CARVALHO, D. A. de & MARTINS, F. R.SHRUB AND TREE SPECIES COMPOSITION IN THE CERRADOS OF SOUTHWEST MINAS GERAIS

ABSTRACT: In order to improve the knowledge about variations in the floristic community of Brazilian cerrado, especially in regard to soil and climate conditions, we conducted a floristic assessment of the tree and shrub community of three disjoint adjacent regions situated in three municipalities of southwest Minas Gerais state (geographical coordinates 20-23ºS and 44-47ºW). Over a period of 24 months, in 49 allocated plots of 20 x 20 m, all tree and shrub species 1 m high or more in vegetative and/or reproductive stage were sampled. Additional random samples of blossoming plants were collected outside plots, and each plot was analyzed and categorized for soil type. 170 botanical species were identified belonging to 103 genera and 46 families. Family Fabaceae and genus Miconia presented the largest number of species. Although the cerrado of southwest Minas Gerais extends over marginal areas of occurrence of Brazilian cerrado, its floristic composition is rich not only in species but also in genera and families. Some species found in these cerrados also occur in local semideciduous forests, while other species that are frequently found in other areas of cerrado were not found in southwest Minas Gerais. Tibouchina sellowiana does not feature in the list of species occurring in Brazilian cerrados. There is little similarity among the three sampled areas due to soil factors and different types of human influence in each of the areas. Alpinópolis presented cerrado sensu stricto subtype cerrado ralo, with 75 species and red-yellow latosol. Campo do Meio presented cerrado sensu stricto subtype cerrado típico, with 88 species and red latosol. Pimenta falls under the cerradão category, with 124 species and red latosol. On the subsurface, the soil of Pimenta was found to present lower Al+++ saturation, which apparently shapes conditions for a more vigorous vegetation. The cerrado soils sampled in this study showed high similarity to cerrado soils i