The montane forests of Pernambuco, Brazil, are poorly understood in relation to their flora, physiognomy, structure, and similarity to lowland forests. The physiognomy and structure of the largest ombrophilous forest fragment in the state of Pernambuco (São Vicente Ferrer, 600 ha) were described and compared with other montane and lowland forests in northeastern Brazil. The study site is located on the eastern slope of the Borborema plateau (07º38' S, 35º30' W), at 600-640 m altitude. Mean annual rainfall is 1103 mm. Fifty 10×20 m plots were set up and all plants with diameter at breast height (dbh) > 5 cm were identified and measured. The 1,521 plants recorded belonged to 58 families, 96 genera and 152 species. About 50% had heights ranging from 6.1 to 12 m and dbh between 5 and 10 cm. Most belonged to the families Clusiaceae, Quiinaceae, Myrtaceae, and Sapindaceae. Families with greatest importance indexes (Myrtaceae, Clusiaceae, Moraceae, Mimosaceae, Caesalpiniaceae, Vochysiaceae, Myristicaceae, Elaeocarpaceae, Lecythidaceae, and Anacardiaceae) were dominant in different height classes, had different species numbers (1 to 10), and, in general, the highest densities. São Vicente Férrer's montane forest showed a close relationship in composition to lowland forests, in spite of the taller trees, greater richness, and mainly greater abundance of families and species which are not common in lowland forests of Pernambuco.
Atlantic forest; Northeast; stratification
