Diversidade e distribuição geográfica de samambaias e licófitas no estado do Ceará, Brasil

Abstract

Ferns and lycophytes, also known as pteridophytes, are two different lineages of seedless vascular plants, which disperse through spores and have their dominant sporophytic phase, differentiated mainly by the size of the leaves, microphylls or megaphylls. This study aimed to inventory the diversity and to know the current distribution of fern and lycophyte species occurring in Ceará. The research was carried out through bibliographic consultations, analysis of collections from the Prisco Bezerra Herbarium (EAC) and access to virtual herbaria from speciesLink, REFLORA and Flora and Funga of Brazil 2022. A field trip to Serra de Pacatuba, Pacatuba – Ceará was carried out with the intention of collecting samples and photographic record. For the Ceará territory, 207 species, 5 varietys belonging to 76 genus and 29 families, four new occurrences for Brazil, 21 for the Brazilian Northeast and 50 for the state of Ceará. The species happen to occur in the Dense Ombrophilous Forest, where 87% (184) taxa were recorded. The species were collected in 10 Conservation Units, with emphasis on the APA Serra de Baturité with 76 cases. It has been concluded that although there is a considerable richness of ferns and lycophytes in Ceará, a greater sampling effort is still necessary, mainly in potential areas of occurrence of this group of plants that have been little or not yet explored.