Flora da Serra do Cipó: Asteraceae - Eupatorieae

Abstract

The “campos rupestres” (rocky fields) are distributed along the Espinhaço Range and Central Brazil and present vegetation formation of transition between the areas of Cerrado, Caatinga and Atlantic Forest. This type of formation is mainly characterized by herbaceous and shrub species, which change according to the microclimate, soil depth and texture and relief. In the Espinhaço Range the high diversity of habitats and their distribution discontinues make alpine pastures are rich in endemic species vulnerable and in need of greater protection. Asteraceae is one of the most representative families, and the tribe Eupatorieae (among the 43 tribes of the family), the richest in Brazil with 614 species in 86 genera. The Serra do Cipo, it belongs to the Espinhaço Range, standing on the south-south portion and has high endemism rate. For the Asteraceae family are cited 170 species and for Eupatorieae tribe are cited 45 species. This survey was based on copies of several national herbarium, as well as samples taken on field trips, covering municipalities belonging to the Serra do Cipo. For the treatment of the tribe reproductive and vegetative structures were analyzed and were prepared diagnoses of genres, identification keys for genera and species, descriptions of species and taxonomic comments on them. We found 84 species in 17 genera, Chromolaena and Mikania being the most representative, with 28 and 20 species respectively. Among the species found, some are endemic or restricted the study area, as Mikania cipoensis and Mikania itambana are species that occur only in Minas Gerais, as Mikania parvifolia, Mikania premnifolia, Mikania rothii. This shows the great diversity of this tribe in the area and probably not only for the family but for the whole flora. Thus, it is necessary their protection and conservation, given that only a portion of its flora is known through the systematic treatments that are being published in the USP Botany Bulletin.