ENDEMIC VASCULAR PLANTS OF THE SIERRA MADRE DEL SUR, MEXICO

Background: The Sierra Madre del Sur (SMS) is located parallel to the Pacific Ocean from Jalisco to Oaxaca. It is the most biodiverse biogeo-graphic province in Mexico and encompass 7,016 species of vascular plants. Questions: How many and which are the vascular plants endemic to SMS and in what types of vegetation do they inhabit? How many are in any category of risk? Studied species: Endemic vascular plants. Study site and dates: SMS biogeographic province, Mexico; from 2016 to 2020. Methods: A database was generated from information collected from herbaria, electronic databases, and specialized literature. Results: A total of 1,133 taxa, 370 genera and 91 families were registered. The families with the most genera and species were Asteraceae (75 and 250, respectively), Orchidaceae (40, 123), Rubiaceae (22, 74), Bromeliaceae (5, 64) and Lamiaceae (10, 63). The genera with the most spe- cies were Salvia (46), Ageratina (39), Tillandsia (37) and Echeveria (29). Fifteen genera were registered as endemic, and 129 species are in some risk category. The coniferous and oak forest registered 828 species, followed by the cloud forest (235) and the tropical deciduous forest (114). Conclusions: The endemism in the Sierra Madre del Sur is heterogeneous, it is centered in the coniferous and oak forest in the Sierra Madre del Sur Oriental sub-province in the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca, and in the Sierra Madre del Sur Occidental in Jalisco.

Automated summary

The Sierra Madre del Sur (SMS) in Mexico is the most biodiverse biogeographic province, with 7,016 species of vascular plants, including 15 endemic genera. The study revealed that endemic plants are mainly found in coniferous and oak forests, with 129 species at risk.