Abstract

GONZALEZ-M., Roy  and  LOPEZ-CAMACHO, René. Checklist of the vascular plants of Ráquira (Boyacá), a dry locality in the Andean flora of Colombia. Colomb. for. [online]. 2012, vol.15, n.1, pp.55-103. ISSN 0120-0739.

Increasing Andean ecosystem loss and its conservation priority reinforce the need for documenting Tropical Andean biodiversity. This research provides an updated list of vascular plant species from Ráquira in the Department of Boyacá, based on a database and herbarium review along with field collections between 2007 and 2010. Four hundred and twenty six vascular plant species were found, representing 284 genera and 99 families. Asteraceae was the most diverse family with 54 species and 36 genera, followed by Fabaceae (33 species, 21 genera) and Poaceae (33 species, 21 genera). Herbs were the most common life form followed by woody life forms (trees and shrubs). The greatest number of species was found in open lands and near river margins. Species such as Juncus ramboi were rare because of over harvesting, while other species such as Quercus humboldtii are classified as threatened in Colombia. Improving knowledge of vascular plants in Andean forests is essential, especially in dry ecosystems, which are classified as globally important and diverse biomes.

Keywords : floristic composition; Andean ecosystem; floristic richness; vascular plants diversity.

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