Herbaceous component structure in the non-flooded field of restinga, Pernambuco State

Abstract

The lack of data on the structure of the herbaceous stratum in the field physiognomy makes it difficult to understand the arrangement and dynamics of the communities, of species diversity and distribution patterns among different environments. Therefore, the present study aimed to characterize the structure of the herbaceous component of the field physiognomy in a restinga area. Samples were collected in the Private Natural Heritage Reserve Nossa Senhora do Outeiro de Maracaípe, Pernambuco State. Herb community was sampled using the plots method, considered as plants of the herbaceous stratum non-woody species with green stem that had a height between 0.15 and 1m. We sampled 29 species, 22 genera and nine families, totaling 1,062 individuals. The families richest were Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Rubiaceae. The highest VI species were Paspalum maritimum, Cuphea flava, Eleocharis geniculata, Stigmaphyllon paralias, Rhynchospora barbata and Stylosanthes viscosa. Shannon Diversity Index (H’) was from 2,414 and the Pielou Equity Index (J’) was from 0,717. It can be concluded that P. maritimum, R. barbata and S. paralias species stood out in the structural arrangement of the field physiognomy and that the vegetation presented species with wide distribution in Brazil.