The floristic similarity between the study area and other sites in the Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo States were lower than 41%. Geografic proximity was not related to the highest similarities found, supporting the hypothesis about extensive floristic variation within restinga vegetations.
restinga; sand dune vegetation; phytosociology; Brazil
