Floristic Survey of a Portion of the Vegetation Complex of the Coastal Zone in Piau�� State, Brazil

Abstract

The coast of Piauí state, unexplored regarding its phytodiversity, instigates conducting research that contributes to the knowledge of its flora. This study aims to better understand the floristic diversity of a patch of vegetation in the village of Curral Velho (02º 52' 45 " S and 41° 40' 01 " W), in the municipality of Luís Correia, Piauí state. Random monthly samples were collected in the study area over eight months; 105 specimens were collected and 93 species belonging to 76 genera and 33 families were identified. Local flora includes floristic elements of Caatinga, Cerrado and Restinga, suggesting that the plant community in the coastal area of Piauí has a transitional nature. This study brings unpublished data on the floristic diversity of the studied area, contributing, ultimately, to the knowledge of the flora in the state as a whole. This is a pioneer and partial inventory in this portion of the state and does not portray its full phytodiversity, thus subsequent surveys are required to add data for a better knowledge on the flora in the studied stretch.