Geographical distribution patterns of species of Araceae occurring in fragments of Atlantic forest in Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract

The study deals with the geographical distribution of species of Araceae found in fragments of Atlantic forest in north of Pernambuco, connecting its occurrence to their respective habits and macro-environmental factors. We conducted a consult to the database in the internet, specialized bibliographies and visits to brazilian herbaria, besides collecting in the forest fragments in north of Pernambuco. We identified 18 species classified according to the patterns: broad interamerican (5), broad Central South American (3), broad South American (8) and restricted to the Oriental Northeast (2) presenting or not disjunctions between the Atlantic and Amazonic Provinces. There was the predominance of disjunct distribution species (11) over continuous distribution species (7), where the hemiepiphytic habit prevailed with nine and three species, respectively. This habit predominated in humid and hot areas, while the geophytes occurred even in dry and/or cold climates. The “brejos de altitudes” forests of northeastern Brazil have proven to be important areas for biogeographical studies with family.