Included here are the uplands of Central Brazil (most of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Tocantins, western Minas Gerais and Bahia, southern Maranho and Piaul, all Distrito Federal, small portions of Sao Paulo and Paran), northeastern Paraguay and eastern Bolivia.

Locally known as cerrado these savanna woodlands have an aborescent cover of about 20%. Among the most common trees in the Serra do Roncador area are Curatella americana, Davilla eliptica, Keilmeyera coriacea, Palicourea rigida, Qualea grandiflora and Salvertia convalariodora and these range in height from 7-15 m. Below the trees are various small palms including acaulescent species and these give the vegetation a characteristic appearance. At ground level grasses dominate with Andropogon (such as Andropogon bicornis), Axonopus (such as Axonopus aureus) and Paspalum (such as Paspalum carinatum) are some of the most common taxa. A number of these can reach heights of 1.25 m. These grasses are typically intermixed with a diverse selection of sedges such as Bulbostylis paradoxa, Cyperus flavus, Dichronema ciliata, Fimbristylis diphylla and Rhynchospora barbata, and various perennial herbs and vines. In places there are also stands of terrestrial bromeliads.

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