Palmeiras (Arecaceae) em Campo Grande-MS, Brasil: um guia de identificação de nativas e exóticas

Abstract

Arecaceae, represented by palm trees, is considered the third most important botanical family for human use, mainly for food and landscaping purposes. It comprises more than 3,000 species worldwide, widely distributed in tropical regions, with 411 species occurring in Brazil. The development of illustrated guides represents a practical and essential tool for accurate plant species identification. Besides promoting public awareness of biodiversity, such materials provide key data to support species selection and urban tree-planting planning. Campo Grande (MS) holds the title of one of the greenest capitals in Brazil, with a large portion of its tree cover composed of native and exotic palms. Considering the richness and importance of palms in urban landscapes, a qualitative floristic survey of Arecaceae species was carried out in 20 neighborhoods, using specialized literature and websites for species identification, with the production of an identification guide through standardized photographic records of vegetative and reproductive structures, designed using Canva. A total of 35 palm species were recorded in the city, with 60% of the richness composed of exotic species. Among them, potentially invasive species stand out, posing threats to native biodiversity, including native palm species classified as threatened with extinction. It is concluded that the identification guide can serve as an educational and recognition tool for palms, promoting the appreciation of native species in light of the high richness of exotic species in the city, and may influence decision-making related to urban afforestation.