The Frangipani (Himatanthus spp.) occur in natural populations in forest ecosystems and present a wide spectrum of uses. in folk medicine ranging from the treatment of uterine inflammation, gastritis, veterinary, food supplement to medicinal treatment of cancer. The extraction of latex Janaúba Alcantara has been gaining increasing importance as an alternative income. Therefore, the establishment of studies that enable sustainable management in their natural environment is necessary. The overall objective of this study was to characterize the occurrence of Himatanthus environments in the municipality of Alcântara, Maranhão, Brazil, and identify the accompanying vegetation. The samples were defined by word of informants, and apparent frequency in the plant community, the environments were described considering the landscape units and usage history. As a result, the largest area of occurrence was followed by the mainland salt marsh wetlands, the main vegetation type was the secondary forest. Bacuri (Platonia insignis Mart.), tucum (Astrocaryum vulgare Mart.) e murta verdadeira (Myrcia selloi (Spreng.) N. Silveira, were the main species associated.
Himatanthus; vegetation typology; Alcântara; medicinal plants
