(Floristic composition in thorny woodland and upland forest vegetation in the Vale do Pajeú region, Pernambuco). The aim of this study was to characterize the floristic composition of the native vegetation in four areas of the Pajeú valley, in the municipalities of Triunfo and Serra Talhada. The study areas were at an altitude of 1100 m, 900 m, 700 m and 500 m. Vouchers herbarium material of 159 species, distributed in 45 families, was collected from September, 1991 to March 1993. The families with the highest number of species were: at 1100 m - Myrtaceae (9), Flacourtiaceae, and Rubiaceae (6); at 900 m - Asteraceae, Myrtaceae, and Mimosaceae (6); at 700 m ¾ Euphorbiaceae (6), Mimosaceae (4), Caesalpiniaceae and Anacardiaceae (3); and at 500 m, Mimosaceae, Euphorbiaceae (7) and Caesalpiniaceae (4). Among the four areas, the highest floristic similarity occurred between 1100 and 900 m and between 700 and 500 m. The highest area, 1100 m, is occupied by a "brejo" forest type vegetation, the lowest areas, 700 and 500 m, by caatingas, and the area at 900 m by "brejo", associated with caatinga elements.
Thorny woodland; upland forest vegetation; floristic
