The aim of this study was to verify the presence of environmental indicator species and the influence of rocky outcrops on the ecological patterns of woody plant species in a Cerrado stricto sensu. Ten plots were sampled where information regarding rocky outcrops and all live individuals with DAG ≥ 5 cm were registered. Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) was performed to assess floristic relations, while Indicator Species Analysis (ISA) was used to determine the environmental preferences of species. Phytosociological parameters were calculated, and the Student's t test was conducted for independent samples with some structural variables. The DAG of live individuals confirmed the existence of two environments and showed that the presence of rocky outcrops changes the floristic composition between them. The ISA verified the presence of environmental indicator species. The presence of rocky outcrops changed the group of species presenting higher Importance Value (VI) in each environment; however, no significant differences were found between the structural parameters assessed in each environment.
substrate-vegetation relationship; rock environments; indicator species