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Abstract Detail



Floristics & Taxonomy

Villar-Morales, Diego [1], Calvillo-Canadell, Laura [2].

Advances in Mexican Palm Studies: the genus Chamaedorea in Mexico.

The palm family (Arecaceae) is represented in Mexico by 21 genera and about 100 species. The three genera with the largest number of species in the country, Brahea, Chamaedorea and Sabal, also have their greatest diversity in the country. Both Brahea and Sabal have been studied previously by both national and international botanists, while Chamaedorea species lacked a proper study in Mexico. This last genus, among other remarkable tropical forest genera, are actively threatened by deforestation, loss of habitat and uncontrolled extraction. A detailed revision of the Mexican species of Chamaedorea was done, based mainly on herbarium specimens. 51 species were recognized in Mexican territory, of which 21 are endemic to the country. This work has resulted in the discovery of new species, corrected species distribution and a taxonomic treatment for the genus in Mexico including a species identification key. Most species inhabit the underforest of tropical evergeen and semievergreen forests and cloud forests on the southern states of Mexico, like Chiapas, Oaxaca and Veracruz. These results support previous notions of the importance of the Mexican territory to the evolution and diversification of Chamaedorea. This is also a first step towards a better understanding of Chamaedorea in Mexico, considering the need for future work that addresses its ecology, conservation and evolution and biogeography. An integrative approach to the study of the systematics of Chamaedorea is recognized, based both on a general, complete phylogeny of the genus, and on specific questions in particular species groups or complexes. We hope that this recent work on this palm genus will rekindle the interdisciplinary interest in Mexican palms by researchers, especially emerging ones.


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1 - Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Biología, Circuito Exterio s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510, Mexico
2 - Instituto De Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma De México, Botany, 3er Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán., Ciudad De México, DIF, 04510, Mexico

Keywords:
Chamaedorea
Palms
Mexico
Taxonomy
Arecaceae.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: FTII, Floristics & Taxonomy II
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Wednesday, July 21st, 2021
Time: 1:30 PM(EDT)
Number: FTII005
Abstract ID:738
Candidate for Awards:None


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