Pteridophytes from two fragments of Seasonal Deciduous Forest in the Taquari River Valley, Rio Grande do sul State, Brazil

Abstract

A survey was carried out on the richness of ferns occurring in two fragments of Seasonal Deciduous Forest, located in the Taquari River Valley, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In both areas, a total of 56 species, 36 genera and 15 families of ferns were observed. In the Roca Sales forest fragment, 48 species were observed while, 32 species were encountered in the Arroio do Meio. The majority of the observed families were common to both sites, except Gleicheniaceae, Hymenophyllaceae, Osmundaceae and Vittariaceae which were only at Roca Sales observed. Hemycriptophyte was the most common life form in both areas. Most of the species were terrestrial. Polypodiaceae, Pteridaceae and Dryopteridaceae were the most representative families. The studied Seasonal Deciduous Forest fragments in Roca Sales and Arroio do Meio present, respectively, 15% and 10% of the fern species listed for the State.