ABSTRACT
The Parque Estadual do Rio Doce, with 35,974 ha, is located in Minas Gerais (19º48' e 19º29'S; 42º38' e 42º28'W), Southeastern Brazil. It's submontane semideciduos forest belongs to the Atlantic Forest domain, where Leguminosae is one of the families with the greatest importance in the floristic composition. The aim of this work is to study the geographical distribution patterns of 26 taxa found in the PERD and to highlight indicator species for the floristic relationship between the PERD and other Atlantic Forest areas of Southeastern Brazil. Six geographical distribution patterns were established with basis on taxonomic literature and herbarium records: Neotropical (8 spp.), western-central-eastern South America (4 ssp.), central-eastern Brazil (3 spp.), northeastern-southeastern-southern Atlantic Brazil (3 spp.), northeasternsoutheastern Atlantic Brazil (5 spp.), southeastern Atlantic Brazil (3 spp.). According to their habitat preference, the taxa were classified as general floristic elements (73%) and specialists from the Atlantic domain (27%). The results show greater similarity between the PERD and lowland forests. Floristic similarity between perennial and semideciduous forests in southeastern Brazil supports the proposal for a common origin of these phyisionomies.
Key words:
Floristic; semideciduous forest; tree flora; phytogeography