Cerradão is a type of dry forest found in Brazil, associated with the
cerrado
The ''Cerrado'' (, ) is a vast ecoregion of tropical savanna in eastern Brazil, particularly in the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Tocantins, Minas Gerais, and the Federal District. The core areas of the Cerrado biome are the ...
savanna
ecoregion
An ecoregion (ecological region) or ecozone (ecological zone) is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than a bioregion, which in turn is smaller than a biogeographic realm. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of ...
.
Structure
Cerradão is a drought-resistant ("xerophitic") type of forest, with relatively sparse and slender trees.
It includes species that are found in the cerrado strict sense and others that are found in forest.
It has a canopy that is mostly continuous with tree coverage of 50% to 90%.
Trees have an average height of .
Cerradão trees are taller and denser than cerrado, and have straighter trunks without lower branches.
Although physiognomically cerradão is a forest, floristically it is closer to a cerrado.
The lighting conditions allow formation of differentiated strata of shrubs and herbs.
The undergrowth bushes average in height.
The ground layer consists of grasses that grow where there is most light.
Leaves are often small and
succulent, capable of holding water, with dense hairs or thick skin that prevent loss of water.
The falling leaves add organic matter to the soil.
Typically the soils are deep, well-drained, slightly acidic and of low to medium fertility.
Flora
Many species are evergreen, but deciduous trees are common, including ''
Caryocar brasiliense'' (pequi), ''
Kielmeyera coriacea'' (pau-santo) and ''
Qualea grandiflora
''Qualea'' is a flowering plant genus in the family Vochysiaceae. These plants occur in the Neotropics and their wood makes good timber and firewood and is used in construction. Some species of ''Qualea'' have medicinal properties.
Species
...
'' (pau-terra).
Common species adapted to the poorer soils include ''
Emmotum nitens'' (sobre), ''
Xylopia aromatica'' (pimenta-de-macaco), ''
Caryocar brasiliense'' (pequi), ''
Maprounea guianensis'' (pinga-orvalho) and ''
Copaifera langsdorffii
''Copaifera langsdorffii'', also known as the diesel tree, is a tropical rainforest tree. It has many names in local languages, including kupa'y, cabismo, and copaúva.
Biological description
''Copaifera langsdorffii'' is a medium-sized to larg ...
'' (copaíba).
Common species where the soil is richer include ''
Anadenanthera colubrina
''Anadenanthera colubrina'' (also known as vilca, huilco, huilca, wilco, willka, curupay, curupau, cebil, or angico) is a South American tree closely related to yopo, or ''Anadenanthera peregrina''. It grows to tall and the trunk is very thorn ...
'' (angico), ''
Astronium fraxinifolium
''Astronium fraxinifolium'' is a timber tree, which is native to Amazon Rainforest, Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, and Cerrado vegetation in Brazil. Common names include kingwood, locustwood, tigerwood, and zebrawood. It is known in Portuguese as Gon ...
'' (gonçalo-alves), ''
Dilodendron bippinatum'' (maria-pobre) and ''
Callisthene fasciculata'' (jacaré-da-folha-grande).
Threats
Originally about 1% of the cerrado was cerradão.
Cerradão is one of the most vulnerable vegetation types in the cerrado.
It covers a small area, is vulnerable to fires, and is exploited for charcoal, timber, agriculture and pasturage.
Relatively little of the cerradão is in protected areas.
Notes
Sources
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cerradao
Forests of Brazil
Cerrado