Asteraceae from Morro Santana, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil

Abstract

Morro Santana (30º03’S, 51º07’W) is located between Porto Alegre and Viamão cities, in Rio Grande do Sul State. The floristic inventory was carrying out from March 2007 to December 2008, covering 19 field trips, with all vegetation types sampled. Asteraceae is well represented in Morro Santana, with 154 species, 63 genera and 12 tribes. Astereae (32) and Eupatorieae (29) are the tribes with the largest number of species. Anthemideae, Barnadesieae and Helenieae have only three species. The genera with the largest number of species are Baccharis L. (18) and Eupatorium L. (17), followed by Vernonia Schreb. (9), Mikania Willd. (8), and Senecio L. and Pterocaulon Elliott (6). Of the studied genera, 35 have a single species. Nine exotic species were found in the area. Four species are in the Endangered Species List from Rio Grande do Sul State (Gochnatia cordata Less., Mikania pinnatiloba DC., Pamphalea commersonii Cass., and Schlechtendalia luzulaefolia Less.). Identification keys to tribes and species, popular names, ecological and geografical distribution informations and distintive characters to each species are provide.