ABSTRACT
This study was performed to determine the richness and distribution of plant species, the depth of the water table and the soil texture of the border, middle and lower zones of five palm marshes in Uberlândia and Uberaba, Minas Gerais. The floristic sampling was carried out monthly from January 2002 to January 2003. The soil sampling and water table measuring were made in the central area of each sampled zone. Sampled species totaled 436 and belonged to 59 families and 206 genera. The number of species found in six marshes ranged from 146 to 219. On the border area 26 to 87 species were collected, whereas in the middle area a greater richness (78 to 111 species) was obtained. The floristic ordination showed variability between marshes located in clayey and sandy soils and between areas with high and low soil humidity. The highest water storage in the clayey soil may have interfered with discrimination of floras between the marshes on clayey and sandy soils.
Key words:
cerrado region; water table; soil texture