The diversity, structure and spatial distribution of palms in a cerrado sensu stricto was studied. Data were collected in 21 plots of 20 × 50 m distributed randomly over a 152 ha area (400 × 3800 m). The diameters were taken at 0.10 m above the level of the soil. The reproductive stage and height per individual were recorded. Six species of palms was identified and a total 1671 individuals in 2.1 ha. The total density of the species was 796 palms.ha-1, in particular Syagrus flexuosa (Mart.) Becc. (41.2%), S. petraea (Mart.) Becc. (21.7%) and S. comosa (Mart.) Mart. (11.2%). The most frequent were S. flexuosa and Allagoptera leucocalyx (Drude) O. Kuntze. The total basal area was 0.51 m².ha-1. S. flexuosa showed the greatest VI. The height and diameter distributions were almost unimodal, with all species. The coefficient of correlation between diameter and height was low (r = 0.0002 to 0.1247). Syagrus comosa produced the largest height value (380 cm). Butia archeri stood out in diameter (6.8-21 cm). All species were fertile, particularly B. archeri (100%). The pattern of dispersal of all species was aggregated. A classification by TWINSPAN (eigenvalue 0.501) separated B. archeri, S. comosa, and S. petraea as preferential for a group of plots and A. campestris, A. leucocalyx, and S. flexuosa as indifferent. It was concluded that the cerrado contains a rich and abundant flora of palms with morphological and structural differences that requires further research to determine patterns of diversity and structure of palms for the biome.
Brazil; cerrado; diversity; palms; structure
