Reproductive phenological patterns of cerrado plant species at the Pé-de-Gigante Reserve (Santa Rita do Passa Quatro, SP, Brazil): a comparison between the herbaceous and woody floras

Abstract

A natural vegetation area, with 1269 ha, composed mainly by cerrado, located at Santa Rita do Passa Quatro Municipality, São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil (21 degrees 36-39'S, 47 degrees 36-38'W), was studied. From September 1995 to February 1997, a floristic survey was carried out, when all vascular plant species at reproductive stage were collected. The flowering and fruiting patterns of the community were studied, comparing the herbaceous and the woody species. In the herbaceous component, 239 species were found and, in the woody one, 108 species. The woody species flowered mainly at the beginning of the rainy season, while the herbaceous ones produced flowers generally at the end of that season. The proportion of anemo and autochorous species was greater in the herbaceous component. The zoochorous ones, on the contrary, were more frequent in the woody component. At the dry season, when their dispersion is more efficient, the proportion of anemo and autochorous species producing fruits was higher. During the rainy season, when their fruits become attractive for longer time, the zoochorous species fruited more intensely.