FLORISTIC PATTERNS ON TWO SEASONAL FORESTS TYPES IN THE CERRADO

Comparative studies regarding the floristic similarities and/or differences between deciduous and semideciduous seasonal forests in the Cerrado biome are rare. In the west of Minas Gerais (Tri ngulo Mineiro region), the two phytophysiognomies were studied in order to answer the following question: Is there a richness pattern and floristic composition that determines the different types of seasonal forest? To answer the question, we considered the results of two analyses: Field work on two neighbouring forest fragments with similar environmental conditions, where standardized inventories of the vegetation were made, and data analyses of existing regional inventories (meta-analysis). The results showed that the two phytophysiognomies diverge significantly with regard to richness, composition in the three evaluated taxonomic levels and their indicative species. We call attention to the importance of comparative floristic studies to distinguish seasonal forests of the Cerrado and others brazilian biomes.