Pteridoflora e seus aspectos ecológicos ocorrentes no Parque Ecológico João Vasconcelos Sobrinho, Caruaru, PE, Brasil

Abstract

A floristic survey and analysis of ecological aspects of the pteridophyte flora from Parque Ecológico João Vasconcelos Sobrinho, also known as Brejo dos Cavalos, characteristically an area of upland forest in the Municipality of Caruaru in Pernambuco State was carried out. The State has few forest remnants of such forest type, which are true biological refuges to innumerous species of pteridophytes. Six bimonthly excursions were conducted within a year, as well as a research about the species deposited in herbaria of Pernambuco, where a diversity of 74 species was found. These were distributed in 32 genera and 16 families, being the Pteridaceae family the most representative. There is the predominance of herbaceous, hemicryptophytous, terrestrial species and those of the forest interior. The low index of epiphyte species, the high diversity of the genera Adiantum L. and number of herbaria surveyed species reflect the secondary character of the forests and give the evidence of a richer pteridophyte flora in previous time.