Floristic composition of the vascular species and tree flora successional character in a Seasonal Semideciduous Forest remnant in Southern Brazil

The floristic composition of vascular species present in an urban forest remnant in the Ibiporã Forest Park (23°15'71" S and 51°01'83" W, Park entrance), Southern Brazil, was studied from May 2006 to May 2008. The species were divided in life form and tree species were placed in successional categories. A total of 176 native species, 147 genera and 57 families were found. The majority of species were Angiosperms (98%) while 2% were Pteridophyta. The richest families were Fabaceae (19), Bignoniaceae, Malvaceae (nine), Meliaceae and Rubiaceae (eight). The tree species were majority (53%), following by herbaceous (16%), vines (14%), shrubs (13%) and epiphyte species (4%). The successional characterization of the tree species showed a slight predominance of the late secondary species (52%) over species of early succession (45%), indicating that the vegetation of the PFI is in the intermediate to advanced stage of ecological succession.

ecological succession; forest remnant; richness; successional groups; urban park