Várzea
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Title
Várzea
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Definition
A Portuguese term referring to forest growing in areas periodically indundated by alkaline, café au lait-colored water (also called white water). Do not confuse white-water with rapidly flowing water of rapids and waterfalls. See Prance (1979) for more information about forests subjected to inundation in Amazonia.
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Notes
Ducke (1948) pointed out that the closest relatives of terra firme forest are often those found in várzea or igapó forests. He suggested that the closest relative of Allantoma lineata, a water-dispersed riverine species that prefers periodically inundated habitats, is the wind dispersed terra firme species Allantoma decandra. Other common várzea species are Couroupita subsessilis and Eschweilera ovalifolia. Species diversity of neotropical Lecythidaceae is greatest in the following descending order of importance: terra firme, cloud forest, vázea, igapó, and cerrado.
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Related Terms
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