The terrestrial herbaceous synusiae in tropical and subtropical forests is scarcely studied, mainly concerning its relationship to environmental factors. The aims of this study were to describe the structure of this synusiae in a seasonal forest, in " Parque Estadual do Turvo" , in two different seasons and to correlate it to the degree of canopy opening, assessed by hemispherical photographs. Sampling was accomplished in 30 plots of 2 x 2 m. The survey recorded 29 herbaceous species: 13 pteridophytes and 16 magnoliophytes. Lastreopsis effusa (Sw.) Tindale and Thelypteris scabra (C. Presl) Lellinger had the highest frequency and cover. Didymochlena truncatula (Sw.) J. Sm. had high cover and Olyra humilis Nees and Pharus lappulaceus Aubl., high frequency. Mean height was 37 cm (s ± 27). Species diversity (H') and evenness indexes (J') during the summer were 2.771 (nats) and 0.823, respectively. These indexes (P = 0.509), composition and herbaceous cover (P = 0.728) were not significantly different between summer and winter. A correlation was detected between the absolute cover for each plot and the degree of canopy opening (P = 0.005). Compared to other southern Brazilian areas, the high values of diversity, richness, size and cover are consequences of the discontinuous forest canopy, which allows high light incidence on the understory. The non significant variation on the structure of the herbaceous synusiae is indicative of low degree of deciduousness of this forest.
diversity; ecology of herbs; hemispherical photographs; phytosociology; understorey
