The Brazilian cerrado is widely recognized as the most diverse form of savanna in the world with some estimates suggesting that the biome supports ca. 160, 000 species of plants, animals and fungi (Dias, 1992). This author’s estimate for the number of vascular plant species in all vegetation types of the biome was 10,500, while Myers et al. (2000) and Simon & Proença (2000) both estimated 10,000. However, these prove to be underestimates as Walter (2006) reliably recorded 11,046 species in a meticulous study, while this number has been increased to over 12,000 in the latest publication of Mendonça et al. (2009) of which Walter is a co-author. These figures are astonishing even to those with a good knowledge of the cerrado and must demonstrate the presence of great numbers of extremely rare species. We have not yet had the opportunity to read and analyse the latest data and so the following paragraphs are based on those available before their publication - to some extent on the previous records of 6,429 species compiled by Mendonça et al. (1998). We consider them still useful as they describe the situation before so many extra species were recorded.

In terms of the woody flora of the cerrado sensu lato, estimates vary between 774 and ca. 1,000 species, depending upon the strictness of the inclusion criteria both in terms of size class and habitat. For example, the higher estimates tend to include smaller shrubs and larger tree species that are more typical of adjacent forest formations and only occasionally occur in the cerrado as ‘accidentals’. Brief discussions of the floral diversity are given in Ratter et al. (1997), worth reading for as a succinct summary of many aspects of the cerrado, while Oliveira-Filho & Ratter (2002) and Ratter et al. (2006) provide more detailed accounts.

In terms of the herbaceous component, 4,700 species have been recorded for the biome, with this part of the flora being between 3 and 4.5 times as diverse as the woody elements (Filgueiras, 2006). The most species-rich families are the Leguminosae, Compositae, Gramineae and Orchidaceae, with the Gramineae being particularly numerous in the more open formations.

Typically a floristic survey in the woody flora of the cerrado conducted at a single site will usually show about 80 species of trees or large shrubs, although some areas of Amazonian savanna can have very low tree diversity (<10 species) and others in the core region exceptionally high diversity (>100 species). Considering cerrado sensu lato, the Leguminosae, Malphigiaceae, Myrtaceae, Melastomataceae and Rubiaceae are very important woody families, although perhaps the most striking family is the Vochysiaceae with three species of Qualea (Q. grandiflora, Q. parviflora, and Q. multiflora) usually found in varying proportions at most sites with the exception of disjunct Amazonian areas. Where cerrado occurs on more fertile soils it tends to be poorer in species and shows dominance of a few characteristic species including Magonia pubescens, Callisthene fasciculata, Terminalia argentea and Luehea paniculata.

Further information on patterns of woody plant diversity (both alpha and beta) and endemism can be found in Durigan et al. (2003), Bridgewater et al. (2004) , Ratter et al. (2006) and by downloading the paper associated with this website. Click here to read. These publications also discuss the comparative frequency of woody species in the cerrado, list those species that are most abundant, and suggest the existence of an oligarchy of ca. 150 species dominating the vegetation.

Dias, B. F. de Souza. (1992). Cerrados: Uma caracterizão. In: Dias B. F. de Souza (ed.). Alternativas de desenvolvimento dos cerrados: manejo e conservação dos recursos naturais renováveis. Brasília, DF, Brazil. FUNATURA.

Durigan, G., Ratter, J. A., Bridgewater, S., de Siqueira, M. F.& Corrêa Franco, G. A. (2003). Padrões fitogeográficos de cerrado paulista sob uma perspective regional. Hoehnea 30: 39-51.

Filgueiras , T. S. (2006). Herbaceous plant communities. In: Oliveira, P. S. & Marquis, R. J. (eds). The Cerrados of Brazil. Columbia University Press, New York, 398 pp.

Mendonça, R.C. de, Felfili, J.M., Walter, B.M.T., Silva Junior, M.C. da, Rezende, A.V., Filgueiras, T.S., Nogueira, P.E. & Fagg, C.W. (2008). Cerrado - Ecologia e Flora ed. 2 vol. 2. Ch. 15. Flora Vascular do Bioma Cerrado:checklist com 12,356 espécies. EMBRAPA CERRADOS, Brasília, DF, Brazil

Oliveira-Filho, A. T. & Ratter, J. A. (2002). Vegetation physiognomies and woody flora of the cerrado biome. In: Oliveira, P. S. & Marquis, R. J. (eds). The Cerrados of Brazil. Columbia University Press. 398 pp.

Ratter, J. A., Ribeiro, J. F. & Bridgewater, S. (1997). The Brazilian cerrado vegetation and threats to its biodiversity. Annals of Botany 80: 223-230.

Ratter. J. A., Bridgewater, S. & Ribeiro, J. F. (2006). Biodiversity patterns of the woody vegetation of the Brazilian cerrado. pp. 31-66. In: Pennington, R. T., Lewis, G. P. & Ratter, J. A. (eds). Neotropical savannas and seasonally dry forests. Plant diversity, biogeography and conservation. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, Florida, USA.

Rizzini, C. T. (1963). A flora do cerrado. Análise florística das savannas centrais. In: Ferri, M. G. Simpósio sobre o cerrado. São Paulo. Brazil. Editora Universidade de São Paulo: 107-153.

Simon, M. F. & Proença, C. (2000). Phytogeographical patterns of Mimosa (Mimosoideae, Leguminosae) in the cerrado Biome of Brazil: an indicator genus of high-altitude centers of endemism? Biological Conservation 96: 279-296.

Walter, B.M.T. (2006). Fitofisionomias do Bioma Cerrado: síntese terminológica e relaçôes floristícas. PhD thesis, Depto de Ecologia, Univ. de Brasília.