The objective of this study was to verify the differences in the composition of the flora and of guilds of arbustivearboreal communities of three areas of ciliary forest, in different forest succession stages. Fourty-six plots of 400 m2 were allocated and all existent arboreal individuals inside the portions with diameter breast height (DBH) greater than or equal to 5cm were sampled. A total of 282 species, distributed in 140 genera and 61 families were identified. With regard to dispersal guilds, it was found that on average, the spread of sources of propagules of 72% of the species and 59% of the individuals was zoochorous, while 19% and 23%, respectively, was wind anemocoric, and 6% and 13%, respectively, was autochoric. The proportions of individuals per species and ecological group were, respectively, pioneers: 14.5% and 18%; climax demanding of light: 49.5% and 62.5%, and shade-tolerant: 36.5% and 21.5%. It was also verified that there was a significant increase in the importance of animal dispersed species and shade tolerant species with the maturity of forests, while the number of species that required light abiotically dispersed decreased significantly with the advancement of maturity.