FLORISTIC COMPOSITION AND LIFE FORMS OF AQUATIC MACROPHYTES IN THE PRIVATE NATURAL HERITAGE RESERVE (RPPN) FARM SÃO FRANCISCO, BACABAL, MARANHÃO, BRAZIL

Resumo

The Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN) Farm São Francisco is located in the municipality of Bacabal, Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. It lies within the Legal Amazon and is characterized by secondary vegetation dominated by the palm Attalea speciosa, known as Mata de Cocais. Although the vegetation of Maranhão has been relatively well studied, the diversity of aquatic plants remains poorly known, particularly within the Mata de Cocais ecosystem. Thus, the aquatic flora of the RPPN Farm São Francisco represents the first assessment of plant diversity in this environment. Monthly collections were carried out in the water bodies of the reserve, resulting in the record of 41 plant species distributed among 33 genera and 22 families. The most representative families were Verbenaceae (four genera/four species), Euphorbiaceae (three genera/four species), Araceae (three genera/three species), Fabaceae (three genera/three species), and Asteraceae (two genera/three species). Regarding life forms, amphibious species were the most representative (26 species), followed by emergent species (10 species). Most species occurred along the margins of water bodies. This study demonstrates the high richness of aquatic plants in a region of secondary vegetation subjected to intense pressure from agribusiness, highlighting its importance for the development of effective conservation strategies.