ABSTRACT
The Itatiaia National Park, with an area of 28,155.97 ha, is located in the Serra da Mantiqueira Range (22º15’e 22º30’S; 44º30’e 44º45’W) of southeastern Brazil. Leguminosae is one of the most species-rich families here, contributing to the composition and structure of the forest. The aim of this work was to identify the geographical distribution patterns of 48 taxons of Leguminosae present in the forests of this National Park. Methodology included a literature survey, field trips and herbaria consultation. The following distribution patterns were recognized: Neotropical (9 spp.), western-central-eastern South America (5 spp.), central-eastern Brazil (10 spp.), northeastern-southeastern-southern atlantic Brazil (9 spp.), southeastern-southern atlantic Brazil (5 spp.) and southeastern atlantic Brazil (10 spp.). As for habitat preference, the taxons were classified as generalists (56%) or as specialists of the atlantic domain (44%). In the Atlantic Domain, the species are found mainly in the ombrophylous dense forest and in the semideciduous forest and occur also in restingas and araucaria forest.
Key-words:
Leguminosae; Itatiaia National Park; Atlantic forest; distribution patterns