The various Cerrados
The Cerrado, one of the six Brazilian biomes, is composed of complex and diverse vegetation. Get to know it through Flora Brasiliensis!
CRIA - Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental
Luiza F. A. de Paula
The Cerrado biome
Brazil is made up of six biomes with distinct characteristics, including the Cerrado, the country’s second largest biome. It covers 13 Brazilian states over an area of about 200 million hectares.
Cerrado vegetation (2023) by Luiza de PaulaCRIA - Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental
Vegetation complex
Although the Cerrado has characteristic elements that classify it as a unit, what many do not know is that the biome’s landscape is composed of a heterogeneous vegetation complex, contributing to its high biodiversity.
Species distribution
Many factors affect the distribution of species in the Cerrado, such as climate, water availability, geomorphology, topography, latitude, fire frequency, and anthropic factors, in addition to the complex interaction between them.
Diagram (2008) by Ribeiro, J. F & Walter, B. MOriginal Source: Ribeiro, J. F & Walter, B. M. T. As Principais Fitofisionomias do Bioma Cerrado. In: SANO, S. M.; ALMEIDA, S. P. de; RIBEIRO, J. F. (Ed.). Cerrado: ecologia e flora v. 2. Brasília: EMBRAPA-CERRADOS, 2008. 876 p.
Phytophysiognomies
The great variety of these factors in the Cerrado influences the formation of a vegetational mosaic with various phytophysiognomies, i.e. types of vegetation, which include forest formations, savanna formations, and grassland formations.
The Cerrado in the lithographs of Flora Brasiliensis
An interesting way to see these differences is by exploring the lithographs of Flora Brasiliensis, the result of the travels of the German naturalists Spix and Martius in Brazil (1817-1820). This biome was new to the naturalists and the landscape plates show the care taken in representing it.
Gallery forest (2023) by Luiza de PaulaCRIA - Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental
Forest formations
Physiognomically speaking, the forest represents areas with a predominance of tree species, where a continuous or discontinuous canopy is formed. In the Cerrado, we can recognise the following forest formations: Dry Forest, Gallery Forest, Riparian Forest and Cerradão (drought-resistant forest).
Flora Brasiliensis: Vol. I, Part I, Fasc. See Urban Plate 43 (1906)CRIA - Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental
Gallery and Riparian Forests
The Gallery and Riparian Forests occur in association with rivers and streams, distinguishing themselves in terms of flora and physiognomy. The plants of these forests are dependent on high levels of moisture in the soil, and many of the plants also occur in other biomes.
Flora Brasiliensis: Vol. I, Part I, Fasc. See Urban Plate 2 (1906)CRIA - Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental
Capões
The Capões of the Cerrado are “stretches of isolated scrub,” and in many cases represent Gallery Forests. Martius described them: “These forests mainly occupy the interior and humid locations, valleys and swamps and, due to the abundance of water (...), flourish all year round.”
Cerrado vegetation by João Renato StehmannCRIA - Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental
Savanna formations
The term ‘Savanna’ refers to areas with trees and shrubs spread over a layer of grasses, without the formation of a continuous canopy. The savanna formations found in the Cerrado are: Cerrado Sensu Stricto, Veredas, Cerrado Park and Palm Grove.
Vol. I, Part I, Fasc. See Urban Plate 3 (1906)CRIA - Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental
Cerrado Sensu Stricto
The Cerrado Sensu Stricto is characterized by low, inclined trees with irregular and twisted branches. In this phytophysiognomy, many species are endemic (exclusive). The Cerrado in the foreground of the image is how most people imagine it.
Campo Rupestre by Pedro VianaCRIA - Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental
Grassland formations
The term ‘Campo’ (field, grassland) designates areas with a predominance of herbaceous species and some shrubs. The grassland formations are: Campo Sujo, Campo Limpo, and Campo Rupestre (respectively ‘dirty’, ‘clean’, and ‘rocky’). The first two are differentiated by a greater abundance of shrubs, while the latter occurs on rocky outcrops.
Vol. I, Part I, Fasc. See Urban Plate 3 (1906)CRIA - Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental
Campo Limpo
In the background of the image, behind the Cerrado Sensu Stricto, there is a Campo Limpo, a more open landscape, with a predominance of herbaceous plants (e.g. grasses). It is curious how these plant formations co-occur, forming a true mosaic.
Flora Brasiliensis: Vol. I, Part I, Fasc. See Urban Plate 4 (1906)CRIA - Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental
Campo Sujo
In the Campo Sujo there are small trees, shrubs, and sub-shrubs (e.g. canelas-de-ema) amidst the herbaceous layer (grasses).
Flora Brasiliensis: Vol. I, Part I, Fasc. See Urban Plate 48 (1906)CRIA - Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental
Campo Rupestre
In the background, you can see the Serra de Ouro Preto in Minas Gerais. It is a region of Campo Rupestre, formed by ecosystems found on mountaintops and plateaus, with rocky outcrops where herbs (e.g. canelas-de-ema, everlastings) and shrubs predominate.
Mountain range (2023) by Luiza de PaulaCRIA - Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental
Preserving life in the 'various Cerrados'
The loss of a species of fauna or flora creates a gap in the web of life. Consequently, it is vitally important to create and maintain conservation units, as well as their ecological corridors, to preserve the viability of life in these 'various Cerrados'.
Cerrado fragmentation by Rui RezendeOriginal Source: https://www.decorarcomfoto.com.br/
Campo Rupestre
In the background, you can see the Serra de Ouro Preto in Minas Gerais. It is a region of Campo Rupestre, formed by ecosystems found on mountaintops and plateaus, with rocky outcrops where herbs (e.g. canelas-de-ema, everlastings) and shrubs predominate.
Fire was present in the Cerrado before the arrival of the human species, and was caused by lightning. During the long period of coexistence with fire, species with characteristics that protect them from high temperatures, were selected. Nowadays, fire is also caused by humans and more frequently, leading to burning that alters natural environments and the life cycles of living beings. Understanding the relationship between fire and the Cerrado is fundamental to preserving this biome.
Cerrado landscape (2023) by Luiza de PaulaCRIA - Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental
Source of water
The Cerrado, besides being biodiverse, is a significant source of water in Brazil. Preserving it also means ensuring our survival.
Research and writing: Luiza F. A. de Paula (Federal University of Minas Gerais / CRIA)
Assembly: Luiza F. A. de Paula
Review: Renato De Giovanni (CRIA)
References: Flora Brasiliensis (http://florabrasiliensis.cria.org.br/opus), Travels in Brazil (https://www2.senado.leg.br/bdsf/handle/id/573991)
Additional information: http://florabrasiliensis.cria.org.br/stories
Acknowledgments: All the authors of the photos and characters in the story
*Every effort has been made to credit the images, audio, and video and correctly recount the episodes narrated in the exhibitions. If you find errors and/or omissions, please email contato@cria.org.br
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