Mimosoidea species present in grasslands of the Central Coastal Ecoregion of Paraguay

Abstract

The Central Littoral Ecoregion covers an area of 26,310 km2, representing approximately 10% of the grasslands used for livestock production). The Ecoregion presents, in open areas, herbaceous layer of grasses, which are used for cattle feed. The incidence of weeds of the Mimosoidea subfamily in these areas, constitutes a great competition for grasslands due to their thorny or tangled shrub growth that hinders livestock access to forage. The objective of this work was the identification, botanical description, and distribution of species of the Mimosoidea subfamily with harmful incidence in grasslands intended for livestock production inthe Central Coastal Ecoregion of Paraguay. To this end, plants of the Mimosoidea subfamily were collected in grasslands intended for livestock production, during the months of September 2022 to January 2023, georeferencing them. The samples were identified and deposited in the FCQ Herbarium, of the Department of Botany of the Faculty of Chemical Sciences (FCQ) of the National University of Asunción (Reference Material). The identification was carried out following the taxonomic keys and by comparison with specimens from the FCQ botanical collection. Photographs of the species were taken and an identification key was drawn up. Seven species of mimosa were identified, belonging to the subfamily Mimosoidea, 4 of which were spiny shrubby, 1 spiny sub-shrubby and 2 spineless sub-shrubs, which constituted a great competition for pastures.