Acta Scientiarum http://www.uem.br/acta ISSN printed: 1679-9283 ISSN on-line: 1807-863X Doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v38i2.31320 Vascular epiphytes in seasonal semideciduous forest in the State of Espírito Santo and the similarity with other seasonal forests in Eastern Brazil Dayvid Rodrigues Couto1*, André Paviotti Fontana2, Ludovic Jean Charles Kollmann2, Vitor da Cunha Manhães3, Talitha Mayumi Francisco4 and Gláucio de Mello Cunha5 1Programa de Pós-graduação em Botânica, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Parque Quinta da Boa Vista, São Cristovão, 20940-040, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 2Museu de Biologia Prof. Mello Leitão, Santa Teresa, Espírito Santo, Brazil. 3Programa de Pós-graduação em Genética e Melhoramento, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alegre, Espírito Santo, Brazil. 4Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Universidade do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 5Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alegre, Espírito Santo, Brazil. *Author for correspondence. E-mail:
[email protected] ABSTRACT. In this study, we evaluated the floristic composition of vascular epiphytes in seasonal semideciduous forest fragments of the Itapemirim River basin, Southern State of Espírito Santo, in order to verify its similarity to other semideciduous forests studied in Brazil. Excursions were conducted every fortnight between June 2008 and May 2009, and epiphytes were collected and recorded (55 species, 34 genera and six families). Orchidaceae (21 species) was the richest family, whereas the genera presenting the greatest richness were Tillandsia (seven), Rhipsalis (four), Aechmea, Epidendrum and Peperomia (three species each). The category the most representative was characteristics holoepiphytes (84%).