Cyperaceae in the Parque Estadual de Itapuã, Viamão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

Cyperaceae is a cosmopolitan monocot family that is composed by more than 5,000 species distributed in 104 genera. In Brazil occur about 700 species distributed in approximately 44 genera. The present paper consists in the floristic survey of Cyperaceae species occurring in the Parque Estadual de Itapuã, Viamão, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The study area presents forest, grassland and sandbank environments. Those physiognomies originally formed mosaics all over Patos Lagoon and Guaíba Lake regions. The survey was carried out through field collections and herbaria revision. The Cyperaceae family is represented by 60 species and one variety distributed in 14 genera. Cyperus (14 spp. and one variety), Rhynchospora (10 spp.) and Eleocharis (9 spp.) presented greater species number. Illustrated keys for the identification of genera and species are presented, moreover, complementary information concerning habitat, status and comments are also presented for each species.