Abstract

CORDEIRO, Sandra Zorat. Composition and distribution of herbaceous vegetation in three areas of different aspect in Praia do Peró, Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Acta Bot. Bras. [online]. 2005, vol.19, n.4, pp. 679-693. ISSN 0102-3306.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-33062005000400003.

The composition and the distribution of herbaceous vegetation of Praia do Peró were characterized in three areas with different topographic and aspect, by using the method of quadrats. The three areas are occupied by the creeping-psamophyte community, being visually divided into two regions: frontal, with stolonipherae and succulent species, and posterior, with predominance of grass species. Thirty-eight species were sampled, from which Paspalum maritimum Trim, Ipomoea imperati (Vahl.) Griseb, Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) Sweet, Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth and Panicum racemosum (Beauv.) Spreng. attained the highest values of importance (VI). The topography, intimately related with the dynamics of tidal waves and storms, with the deposit of sand brought by the winds and tides, and with the human action, doesn't influence the distribution of the vegetal species found, being considered only as a component that influences the landscape, established together with the vegetal community, being the latter strongly determined by the distance of the sea.

Keywords : phytosociology; dunes; restinga; plant communities; topography.