Lycophytes and monilophytes in Rio Preto State Park, Minas Gerais, Brazil

We conducted a floristic survey of lycophytes and monilophytes in Rio Preto State Park, located in the municipality of São Gonçalo do Rio Preto, and in the surrounding areas, including the municipality of Felício dos Santos, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study area is within the Espinhaço Mountain Range. Collections were made from June 1999 to August 2008, and the specimens were deposited in the Herbarium of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. Were identified 188 taxa (185 species, one subspecies and two varieties), distributed among 20 families and 60 genera. The most representative families were Polypodiaceae, with 35 species; Pteridaceae, with 24 species; Dryopteridaceae, with 23 species; Hymenophyllaceae, with 17 species; and Lycopodiaceae, with 13 species and one variety. The most species-rich genera were Elaphoglossum (n = 19), Asplenium (n = 12), Blechnum (n = 10) and Thelypteris (n = 9). Of the taxa recorded, nine are endangered species. Here we present a taxa checklist for the studied area, data regarding growth habit and vegetation type for each species, as well as comparative analyses between Rio Preto State Park and other areas within the Espinhaço Range and the Atlantic Forest, in terms of species composition