International Journal of Ecosystem 2012, 2(6): 161-170 DOI: 10.5923/j.ije.20120206.03 Grassland Vegetation of Pitangui River Valley, Southern Brazil Rosemeri Segecin Moro 1,*, Melissa Koch Fernandes de Souza-Nogueira2 , Elisana Milan1 , Janaine Mioduski3, Tiaro Katu Pereira4 , Rodrigo Fernando Moro5 1 Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa (UEPG), Ponta Grossa, PPG em Gestão do Território, CEP 84030-900, Brazil 2 Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa (UEPG), Ponta Grossa, Herbário HUPG , CEP 84030-900, Brazil 3 Universidade Federal Tecnológica do Paraná (UFTR), Curitiba, PPG em Ciência e Tecnologia Ambiental, CEP 81280-340, Brazil 4 Sysflor, Florianópolis, Scientific Certified Systems, 88040-440, Brazil 5 Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa (UEPG), Ponta Grossa, NUCLEAM , CEP 84030-900, Brazil Abstract A systematic floristic survey was carried out on native g rasslands at Pitangui river valley areas, in the state of Paraná, Southern Brazil. Monthly samp les collection covering an area of 9.4 ha over a two year period was conducted. A total of 51 angiosperm, one conifer and 4 fern families fro m four mesic steppic areas were identified. There were 196 genera and 420 species present in the area surveyed. The family Asteraceae contributed the highest species richness with a total of 119 species, 28% of the total. Herbs were found to dominate the area contributing almost 80% of all the plant forms. There were six non-native species, including African grasses and contaminating exotic pines observed and identified in the g rassland area. Twelve native species, belonging to 11 families (contributing a total of 2.8% of all the flo ra identified) are listed as threatened. The high species richness and the considerably high nu mber of threatened species in such a small area underlined the need for more conservation efforts in these grasslands. It is therefore reco mmended that additional zoning and better management effort be the primary concerns to conserve the area. Keywords Floristic, Grasslands, Riparian Area 1. Introduction Native subtropical grasslands at South Brazil plateaus are located at high altitudes where low temperatures and high annual rainfall usually predominate. Riparian areas in Campos Gerais are co mbined by moderate to poorly drained soils, covered by hydrophilous steppes or by pioneering formations of fluvial influence, where Haplic Histosols, Melanic Gleysols, or Fluvic Leptosols can be encountered. In addition, hygrophilous to mesic steppes typically encompassing herbs and shrubs species, where Litholic Leptosols and Haplic Inceptisols are also available[1],[2]. The great ecological relevance of the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest biome, which includes grasslands, has given this area the status as global biodivers ity hotspots[3],[4]. The remain ing grasslan ds in the stat e o f Paran á have been suffering severe anthropogenic pressure, especially due to t he exp ans ion o f ag ricu ltu re and no n -n at ive fo rest ry activit ies. Ho wever, despite the global impo rtance of this grassland ecosystem, their floristic richness is hardly known. * Corresponding author: moro.uepg@gmail.com (Rosemeri Segecin Moro) Published online at http://journal.sapub.org/ije Copyright © 2012 Scientific & Academic Publishing. All Rights Reserved Therefore as one of the first steps of the Biodiversity of grassland-forest ecotones in South Brazil Pro ject team was to provide a species checklist of Pitangui river valley native grasslands. Their adaptive lifeforms were prev iously discussed by Mioduski & Moro[5]. 2. Methods We carried out this floristic study in the dip slope of 1st cuesta of state of Paraná (Devonian Slope), inserted over Furnas sandstone, with med iu m alt itude of 980 m a.s.l. The area is co mprised of the region nationally known as Campos Gerais, specially where Pitangui river flows within a canyon in its mediu m curse crossing the Slope (J 594408 E 7232272), after Alagados dam, between Ponta Grossa and Carambeí municipalities, Paraná State (Figure 1). The climate is Cfb (altitudinal subtropical humid) according to Köppen’s classification, with mean annual temperature between 18 and 19°C, and an average rainfall o f 1,600mm/yr[6]. Sample collection was carried out monthly over a t wo year period (August 2009/July 2011) in an 9.4 ha area inserted over Furnas sandstone formation on superficial soils of 1 meter or less. According to the Brazilian Soil classification system, the Abrigo Pitangui site (A) is an 2.1 ha concave slope whith Haplic Camb issols, Litolic Neossols and Fluvic 162 Rosemeri Segecin M oro et al.: Grassland Vegetation of Pitangui River Valley, Southern Brazil Neossols in sequence. The Usina São Jorge site (B) is an 0.2 ha flat surface with Haplic Camb issols, The Fazenda Panorama site (C) is an 4.0 ha slightly convex slope with Haplic Camb issols, and the Mirante Pitangui site (D) is an 3.1 ha slightly convex slope with Litolic Neossols. area as the investigator walks slowly on straight lines along it. Vouchers are deposited in the UEPG herbariu m (HUPG), and research has been authorized by SISBIO 28694/ 1. For species’ taxonomic classification, Tryon and Tryon[8] and Smith et al.[9] for Ferns, and Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III[10] for Angiosperms were follo wed. The official plant names and their authors followed the electronic databases of Kew Gardens Plant List[11]. Evaluation and enumeration of the presence of extinction threatened species in the study area through comparison and review of Brazilian official threatened species lists [12],[13],[14] was also conducted. In addition, the presence of non-native plant (exotic) species was evaluated through revisions of the local governmental list[15] and Horus Institute[16]. 3. Results and Discussion Figure 1. Location of the sampled areas in Pitangui river valley, Southern Brazil: A- Abrigo Pitangui; B – Usina São Jorge; C – Fazenda Panorama; D – Mirante Pitangui Botanical material was collected according to the wandering method described in Filgueiras et al.[7], that consists of listing the species presented in each delimited Among the four areas, we recorded 421 taxa distributed in 51 Angiosperm families, one Conifer and 4 Ferns. There were present 420 species and 196 genera (Table 1). One Aristida taxon (Poaceae) was identified only at the generic level at this mo ment, needing further studies to settle it as a new species. Table 1. Grassland plants present at Pitangui river valley, Southern Brazil. Habit: He – herbaceous; Sh – forbs; Tr - treelets; Li – prostrated herbs; Hc Humic Cambissols; Ha - Haplic Cambissols; Ln - Litolic Neossols; Fc - Fluvic Cambissols Families/Species ACANTHACEAE Dyschoriste hygrophiloides (Nees) Kuntze Ruellia multifolia (Nees) Lindau AMARANTHACEAE Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze Gomphrena macrocephala A.St.-Hil. Pfaffia helichrysoides (Mart.) Kuntze Pfaffia jubata Mart. Pfaffia tuberosa (Spreng.) Hicken AMARYLLIDACEAE Nothoscordum gracile (Aiton) Stearn Nothoscordum luteomajus Ravenna APIACEAE Eryngium ebracteatum Lam. Eryngium elegans Cham. & Schltdl. Eryngium horridum Malme Eryngium junceum Cham. &Schltdl. Eryngium sanguisorba Cham. &Schltdl. APOCYNACEAE Mandevilla atroviolacea (Stadelm.) Woodson Mandevilla coccinea (Hook. & Arn.) Woodson Mandevilla emarginata (Vell.) C.Ezcurra Mandevilla pohliana (Stadelm.) A.H.Gentry Oxypetalum sublanatum Malme Widgrenia corymbosa Malme ARECACEAE Allagoptera campestris (Mart.) Kuntze Butia microspadix Burret ASTERACEAE Acanthospermum australe (Loefl.) Kuntze Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) DC. Actinoseris radiata (Vell.) Cabrera Ageratum conyzoides (L.) L. habit threatened status Predominant Soil type He He rare Hc, Ha, Ln Hc, Ha, Ln He He He He He rare rare Hc, Ha, Fc, Ln Fc Hc, Ha, Ln Ha Ln He He Ln Hc He He He He He Ha, Fc Ha Hc, Ha Hc, Ha, Ln Hc He He He He Li Li He He He He He He rare rare Ln Ha, Fc, Ln Hc, Ln Hc, Ha Ln Ha, Ln Ha, Hc, Ln Ha, Hc, Ln Ha Ha, Hc, Ln Fc Ha, Ln International Journal of Ecosystem 2012, 2(6): 161-170 Angelphytum grisebachii (Baker) H.Rob. Aspilia montevidensis (Spreng.) Kuntze Aspilia reflexa (Sch.Bip. ex Baker) Baker Austroeupatorium cf inulifolium (Kunth) R.M.King & H.Rob. Austroeupatorium laetevirens Hook. & Arn. Baccharis articulata (Lam.) Pers. Baccharis axillaris DC. Baccharis brevifolia DC. Baccharis coridifolia DC. Baccharis dracunculifolia DC. Baccharis semiserrata var. elaeagnoides (Stend.) Baccharis erioclada DC. Baccharis genistelloides (Lam.) Pers. Baccharis genistelloides subsp. crispa (Spreng.) Joch.Müll. Baccharis glutinosa Pers. Baccharis illinita DC. Baccharis linearifolia (Lam.) Pers. subsp linearifolia Baccharis myricifolia DC. Baccharis pentodonta Malme Baccharis spicata (Lam.) Baill. Baccharis uncinella DC. Barrosoa betoniciformis (DC.) R.M.King & H.Rob. Bidens alba (L.) DC. Calea cuneifolia DC. Calea cymosa Less. Calea parvifolia (DC.) Baker Calea triantha (Vell.) Pruski Campuloclinium macrocephalum (Less.) DC. Chaptalia graminifolia Cabr. Chaptalia integerrima (Vell.) Burkart Chaptalia nutans (L.) Polák Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronquist Coreopsis lanceolata L. Chromolaena ascendens (Sch.Bip. ex Baker) R.M.King & H.Rob. Chromolaena laevigata (Lam.) R.M.King & H.Rob. Chromolaena stachyophylla (Spreng.) R.M.King & H.Rob. Chrysolaena flexuosa (Sims) H.Rob. Chrysolaena nicolackii H.Rob. Chrysolaena oligophylla (Vell.) H.Rob. Chrysolaena platensis (Spreng.) H.Rob. Chrysolaena propinqua (Hieron.) H.Rob. Diacranthera crenata (Schltdl. ex Mart.) R.M.King & H.Rob. Disynaphia filifolia (Hassl.) R.M.King & H.Rob. Elephantopus mollis Kunth Emilia sonchifolia ( L.) DC. ex DC. Erechtites hieraciifolius (L.) Raf. ex DC. Erechtites valerianifolius (Link ex Spreng.) DC. Eupatorium agrigaudium Cabrera Eupatorium hirsutum Hook. & Arn. Eupatorium multifidum DC. Eupatorium orbiculatum DC. Eupatorium palmare Sch.Bip. ex Baker Eupatorium serratum Spreng. Eupatorium squarrulosum Hook. & Arn. Eupatorium tanacetifolium Gillies ex Hook. & Arn. Gamochaeta purpurea (L.) Cabrera Grazielia multifida (DC.) R.M.King & H.Rob. Heterocondylus alatus (Vell.) R.M.King & H.Rob. Heterothalamus psiadioides Less. Hieracium urvillei Sch.Bip. Hieracium ignatianum Baker Holocheilus hieracioides (D.Don) Cabr. Hypochaeris glabra L. Hypochaeris lutea (Vell.) Britton. Hypochoeris radicata L. Inulopsis scaposa O.Hoffm. Isostigma crithmifolium Less. Lepidaploa psilostachya (DC.) H.Rob. He He He He Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He endangered 163 Ha Ha,Hc, Ln Ha, Ln Hc Ha, Hc Ha, Ln Ha, Hc, Fc Ha Ha, Hc Ha, Hc Ha Ha Ha Hc, Fc, Ln Ha Ln Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha Ln Ha Ha, Hc Hc, Ln Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha Ln Hc, Fc, Ln Hc, Fc, Ln Ha Ha, Hc, Fc, Ln Hc Ha, Ln Ha Ha Ln Ha Ha Ha, Ln Ha Hc Hc, Fc, Ln Ha, Hc Ln Ha, Ln Ha Ha Ha Ln Ln Ha Ha Ln Ln Ln Ln Ln Hc Ln Hc Ln Hc Hc Ha, Hc, Ln Ln Ha, Ln 164 Rosemeri Segecin M oro et al.: Grassland Vegetation of Pitangui River Valley, Southern Brazil Lessingianthus arachniolepis (Ekman ex Ekman & Dusén) H.Rob. Lessingianthus asteriflorus (Mart. ex DC.) H.Rob. Lessingianthus bardanoides (Less.) H.Rob. Lessingianthus brevifolius (Less.) H.Rob. Lessingianthus elegans (Gardn.) H.Rob. Lessingianthus glabratus (Less.) H.Rob. Lessingianthus grandiflorus (Less.) H.Rob. Lessingianthus plantaginodes (Kuntze) H.Rob. Lessingianthus polyphyllus (Sch.Bip. ex Baker) H.Rob. Lessingianthus rubricaulis (Bonpl.) H.Rob. Lessingianthus simplex (Less.) H.Rob. Lucilia acutifolia (Poir.) Cass. Lucilia lycopodioides (Less) S.E.Freire Mikania micrantha Kunth Mikania oblongifolia DC. Mikania sessilifolia DC. Noticastrum sericeum (Less.) Less. ex Phil. Orthopappus angustifolius (Sw.) Gleason Praxelis diffusa (Rich.) Pruski Praxelis sanctopaulensis (B.L.Rob) R.M.King & H.Rob. Pterocaulon alopecuroides (Lam.) DC. Pterocaulon angustifolium DC. Pterocaulon lanatum O. Kuntze Senecio brasiliensis (Spreng.) Less. Senecio conyzaefolius Bak. Senecio oleosus Vell. Solidago chilensis Meyen Sonchus oleraceus (L.) L. Stenocephalum megapotamicum (Spreng.) Sch.Bip. Stevia cinerascens Sch.Bip. ex Baker Stevia clausseni Sch.Bisch. ex Baker Stevia linearifolia Walp. Stevia lundiana DC. Stevia myriadenia Sch.Bip. ex Baker Symphyotrichum squamatum (Spreng.) G.L.Nesom Trichocline speciosa Less. Verbesina sordescens DC. Vernonanthura cuneifolia (Gardner) H.Rob. Vernonanthura crassa (Vell.) H.Rob. Vernonanthura nudiflora (Less.) H.Rob. Vernonanthura westiniana (Less.) H.Rob. Vernonanthura rigiophylla (Sch-Bip ex Kuntze) H.Rob. Vernonia megapotamica Spreng. Viguiera macrorhiza Baker Viguiera paranensis (Malme) J.U. Santos Viguiera trichophylla Dusén Willoughbya officinalis (Mart.) Kuntze BIGNONIACEAE Jacaranda caroba (Vell.) DC. BORAGINACEAE Moritzia dusenii I.M.Johnst. BROMELIACEAE Aechmea distichantha Lem. CACTACEAE Parodia ottonis var. villa-velhensis (Brack. & Voll.) N.P.Taylor CAMPANULACEAE Lobelia camporum Pohl Lobelia paranaensis R.Braga Lobelia hederacea Cham. Wahlenbergia brasiliensis Cham. CARYOPHYLLACEAE Cerastium dicrotrichum Fenzl ex Rohrb. Silene gallica L. Stellaria media (L.) Vill. CARYOCARACEAE Caryocar brasiliense A.St.-Hil. CELASTRACEAE Plenckia populnea Reissek He He He He He He He He He Sh He He He Li He Li He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He Sh Sh Sh Sh He He He He He Li Ln Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha Ha Ha Ha, Ln Ha Ha, Hc Ln Hc Hc Ha Ha Ha Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha Ha, Hc, Fc, Ln Hc Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Hc Hc Ha Hc Ln Ha, Ln Ha Ha Ha Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha Ha Ln Ha Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha Sh Ha He Ha, Ln He Ln He Ln He He He He Ha, Hc, Ln Ha Ha, Ln Ha He He He Ha, Ln Ha Ha Sh Tr vulnerable Ha, Ln Ha International Journal of Ecosystem 2012, 2(6): 161-170 CISTACEAE Halimium brasiliense (Lam.) Grosser COMMELINACEAE Commelina villosa C.B.Clarke ex Chodat & Hassl. Commelina virginica L. Tradescantia cerinthoides Kunth CONVO LVULACEAE Evolvulus sericeus Sw. CUCURBITACEAE Cayaponia espelina (Silva Manso) Cogn. CUSCUTACEAE Cuscuta racemosa Mart. CYPERACEAE Bulbostylis capillaris (L.) Kunth ex C.B.Clarke Bulbostylis scabra (J.Presl. & C.Presl.) C.B.Clarke Bulbostylis vestita (Kunth) C.B.Clarke Cyperus aggregatus (Willd.) Endl. Cyperus haspan L. Cyperus hermaphroditus (Jacq.) Standl. Cyperus meyenianus Kunth Cyperus rigens J.Presl. & C.Presl subsp. rigens Fimbristylis autumnalis (L.) Roem. & Schult. Fimbristylis dichotoma (L.) Vahl Fimbristylis squarrosa Vahl Kyllinga brevifolia Rottb. Kyllinga odorata Vahl. subsp. odorata Kyllinga pumila Michx. Lagenocarpus rigidus (Kunth) Nees Pycreus lanceolatus (Poir.) C.B.Clarke Rhynchospora albiceps Kunth Rhynchospora consanguinea (Kunth) Boeck Rhynchospora corymbosa (L.) Britton Rhynchospora emaciata (Nees) Boeckeler Rhynchospora glaziovii Boeckeler Rhynchospora globosa (Kunth) Roem. & Schult. Rhynchospora hieronymi Boeckeler Rhynchospora junciformis (Kunth) Boeckeler Rhynchospora pallida M.A. Curtis Rhynchospora rugosa (Vahl) Gale Rhynchospora setigera (Kunth) Griseb. Scleria hirtella Sw. DENNSTAEDTIACEAE Pteridium arachnoideum (Kaulf.) Maxon DROSERACEAE Drosera brevifolia Pursh. Drosera communis A.-St.Hil. Drosera villosa A.-St. Hil. ERICACEAE Agarista pulchella G.Don Gaylussacia brasiliensis (Spreng.) Meisn. Gaylussacia pseudogaultheria Cham. & Schltdl. ERIOCAULACEAE Actinocephalus polyanthus (Bong.) Sano Eriocaulon ligulatum (Vell.) L.B.Sm. Eriocaulon sellowianum Kunth Leiothrix flavescens (Bong.) Ruhland Paepalanthus albovaginatus Silveira Paepalanthus planifolius (Bong) Korn. Syngonanthus caulescens (Poir.) Ruhland ERYTHRO XYLACEAE Erythroxylum microphyllum A.St.-Hil. EUPHO RBIACEAE Croton antisyphiliticus Mart. Croton heterodoxus Baill. Croton lundianus (Didr.) Muell.Arg. Croton myrianthus Muell.Arg. Croton migrans Casar. Euphorbia hyssopifolia L. He rare 165 Ha, Hc, Ln He He He Hc, Ln Ln Ln Li Ln Li rare Ha Li Ha He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He Hc, Fc Hc Hc Hc Hc Hc, Ha Hc Hc Hc Hc Hc Hc Hc Hc Hc Hc Hc Hc Hc Hc Hc Hc, Ln Hc Hc Hc Hc Hc, Ln Hc Sh Ha, Fc, Ln He He He Ln Ln Ln Sh Sh Sh Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha, Ln He He He He He He He Hc, Ln Hc Hc Hc, Ln Hc, Ln Hc Hc Sh Ha He He He Sh He He Ln Ha, Hc, Fc, Ln, Ha Ha, Ln Ha 166 Rosemeri Segecin M oro et al.: Grassland Vegetation of Pitangui River Valley, Southern Brazil Microstachys hispida (Mart.) Govaerts. FABACEAE Aeschynomene falcata (Poir.) DC. Chamaecrista punctata (Vogel) H.S.Irwin & Barneby Chamaecrista desvauxii var. langsdorfii (Vogel) H.S.Irwin & Barneby Chamaecrista rotundifolia (Pers.) Greene Clitoria densiflora (Benth.) Benth. Collaea speciosa (Loisel.) DC. Crotalaria balansae Micheli Crotalaria hilariana Benth. Crotalaria micans Link Crotalaria martiana Benth. Desmodium adscendens (Sw.) DC. Desmodium barbatum (L.) Benth. Desmodium incanum DC. Eriosema campestre Benth. Eriosema crinitum (Kunth) G.Don Eriosema longifolium Benth. Eriosema heterophyllum Benth. Galactia benthamiana Micheli Galactia boavista (Vell.) Burkart Galactia neesii DC. Mimosa acerba Benth. Mimosa acerba subsp. acerba var. arrudes Mimosa acerba subsp. acerba var. foliolosa Mimosa brevipes Benth. Mimosa daleoides Benth. Mimosa dolens Vell. Mimosa dolens subsp. acerba (Benth.) Barneby Mimosa dolens var. rigescens (Benth.) Barneby Mimosa debilis Willd. Mimosa micropteris Benth. Mimosa orthacantha Benth. Mimosa paranapiacabae Barneby Mimosa ramosissima Benth. Periandra mediterranea (Vell.) Taub. Rhynchosia corylifolia Benth. Stylosanthes guianensis (Aubl.) Sw. Stylosanthes hippocampoides Mohlenbr. Vigna peduncularis var. peduncularis (Kunth) Fawc. & Rendle Zornia cryptantha Arechav. Zornia diphylla (L.) Pers. Zornia latifolia Sm. GESNERIACEAE Sinningia allagophylla (Mart.) Wiehler GLEICHENIACEAE Dicranopteris flexuosa (Schrad.) Underw. Gleichenella pectinata (Willd.) Ching Sticherus bifidus (Willd.) Ching HYPERICACEAE Sh Ha He He He He He Sh He Sh He He He He He He Li He He He He He Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh He Sh Sh Li He He Li Li Li Li Ha Ha,Ln Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha Ha Ha Ha, Ln Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha, Ln Ha Ha, Ln Ha, Fc, Ln Ha Ha, Ln Ha Ha Ha Ha, Ln Ha Ha Ha Ha, Ln Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha, Ln Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha, Ln Ha Ha He He He He Hc Hc, Ln Ln Hypericum cordatum (Vell.) N.Robson He Ha Hypericum teretiusculum A.St.-Hil. He Ha Hypericum ternum A.St.-Hil. He Ha, Ln He Ha, Hc, Fc, Ln He He He He He He Hc, Fc Hc Hc Hc Ln Ln He He Ha Ha, Ln HYPO XIDACEAE Hypoxis decumbens L. IRIDACEAE Sisyrinchium graminifolium Lindl. Sisyrinchium laxum Otto ex Sims Sisyrinchium micranthum Cav. Sisyrinchium restioides Spreng. Sisyrinchium vaginatum Spreng. Sisyrinchium wettsteinii Hand.-Mazz. LAMIACEAE Aegiphila paraguariensis Briq. Hyptis plectranthoides Benth. International Journal of Ecosystem 2012, 2(6): 161-170 Hyptis sinuata Pohl ex Benth. Hyptis villosa Pohl ex Benth. Peltodon longipes A.St.Hill. ex Benth. Peltodon rugosus Tolm. Rhabdocaulon gracile (Benth.) Epling Salvia aliciae E.P. Santos Salvia borjensis E.P.Santos Salvia lachnostachys Benth. Salvia nervosa Benth. Salvia rosmarinoides A.-St.Hil. LYCOPODIACEAE Lycopodium clavatum L. LYTHRACEAE Cuphea calophylla subsp mesostemon (Koehne) Lourteig Cuphea carthagenensis (Jacq.) J.F.Macbr. Cuphea confertiflora A.St.-Hil. Cuphea fruticosa Spreng. Cuphea glutinosa Cham. et Schltdl. Cuphea hatschbachii Lourteig Cuphea lindmaniana Koehne ex Bacig. Cuphea linifolia Koehne Cuphea longiflora Koehne Cuphea racemosa (L.f.) Spreng. Cuphea thymoides var. satureoides A.St.-Hil. MALPIGHIACEAE Aspicarpa pulchella (Griseb) O´Donell & Lourteig Byrsonima brachybotrya Nied. Byrsonima guilleminiana A.Juss. Byrsonima intermedia A.Juss. MALVACEAE Byttneria hatschbachii Cristóbal Krapovickasia macrodon (DC.) Fryxell Melochia tomentosa L. Peltaea speciosa (Kunth) Standl. Pavonia schrankii Spreng. Pavonia sepium A.St.-Hil. Sida viarum A.St.-Hil. Waltheria indica L. MELASTO MATACEAE Acisanthera alsinaefolia (DC.) Triana Acisanthera variabilis (DC.) Triana Leandra australis (Cham.) Cogn. Leandra erostrata (DC.) Cogn. Leandra lacunosa Cogn. Leandra purpurascens (DC.) Cogn. Leandra simplicicaulis Cogn. Miconia ligustroides (DC.) Naudin Miconia sellowiana Naudin Miconia theizans (Bonpl.) Cogn. Rhynchanhera brachyryncha Cham. Tibouchina cerastifolia Cogn. Tibouchina debilis (Cham.) Cogn. Tibouchina dubia Cogn. Tibouchina gracilis (Bonpl.) Cogn. Tibouchina martialis (Cham.) Cogn. MO RACEAE Dorstenia cayapia Vell. MYRTACEAE Campomanesia adamantium (Cambess.) O.Berg Campomanesia pubescens (Mart. ex DC.) O.Berg Campomanesia xanthocarpa (Mart.) O.Berg Eugenia pitanga (O.Berg) Nied. Eugenia punicifolia (Kunth) DC. Myrcia multiflora (Lam.) DC. Myrcia pulchra (O.Berg) Kiaersk. Myrciaria cuspidata O.Berg Myrciaria delicatula (DC.) O.Berg Psidium grandifolium Mart. ex DC. 167 Sh He He He He He He He He He Ha Ha Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha Ha, Ln Ha Ha, Ln Ha Ha He Hc Li He He He He He He He He He He Ln Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha, Ln endangered He Sh Sh Sh Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha Ha, Ln He He He He He He Sh He Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha Ha, Ln Ha Ha, Fc Ha Ha He He He He He He He Sh Sh Sh He He He He He He Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha Ha Ha Ha, Ln Ha, Fc Ha Ha Ha Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha He Sh Sh Sh Sh Sh Tr Sh Sh Sh Sh endangered rare Ha, Ln Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Fc Fc Ha, Ln 168 Rosemeri Segecin M oro et al.: Grassland Vegetation of Pitangui River Valley, Southern Brazil ORCHIDACEAE Epidendrum secundum Jacq. Oncidium pontagrossense Campacci Sacoila lanceolata (Aubl.) Garay Stenorrhynchus australis Lindl. OROBANCHACEAE Buchnera longifolia Kunth Buchnera ternifolia Kunth Esterhazya splendida J.C.Mikan O XALIDACEAE Oxalis rupestris A.St.-Hil. PASSIFLO RACEAE Passiflora lepidota Mast. PINACEAE Pinus elliottii Engelm. Pinus taeda L. PLANTAGINACEAE Angelonia integerrima Spreng. Plantago australis Lam. Plantago guilleminiana Decne. Plantago lanceolata L. Plantago tomentosa Lam. Mecardonia procumbens (Mill.) Small Scoparia elliptica Cham. PO ACEAE Andropogon bicornis L. Andropogon leucostachyus Kunth Andropogon microstachys Desv. Andropogon selloanus (Hack.) Hack. Andropogon ternatus (Spreng.) Nees. Andropogon virgatus Desv. Aristida sp Aristida jubata (Arechav.) Herter Axonopus siccus (Nees) Kuhlm. Axonopus affinis Chase Brachiaria decumbens Stapf Calamagrostis viridiflavescens (Poir.) Steud. Eleusine tristachya (Lam.) Lam. Elionurus muticus (Spreng.) Kuntze Eragrostis airoides Nees Eragrostis bahiensis Roem. & Schult. Eragrostis ciliaris (L.) R.Br. Eragrostis neesii Trin. Eragrostis pilosa (L.) P.Beauv. Eragrostis polytricha Nees Eustachys distichophylla (Lag.) Nees Melinis minutiflora P.Beauv. Melinis repens (Willd.) Ziska Panicum glabripes Döll Panicum millegrana Poir. Panicum sabulorum Lam. Paspalum compressifolium Swallen Paspalum conjugatum P.J.Bergius Paspalum dilatatum Poir. Paspalum distichum L. Paspalum guenoarum Arechav. Paspalum polyphyllum Nees ex Trin. Pennisetum purpureum Schumach. Schizachyrium condensatum (Kunth) Nees Schizachyrium spicatum (Spreng.) Herter Setaria parviflora (Poir.) M.Kerguelen Sorghastrum minarum (Nees) Hitchc. Sporobolus indicus (L.) R. Br. PO LYGALACEAE Monnina cardiocarpa A.St.-Hil. Polygala cyparissias A.St.-Hil. & Moq. Polygala longicaulis Kunth Polygala molluginifolia A.St.-Hil. He He He He Ln Ln Ln Ha He He Sh Ha Ha Ha, Ln He Ha, Ln Li Fc, Ha Tr Tr Ha, Hc, Fc, Ln Ha, Hc, Fc, Ln He He He He He He He Hc Ha Ha, Ln Ha Ha, Ln Ha Ha He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He He Ha Ha, Ln Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ln Ha Ha, Ln, Fc Ha, Hc Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Hc, Fc Hc, Fc Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha, Ln Ha Ha Hc Ha He He He He Ha, Ln Ha Hc, Ln Hc International Journal of Ecosystem 2012, 2(6): 161-170 Polygala timoutoides Chodat RUBIACEAE Galianthe verbenoides (Cham. & Schltdl.) Griseb. Galium megapotamicum Spreng. Palicourea australis C.M.Taylor Richardia brasiliensis Gomes Spermacoce paranaensis (E.L.Cabral & Bacigalupo) Delprete Spermacoce poaya A.St.-Hil. Spermacoce verticillata L. SCHIZAEACEAE Anemia tomentosa (Savigny) Sw. SOLANACEAE Calibrachoa ericifolia (R.E.Fr.) Wijsman Calibrachoa linoides (Sendtn.) Wijsman Calibrachoa rupestris (Dusén) Wijsman Solanum americanum Mill. VERBENACEAE Lantana camara L. Lippia hirta (Cham.) Meisn. ex Walp. Lippia lupulina Cham. Lippia turnerifolia Cham. Stachytarpheta cayennensis (Rich.) Vahl Stachytarpheta cf polyura Schauer Verbena hirta Spreng. Verbena rigida Spreng. VIO LACEAE Hybanthus parviflorus (L.f.) Baill. XYRIDACEAE Xyris jupicai L.C. Rich. Xyris neglecta L.A.Nilsson Xyris tortula Mart. Families with the highest taxa nu mber were Asteraceae (119) followed by Fabaceae (41), Poaceae (38) and Cyperaceae (28), summing up 54% of the total species richness, i.e., the number of taxa in the area. Previously, in Campos Gerais region, including both mesic and hygrophilous species, in the Vila Velha State Park grassland, Cerv i et al.[17] have found around 47% of the species richness consisted of 182 taxa of the Asteraceae family, 130 Poaceae, 89 Fabaceae, and 47 Cyperaceae. In the same environ ment, in the Guartelá State Park, Carmo [18] has found 28% of the species richness composed of 79 Asteraceae, 42 Fabaceae, 35 Poaceae, and 22 Cyperaceae. Outside the conservation zone, those surveys restricted to hygrophilous species, in the Tibagi river valley, only 27 species from Asteraceae family were found, together with 24 species of Poaceae, and 18 Cyperaceae[19]. A ll these contributed 47% of the total species richness in the surveyed area. Ko zera et al.[20], in the Iguaçu river floodplain, have identified lesser, consisting of 15 species fro m Asteraceae family, 45 Poaceae 28, Cyperaceae and one Fabaceae, comprising 50% of the total species richness. The Asteraceae and Fabaceae species diversity increases the biological diversity due to the higher elevation of river banks, allowing the existence of non-hydromorphic soils. Generally, the grassland of Pitangui river valley areas were do minated by herb species consisting of 79.8% of the total plant types. Shrubs which comprised the 15.4% consisted of the families, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Malpighiaceae, Ericaceae, and Myrtaceae. In addit ion, 169 He Hc He He He He He He He Ha, Ln Ha Ha Ha Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha, Ln He Ln He He He He Ha, Ln Ha Ha, Ln Ha, Hc, Ln Sh He He He He He He He Ha Ha, Ln Ha, Ln Ha Ha Ha Ha, Ln Ha, Ln He Ha He He He Hc, Ln Hc, Ln Hc, Ln treelets (1.0%) were observed consisted of the species Myrcia multiflora (Lam.) DC. and Plenckia populnea Reissek, both configuring rare plant forms in grasslands. The occurrence of these species is probably related to remnants of savannahs present in the vicin ity of the study area. Prostrated herbs combine 3.8% of the phytocoenosis. Twelve species are quoted on the list of threatened species of the state of Paraná[12] as rare: Ruellia multifolia (Nees) Lindau (Acanthaceae), Gomphrena macrocephala A.St.-Hil. (Amaranthaceae), Pfa ffia jubata Mart. (A maranthaceae), Mandevilla coccinea (Hook. & Arn .) Woodson (Apocynace ae), Butia microspadix Burret (as B. hatschbachii Glas mann) (Arecaceae), Halimium brasiliense (Lam.) Gross. (Cistaceae), Cayaponia espelina (Silva Manso) Cogn. (Cucurbitaceae), and Campomanesia pubescens (Mart. ex DC.) O.Berg (Myrtaceae); as endangered: Chrysolaena nicolackii H.Rob. (Asteraceae), Cuphea hatschbachii Lourteig (Lythraceae), and Dorstenia cayapia Vell. (Moraceae); as vulnerable: Caryocar brasiliense A.St.-Hil. (Caryocaraceae). In addition, there were six non-native grass species: Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.[15], Melinis minutiflora P.Beauv., Melinis repens (Willd.) Ziska, and Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.[16], all belonging to African genera o f the Poaceae family. The h igh levels of biological contamination with the pines Pinus taeda L. and Pinus elliottii Engelm. (Pinaceae) and its implications for the Campos Gerais grassland conservation have already been discussed by Ziller & Galvão[21]. They have found 76% of grassland with pine contamination and even pointing their 170 Rosemeri Segecin M oro et al.: Grassland Vegetation of Pitangui River Valley, Southern Brazil high potential for environmental degradation, public policies could not be effective yet for its control. 4. Conclusions The species richness of Pitangui river valley grassland was higher (420 species on 8.3 ha) co mpared to availab le data from Campos Gerais region, as listed from the Vila Velha and Guartelá State Parks which were made upon larger protected areas. Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, and Cyperaceae are the main families in this ecosystem. The presence of non-native species (4 species), and invasive Pinus species (2 species), and the increasing nu mber of threatened species is alarming considering the location and the size of the area. Therefore, it is only high time to suggest that additional zoning and better management effort be the concern of the authorities to conserve the Campos Gerais National Park and its vicinities [6] Gilson F. Cruz. Alguns aspectos do clima dos Campos Gerais; In M ario S. M elo, Rosemeri S. M oro, Gilson B. Guimarães (Eds.), Patrimônio natural dos Campos Gerais do Paraná, Ed. UEPG, Brazil, 2007. p.59-72. Online Available: http://ri.uepg.br:8080/riuepg//handle/123456789/449 [7] Tarciso de Souza Filgueiras, Paulo E. Nogueira, Andrea L. Brochado, Gerald F. Guala II, “Caminhamento: um método expedito para levantamentos florísticos qualitativos”, IBGE, Caderno de Geociências, vol.12, pp.39-43, 1994. [8] Rolla M . Tryon Jr, Alice F. Tryon, Ferns and allied plants with special reference to Tropical America, Springer-Verlag, USA, 1982. [9] Alan R. Smith, Kathleen M . Pryer, Eric Schuettpelz, Petra Korall, Harald Schneider, Paul G. Wolf, “A classification for extant ferns”, IAPT, Taxon, vol.55, no.3, pp.705-731, 2006. [10] APG III, “An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III”, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, vol.161, no.2, pp.105-121, 2009. [11] Online Available: http://www.theplantlist.org. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We are grateful to the owner of the area, Co mpanhia de Energ ia Elétrica do Paraná (COPEL), as to the MCT/ CNPq/MEC/CA PES/FNDCT nº 47/2010 – SISBIOTA BRASIL for their financial supporting. REFERENCES [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] M arcia Freire Sá. Os solos dos Campos Gerais; In M ario S. M elo, Rosemeri S. M oro, Gilson B. Guimarães (Eds.), Patrimônio natural dos Campos Gerais do Paraná, Editora UEPG, Brazil, 2007. p.73-83. Online Available: http://ri.uepg.br:8080/riuepg//handle/123456789/445 Rosemeri S. 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