Characterization of the vascular flora of Altos de Chicauma, Chile (33ºS)

Abstract

A total richness of 602 specific and infra-specific taxa is reported for the locality of Altos de Chicauma, situated in the Metropolitan Region’s Coastal mountain range, Chile (33º S), between 500 and 2.200 m of altitude. Chile’s endemic taxa constitute 41% and the Southern Cone endemics equal 66% of the total flora, while 14% corresponds to alien flora. The total flora is characterized according to its presence in seven habitat-types. A commented systematic list is presented where each taxon is characterized according to its growth habit, geographic origin, relative frequency, and presence per habitat-type in Chicauma. Herbarium material supporting the presence in this locality is indicated for 572 taxa (95%). The total flora and the habitat-types’ partial floras were characterized according to their richness, origin and biologictypes compositions. A similarity analysis between the habitats’ native floras indicates that the species composition differs significantly to the rest in “high-mountainous hydric environments”, “creeks and ravines”, “xeric”, and in the pairs, “valley sclerophyllous – montane sclerophyllous” and “deciduous – high-mountainous” habitats. The presence of 14 endangered species, nine Central Chile’s Coastal mountain range endemics, 13 Metropolitan-Valparaiso regions’ mountain endemics, and five distributional limits are reported for this locality.