Macrófitas aquáticas do Município de Patos, Paraíba, Brasil.

Abstract

Macrophyte aquatic are visible to the naked eye, whose photosynthetic active parts are permanently or for several months, totally or partially submerged in fresh or brackish water or floating in it. Are the main primary producers in aquatic bodies and represent a significant portion of biomass in these ecosystems. This study aimed to perform a floristic inventory of aquatic macrophytes springs of caatinga, the city of Patos, Paraiba mesoregion hinterland, northeastern Brazil, as well as highlighting the richness, distribution and ways of life of these vegetables. The study was developed in 26 areas of this city, characterized as weirs, dams, rivers, streams and temporary ponds, through random walks along the edges and within these environments. Biweekly botanical collections were made from april 2011 to december 2012, following the usual methodology in botany taxonomy. The identification of taxonomic groups was performed by morphological analysis of reproductive and vegetative characters with the aid of a stereoscopic microscope, consulting specialized bibliographies with descriptions, identification keys and guides images. Some taxa were confirmed by comparison with material deposited in the Herbarium CSTR, JPB and EAC, Federal University of Campina Grande, Federal University of Paraíba and the Federal University of Ceará respectively. All the material was incorporated into the collection of the Herbarium CSTR. 139 species distributed in 108 genera and 40 families were recorded. The eight most representative families were Fabaceae (23 spp.), Cyperaceae (14), Malvaceae and Poaceae (13) Convolvulaceae (11), Asteraceae (6), Euphorbiaceae (5) and Plantaginaceae (4). Among the forms of life stand out amphibious (66%), amphibious or emergent (16%) and emergent (8%). Of the 10 identified species are endemic to the Caatinga, 15 represent new records for this biome and 29 records are new records for the state of Paraíba. The study reveals a high richness of aquatic macrophytes, approaching in number of species of other surveys for the Northeast and other regions of Brazil. New surveys of these vegetables should be encouraged in the Brazilian semiarid region.