THE ORCHIDACEAE OF “ PARQUE MUNICIPAL DE MUCUGE ” , BAHIA , BRAZIL

The Orchidaceae are one of the largest families of flowering plants, with around 20.000 species in approximately 850 genera (Atwood 1986, Dressler 1993). It is well represented in Brazil, with about 2.350 species and 200 genera (Pabst & Dungs 1975, 1977). In Bahia were registered 285 species (Pabst & Dungs 1975, 1977, Harley & Mayo 1980, Harley & Simmons 1986, Toscano-de-Brito 1995, 1998, Toscano-de-Brito & Queiroz 2003). The Espinhaço chain is composed by two main regions, one in Minas Gerais and the other in Bahia. The last is known as Chapada Diamantina. In its southern portion, the Chapada Diamantina splits into two separate chains, with the Serra do Rio de Contas and the Serra das Almas in the west, and the Serra do Sincorá in the east (Harley 1995). The Chapada Diamantina survey registered the presence of 139 species of Orchidaceae in this region (Harley & Simmons 1986, Toscano-de-Brito 1995, 1998, Toscano-de-Brito & Queiroz 2003). The Parque Municipal de Mucugê (PMM) is located at the municipality of Mucugê, at Serra do Sincorá, around 4 km of the Mucugê town, at 12o 59’02”-13o00’18”S and 41o19’40”-41o21’33”W, at an altitude of 1.000 m above sea level, and occupies an area of 4.5 km2. The predominant vegetation is the “campos rupestres”, which is an important center of diversity of the Brazilian flora, with a large number of endemic species (Harley & Simmons 1986, Harley 1995). Orchidaceae presents a high floristic importance, being always between the ten largest families in species richness (Harley & Simmons 1986, Giulietti et al. 1987, Stannard 1995, Guedes & Orge 1998, Pirani et al. 2003, Zappi et al. 2003). The present work aimed at providing a detailed survey of the Orchidaceae in the Parque Municipal de Mucugê, as well as descriptions, illustrations and identification key.

The Espinhaço chain is composed by two main regions, one in Minas Gerais and the other in Bahia.The last is known as Chapada Diamantina.In its southern portion, the Chapada Diamantina splits into two separate chains, with the Serra do Rio de Contas and the Serra das Almas in the west, and the Serra do Sincorá in the east (Harley 1995).The Chapada Diamantina survey registered the presence of 139 species of Orchidaceae in this region (Harley & Simmons 1986, Toscano-de-Brito 1995, 1998, Toscano-de-Brito & Queiroz 2003).
The Parque Municipal de Mucugê (PMM) is located at the municipality of Mucugê, at Serra do Sincorá, around 4 km of the Mucugê town, at 12 o 59'02"-13 o 00'18"S and 41 o 19'40"-41 o 21'33"W, at an altitude of 1.000 m above sea level, and occupies an area of 4.5 km 2 .The predominant vegetation is the "campos rupestres", which is an important center of diversity of the Brazilian flora, with a large number of endemic species (Harley & Simmons 1986, Harley 1995).Orchidaceae presents a high floristic importance, being always between the ten largest families in species richness (Harley & Simmons 1986, Giulietti et al. 1987, Stannard 1995, Guedes & Orge 1998, Pirani et al. 2003, Zappi et al. 2003).
The present work aimed at providing a detailed survey of the Orchidaceae in the Parque Municipal de Mucugê, as well as descriptions, illustrations and identification key.

Materials and Methods
Specimen was carried out trough monthly sampling during 12 months, between June 2002 and May 2003.The specimens were deposited at the Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana herbarium (HUEFS).The ALCB, CEPEC, HRB, HUEFS, K, SPF and W collection were consulted.

Results and Discussion
Currently, 22 genera and 35 species of orchids were found at the Parque Municipal de Mucugê (Tab.1), of which one is a natural hybrid (Azevedo et al., 2006)  Epidendrum orchidiflorum Salzm.ex Lindl.

TABLE 1 .
List of Orchidaceae at the Parque Municipal de Mucugê.