PENUMBRAL ROCK COMMUNITIES IN CAMPO-RUPESTRE SITES IN BRAZIL

A syntaxonomic study of penumbral (open-shade) communities in small rock caves in five campo rupestre sites in Minas Gerais, Brazil, was carried out according to the Braun-Blanquet method. On the basis of 41 releves, the following new syntaxa were described: the associations Doryopterido ornithopodis-Eriocauletum cipoensis, Coccocypselo erythrocephali-Anemietum oblongifoliae in the alliance Coccocypselo erythrocephali-Eriocaulion cipoensis, and the Trichomano pilosi-Anemietum elegantis in the alliance Trichomano pilosi-Anemion oblongifoliae, both order Coccocypselo erythrocephali-Anemietalia elegantis and class Coccocypselo erythrocephali-Anemietea elegantis. Additional synecological observations and measurements of environmental factors were correlated to the zonation and distribution of plant species within the caves. Relevant literature on South American penumbral plant communities is virtually non-existent and restricted to floristic data and usually superficial habitat descriptions.