Dendrological key and characterization of the vegetative morphology of Fabaceae woody species in a fragment of Araucaria Rainforest, Curitiba, PR

Abstract The aim of this study was to elaborate an identification key and describe the woody species of the Fabaceae family in a remnant of Araucaria Rainforest considering dendrological characters. For each species, 3–10 healthy adult trees were selected for the characterization of trunk, bark, branches and leaves. Reference material from the species was deposited in the EFC (Escola de Florestas Curitiba) Herbarium. The characteristics of species were described and an identification key was elaborated. Fourteen species, from the subfamilies Papilionoideae (9), Caesalpinioideae (4) e Cercidoideae (1) were found. The variety of leaf types and the arrangement of leaflets helped in the initial differentiation of species, including: a single leaf bilobate, two trifoliolate, two bipinnate, four imparipinnate with alternate leaflets, two imparipinnate with opposite leaflets and three paripinnate. The final differentiation of each species was performed primarily by bark characteristics, indicating that dendrological characters are an effective methods for differentiation of these species..