VASCULAR FLORA OF THE SAVANNAS OF XMABÉN, HOPELCHÉN, CAMPECHE, MEXICO

Abstract

n the Yucatan peninsula, savannas are distributed as small enclaves clearly delimited by
tropical forest tree. Savanna flora is of a great
botanical interest, because it is determined
by soil conditions. The aim of this study was
toidentify and describe the flora and ways of
life of two sheets in Xmaben, Campeche. As a
result 127 species belonging to 97 genera and
41 families were recorded. Poaceae, Fabaceae,
Cyperaceae, Malvaceae and Convolvulaceae
had the largest number of genera and species.
The richest genera were Paspalum (six), Cyperus (five), Eleocharis (four), Echinodorus,
Ipomoea, Mimosa and Panicum (three each).
The herbaceous plant life form was the best
represented with 94 species (74.01%). The
Jaccard similarity index was 0.157, since the
two savannas share only 19 species out of 127.
The absence of introduced plants in the sites is
a strong indicator of its natural origin.