Floristic survey of a Caatinga area of high biological importance in the Mesoregion of Paraíba backlands, Northeast Brazil

ABSTRACT The Caatinga occupies an area of approximately 912,529 km², being one of the most distinct phytogeographic regions of the Brazilian territory. It has a vegetation that varies according to its distribution and relationship with the geography of each area. This study aimed to carry out a floristic survey of ABA farm, located in the municipality of Passagem, mesoregion of the Paraíba backlands. For four years, fortnightly botanical collections were carried out in all the plant's physiognomies on the farm, following a standard botanical protocol of floristic survey and herborization techniques. The results of this research brought up an important floristic list, consisting of 322 species from 194 genera belonging to 62 botanical families. Among these families, the ones with the higher number of species were Fabaceae (48 spp.), Euphorbiaceae (23 spp.), Convolvulaceae (21 spp.), Malvaceae (19 spp.) and Asteraceae (15 spp.). The habits were herbs (108 spp.), trees (59 spp.), subshrubs (56 spp.), shrubs (46 spp.), lianas (46 spp.), epyphytes and parasites (four spp.) In addition, 38 new species records were registered for the Paraíba State.