Medicinal plants with ornamental potential:
a study in the cerrado of Mato Grosso
State, Brazil.
The introduction of exotic vegetal species in
Brazil replaced the use of the native ones in the landscaping
in the major of the cities. Nowadays, the
number of exotic plants used for ornamentation is
incomparable higher than the natives. However, it is
evident that various typical cerrado species have a
really expressive ornamental potential. In this manner,
this work lists 50 medicinal species from cerrado,
which can be used for the ornamentation of urban
and rural areas. Considering the former studies and
a recent screening of the medicinal plants from the
cerrado of Mato Grosso State, the species that have
interesting ornamental characteristics have been selected.
Among the taxa suggested as ornamental, the
highest number of species was found in the family
Bignoniaceae (with 6 species) and in the genera
Anadenanthera (with 3 species). The suggested species
are predominantly arboreous (58%), but there
are also herbaceous (16%), shrubby (12%),
undershrubby (8%), one cactus, one creeper and one
palm tree. The most expressive characteristic was the
flowering period (26,5%), then the foliage (25%), the
architecture (21,5%), the fructification (18%) and the
trunk (9%). These species are suitable for planting
in home gardens, public squares and parks, for shading
and hedges or under the electric light mains.
There is also the advantage of some food species that
attract birds (humming-birds, parakeets, parrots and
others). The best techniques for propagation of the
species and the growing conditions have although to
be established.