Lianas, or woody vines, are a significant component of most tropical forests. To investigate the floristic and ecological aspects of large lianas from three forest environments on terra firme in Central Amazonia (2º35' S and 60º12' W) 20 plots of 50 m x 10 m were placed in each of the forest environments (plateau forest, slope forest and sandbank forest) and all lianas with diameter at breast height (DBH) > 10 cm were measured. In terra firme plateau forest 17 individuals were sampled, belonging to nine families, ten genera and thirteen species. Fabaceae and Combretaceae were the most species-rich families, representing together over 46% of all samples. The species with highest importance values (IV) were Doliocarpus brevipedicellatus Garcke (IV = 58.21) and Abuta candollei Triana & Planch. (IV = 33.28). A total of twelve individuals, belonging to four families, four genera and eight species were registered in terra firme slope forest. In this forest environment, Caesalpiniaceae was the most species-rich family, with 38% of the identified species. Abuta rufescens Aubl. (IV = 102.08) and Bauhinia alata Ducke (IV = 65.80) were the liana species with highest importance values. In terra firme sandbank forest four individuals were registered, belonging to four families, four genera and four liana species. In the three forest environments, seven liana individuals reached over 20 cm of DBH. The floristic similarity among terra firme forest environment was relatively low for species, with the least floristic dissimilarity between terra firme slope forest and sandbank forest (Is = 0.17). In this study, according to Shannon-Wiener, Simpson's and Fisher's alpha diversity indices, the terra firme plateau forest was more diversified in large liana species.
Phytosociology structure; diversity; lianas; terra firme; Central Amazonia
