Strand vegetation has many species common along tropical coasts. Low areas between the beach ridges and dune slacks support characteristic marshy vegetation. Beach ridges are occupied by diverse vegetation types that vary from sparse open communities to dense evergreen forest. Peninsula is unique along this east coast. Columnar cacti give a characteristic appearance to the low thickets.
Many endemic species occur.
Little is known on the floristic composition of these forests, but many Atlantic forest and coastal plain species occur. The total number of species will most certainly reach 1500-2200 when complete inventories are made. Eleven endemic species have been identified from the hillside thickets. Endemic trees of the region include Chrysophyllum januariensis , Duguetia rhizantha , Erythroxylum glazioui , Marlierea schottii , Rollinia parviflora and Swartzia glazioviana . Several disjunct species have their southern limit in the Cabo Frio region, e.g. Bonnetia stricta , Connarus ovatifolius , Cathedra bahiensis and Stephanopodium blanchetianum .