Este estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar a composição da chuva e banco de sementes em uma floresta baixa de restinga degradada, a fim de verificar o aporte e estabelecimento dos diásporos na área e a contribuição dos remanescentes próximos para a regeneração natural. Num trecho degradado em Ilha Comprida, dez coletas mensais (1 m2 cada) para a chuva de sementes e trimestrais (0,25 m2 cada) para o banco de sementes foram realizadas durante um ano; e num remanescente vizinho amostraram-se indivíduos arbóreos com DAP ≥ 3 cm no estudo fitossociológico. Amostraram-se 1.627 diásporos na chuva de sementes, 2.986 no banco e 356 indivíduos no estudo fitossociológico. A presença de Clusia criuva, Gaylussacia brasiliensis, Myrcia ilheoensis, Tapirira guianensis e Tibouchina clavata na chuva e banco de sementes, consideradas espécies nucleadoras, de elevado potencial biótico ou pouca limitação de dispersão, podem possibilitar a sucessão na área. A densidade e qualidade de espécies que chegam por meio da chuva de sementes e que se estabelecem no banco de sementes indicam que a área pode se recuperar via regeneração natural.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to characterize the composition of the seed rain and the seed bank in a degraded low sandbank forest to verify the inflow and establishment of the seed diaspores in the area under evaluation, its natural regeneration and contribution of the nearby remnants. At Ilha Comprida, in a degraded site, ten samples were taken monthly (1 m2 each) for the seed rain and quarterly (0.25 m2 each) for the seed bank, during the period of a year. In a the nearby remnant, arboreous individual with DBH ≥ 3 cm were sampled in the phytosociology study. During the specified period, 1627 diaspores were sampled in the seed rain and 2986 diaspores in the seed bank, and 356 individuals were sampled in the phytosociology study. The presence of Clusia criuva, Gaylussacia brasiliensis, Myrcia ilheoensis, Tapirira guianensis, and Tibouchina clavata in the seed rain and seed bank, considered nucleation species, with high biotic potential or little limitation of dispersion, can allow successional development in the area. The density and quality of species arriving and settling in the area have the potential to help it regenerate naturally.

Ethnopharmacological research when grounded on historic literature has for its objective retrieving traditional knowledge compiled throughout history by early cultures. The current study has used literature from the 16th to the 19th centuries to assess reports that include accounts of Brazil's native plants, with possible reports of disorders of the Central Nervous System (CNS). Visits were paid to 27 institutions located in four Brazilian states. This resulted in raising 529 publications, out of which 65 were read, revealing that 33 of them contained reports of plants exerting effects on CNS ailments. These plants' scientific names underwent an updating process. The updating process resulted in 788 species names (129 correct scientific names and their 659 synonyms) out of which 66 hold current ethnopharmacology, pharmacology studies and/or patent application. Coincidences among past and present data have been observed in 46 cases. Only three of them carried applications for patents all of which coincided with past uses. There have hardly been any studies whatsoever throughout the centuries for many of the species currently being studied. Although of very seldom use, research in ethnopharmacology and historic literature can be promising tools for the selecting of new pharmaco products, further to contributing with retrieving traditional knowledge.

O município de Bertioga, no litoral central do Estado de São Paulo, apresenta grandes extensões de restingas ainda preservadas, com reduzido número de coletas de material botânico. A rápida devastação desse tipo de ambiente, por pressão de empreendedores do ramo imobiliário e outras intervenções antrópicas, torna urgente a compilação de dados que subsidiem estratégias conservacionistas. Nesse aspecto, é aqui apresentada a caracterização florística das comunidades vegetais da região que abrange as restingas de Itaguaré, São Lourenço e Guaratuba, situada entre 23º44'-23º46'S e 45º55'-46º02'W. A classificação das comunidades vegetais seguiu, sempre que possível, os critérios estabelecidos pela Resolução CONAMA n. 7/96, legislação ambiental federal, que aprova diretrizes para análise dos estágios de sucessão de vegetação de restinga para o Estado de São Paulo. Foram reconhecidas as comunidades vegetais de Praia e Dunas (33 espécies), Escrube (101), Floresta Alta de Restinga (301), Floresta Alta de Restinga Úmida (434) e Vegetação Entre Cordões (45). Foram registradas 611 espécies, representando 351 gêneros distribuídos em 106 famílias, das quais as de maior riqueza específica são: Orchidaceae (47 espécies), Myrtaceae (39), Bromeliaceae (36), Asteraceae (35), Rubiaceae (34), Fabaceae (32), Cyperaceae (23), Melastomataceae (19), Poaceae (19) e Solanaceae (15).

The municipality of Bertioga, located on the central coast of São Paulo state, still has large areas of preserved 'restingas', where few botanical collections have been made. The rapidly growing devastation of this type of environment due to real-estate development and other human interventions makes urgent the need for data that support conservation strategies. For this reason, we characterize floristically the plant communities of the 'restingas' of Itaguaré, São Lourenço and Guaratuba (23º44'-23º46'S; 45º55'-46º02'W). Community classification followed, as closely as possible, the criteria established by Resolution n. 7/96 of the National Environment Council (CONAMA). The plant communities found were Beaches and Dunes (33 species), Scrub (101), Tall Restinga Forest (301), Tall Wet Restinga Forest (434) and Swale Vegetation (45). One-hundred-six families, 351 genera, 611 species were recorded, the most species-rich being: Orchidaceae (47 species), Myrtaceae (39), Bromeliaceae (36), Asteraceae (35), Rubiaceae (34), Fabaceae (32), Cyperaceae (23), Melastomataceae (19), Poaceae (19) and Solanaceae (15).