Plants from the open spaces of the rectory of the University of Fortaleza (UNIFOR), Ceará, Brasil

Abstract

Cultivated plants may work as an educational tool, creating in humans a feeling of affection with nature, which may increase public’s support to conservation programs. However, most cultivated plants in Brazilian cities are exotics, reducing the role of street trees and gardens in environmental education. This study identified the plant species present in the open spaces of the rectory of Unifor. We recorded 93 species belonging to 41 families. Overall, 88% of the species were exotics and only 12% natives for the coastal region of Ceará. Nowadays, there is a majority of exotic species beeing grown, whereas the natives are underused. It would be interesting to introduce more native plants in the gardens of the rectory, to allow people to know the native plants of the coastal region of Ceará, so that the gardens of the area could be used as an instrument for environmental education.