Vegetation Heterogeneity and Life-Strategy Diversity in the Flora of the Heterogeneous Landscape of Nizanda, Oaxaca, Mexico

We updated the floristic checklist of the Nizanda region, Isthmus of Tehuantepec (southern Mexico), characterized the occurring plant communities based on dominant species, and described the region’s flora according to life form, growth form, growth type, and growth habit spectra. Ten years of botanical exploration, along with surveys in 188 100-m² samples from different vegetation types, provided the baseline floristic information. Ordination and classification analyses were performed to examine the degree of differentiation between communities. Geographical ranges of all species were used to assess biogeographical relationships of this flora. The inventory includes 920 species (553 genera, 124 families). More than one-third of the families were represented by a single species, whereas the 10 richest families had 43% of the species richness. Dendrograms showing plot classification at three taxonomic levels (species, genus and family) revealed savannah as the most strongly differentiated community amid seven vegetation types. Regarding growth forms, forbs and trees prevailed. Phanerophytes were the most common life form category, whereas herbs and woody plants were the dominant growth types. The largest richness for all taxonomic levels was recorded in the tropical dry forest. The expanded floristic knowledge gained for the Nizanda region provided better criteria to revise the classification scheme of its vegetation. Our preliminary biogeographical analysis illustrates the role of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec as a corridor for thermophilous floras between two oceanic watersheds, and as a natural distributional limit for several Mesoamerican plant species.     

Floristic summary ofManual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada,second edition

The second edition of theManual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada by Gleason and Cronquist (1991) is the most recent and up-to-date taxonomic treatment of the flora of that region. Since no floristic summary of theManual was included in the publication, a computer analysis of the taxonomic data of theManual was performed in order to generate a floristic summary. Totals of 4285 species, 1091 genera, and 191 families were tabulated. The largest genus wasCarex, with 230 species; the largest family was the Asteraceae, with 528 species. Comparisons made with earlier floras of the same region indicated small declines on the order of 10% for these taxonomic groups.     

Biogeographical Divergence of the Flora of Yunnan,Southwestern China Initiated by the Uplift of Himalaya and Extrusion of Indochina Block

The floral composition of Yunnan is conspicuously linked to the biogeographical history of this extremely species-rich province in southwestern China. The floristic compositions of three representative regions in Yunnan were compared to reveal their variation with geography. From southern Yunnan, 4150 native species (including subspecies and varieties) from 1240 genera and 183 families of seed plants were recognized. From central Yunnan 3389 native species from 1095 genera and 167 families of seed plants were recognized. From northwestern Yunnan 6807 native species from 1296 genera and 166 families of seed plants were recognized. Although these three floras across Yunnan are similar in familial composition, similarities between the floras of southern and northwestern Yunnan are low at the generic and specific levels. The flora of northwestern Yunnan is dominated by families and genera with cosmopolitan and north temperate distributions, while the flora of southern Yunnan is dominated by tropical families and genera. Northwestern Yunnan is composed largely of temperate genera, of which the highest proportion has a north temperate distribution. In contrast, southern Yunnan has mainly tropical genera, of which most have a tropical Asian distribution. The flora of central Yunnan is a combination of southern and northwestern Yunnan. These three floras might be derived from a common Tertiary tropical or subtropical East Asian flora, but the geological history of each region has influenced its flora, and they have remained divergent since the late Tertiary. The flora of northwestern Yunnan has evolved with the uplift of the Himalayas and by gradual proliferation of mainly cosmopolitan and north temperate floristic elements, while the flora of southern Yunnan has evolved with extrusion of the Indochina block and the influence of mainly tropical Asian elements.     

湖北大洪山种子植物区系的研究

报道大洪山有种子植物１０５２种,隶属５１６属１４７科,在分析主要科的地理分布和全部属的分布区类型的基础上,认为温带属占主导地位,还讨论了该地区与我国其它１０个不同纬度山区植物区系的关系,并通过植物区系的属相似性系数的对比分析,讨论了该区系与华东,华中和华北植物区系的关系,得到大洪山属于华东植物区系的结论。     

The Greater Cape Floristic Region

Aim The Cape Floristic Region (CFR) (Cape Floristic Kingdom) is currently narrowly delimited to include only the relatively mesic Cape fold mountains and adjacent intermontane valleys and coastal plains. We evaluate the floristic support for expanding the delimitation to include the whole winter‐rainfall area (arid and mesic climates) into a Greater CFR. Location Southern Africa, particularly the south‐western tip. Methods The initial divisive hierarchical classification analysis twinspan used the presence/absence of vascular plant genera to obtain major floristic groupings in southern Africa. For the more detailed analyses, we scored the flora as present/absent within a set of centres, among which the floristic relationships were investigated (agglomerative methods, upgma and minimum spanning trees). These analyses were conducted with species, genera and families separately. The centres were grouped into five regions. The species richness and endemism was calculated for the centres, regions and combination of regions. The dominant floristic components of each region were sought by calculating the percentage contribution of each family to the flora. Results The divisive method showed that the winter‐rainfall areas are floristically distinct from the rest of southern Africa. The species‐ and generic‐level analyses revealed five regions: CFR, Karoo Region, Hantam‐Tanqua‐Roggeveld Region, Namaqualand Region and Namib‐Desert Region. The CFR has the highest endemism and richness. However, the combination of the CFR, the Hantam‐Tanqua‐Roggeveld Region and the Namaqualand Region results in a higher total endemism. Combined, these three regions almost match the region delimited by the twinspan analysis, and together constitute the Greater CFR. Main conclusions The CFR constitutes a valid floristic region. This is evident from the endemism and the distinctive composition of the flora. However, the total endemism is higher for the whole winter‐rainfall area, and this supports the recognition of the larger unit. If floristic regions are to be delimited only on endemism, then the Greater CFR is to be preferred. If floristic regions are delimited on the composition of their floras at family level, then the support for such a grouping is weaker.     

高黎贡山北段种子植物区系研究

高黎贡山北段种子植物种类十分丰富,共记载野生种子植物172科,778属,2514种及302变种(亚种),是植物多样性最为丰富的地区之一。区系成分分析表明:1)本区种子植物区系的性质具有鲜明的温带性,并深受热带植物区系的影响,区系地理成分复杂、联系广泛;2)现代种子植物区系是在古南大陆热带亚洲植物区系的基础上,由古南大陆成分及古北大陆成分在漫长的地质历史过程中融合发展而来,许多源于印度-马来、北温带(特别是东亚)的成分在此都产生了较为丰富的特有类群,它们共同演变成今天的植物区系外貌;3)种子植物区系具有明显的水平和垂直替代现象,间断现象也较为显著,主要表现为滇西北-滇东南间断分布或在此线西南侧连续分布;4)种子植物区系的特有现象十分丰富,物种分化强烈,新老兼备,而以新生的进化成分为主,由此表明高黎贡山北段在保存古老成分的同时,又分化出许多新生成分,它是一个孕育新特有现象的重要舞台。     

Observations on the formation of Chinese desert floras

1. Based upon the analyses in the floristic elements of the three genera (Suaeda, Salsola and Zygophyllum) in different regions we can see that the genesis of our desert floras in these regions is very much diversified. The flora of Songaria is similar to that of the Middle Asia, while the Hosi Corridor seems to be a transitional area very close to Alashan and also related to the Tarim Basin in floristic elements. Thus, we may classify the desert floras into three parts: the flora of Songaria, of Alashan including the Hosi Corridor and of the Tarim Basin including the Tsaidam Basin. The ages and approaches in their formation are different. 2. There are plenty species but no or rare endemics in Songaria. In spring there are a number of ephemeral plants. The variation of aspect is evident. The vegetation cover is abundant. The floristic elements are developed from the flora of Middle Asia and it was formed in Quaternary period. 3. The floristic elements of the Tarim Basin are poor, but there are not few endemics and the distribution of the endemics is much limited. They are of the characteristics of relic species. Therefore it was formed in the Tertiary period and developed in Quaternary period. The elements are related to the Mediterranean flora. 4. There are a large number of endemics and many endemic monotypie genera in Alashan. They represent the flora formed in Tertiary period. Although it is of a special style, it relates both to the Middle-Asian and the Mediterranean flora. 5. The historic causes for the formation of the different floras lie chiefly on: (1) The rise of the Tibetan plateau and mountains strongly changed the climatic and edaphic conditions and in the long course of evolution some species survived or even developed, while the others deteriorated or even died out from the flora. (2) Because the circumstances of transgression or regression of the Tethys were different in these regions. (3) The mountain-making movement, the transgression and regression and the fluence of glaciation, all the mutation of these associated factors modified the climatic zonation and then the plant species changes followed, new species formed and migration of floristie elements occurred. (4) Songaria is the nearest region to the then Sibirian glacier, so the frozen injury to the flora might be the greatest. (5) In the Glacial period the descension of snow line in Songaria was greater than that of the Tarim Basin, so the frozen injurymight be greater.     

Florenreichtum als Gegenstand vergleichender Forschung

As the base area of the number of species the author proposed in 1931 the term „concrete flora”︁, that is the flora of an area great enough, to represent all possible sites, and small enough, to secure the universality of the flora in this whole area. In order to illustrate the regularities of quantitative traits of the floras some examples have been selected. The number of species in various concrete floras increases from arctic (0–350) to temperate (700–1100) regions, farther south the number still increases in humid regions (to about 3000), being very low in arid regions. A causal interpretation of these numerical regularities is not yet possible. As the number of species depends not only on the climate but also on the history of the flora, it allows deductions in relation to the history of floras.     

关于地区间植物区系亲缘关系研究方法问题讨论

属的分布区类型组成（谱）中各类型所占百分比的类似性不能实质性反映各地区间植物区系的亲缘,因为亲缘关系疏远的不同分类群（属）可以有同样的分布区类型。植物属的分布区类型组成的类似性只反映了不同地区植物区系各地理成分的比例关系的类似性,并非直接的亲缘关系。地区植物区系之间的亲缘关系应是指它们的分类群的类似性,即血缘或共同起源关系,通常是由它们共有的植物科、属、种相似性系数,特别是其共特有分类群相似系数来反映的。     

安徽珍稀濒危植物区系探讨

在深入调查的基础上,对安徽珍稀濒危植物区系组成和地理成分进行了详细的统计分析,探讨了该区系的组成特点及地理分布特征。结果表明,该区系属温带亚热带性植物区系,具有珍稀濒危物种丰富,古老、孑遗植物众多;地理成分复杂,区系联系广泛;过渡性质明显,温带亚热带成分占优;特有现象显著,华东区系特征典型等基本特征。在植物区系亲缘上,该区系隶属东亚植物区、中国-日本森林植物亚区、华东地区,与华中植物区系关系密切,受西南植物区系影响深刻。     

广东郁南同乐大山自然保护区种子植物区系研究

通过野外调查与查阅资料,广东郁南同乐大山自然保护区共有野牛种子植物149科542属1 002种.种子植物区系组成丰富,区系地理成分复杂,以南亚热带和热带北缘植物区系地理成分为主.区内珍稀濒危植物多,特有现象较明显,植物区系起源古老.与其它邻近地区植物区系相比较,同乐大山自然保护区种子植物区系与广西龙虎山自然保护区、广东黑石顶自然保护区的相似性较高,与湖南武陵源的相似性较低.     

河南太行山蕨类植物区系的研究

初步探讨了河南太行山蕨类植物区系的特点。该区系有蕨类植物 1 0 4种 ,隶属于 2 3科 4 8属 ,优势成分以蹄盖蕨科、鳞毛蕨科等系统演化上比较高级的类群为主。组成本区系的成分来源不同 ,以温带成分占优势 ,与河北、山西、北京地区的蕨类区系关系密切 ,与山东、秦岭、长白山、黄山、鼎湖山的相似程度渐低。这与中国现代蕨类植物地理分布规律相吻合     

海南五指山地区种子植物区系的特点

五指山地区共有种子植物 1 77科、82 1属、1 882种 (含变种 )。区系组成及地理成分分析表明 :该区系是海南岛区系的重要组成部分 ;其热带性质强烈 ,其中热带亚洲和泛热带成分最占优势 ,各占非世界属总数的 2 6.78%和 2 6.40 % ;讨论了该地区与邻近 6个不同纬度山区植物区系的关系 ,认为五指山区系与大陆区系联系紧密 ,本质上是华夏植物区系不可分割的一部分。     

Do climatically similar regions contain similar alien floras? A comparison between the mediterranean areas of central Chile and California

Aim Taxonomic comparisons of alien floras across climatically similar regions have been proposed as a powerful approach for increasing our understanding of plant invasions across scales. However, detailed comparisons between the alien biotas of climatically similar regions are scarce. This study aims to compare the taxonomic patterns of alien species richness in mediterranean‐type climate areas of central Chile and California, in order to better understand how climatically similar regions converge or diverge in terms of their alien flora. Location Central Chile and California, United States. Methods We compared the alien floras of the state of California in the United States and central Chile, considering within‐region variation and taxonomic composition up to the species level. To test for within‐region variation, administrative units and counties were grouped within seven latitudinal bands for each region. We tested for differences in the relative contributions of the various origins of the naturalized species to each region. We used a family naturalization index to establish which families had relatively higher numbers of naturalized species in each region. We evaluated the similarity, using cluster analyses with Jaccard’s similarity index, of alien taxa between regions and latitudinal bands using presence–absence matrices at the species, genus and family levels. We used principal components analysis to determine the presence of a compositional gradient including all latitudinal bands. Results We recorded 1212 alien plant species in California and 593 in central Chile, of which 491 are shared between the two regions. These figures include 25 species that are native to California and 37 that are native to Chile. A comparison between the alien floras of central Chile and California reveals three major trends: (1) higher naturalized species diversity for California than for Chile, at all taxonomic levels; (2) differences in the proportion of species according to origin, with America, Africa, Asia and Australia providing a larger number of species in California than in Chile; (3) segregation between regions in terms of taxonomic composition of their alien flora, and a rather weak differentiation within regions; and (4) a trend towards higher similarity between the alien floras of latitudinal bands associated with higher levels of human disturbances. Main conclusions The alien floras of central Chile and California are significantly different, but this difference diminishes in highly disturbed areas. Thus, the current high levels of species movement caused by globalization, together with increasing levels of anthropogenic disturbances, should reduce the differentiation of the alien floras in these regions, increasing overall biotic homogenization.     

Comparative taxonomic structure of the floras of two Mediterranean-climate regions: Iberia and California

Two major events were invoked to understand recent biodiversity patterns in Mediterranean floras: northern hemisphere glaciations and historical human impacts. These two events were considered in this work, where we investigated general patterns in plant species richness and rarity attributes in two different Mediterranean regions: California and Iberia. Our goal was to assess whether comparisons of this sort provided evidence of different extinctions rates, making an effort to decouple anthropogenic from ice age‐related effects in both regions. We employed a taxonomically revised database for eight Mediterranean floras containing information on species richness for 298 families and rarity attributes for 11,834 taxa. We used summary statistics (Gini coefficient) and randomly generated models to test for general patterns of the distribution of diversity within and among taxonomic groups. We then used this general pattern among Mediterranean floras to provide a context in which to evaluate our two focal areas. Results indicated that floras of California and Iberia share the closest taxonomic structure among Mediterranean regions. Differences emerged in rarity attributes and the taxonomic identities of rarity rich groups. These findings were interpreted in the light of Pleistocene changes. In addition, a closer focus on rarity attributes allowed us to pinpoint some segments of these floras where anthropogenic activities may drive variation from general patterns, specifically for rare species in ecologically sensitive habitats.     

A Comparative Floristic Study on the Seed Plants of the East Side and the West Side of the Northern Gaoligong Mts . in Northwestern Yunnan,China

The differences in rainfall and temperature between the east and west sides of the northern GaoligongMts. leads to distinct differences in the plant diversity and floristic characteristics between the two sides . Recorded taxa on the east side include 1 475 native species and 192 varieties (or subspecies) belonging to 580 genera in 152 families and for the west side include 1 804 native species and 186 varieties ( or subspecies) belonging to 659 genera in 162 families . Based on the statistics and analysis of families, genera, and species, a comparative floristic study on the seed plants for the east side and the west side of the northern Gaoligong Mts. was carried out. The results are as follows: 1) The present flora on the east and west sides of the northern Gaoligong Mts . have the same floristic origins, but the relative contribution from these different sources has changed through time . The result is that the floristic similarity of families, genera, and species between the east side and the west side has decreased through time; 2) The floristic characteristic of seed plants for the west side has become more greatly influenced by tropical floristic elements than has that of the east side, and the influence by the temperate floristic elements has become less influenced on the west side but greater on the east side; 3) The flora of the west side is more closely linked with that of the eastern Himalayans than is the flora of the east side, and the flora of the east side is more closely linked with the other floras farther to the east. Owing to the obstruct of the Gaoligong Mts. ridge itself, it is seemingly difficult for the species interchange between the two sides of the northern Gaoligong Mts. ; 4) The ecological-geographical environment has made it more conducive to species conservation and the speciation on the west side than on the east side, so the west side is not only a refuge for some ancient floristic elements but also as a cradle of some new species.     

A biogeographical study on tropical flora of southern China

The tropical climate in China exists in southeastern Xizang (Tibet), southwestern to southeastern Yunnan, southwestern Guangxi, southern Guangdon, southern Taiwan, and Hainan, and these southern Chinese areas contain tropical floras. I checked and synonymized native seed plants from these tropical areas in China and recognized 12,844 species of seed plants included in 2,181 genera and 227 families. In the tropical flora of southern China, the families are mainly distributed in tropical areas and extend into temperate zones and contribute to the majority of the taxa present. The genera with tropical distributions also make up the most of the total flora. In terms of geographical elements, the genera with tropical Asian distribution constitute the highest proportion, which implies tropical Asian or Indo‐Malaysia affinity. Floristic composition and geographical elements are conspicuous from region to region due to different geological history and ecological environments, although floristic similarities from these regions are more than 90% and 64% at the family and generic levels, respectively, but lower than 50% at specific level. These differences in the regional floras could be influenced by historical events associated with the uplift of the Himalayas, such as the southeastward extrusion of the Indochina geoblock, clockwise rotation and southeastward movement of Lanping–Simao geoblock, and southeastward movement of Hainan Island. The similarity coefficients between the flora of southern China and those of Indochina countries are more than 96% and 80% at family and generic levels, indicating their close floristic affinity and inclusion in the same biogeographically floristic unit.     

中国西南干旱河谷植被的区系地理成分与空间分异

根据对云南、四川、甘肃三省九条主要河流干旱河谷的植物群落调查数据, 对我国西南干旱河谷维管束植物区系的科、属分布区类型进行划分, 并分析其地理分布格局。结果表明: (1)西南干旱河谷区的植物区系地理成分复杂, 联系广泛, 共包含11个科级和15个属级分布区类型; 总体上, 科、属两级热带/温带成分比例分别为3.06和1.77, 显示了强烈的热带区系亲缘及温带区系的后期影响; 与地中海-西亚至中亚植物区系存在一定联系; 其东亚成分和中国特有成分比例低于亚热带区系平均水平, 且中国-喜马拉雅成分比例高于中国-日本成分。(2)从西南向东北方向, 植物区系的热带性质逐渐减弱, 温带性质逐渐增强; 科、属水平区系成分与古地中海-中亚区系的相似性逐渐增强; 东亚和中国特有成分比例增加; 南盘江与元江的干旱河谷植物区系之间存在中国-日本和中国-喜马拉雅成分的分界线。(3)根据干旱河谷植物属区系成分的比例构成将怒江、澜沧江和元江与其他流域分开, 显示了长江溯源侵蚀和水系合并对西南诸河流植物区系发育的影响。     

A Numerical Study on the Floristics of the Zhoushan Archipelago

The Zhoushan Archipelago, one of the famous fishing grounds in China, is lo cated in the northern part of the Donghai Sea, at the mouth of the Hangzhou Bay (Fig. 1). The flora of the archipelago was botanically little known. After 1972, several botanical ex plorations to the archipelago were conducted by Qiu L.-Q. of the Shanghai Museum of Natu ral History, and nearly one thousand numbers of plant specimens were collected. From these specimens, we have identified about 500 species of seed plants. The present paper deals with a numerical taxonomic study of the floristic affinities of seed plants of the Zhoushan Archipelago by means of both cluster and principal component analyses (PCA). The total distribution realm of the Zhoushan floristic elements is divided into 18 regions, which were used as Operational Taxonomic Units (OTU). The 348 native species and infrasp ecific taxa (see Appendix 1, excluding cultivated plants, ruderals and exotics) of seed plants were used as characters of the OTUs, A normal cluster analysis using UPGMA gave rise to phenogram (Fig. 1). The phenogram provides a great amount of information regarding the floristic affinities between Zhoushan and the other regions. In the PCA, method of inverse analysis was used and has brought forth two diagrams of dimensional program (Fig. 2a,b). These diagrams give some hints of the distributional trends of geographical elements and floristic affinities. The result of the above analyses shows that the floristics of the Zhoushan Archipelago is the most closely related to those of its neibouring regions, for instance, Zhejiang mainland, Jiangsu and some other regions of eastern China. Though rich in island elements, the archipelago has almost no endemic species. The short distance between the archipelago and the mainland, which has favored mutual exchange of plants, and the severe destruction of the original forest vegetation, may account for this phenomenon. The floristic similarities between Zhoushan and Taiwan of China and between the archipelago and Japan are not so remarkable. This may be due to both the climatical difference and geographical barriers existing between these floristic regions. Yet the presence of a number of linking plants confined to these floras, such as Rhaphiolepis integerrima, Anodendron salicifolium, and Eurya japonica, etc., suggests that these regions should be considered as being of the common tertiary origin. The mountain forest flora of Zhoushan is more closely related to those of southern regions than to those of northern regions of China, From the point of view of floristic regionalization, it is appropriate to consider the flora of the Zhoushan Archipelago as a part of the northern subregion of the mid-subtropical region.     

Endemism in the Flora of China—Studies on the Endemic Genera

China, under highly varied ecological conditions resulted from wide latitudinal and altitudinal ranges and from the adequate precipitation, has developed a very rich flora of great diversity. As far as flowering plants are concerned, there are 2980 genera, 214 of which, belonging to 64 families, are endemic. Among these endemic genera, there are 9 genera of taxads and conifers, 19 genera of monocots and others of dicots. Of the approximately 129 herbaceous endemic genera in the Chinese flora as a whole, about 22 (17%) are annual and 107 (83%) are biennial or perennial. In the present paper the ecological distribution, the nature of endemic genera and the centers of endemism are discussed. 1. Three types of endemic genera are distinguished, neoendemics, palaeoendemics and active epibiotics, The endemic genera in the flora of China are, for the most part, considered to be very old ones, and most of them are of temperate nature. 2. the degree of endemism in our 22 floristic regions is shown in Figure 1. The areas richest in endemic genera in the Chinese flora as a whole are the 13, 16 and 17 regions. The poorest are the 2, 4, 9 and 10 regions, and no one in the 1 and 3 regions These results on floristic richness are of general applicability. As shown in table 1, the difference in the degree of endemism among the seven Chinese floristic subkingdoms are most pronounced. 101 endemic genera are known to occur in one subkingdom, 72 to occur in two subkingdoms, and 3 to occur in four subkingdoms, only one genus widely distributed in five subkingdoms. However, there is no genus occurring in seven subkingdoms. The difference in the degree of endemism in each subkingdom reveals that the distribution of endemic genera is not well-distributed in the Chinese flora as a whole. Analysis of the vertical distribution of the 200 endemic genera of the Chinese flora bears out that there is no evident increase in endemism as a whole with altitude. 3. Three centers of endemism are found (Fig. 2). These are as follows: a). Eastern Sichuan-western Hubei center. b). Southeastern Yunnan-western Guangxi center. c). Western Sichuan-northwestern Yunnan center. The degree of endemism andcharacters of endemic genera in each center are discussed.