To enlarge the knowledge on sandy Restinga forests in Rio Grande do Sul, it was carried out a shrub-tree component phytosociological and floristic studies of a Restinga forest from Parque Estadual de Itapeva (PEVA). In this study, it was used the the plot method, including all the individuals with DAS (soil height diameter) minimum of 2.5 cm and totaling an area of 0.5 ha. The floristic composition resulted in a total richness of 81 species. The shrub-tree total density in the forest was 4,240 individulas/ha. The family with the highest specific richness was Myrtaceae and, among the species with the highest importance value are Myrsine umbellata Mart. and Sorocea bonplandii (Baill.) W. C. Burger. In the natural regeneration the 10 first species accumulated 54% of the total natural regeneration, with rates from 13.5% to 0.2%. The high observed richness showed the contribution of "Porta de Torres" as an important Atlantic species migratory corridor in the vegetation in Rio Grande do Sul, adding new information on Restinga community structure and floristic in Rio Grande do Sul. The results will contribute to further studies on PEVA dynamic and to environmental reclamation, preservation and handling programs.
Sandy dune vegetation; phytosociological structure; Atlantic Forest
