Key to riparian tree species from El Tacal river, Mochima National Park, Sucre State, Venezuela.

Mochima National park, like other areas under special protection regime in Venezuela (ABRAE), is experiencing alarming rates of deforestation, especially in mountainous area. Some of these zones form part of the Turimiquire mountain mass, which is the origen of rivers, creeks and springs that supply with water most of the northeastern and insular region of the country. The aim of this study was to characterize dendrologically the riparian forest most important in this park. It was studied the arboreus vegetation of the Tacal river watershed, Sucre State, which along with Nurucual and Yaguaracual rivers are the most important of the park&s northern area. The study includes a key to identify 40 families, 70 genus and 89 species of vascular plants is presented. Current status of some species at a national and region level is given.