Orchids of the State Park of Serra do Tabuleiro, Southern Brazil

Abstract

Orchidaceae show a high diversity of species in Brazil, especially in the Atlantic Forest Biome. Over the course of a 12-month study in the State Park of Serra do Tabuleiro in Southern Brazil, collections were made of orchids occurring in areas of restinga and riparian vegetation. A total of 92 orchid species were registered, belonging to three subfamilies and 51 genera. Octomeria was the best represented genus with ten species. Among all collections, two species are new records for Santa Catarina state, and 20 species is reported for the first time in the studied region. Regarding to conservation, 17 species (19%) are currently included with different threat labellings in any of the red lists of threatened plant species of Brazil. Among the total of orchids registered, 55 species (59%) are characteristic holoepiphytes, 47 species (51%) are restricted to the Atlantic Forest, 77 species (84%) occur in the riparian vegetation, and only nine species (10%) are restricted to restinga vegetation. The remarkable richness of orchids found in the present study highlights the importance for conservation the studied forest remnants. The historical of environmental degradation of the restinga vegetation can be negatively influencing the current floristic composition of the orchid community.