This study aimed at characterizing the composition of climbers within a 230 ha fragment in Seasonal Semi-deciduous Forest located between the municipalities of Rio Claro and Araras (22º21'S and 47º28' - 47º29'W, 630 m of altitude). Samples were collected monthly from September/2000 to April/2002, and the climbers were classified into two different groups (herbaceous vines or woody lianas); and according to their climbing patterns they were divided into twines, with tendrils, or scandent. A total of 148 species, distributed in 82 genera and 33 families were identified. Bignoniaceae (29 species), Asteraceae (19), Sapindaceae (12), Malpighiaceae (11), and Convolvulaceae (nine) were the richest families, with 54% of total species. Bignoniaceae presented the greatest number of species, and genera (16) confirming reports that it is the richest climbers family in the Seasonal Semi-deciduous Forest, as it has previously been stated by studies carried out in lowland neotropical forests. Like in other studies carried out in Seasonal Semi-deciduous Forests, woody climbers stood for approximately 2/3 of the diversity of all climbers. It was possible to record the predominance of both twining species (43%) and those with tendrils (39%) over the scandent species (18%). Although the composition of species may be quite distinct, the richest families and genera identified in this study are often identified as having the same relevance in previous studies conducted in Seasonal Semi-deciduous Forest in the state of São Paulo.
climbers; floristic; lianas; semi-deciduous forest; tropical forest
