Angiosperm checklist and conservation of one the richest restingas in southeastern Brazil

Abstract

Abstract The Paulo César Vinha State Park (PEPCV), an important conservation unit in the state of Espírito Santo, has one of the richest angiosperm communities of any restinga area in Brazil, making it a priority area for biodiversity conservation. In this study, we perform an inventory of the PEPCV flora through an exploratory collection over the park area and compilation of data from botanical collections available in virtual herbaria. A total of 634 species were listed, distributed into 367 genera and 111 families of angiosperms, representing 43.75% of the species documented in the restingas of Espírito Santo. The richest families were Fabaceae (54 spp.), Cyperaceae (40 spp.), Orchidaceae (40 spp.), Myrtaceae (36 spp.), and Poaceae (30 spp.). Six species were recorded for the first time in the park, ten are endemic to the Espírito Santo, and about 10% of the species are threatened with extinction. We provide data on the habit, species distribution in phytophysiognomies, and endangered species. Finally, we discussed the importance of broad knowledge about the park’s plants, exposing points to conserve specific areas with high antopic rate, and plans to preserve the biodiversity of this ecosystem.