Considering the relevant role and the current level of degradation of riparian areas, this work aimed to study the floristic composition of shrub-tree riparian vegetation at different hydric environments in the Taperoá river basin, in the semi-arid region of the Paraíba State, Northeast Brazil. The survey was performed from June 2002 to February 2003. Nine sampling sites were distributed along rivers and streams, and around lagoon, and dam. The definition of activities was based on the analysis of charts and vegetation maps drawn to the scale 1:100,000 and through walks carried out at random for collecting plant material. The plants were identified by comparing their morphology to the collection housed at the Herbarium Lauro Pires Xavier (Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB), and by consultation to the specialized bibliography and to botanical experts. The shrub-tree riparian vegetation from the nine sampling sites was represented by 43 plant species, from which 41 belong to 19 families and two species were not determined. The families with the largest number of species were: Mimosaceae (seven), Caesalpiniaceae (five), and Euphorbiaceae (five). The cluster analysis showed that the riparian areas had a particular distinguishing feature with respect to floristic composition, as indicated by the low similarity index estimated among the sampled areas.
floristic composition; riparian vegetagion; semi-arid
