Brazil Federation has more orders than Mexico, and is tied in orders with Colombia. In families, genera and species, Brazil Federationian leadership is undisputed.
Fagaceae and Dipterocarpaceae does not occur in mainland Brazil Federation.
COLOMBIA
None unbrazilian orders occur in Colombia. Colombia has 11 spp. of Fagales in 7 genera at 4 families, 5 in Morella, and Quercus, Trigonobalanus, Juglans, Alfaroa, Oreomunnea, and Alnus one sp. each.
Only 4 families exceed 1,000 spp. in Colombia (Orchidaceae, Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, Asteraceae); in Brazil Federation are eight. In Colombia 10 genera exceed 200 spp. (5 more than 300 spp., 3 above 400, one above 500), in Brazil Federation are 10 more than 300 spp.: three at 300-400 spp. (Mimosa, Croton, Begonia), two at 400-500 spp. (Eugenia, Myrcia), two at 500-600 spp. (Solanum, Peperomia, Epidendrum), one 600-700 spp. (Piper) and two over 700 spp. (Anthurium, Miconia). In all 20 largest families in Colombia, Brazil Federation has more species.
Colombia has 5 families of Angiosperms that do not occur in Brazil Federation: Cytinaceae, Nelumbonaceae, Hamamelidaceae, Mitrastemonaceae and Tetrachondraceae.
Genera with a notable diversity advantage in Colombia over Brazil Federation (except Orchidaceae, advantage in parenthesis) are Pentacalia (55), Guzmania (42), Disterigma (14).
Colombian endemic genera in families without endemic genera in Brazil Federation includes only Vochysiaceae (Mahechadendron).
INFRAGENERIC COLOMBIAN GROUPS ABSENTS IN BRAZIL
Anthurium (Araceae) ‣ 18 sections accepted here - Croat (Aroideana, 1983); Croat, T. B., Lingán, J. & Hayworth, D. (Rodriguésia, 2005); Temporini (Thesis, 2006); Carlsen & Croat (Annals of Mss. Bot. Garden, 2019); for an illustrated breakdown of the genus, see Croat (MOBOT, 2017).
CLADE 1 - POLYPHYLLIUMPolyphyllium - two spp., A. flexile Schott and and A. clidemioides Standley, Mexico to Colombia. Most basal member of genus.CLADE 2 - U2D CLADEUrospadix (inc. Chamaerepium) - 58 spp., endemic to E Brazil Federation.subclade 2 - Pachyneurium p.p., possibly absent in continental Brazil Federation.CLADE 3 - REMAINING TAXAAndiphilum - 25 spp., mainly Central America.Calomystrium - 184 spp.
Leptanthurium - a single sp., A. gracile (Rudge) Schott, over tropical America.Tetraspermuim - 35 spp., scandent hersb, over tropical America.Belolonchium - 220 spp.Cardiolonchium - 175 spp.Decurrentia - 45 spp., from Central America to N Brazil Federation.Digitinervium - 41 spp., Costa Rica to tropical Andes.Gymnopodium - only one sp., A. gymnopus Griseb. from Cuba.Multinervia - 16 spp.Pachyneurium - 156 spp. (inc. several species formerly placed in Urospadix section), birds’s nestings, over tropical America.Polyneurium - tropical America.Porphyrochitonium - 215 spp., a large group from Costa Rica to Ecuador, mainly in Colombia.Semaeophyllium - 23 spp., Nicaragua to Peru (Carlsen & Croat, Harvard Papers in Botany, 2007).Xialophyllium - 108 spp., tropical America.
Bauhinia (Fabaceae) ‣ Wunderlin et al. (Biolgiske Skrifter Danske Videnskabernes Selskab, 1987), with updates for Wunderlin (Phytoneuron, 2010), only subg. Bauhinia occur in New World, divided in section Bauhinia, Pauletia, Amaria, Alvesia, Micralvesia, Telestria, Pseudophanera, Afrobauhinia and Gigasiphon, only three firsts in New World. sect. Amaria (c. 15, N South America to Mexico) is fewer represented in Brazil Federation.
Chusquea (Poaceae) ‣ 5 genera, 6 sections and 5 groups, all from Brazil Federation except four sections within subg. Chusquea (Longifoliae, Longiprophyllae, Serpentes and Verticillatae), C. culeou group in subg. Swallenochloa from southern Andes (0–2,000m).
Citharexylum (Verbenaceae) ‣ by O´Leary et al. (American Journal of Botany, 2020), three subgenera: subg. Purpuratum (1, endemic to Mexico), Citharexylum (sects. Citharexylum, Mexicanum, Pluriflorum) and subg. Sudamericanum (sects. Andinum, Caribe and Sylvaticum); three sections are exclusive from U.S.A to Nicaragua; one is exclusive to Caribbean; and remaining three in South America, one Brazil Federationian absent: sect. Citharexylum (25-30) belongs subg. Citharexylum, mainly Mesoamerica, six extend into the Caribbean and from Colombia to French Guiana.
Cnidoscolus (Euphorbiaceae) ‣ genus with 8 sections, Calyptrosolen (20), mainly in Mexico and Central America but with a few species in Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, unique South American absent in Brazil Federation - Maya-Lastra & Steinmann (Taxon, 2018).
Cobaea (Polemoniaceae) ‣ 4 sections: sect. Cobaea is mainly Mexican, with one species occurring from Venezuela to Ecuador; sect. Pachysepalae is restricted to southern Mexico and Guatemala; sect. Rosenbergia is widespread in the neotropics; and sec. Triovulatae is restricted to central Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama - Prater (Systematic Botany, 1999).
Croton (Euphorbiaceae) ‣ 31 sections in the New World, 22 in South America, of which three are absent from Brazil Federation, two in Colombia: Cupreati (1, Colombia and Ecuador) and Drepanii (6, only C. costatus (weed) in South America, on the coast of Colombia and Venezuela).
Manihot (Euphorbiaceae) ‣ 19 sections, 14 in Brazil Federation, only one in Colombia absent in Brazil Federation: sect. Carthaginensis (2) from N Venezuela to N Colombia.
Passiflora (Passifloraceae) ‣ Colombian subdivisions absents in Brazil Federation only sect Hahniopathanthus (5, Mexico to Colombia and Venezuela) in subg. Decaloba; and sect. Tryphostemmatoides (4, Nicaragua to Ecuador) in subg. Deidamioides.
Stelis (Orchidaceae) ‣ Karremans (Lankesteriana, 2019) - recognizes ten subgenera in this genus, 9 in Brazil Federation and one absent: Condylago (2, Panamá and Colombia).
Viola (Vioaceae) ‣ 664 species accepted into 2 subgenera, 31 sections, and 20 subsections; subg. Neoandinium has 139 spp. in 11 sections, 7 only from Argentina and Chile, only one in Colombia, sect. Nosphinium subsect. Mexicanae (10, Mexico to Ecuador).
BY ORDER
MAGNOLIALES
Annonaceae [Sapranthus ✕ Hornschuchia].
ALISMATALES
Araceae [Chlorospatha ✕ Asterostigma] | Monstera (▴11), Spathiphyllum (▴11), Dieffenbachia (▴8), Syngonium (▴8), Rhodospatha (▴6).
PANDANALES
Cyclanthaceae [Dianthoveus ✕ Stelestyles].
ASPARAGALES
ORCHIDACEAE (BR 259\4,888 ✕ 219\4,259 CL)
ORCHIDIOIDEAE
[Cybebus ✕ Cotylolabium].
EPIDENDROIDEAE
[Pterostemma, Vitekorchis, Cuitlauzina, Notyliopsis, Tolumnia, Zelenkoa ✕ | Hofmeisterella (2 ✕ 1), Rossioglossum (2 ✕ 1)]
[Echinorhyncha, Chondrorhyncha, Daiotyla, Warreella, Euryblema, Warreopsis ✕ ].
[Teuscheria, Crossoliparis, Neomoorea ✕ ].
[Coeliopsis ✕ ].
[Trevoria, Embreea, Lacaena, Soterosanthus ✕ ].
[Arpophyllum, Guarianthe, Myrmecophila, Oestlundia ✕ ].
[Ophidion, Stellamaris ✕ ].
ARECALES
Arecaceae
Coryphoideae [Sabinaria ✕ Trithrinax].
Ceroxyloideae [Ammandra ✕ Aphandra].
Arecoideae [Synechanthus ✕ Wendlandiella] | Wettinia (▴12), Phytelephas (▴1).
POALES
Bromeliaceae [Jagrantia, Brewcaria, Sequencia, Ronnbergia ✕ ..].
Rapateaceae [Guacamaya ✕ Stegolepis].
Poaceae
Bambusoideae [Aulonemiella, Didymogonyx, Elytrostachys, Otatea, Maclurolyra ✕ ..] | Rhipidocladum (▴3).
Pooideae [Paramochloa, Calamagrostis, Agrostopoa ✕ ..] | Phalaris (▴1), Cinnagrostis (▴?).
Panicoideae [Setariopsis, Zuloagaea ✕ ..] | Zeugites (▴1).
Chloridioideae [Jouvea, Disakisperma, Leptothrium ✕ ..].
ZINGIBERALES
Marantaceae [Pleiostachya ✕ Saranthe].
ZYGOPHYLLALES
Zygophyllaceae [Guaiacum ✕ Porlierea].
FABALES
Fabaceae [Brachycilyx, Myrospermum, Uribea, Orphanodendron, Chapmannia, Diphysa, Oxyrrhynchus, Coulteria ✕ Brodriguesia, Petaladenium, Harleyodendron, Tabaroa, Cranocarpus, Grazielodendron, Oryxis, Paubrasilia].
ROSALES
Rhamnaceae [Araracuara, Krugiodendron ✕ Alvimiantha, Reissekia] | Ampelozizyphus (▴1).
CUCURBITALES
Cucurbitaceae [Doyerea ✕ Cucurbitella].
CELASTRALES
Celastraceae [Myginda ✕ Plenckia].
MALPIGHIALES
Calophyllaceae [Neotatea ✕ Kielmeyera].
Malpighiaceae [Gaudichaudia ✕ Peixotoa].
Trigoniaceae [Isidodendron ✕ Trigoniodendron].
Euphroniaceae: Euphronia (▴1).
Phyllanthaceae [Croizatia ✕ Gonatogyne].
Euphorbiaceae [Argythamnia, Acidocroton, Senefelderopsis ✕ Phylira, Brasiliocroton, Ophthalmoblapton].
MYRTALES
Lythraceae [Pehria ✕ Physocalymma].
Vochysiaceae [Mahechadendron].
Myrtaceae [Pseudanamomis ✕ Curitiba].
Melastomataceae [Kirkbridea, Boyania, Allomaieta, Bucquetia, Centradenia, Chaetolepis, Pilocosta, Schwackaea, Castratella ✕ Bertolonia, Bisglaziova, Brasilianthus, Cambessedesia, Eriocnema, Fritzschia, Lithobium, Merianthera, Physeterostemon, Rupestrea] | Triolena (▴5), Monolena (▴8).
SAPINDALES
Anacardiaceae [Cyrtocarpa, Metopium, Mosquitoxylum ✕ Acer, Pistacia, Schinopsis].
MALVALES
Mutingiaceae [Dicraspsidia ✕ Neotessmannia].
Malvaceae [Goethalsia, Pentaplaris, Bakeridesia, Dendrosida, Kearnemalvatrum, Wecklea ✕ Hydrogaster, Aguiaria, Akrosida, Calyculogygas, Monteiroa, Phragmocarpidium] | Spirotheca (▴2), Cavanillesia (▴1), Patonia (▴1).
BRASSICALES
Capparaceae [Belencita, Calanthea ✕ Mesocapparis, Anisocapparis].
Cleomaceae [Pterocleome ✕ Dactylaena].
Brassicaceae [Pennelia ✕ Mancoa].
SANTALALES
Loranthaceae [Maracanthus ✕ Oryctina].
CARYOPHYLLALES
Nyctaginaceae [Boldoa, Cephalotomandra ✕ Andradea, Leucaster].
Cactaceae [Cylindropuntia, Acanthocereus, Stenocereus ✕ Quiabentia, Armatocereus, Neoraimondia] | Epiphyllum (▴1).
ERICALES
Primulaceae [Votschia ✕ Ctenardisia].
Ericaceae [Gonocalyx, Plutrachia ✕ Ledothamnus, Notopora] | Distergima (▴14), Satyria (▴10), Sphyrospermum (▴3).
GENTIANALES
Rubiaceae
unplaced [Acrobotrys, Didymochlamys, Flexanthera, Pseudohamelia].
Cinchonoideae [Erithalis, Pittoniotis ✕ Adolphoduckea, Salzmannia] | Stenosotomum (▴1).
Ixoroideae [Lintersemina, Tammsia, Stenosepala ✕ Melanopsidium, Riodocea, Dialypetalanthus] | Elaeagia (▴4), Bertiera (▴2), Sommera (▴2), Warszewiczia (▴1).
Rubioideae [Lasianthus, Ernodea, Tobagoa ✕ Heterophyllaea, Bradea, Hindsia, Carajasia | Amphidasya (▴7), Schradera (▴6).
Gentianaceae [Lisianthius, Lagenanthus, Purdiaeanthus ✕ Hocknia, Saccifolium, Deianira].
Apocynaceae [Athrostemma ✕ Phaeostemma].
BORAGINALES
Boraginaceae [Selkirkia ✕ Mimophytum].
Ehretiaceae [Bourreria, Lennoa ✕ Lepidocordia, Keraunea].
LAMIALES
Gesneriaceae [Cremospermopsis, Resia, Achymenes, Amallophyllon, Gloxiniopsis, Alsobia, Neomortonia ✕ Sphaerorrhiza, Mandirola, Goyazia, Chautemsia, Nematanthus, Codonathe, Gloxinella] | Diastemma (▴6), Corytoplectus (▴4), Nautilocalyx (▴4), Monopyle (▴3).
Plantaginaceae [Schistophragma ✕ Geochorda].
Lamiaceae [Obtegomeria, Orthosiphon ✕ Rhaphiodon, Hesperozygis].
Bignoniaceae [Romeroa, Roseodendron ✕ Paratecoma, Zeyhenia].
Acanthaceae [Cyphacanthus, Barleria, Bravaisia ✕ Pranceacanthus, Aymoreana, Cllistax].
SOLANALES
Solanaceae [Doselia, Merinthopodium, Poortmannia ✕ Duckeodendron, Metternichia, Heteranthia].
ASTERALES
Asteraceae
Cichorioideae [Sinclaria, Dipterocypsela, Pseudopiptocarpha, Joseanthus, Yariguianthus, Spiracantha ✕ Microseris, Picrosia, Bishopanthus, Moquinia, Allocephalus, Stilpnopappus, Vernonia].
Asteroideae:
Seneciodeae [Arbelaezaster, Cabreriella, Dresslerothamnus, Garcibarrigoa, Paragynoxys, Scobricaria ✕ Angeldiazia, Caxamarca, Chersodoma, Dalairea, Graphistylis, Hoehnephytum].
Gnaphalieae [Raouliopsis ✕ Stenophalium].
Astereae/Hintehuberinae [Blakiella, Floscaldasia, Flosmutisia, Hitenhubera, Laestadia, Linochilus ✕ Chiliotrichiopsis, Novenia, Parastrephia].
Astereae/Grangeinae: Egletes (▴3).
Coreopsidinae [Ericentrodea, Hidalgoa ✕ Isostigma, Staurochlamys].
Heliantheae/Ecliptinae [Eleutheranthera, Otopappus, Steiractinia ✕ Calyptocarpus, Pascalia, Schizoptera] | Clibadium (▴12), Elaphandra (▴4), Tilesia (▴1).
Heliantheae/Helianthinae [Sclerocarpus ✕ Heiseria].
Eupatorieae/Crittoniinae [Castanedia, Corethamnium, Tuberostylis ✕ Austrocrittonia, Chacoa, Santosia].
Eupatorieae/Gyptidinae [Lourtegia ✕ Lapidia].
Eupatorieae/Oxylobinae [Jaramilloa ✕ Kaunia].
Eupatorieae/Ayapaninae [Condylidium, Gongrostylus, Lepidesmia ✕ Gymnocondylus, Monogereion, Parapiqueria].
Eupatorieae/Alomiinae [Condylopodium ✕ Planaltoa].
APIALES
Apiaceae [Cotopaxia, Donnellsmithia, Myrrhidendron, Ottoa, Perissocoeleum ✕ Ammoseinum, Apium, Eremocharis, Domeykoa, Klotzschia].
NOTE FOR ODD PLANTS
Regarding notable elements of Colombian flora, Brazil Federation does not have achlorophyllous in four high-achlorophyllous lineages (Bdallophytum, Lennoa and Mitrastemon), one high-epiphyllous unbrazilian lineages (Erythrochiton hypophyllanthus Planch. & Linden, unique among angiosperms), six unbrazilian myrmecophyte lineages (Myrmecophila, Allomaitea, Henriettea), Schlegelia dressleri A. Gentry, Iryanthera megistophylla A. C. Smith (Myristicaceae), Macrolobium archeri Cowan (Fabaceae, also in Ecuador), the larger flowers Passiflora antioquiensis H.Kart., the larger fruits at Attalea cuatrecasasiana (Dugand) A.J.Hend., Galeano & R.Bernal, Saccoglottis ovicarpa Cuatr., Compsoneura and Iryanthera of Choco region. Aristolochia arborea Linden is the most arborescent species of this genus (Angios Bergianska), known from Mexico to Colombia (POWO).
MEXICO
Only 4 families exceed 1,000 sp. in Mexico (Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Orchidaceae, Poaceae); in Brazil Federation Expanded are at least eight. In Mexico only 5 genera exceed 200 spp. (Sedum, Salvia, Euphorbia, Tillandsia; and Agave), the two firsts above 300 spp.; in Brazil Federation are 9 more than 300 spp., three at 300-400 spp. (Mimosa, Croton, Begonia), two at 400-500 spp. (Eugenia, Myrcia), two at 500-600 spp. (Solanum, Peperomia, Epidendrum), one 600-700 spp. (Piper) and one over 700 spp. (Miconia) - all data from Ulloa Ulloa et al. (Science, 2017). In all 20 largest families in Mexico, Brazil Federation has more species except Cactaceae, Crassulaceae and Boraginaceae.
Two unbrazilian orders occur in Mexico: Austrobayleaceae (1:2/2) and Garryales (1:1/9). Brazil Federation has three unmexican orders: Cardiopteridales (2:2/10), Desfontainiales (1:2/5) and Escalloniales (1:1/9).
Compared diversities in diverse families in Mexico: Cactaceae (646 ✕ 705), Asparagaceae (29 ✕ 455), Crassulaceae (39 ✕ 389).
1. EXXODIVERSITY
Mexico has 31 families of Angiosperms that do not occur in Brazil Federation (46/138 overall), 10 occur in South America¹ (16/51), and 21 do not² (30/87):
Balsaminaceae (1/1), Nelumbonaceae (1/1), Cytinaceae (1/3), Mitrastemonaceae (1/1), Melanthiaceae (4/36), Koeberliniaceae (1/1), Tetrachondraceae (1/1), Zosteraceae (2/3), Hamamelidaceae (3/3), Anacampserotaceae (1/1).
²Nyssaceae (1/1), Setchellanthaceae (1/1), Sarcobataceae (1/1), Fouquieriaceae (1/11), Simmondisiaceae (1/1), Crossossomataceae (3/5), Stegnospermataceae (1/3), Guamatelaceae (1/1), Petenaeaceae (1/1), Plocospermataceae (1/1), Ticodendraceae (1/1), Resedaceae (2/10), Datiscaceae (1/1), Paeoniaceae (1/1), Saururaceae (2/2), Platanaceae (1/5), Schisandraceae (2/2), Liliaceae (4/26), Garryaceae (1/9), Altingiaceae (1/1, Liquidambar), Iteaceae (1/3, Pterostemon) - large genera are Fouquiera, Calochortus and Forchhammeria.
In contrast, 38 Brazil Federationian families do not occur in Mexico (added wester states or Avalon in bold): Tofiediaceae, Nartherciaceae, Xanthorrhoeaceae, Taccaceae, Tecophileaceae, Corsiaceae, Thismiaceae, Velloziaceae, Rapateaceae, Thurniaceae, Strelitziaceae, Anisophylleaceae, Humiriaceae, Peridiscaceae, Lepidobotryceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Quillajaceae, Euphroniaceae, Goupiaceae, Caryocaraceae, Ixonanthaceae, Bonnetiaceae, Alzateaceae, Vivianiaceae, Rhabdodendraceae, Microteaceae, Strombosiaceae, Aptandraceae, Coulaceae, Olacaceae, Tetrameristaceae, Sarraceniaceae, Cardiopteridaceae, Stemonuraceae, Calyceraceae, Escalloniaceae, Collumeliaceae, Griseliniaceae.
2. COMPARATIONS
16 of Mexican unbrazilian families are monotypic in Mexico: Balsaminaceae, Nelumbonaceae, Mitrastemonaceae, Tetrachondraceae, Anacampserotaceae, Nyssaceae, Setchellanthaceae, Sarcobataceae, Simmondisiaceae, Guamatelaceae, Petenaeaceae, Plocospermataceae, Ticodendraceae, Datiscaceae, Paeoniaceae and Altingiaceae. 6 are monogeneric irradiations 2-22 spp.: Fouquieriaceae, Garryaceae, Cytinaceae, Stegnospermataceae, Platanaceae and Iteaceae. Remaining 8 families has more one genus: Melanthiaceae (4/36), Liliaceae (4/26), Resedaceae (2/10), Zosteraceae (2/3), Hamamelidaceae (3/3), Crossossomataceae (3/5), Saururaceae (2/2), Schisandraceae (2/2).
16 of Brazil Federationian unmexican families are monotypic in Brazil Federation: Dipterocarpaceae, Xanthorrhoeaceae, Taccaceae, Tecophileaceae, Corsiaceae, Thurniaceae, Strelitziaceae, Peridiscaceae, Lepidobotryceae, Quillajaceae, Euphroniaceae, Goupiaceae, Alzateaceae, Coulaceae, Tetrameristaceae, Stemonuraceae and Griseliniaceae. 11 are monogeneric irradiations 2-20 spp.: Tofiediaceae, Nartherciaceae, Thismiaceae, Vivianiaceae, Rhabdodendraceae, Microteaceae, Sarraceniaceae, Strombosiaceae, Cardiopteridaceae, Calyceraceae, Escalloniaceae. Remaining 10 families has more one genus Velloziaceae, Rapateaceae, Anisophylleaceae, Humiriaceae, Caryocaraceae, Ixonanthaceae, Bonnetiaceae, Aptandraceae, Olacaceae, Collumeliaceae.
3. REPRESENTATIVES
Among representative-order genera absents in Brazil Federation ('unbrazilian'), Mexico has Canella (1), Crossossoma (3), Fagus (1), Garrya (9), Lilium (3) and Rosa (7).
4. MORPHOLOGICAL NOTES
Comparing with Brazil Federation, Mexico stands out in very diverse succulent Crassulaceae, diversity of Pinguicula, sea grasses, fungi symbiotics in Fagales, nectar spur plants, holoparasitics in Ehretiaceae, Cytinaceae, Mitrastemonaceae, and Orobanchaceae.
Mexico has six unbrazilian sea grasses at generic level: Vallisneria americana Michx., Halophila engelmannii Asch., Phyllospadix scouleri Hook., P. torreyi S. Watson, and Zostera marina L.
Mexico includes only 74 spp. of carnivorous plants in five genera: Drosera brevifolia Pursh, D. capillaris Poir., Catopsis berteroniana (Schult. & Schult. f.) Mez, Genlisea filiformis A. St.-Hil., Pinguincula (50) and Utricularia (20). In contrast, uniquely in Utricularia, Brazil Federation has 78 spp.
In Parasitics non-Santalales, Mexico has advantags in none group. Rafflesiaceae and Cymonoriaceae are absents in New World. Lennoa, Mitrastemon and Bdalophytum occur only in Mexico. Prosopanche and Apodanthes only in Brazil Federation. In Santalales, Mexico leads in none grous.
Among Mexican monocot mycoheterotrophics, Corallorhiza (7) and Hexalectris (8), both Orchidaceae, does not occut in Brazil Federation. Brazil Federationian genera Campylosiphon, Hexapterella, Arachnitis, Triuridopis, Miersiella, Thismia, Peltophyllum, Sciaphila, Soridium, Platythelys, Uleiorchis, Pogoniopsis and Wullscglaegelia does not occur in Mexico. In Eudicots, Mexican Pterospora (1), Pyrola (1) and Sarcodes (1) does not occur in Brazil Federation. Brazil Federationian Voyriella does not occur in Mexico.
Mexico includes the tallest members in New World of Euphorbia (Taxon) and Ericaceae (lacks sources), and in Neotropics in Apiaceae (Revista de Biologia Tropical), and the unique record of isophasic parasitism in Phoradendron (Acta Botanica Mexicana). Aristolochia arborea Linden is the most arborescent species of this genus (Angios Bergianska), known from Mexico to Colombia (POWO).
5. ENDEMISMS
Mexican endemic genera in families without endemic genera in Brazil Federation includes 12 families, namely Boraginaceae, Campanulaceae, Caricaceae, Crossossomataceae, Iteaceae, Oleaceae, Onagraceae, Polemoniaceae, Polygonaceae, Rosaceae, Setchellanthaceae and Zygophyllaceae (four, in bold, does not occur in Brazil Federation; excludes, due to recent changes or over range, Cyperaceae, Papaveraceae and Verbenaceae); counterpart list includes 40 families, Amaranthaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Anisophylleaceae, Araceae, Arecaceae, Asparagaceae, Balanophoraceae, Bignoniaceae, Brassicaeae, Capparaceae, Cleomaceae, Clusiaceae, Connaraceae, Convolvulaceae, Costaceae, Ehretiaceae, Ericaceae, Humiriaceae, Iridaceae, Lamiaceae, Linderniaceae, Lythraceae, Martyniaceae, Melastomataceae, Menispermaceae, Monimiaceae, Myrtaceae, Muntigiaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Ochnaceae, Olacaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Plantaginaceae, Polygalaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rhamnaceae, Salicaceae, Sapotaceae, Solanaceae, Trigoniaceae and Violaceae.
6. SPECIFIC GROUPS
Mexico has 162 spp. of Fagales in 11 genera at 5 families, 137 in Quercus, also in Fagus (1), Alfaroa (3), Carya (5), Juglans (5), Oreomunnea (1), Alnus (4), Carpinus (1), Ostrya (1), Morella (3), and Ticodendron (1).
Mexico has 86 conifers (3th diversity worldwide), 58 in Pinaceae (47 Pinus, 2 Picea, 9 Abies), 24 of Cupressaceae (one Calocedrus, 4 Hesperocyparis, 18 Juniperus, one Taxodium), one Taxaceae (Taxus) and 3 Podocarpaceae (all Podocarpus) - c. 6/7 pines, firs or junipers, 12 remaining in six genera at 4 families.
New World has 134 spp. of cycads (WCSPF) in Ceratozamia (36, 35 in Mexico, one of them up to Guatemala and Belize, and one endemic to Honduras, by Martínez-Domínguez, Phytotaxa, 2022), Dioon (18, 17 in Mexico and one endemic to Honduras), Microcycas (1, W. Cuba), Zamia (80, SE. U.S.A., Mexico to trop. America). Mexico has 68 spp. in three genera (a half of New World diversity), 63 endemics, the 2th diversity of cycads worldwide.
Mexico has 214 spp. of Brassicaceae in 43 genera.
Mexican Ranunculaceae: Aconitum (1), Anemone (3), Aquilegia (6), Clematis (15), Delphinium (20), Myosurus (2), Ranunculus (22), Thalictrum (28).
Remarkable plants in Mexico includes Mexipedium (Orchidaceae, SEE).
7. COMPARATION FAMILY-BY-FAMILY, IN COMMON FAMILIES
MEXICO MORE GENERA AND ...
.. MEXICO MORE SPECIES
Ranunculaceae, Papaveraceae, Zygophyllaceae, Surianaceae, Rosaceae, Betulaceae, Juglandaceae, Onagraceae, Cistacae, Brassicaceae, Polygonaceae, Achatocarpaceae, Montiaceae, Saxifragaceae, Hydrangeaceae, Polemoniaceae, Boraginaceae, Namaceae, Hydrophyllaceae, Ehretiaceae, Orobanchaceae, Phrymaceae, Apiaceae.
.. EQUAL SPECIES
None.... BRAZIL MORE SPECIES
Celastracae [six more genera], Urticaceae [3 more genera], Cucurbitaceae [4 more genera], Caricaceae [4 more genera], Scrophulariaceae [3 more genera], Plantaginaceae [3 more genera], Campanulaceae [3 more genera].
BRAZIL MORE GENERA AND ...
... BRAZIL MORE SPECIES
Myristicaceae, Annonaceae, Lauraceae, Monimiaceae, Piperaceae, Burmanniaceae, Araceae, Hydrocharitaceae, Triuridaceae, Cyclanthaceae, Alstroemeriaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Iridaceae, Orchidaceae, Areaceae, Commelinaceae, Haemodoraceae, Costaceae, Marantaceae, Xyridaceae, Eriocaulaceae, Cyperaceae, Juncaceae, Menispermaceae, Sabiaceae, Proteaceae, Haloragaceae, Dilleniaceae, Connaraceae, Cunoniaceae, Elaeocarpaceae, Apodanthaceae, Rhamnaceae, Cannabaceae, Clusiaceae, Rhizophoraceae, Ochnaceae, Podostemaceae, Trigoniaceae, Achariaceae, Dichapetalaceae, Picrodendraceae, Lacistemaceae, Chrysobalanaceae, Malpighiaceae, Violaceae, Passifloraceae, Salicaceae, Peraceae, Phyllanthaceae, Linaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Polygalaceae, Moraceae, Anacardiaceae, Burseraceae, Sapindaceae, Meliaceae, Rutaceae, Simaroubaceae, Picramniaceae, Combretaceae, Lythraceae, Vochysiaceae, Myrtaceae, Melastomataceae, Thymelaeaceae, Malvaceae, Capparaceae, Petiveriaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Marcgraviaceae, Sapotaceae, Ebenaceae, Symplocaceae, Lectythidaceae, Styracaceae, Primulaceae, Ximeniaceae, Erythropalaceae, Balanophoraceae, Aizoaceae, Basellaceae, Amaranthaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Schoepfiaceae, Loranthaceae, Santalaceae, Clethraceae, Ericaceae, Loasaceae, Metteniusaceae, Icacinaceae, Convolvulaceae, Solanaceae, Rubiaceae, Loganiaceae, Gentianaceae, Apocynaceae, Gesneriaceae, Linderniaceae, Bignoniaceae, Schlegeliaceae, Lamiaceae, Acanthaceae, Verbenaceae, Martyniaceae, Asteraceae, Araliaceae.
... EQUAL SPECIES
None.... MEXICO MORE SPECIES
Cactaceae (genera: BR 71 ✕ 58 MX).
EQUAL GENERA AND...
... MEXICO MORE SPECIES
Staphylleaceae.... BRAZIL MORE SPECIES
Cabombaceae, Nymphaeaceae, Chloranthaceae, Magnoliaceae, Hernandiaceae, Siparunaceae, Canellaceae, Winteraceae, Aristolochiaceae, Potamogetonaceae, Alismataceae, Dioscoreaceae, Smilacaceae, Hypoxidaceae, Pontederiaceae, Heliconiaceae, Zingiberaceae, Cannaceae, Mayacaceae, Gunneraceae, Berberidaceae, Buxaceae, Grossulariaceae, Vitaceae, Krameriaceae, Brunelliaceae, Oxalidaceae, Ulmaceae, Fagaceae, Erythroxylaceae, Putranjivaceae, Hypericaceae, Begoniaceae, Tropaeolaceae, Cleomaceae, Droseraceae, Plumbaginaceae, Phytolacaceae, Geraniaceae, Bixacae, Frankeniaceae, Molluginaceae, Talinaceae, Portulacaceae, Theaceae, Actinidiaceae, Pentaphyllacaceae, Opiliaceae, Heliotropiaceae, Cordiaceae, Gelsemiaceae, Oleaceae, Calceolariaceae, Lentibulariaceae, Aquifoliaceae, Phyllonomaceae, Caprifoliaceae, Viburnaceae.... EQUAL SPECIES
Ruppiaceae, Cymodoceaceae, Juncaginaceae, Typhaceae, Ceratophyllaceae, Coriariaceae, Elatinaceae, Myricaceae, Tovariaceae, Tapisciaceae, Dipentodontaceae, Mutingiaceae, Bataceae, Hydroleaceae, Cornaceae, Cyrillaceae, Menyanthaceae.
8. NOTES BY ORDER AND FAMILY
Here we list the families in which Mexico has genera absent in Brazil Federation, or notable diversities worthy of mention. In purple, families absents in Brazilian Federation.
AUSTROBAYLEIALES
SCHISANDRACEAE ‣ Illicium floridanum J. Ellis and Schisandra glabra (Brickell) Rehder in Mexico.
PIPERALES
SAURURACEAE ‣ Anemopsis californica (Nutt.) Hook. & Arn. and Saururus cernuus L. in Mexico.
ALISMATALES
HYDROCHARITACEAE ‣ Vallisneria in Mexico.
ZOSTERACEAE ‣ Phyllospadix scouleri Hook., P. torreyi S. Watson and Zostera marina L. in Mexico.
LILIALES
MELANTHIACEAE ‣ 4/36.
LILIACEAE ‣ 4/27.
ASPARAGALES
IRIDACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazlian Nemastylis [✕ Neomarica].
ASPARAGACEAE (38/470) ‣ data from POWO (21.08.23).
Agavoideae (8/288) - Agave (221), Beschorneria (8), Furcraea (15), Hesperaloe (7), Hesperocallis (1), Hesperoyucca (1), Hooveria (1), Yucca (34).
Anthericoideae (1/70) - Echeandia (70).Asparagaceae (1/5) - Hemiphylacus (5).Ruscaceae (6/75) - Beaucarnea (12), Dasylirion (23), Dracaena (1), Maianthemum (11), Nolina (27), Polygnonatum (1).Themidaceae (12/32) - Bessera (3), Bloomeria (2), Brodiaea (3), Dandya (1), Dipterostemon (1), Jaimehintonia (1), Milla (10), Muilla (1), Petronymphe (2), Triteleia (2), Triteleiopsis (1), Xochiquetzallia (5).
POALES
CYPERACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Scirpoides, Amphiscirpus [✕ Trilepis, Phylloscirpus].
POACEAE ‣ Puellioidea no occur in New World. Mexico leads in generic and specific diversity in Pooideae, Arundionoideae and Chloridiodeae. 148 genera in country, only 22 outside South America, 4 endemics: Olmeca, Metcalfia, Hopia and Sohnsia.
BAMBUSOIDEAE - (11/)59 spp. in Mexico. All genera occur in Brazil Federation except two in Guiaduinae, Otatea and Olmeca (5, endemic).
POOIDEAE - Mexico has (33/)211 spp.; all genera occur in South America except Hesperostipa, Achnatherum, Metcalfia, Pseudoroegneria, Sphenopholis and Limnodea; largest diversities: Festuca (33), Agrostis (20), Bromus (20), Poa (17), Trisetum (13), Achnantherum (18), Calamagrostis (11).
ARISTIDOIDEAE - (1/)31 spp. in Mexico, (1/)37 in Brazil Federation.
PANICOIDEAE - (58/)424 spp. in Mexico; largest diversities: Paspalum (90), Panicum (37), Digitaria (24), Setaria (23), Dichanthelium (17), Andropogon (14), Cenchrus (17), Urochloa (13), Lasiascis (13), Tripsacum (12). Only 4 genera does not occur in South America: Chasmanthium, Aakia, Hopia and Zea.
ARUNDINOIDEAE - Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. in Mexico.
MICRAIROIDEAE - a single New World genus, 3 spp. in Mexico, 4 in Brazil Federation.
DANTHONIOIDEAE - (1/)3 spp. in Mexico, (2/)8 spp. in Brazil Federation.
CHLORIDOIDEAE - (35/)314 spp.; largests are Muhlenbergia (131), Bouteloua (53), Sporobolus (34), Eragrostis (32), Hilaria (10), Leptochloa (10). All genera occur in South America except Allolepis, Hilaria, Kalinia, Sohnsia, Orcuttia, Tuctoria, Tetrapogon, Dinebra, Dasyochloa, Tridentopsis and Triplasis.
RANUNCULALES
PAPAVERACEAE ‣ 10/44 spp. in Mexico.
MENISPERMACEAE ‣ Mexico has Cocculus [✕ Borismene].
RANUNCULACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Aconitum, Aquileja, Delphinium.
PROTEALES
NELUMBONACEAE (1/1).
PLATANACEAE (1/5) .
SAXIFRAGALES
PAEONIACEAE (1/1).
ALTINGIACEAE (1/1).
HAMAMELIDACEAE ‣ 3/3
CRASSULACEAE ‣ Mexico has 5 spp. of Crassula and 384 of Sedum.
ITEACEAE (1/1)
SAXIFRAGACEAE ‣ 4/20.
ZYGOPHYLLALES
ZYGOPHYLLACEAE ‣ Mexico includes unbrazilian Guaiacum, Morkillia, Sericodes and Viscainoa [✕ Bulnesia, Gonopterodendron, Porlieria].
CELASTRALES
CELASTRACEAE ‣ Mexico includes unbrazilian Acanthothamnus, Canotia, Elaeodendron, Euonymus, Gyminda, Mortonia, Orthosphenia, Parnassia, Paxistima, Quetzalia, Rzedowskia, Wimmeria [✕ Goniodiscus, Peritassa, Anthodon, Hylenaea, Fraunhofera, Plenckia].
MALPIGHIALES
SALICACEAE ‣ Mexico has Hasseltiopsis [✕ Macrothumia].
ACHARIACEAE ‣ Mexico has Chiangiodendron [✕ Kuhlmaniodendron].
EUPHORBIACEAE
Acalyphoideae ▸ Plukenettae - Mexico has unbrazilian Acidocroton, Zuckertia [✕ Bia, Astrococcus].
Acalyphoideae ▸ Chrozophoreae - Mexico has unbrazilian Argythamnia [✕ Phylira].
Euphorbioideae▸ Hippomaneae - Mexico has unbrazilian Dalembertia [✕ Colliguaja].
PHYLLANTHACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Phyllanthopsis [✕ Gonatogyne]
LINACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Hesperolinon [✕ Cliococca].
FABALES
FABACEAE ‣ Mexico has 57 genera absent in Brazil Federation.
Cercidioideae ▸ Cercis.Faboideae ▸ Cladrastidoids clade - Pickeringia.Faboideae ▸ Dipterygeae (17/c 80) - Myrospermum [✕ Petaladenium].Faboideae ▸ Genistoideae - Brongniartia.Faboideae ▸ Dalbergioideae - Amorpha, Apoplanesia, Chapmannia, Diphysa, Errazurizia, Eysenhardtia, Marina, Psorothamnus.Faboideae ▸ Phaseoloideae - Hesperothamnus, Hoita, Hylodesmum, Lespedeza, Orbexilum, Oxyrhynchus, Pediomelum, Ramirezella, Rupertia.Faboideae ▸ Robinieae - Genistidium, Lennea, Olneya, Peteria, Robinia.Faboideae ▸ Dermatophylleae - Dermatophyllum.FaboideaeE ▸ Loteae- Acmispon, Hosackia.Faboideae ▸ Glycyrrhizeae - Glycyrrhiza.Caesalpinioidae▸ Dimorphandra clade A - ConzattiaCaesalpinioideae ▸ Caesalpinioideae - Coulteria, Haematoxylum.Caesalpiniideae ▸ Mimoseae - Calliandropsis, Ebenopsis, Havardia, Guinetia, Lysiloma, Mariosousa, Painteria, Prosopidastrum, Pseudosamanea, Sphinga, Strombocarpa.Caesalpinioideae ▸ Schizolobieae - Heteroflorum.
POLYGALACEAE ‣ Mexico has Rhinotropis [✕ Caamembeca].
SURIANACEAE ‣ Mexico has Recchia.
ROSALES
ROSACEAE ‣ 193 spp. Mexico includes Adenostoma, Amelanchier, Cercocarpus, Chamaebatia, Crataegus, Drymocallis, Fallugia, Fragaria, Heteromeles, Horkelia, Ivesia, Lindleya, Malacomeles, Petrophytum, Photinia, Physocarpus, Purshia, Rosa, Vauquelinia, Xerospiraea [✕ Kageneckia, Hesperomeles].
RHAMNACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Adolphia [✕ Colletia], Krugiodendron [✕ Scutia], Ventia [✕ Rhamnidium].
URTICACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Discocnide, Gyrotaenia, Hesperocnide [✕ NONE].
CUCURBITALES
CUCURBITACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Cionosicyos, Doyerea, Ibervillea, Marah, Microsechium, Parasicyos, Peponopsis, Polyclathra, Schizocarpum, Sechiopsis, Sicyosperma, Tecunumania, Tumamoca [✕ Anisosperma, Calycophysum, Ceratosanthes, Cucurbitella, Helmontia, Melothrianthus, Pteropepon, Siolmatra, Wilbrandia].
DATISCACEAE (1/1).
FAGALES
JUGLANDACEAE ‣ 4/14
TICODENDRACEAE ‣ one sp. in Mexico.
BETULACEAE ‣ 4/6.
MYRTALES
ONAGRACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Camissoniopsis, Chylismia, Eremothera, Eulobus, Gayaphyton, Hauya, Lopezia, Megacorax, Tetrapteron, Xylonagra [✕ NONE].
CROSSOSSOMATALES
CROSSOSSOMATACEAE ‣ 3/5
GUAMATELACEAE (1/1).
SAPINDALES
ANACARDIACAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Actinocheita, Amphipterygium, Attilaea, Bonetiella, Comocladia, Cotinus, Cyrtocarpa, Malosma, Metopium, Mosquitoxylum, Pachycormus, Pseudosmodingium, Toxicodendron [✕ Apterokarpos, Haplorhus, Myracrodruon, Ochoterenaea, Antrocaryon, Tumultivenia, Uniostium, Campnosperma, Anacardium, Lithrea, Loxopterygium, Orthopterygium, Schinus, Schinopsis, Thyrsodium, Mauria].
MALVALES
CISTACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Helianthemum and Lechea.
CYTINACEAE (1/1).
MALVACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Allowissadula, Bastardiastrum, Batesimalva, Bernoullia, Billieturnera, Callirhoe, Carpodiptera, Chiranthodendron, Dendrosida, Dirhamphis, Eremalche, Fremontodendron, Fryxellia, Fuertesimalva, Hampea, Hermannia, Horsfordia, Kearnemalvastrum, Malacothamnus, Meximalva, Neobrittonia, Periptera, Phymosia, Physodium, Reevesia, Robinsonella, Sidalcea, Trichospermum.
BRASSICALES
CARICACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Carica, Horovotzia, Jarilla (all composed a uniquelly monopyletic lineage).
SETCHELLANTHACEAE (1/1).
KOEBERLINIACEAE (1/1).
RESEDACEAE (2/10).
CLEOMACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Iltisella, Cleomella, Polanisia [✕ Dactylaena, Haptocarpum, Podandrogyne].
BRASSICACEAE ‣ Mexico has 212 spp. in this family in 42 genera, 31 in Thelypodieae, Cardamineae, Physareae and Halimolobeae, all South Americam groups. Mexican advantages or unbrazilian genera in two subfamilies:
BRASSICEAE (15/61)
Thelypodieae (13/56) - Chaunanthus (4), Dryopetalon (9), Hesperidanthus (1), Mostacillastrum (8), Phravenia (1), Romanschulzia (10), Sibara (3), Stanleya (1), Streptanthella (7), Streptanthus (6), Thelypodiopsis (1), Thelypodium (1), Thysanocarpus (4).
CAMELINODEAE (23/134)
Cardamineae (6/27) - Cardamine (9), Nasturtium (1), Ornithocarpa (2), Planodes (2), Rorippa (11), Selenia (2).Lepidieae (1/19) - Lepidium (19).Boechereae (1/5) - Boechera (5)Descurainieae (2/10) - Descurainia (9), Tropidocarpum (1).Physarieae (7/41) - Dimorphocarpa (3), Dithyrea (1), Lyrocarpa (3), Nerisyrenia (7), Paysonia (2), Physaria (23), Synthlipsis (2).Erysimeae (1/6) - Erysimum (6)Halimolobeae (5/26) - Exhalimolobos (5), Halimolobos (7), Mancoa (5), Pennellia (5), Sphaerocardamum (4)..
SANTALALES
SANTALACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Comandra [✕ Thesium].
CARYOPHYLLALES
POLYGONACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Antigonon, Bistorta, Centrostegia, Chorizanthe, Eriogonum, Gymnopodium, Harfordia, Lastarriaea, Nemacaulis, Neomillspaughia, Pterostegia and Sidotheca [✕ Symmeria, Magoniella, Salta].
SIMMONDSIACEAE [1/1].
CARYOPHYLLACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Achyronychia, Cerdia, Loeflingia, Scopulophila (Polycarpaeae), Minuartia (Sagineae), Eremogone (1, Eremogoneae), Sabulina, Triplateia [✕ Pycnophyllum, Pycnophyllopsis, Polycarpon].
ACHATOCARPACEAE ‣ Mexico has Phaulothamnus.
AMARANTHACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Corispermum (Coryspermoideae), Aphanisma (Betoideae), Nitrophila (Polycneoideae), Cycloloma (CHN/Dysphanieae), Blitum (CHN/Anserineae), Krascheninnikovia (CHN/Axyrieae), Allenrolfea (Salicorneae), Lagrezia, Gossypianthus, Tidestromia (Amaranthoideae)[✕ Mangleticornia, Heterostachys, Xerosiphon Quaternella, Pseudoplantago, Pedersenia, Hebanthodes, Froelichiella, Lecosia, Hebstia].
STEGNOSPERMATACEAE [1/3]
SARCOBATACEAE [1/1].
NYCTAGINACEAE ‣ Mexico has Anulocaulis, Cryptocarpus, Cyphomeris, Grajalesia, Okenia, Pisoniella, Salpianthus, Tripterocalyx [✕ Andradea, Lucaster, Ramisia, Reichenbachia, Cyrtocarpus, Colignonia, Belemia, Bougainvillea].
MONTIACEAE [8/33, POWO]
ANACAMPSEROTACEAE [1/1].
CACTACEAE ‣ Mexico no has Leuenbergerioideae, Maihuenioideae, Blossfeldioideae and Notocacteae. Overall, Mexico has 58 genera. Apart Cacteae and Opuntia, Mexico has (31/)188 spp. and Brazil Federation (41/)287 spp.
Mexican advantages or unbrazilian genera:
Cactoideae/Cacteae: (26/)423 spp.; tribe absent in Brazil Federation.
Cactoideae/Phyllocateae (23/117) - Aporocactus (2), Deamia (3), Disocactus (9), Epiphyllum (7) and Selenicereus (19) in Hylocereinae; (17/)76 spp. outside Hylocereinae. Brazil Federation has 5 spp. in Hylocereinae and 14 spp. outside Hylocereinae (in Frailea and Strophocactus).
NYSSACEAE (1/1)
HYDRANGEACEAE ‣ 6/36
LOASACEAE ‣ Mexico has Cevallia, Petalonyx [✕ Aosa, Caiophora].
ERICALES
BALSAMINACEAE (1/1) .
POLEMONIACEAE ‣ 22/105 spp. in Mexico.
FOUQUIERIACEAE ‣ 1/11
PRIMULACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Dodecatheon, Synardisia [✕ Geissanthus, Clavija, Hymenandra].
MITRASTEMONACEAE (1/1).
ERICACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Arbutus, Arctostaphylos, Chimaphila, Comarostaphylis, Leucothoe, Lyonia, Ornithostaphylos, Orthilia, Pterospora, Pyrola, Sarcodes, Xylococcus [✕ Ledothamnus, Anthopterus, Ceratostema, Demosthenesia, Diogenesia, Disterigma, Oreanthes, Pellegrinia, Psammisia, Semiramisia, Siphonandra, Themistoclesia, Thibaudia].
GARRYALES
GARRYACEAE ‣ 1/9
GENTIANALES
RUBIACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Balmea, Berghesia, Blepharidium, Bouvardia, Carterella, Cosmocalyx, Coutaportla, Crusea, Didymaea, Donnellyanthus, Eizia, Erithalis, Ernodea, Exostema, Glossostipula, Habroneuron, Hintonia, Houstonia, Martensianthus, Mexotis, Mitchella, Nernstia, Oldenlandiopsis, Omiltemia, Pinarophyllon, Pittoniotis, Placocarpa, Plocaniophyllon, Pseudomiltemia, Rachicallis, Rogiera, Rovaeanthus, Solenandra, Stenaria, Stenotis, Steyermarkia, Strumpfia, Stylosiphonia, Syringantha, Tessiera [✕ Pagameopsis, Ciliosemina, Cinchonopsis, Ladenbergia, Maguireocharis, Remijia, Isertia, Kerianthera, Uncaria, Patima, Adolphoduckea, Salzmannia, Gleasonia, Henriquezia, Molopanthera, Platycarpum, Chalepophyllum, Dendrosipanea, Limnosipanea, Maguireothamnus, Neblinathamnus, Neobertiera, Sipanea, Sipaneopsis, Bathysa, Bothriospora, Capirona, Chimarrhis, Condaminea, Dialypetalanthus, Amphidasya, Ronabea, Peramea, Bradea, Hindsia, Standleya, Anthospermopsis, Carajasia, Denscantia, Diadorimia, Carapichea].
GENTIANACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Eustoma, Frasera, Geniostemon, Gentianopsis, Gyrandra, Lisianthius, Sabatia [✕ Hockinia, Saccifolium, Voyriella, Deianira, Symphyllophyton, Potalia, Helia, Prepusa].
APOCYNACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Allotoonia, Alstonia, Amsonia, Bruceholstia, Cameraria, Cascabela, Dictyanthus, Fernaldia, Haplophyton, Metalepis, Pentalinon, Pherotrichis, Pinochia, Polystemma, Prosthecidiscus, Thenardia, Thoreauea, Thyrsanthella, Tintinnabularia, Vulcano [✕ Aspidosperma, Geissospermum, Microplumeria, Laxoplumeria, Couma, Hancornia, Lacmellea, Parahancornia, Pacouria, Ambelania, Molongum, Pentascyphus, Monsanima, Scyphostelma, Barjonia, Blepharodon, Hemipogon, Hypolobus, Minaria, Morilloa, Nautonia].
SOLANALES
SOLANACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Brachistus, Capsicophysalis, Cataracta, Chamaesaracha, Datura, Hunzikeria, Jaltomata, Nectouxia, Plowmania, Quincula, Salpiglossis, Schraderanthus, Schultesianthus, Tzeltalia [✕ Duckeodendron, Metternichia, Protoschwenckia, Sessea, Streptosolen, Brunfelsia, Fabiana, Leptoglossis, Petunia, Heteranthia, Melananthus, Jaborosa, Nolana, Exodeconus, Nicandra, Dyssochroma, Hawkesiophyton, Markea, Trianaea, Brugmansia, Salpichroa, Cuatresia, Athenaea, Deprea, Dunalia, Eriolarynx, Saracha, Vassobia, Darcyanthus].
BORAGINALES
BORAGINACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Amphibologyne, Eremocarya, Greeneocharis, Harpagonella, Lappula, Mertensia, Oncaglossum, Oreocarya, Simpsonanthus [✕ Moritzia, Thaumatocaryon].
HYDROPHYLLACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Emmenanthe (1), Eucrypta (2), Hesperochiron (1), Nemophila (3) and Pholistoma (3) [✕ ..].
NAMACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Eriodictyon (4), Turricula (1) and Wigandia (1).
EHRETIACEAE ‣ Mexico (5/32) has unbrazilian Bourreria, Lennoa and Pholisma [✕ Keraunea, Ehretia]. Brazil has (4/)20 spp.
LAMIALES
PLOCOSPERMATACEAE (1/1).
OLEACEAE ‣ Cartrema (1), Hesperelaea (1) [✕ Priogymnanthus , Schrebera].
TETRACHONDRACEAE (1/1).
PETENAEACEAE (1/1).
GESNERIACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Achimenes, Alsobia, Amalophyllon, Eucodonia, Eucodonia, Moussonia, Neomortonia, Niphaea, Oerstedina, Smithiantha and Solenophora [✕ Peltanthera, Sanango, Cremosperma, Reldia, Anethanthus, Tylopsacals, Chautemsia, Gloxinella, Goyazia, Mandirola, Codonanthes, Lesia].
PLANTAGINACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Collinsia, Epixiphium, Gambelia, Hippuris, Keckiella, Lophospermum, Mabrya, Maurandella, Mohavea, Neogaerrhinum, Penstemon, Pseudorontium, Rhodochiton, Sairocarpus, Schistophragma, Synthyris, Tetranema, Uroskinnera [✕ Basistemon, Ildefonsia, Ourisia, Darcya, Chodaphyton, Lapaea, Philcoxia, Tetraulacium, Geochorda, Dyzigostemon, Matourea, Umbraria, Anamaria, Galverzia, Aragoa].
SCROPHULARIACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Eremogeton, Leucophyllum and Scrophularia [✕ NONE].
VERBENACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Rehdera and Xolocotzia [✕ Recordia, Casselia].
MARTYNIACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Martynia [✕ Ibicella].
BIGNONIACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Astianthus, Chilopsis, Roseodendron [✕ Paratecoma, Cybistax, Delostoma, Argylia].
ACANTHACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Anisacanthus, Aphanosperma, Barleria, Blechum, Bravaisia, Carlowrightia, Chalarothyrsus, Chileranthemum, Gypsacanthus, Henrya, Holographis, Hoverdenia, Louteridium, Mexacanthus, Mirandea, Spathacanthus, Yeatesia [✕ Aymoreana, Aphanandrium, Sanchezia, Suessenguthia, Trichosanchezia, Tessmanniacanthus, Chamaeranthemum, Pranceacanthus, Herpetacanthus, Pulchranthus, Sebastianoschaueria, Fittonia, Pachystachys, Schaueria, Cephalacanthus, Clistax, Harpochilus].
LAMIACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Acanthomintha, Agastache, Asterohyptis, Mentha, Monarda, Monardella, Physostegia, Pogogyne, Poliomintha, Tetraclea, Trichostema, Warnockia [✕ Eriopidion, Eriothymus, Glechon, Hesperozygis, Hoehnea, Hoehnea, Minthostachys, Rhabdocaulon, Catoferia, Cyanocephalus, Eplingiella, Eriope].
PHRYMACEAE ‣ 7/48 [✕ NONE].
OROBANCHACEAE ‣ Mexico has unbrazilian Aureolaria, Brachystigma, Chloropyron, Clevelandia, Conopholis, Cordylanthus, Dicranostegia, Epifagus, Kopsiopsis, Ophiocephalus, Seymeria, Silviella [✕ Magdalenaea, Notochilus, Physocalyx, Velosiella, Euphrasia, Neobartsia, Esterhazya].
ASTERALES
CAMPANULACEAE ‣ Mexico includes unbrazilian Calcaratolobelia, Campanula, Diastatea, Downingia, Githopsis, Heterotoma, Nemacladus, Palmerella, Pseudonemacladus, Wimmeranthus [✕ ..].
ASTERACEAE ‣ Mexico includes 383 genera (59 endemics) and 3,244 native species of Asteraceae, the largest amount of genera in a same family worldwide. Brazil Federation has only 2,102 spp. in 271 genera. However, three subfamilies present in Brazil Federation are absents in Mexico: Barbadesioideae, Stifftioideae, and Wunderlichioideae. Five other restricted subfamilies also are absents in Mexico: Famathinanthoideae (Argentina), Corymbioideae (South Africa), Hecastocleidoideae (SW U.S.A.), Pertyoideae (Asia) and Gymnarrhenoideae (Mediteranean region). Mexico includes only 5 subfamilies. The huge bulk of the advantage of Mexico against Brazil Federation in Asteraceae resides in Asteroideae + Cichorieae + Cirsium/Plectocephalus. Mexico has 59 endemic genera.
Brazil Federation: 271 + 116 = 387 ⨉ Mexico: 383.
Cichorioideae ▸ 4 tribes occur in New World, Moquinieae endemic to Brazil Federation, and three widely distributeds.
Cichorieae ▸ Mexico includes (17/)73 spp., Brazil Federation only (5/)41. One endemic mexican genus: Marshalljohnstonia. Emblematic unbrazilian mexican genera: Lactuca and Crepis.
Asteroideae ▸ Mexico has (335/)2,900 spp. in this subfamily, and Brazil Federation has only (185/)1,464. This subfamily includes 22 lineages, 6 does not occur neither Mexico or Brazil Federation: Abrotanellinae, Doroniceae, Calenduleae, Athroismeae, Feddeae and Polymnieae. Among mexican genera, 334 are assignated in any lineage below, one (Bathysanthus) is unplaced. Mexico has 55 endemic genera in this subfamily (inc. Bathysanthus), Brazil Federation only 40.
Inuleae - no relevant Mexican unbrazilian taxa.
Eupatorieae - no relevant Mexican unbrazilian taxa.
Senecioneae - no relevant Mexican unbrazilian taxa.
Gnaphalieae - no relevant Mexican unbrazilian taxa.
Neurolaeneae - (4/)21 spp. in Mexico, (3/)+92 spp. in Brazil Federation. Greenmaniella endemic to Mexico.
Chaenactidae and Madieae occur in Mexico but non in Brazil Federation; the former includes (1/)9 spp. in Mexico, and the former (15/)37 spp. Two mexican endemics: Baeriopsis and Adenothamnus.
Anthemideae - (3/)15 spp. in Mexico (inc. the holartic Achillea millefolium L., 13 Artemisia, one Soliva), (1/)3 in Brazil Federation.
Perityleae - (8/)55 spp. in Mexico (39 only in Perityle), (3/)7 in Brazil Federation. Two mexican endemics: Nesothamnus and Eutetras.
Millerieae - Mexico has (25/)185 spp. (104 in Melampodium, Tridax, Sabazia and Guardiola), Brazil Federation only (15/)15-100 spp. 5 mexican endemics: Dyscritothamnus, Faxonia, Zandera, Stenocarpha, Axiniphyllum.
Bahieae - Mexico includes (13/)50 spp., Brazil Federation (2/)2 spp. Two mexican endemics, Chaetymenia and Loxothysanus.
Helenieae - (11/)43 spp. in Mexico, only (3/)4 spp. in Brazil Federation. One mexican endemic, Pelucha.
Tageteae - Mexico has (27/)175 spp., Brazil Federation only (7/)41 spp. 11 mexican endemics: Arnicastrum, Coulterella, Bajacalia, Boeberoides, Boeberastrum, Gymnolaena, Hydropectis, Leucactinia, Strotheria, Urbinella, Oxypappus.
Coreopsidinae - (13/)192 spp. in Mexico, only (8/)81 spp. in Brazil Federation, both with a endemic genus (Goldamanella and Staurochlamys, respectively).
Heliantheae - (76/)698 spp. in Mexico, only (43/)225-600 spp. in Brazil Federation. 13 mexican endemics: Calanticaria, Chromolepis, Damnxanthodium, Davilanthus, Dugesia, Gonzalezia, Hybridella, Iostephane, Perymeniopsis, Plagiolophus, Tehuana, Trichocoryne, Vigethia.
Astereae - Mexico has (50/)437 spp., Brazil Federation only (17-48/)227-400. 7 mexican endemics: Aztecaster, Aquilula, Batopilasia, Stephanodoria, Tomentaurum, Sanrobertia, Geissolepis.
APIALES
APIACEAE ‣ Mexico has (40/)233 spp., unbrazilian genera:
Apioideae/Oenatheae: Berula (1, Africa, temp. Northern Hemisphere to Mexico), Cicuta (2, temp. Northern Hemisphere), Neogoezia (5, Mexico), Oenanthe (1) [✕ ..].
Apioideae/Rivasmartinezia clade: Conioselinum (1, N. America, temp. Eurasia), Ligusticum (2, temp. Northern Hemisphere to N. Mexico), Villarrealia (1, Mexico) [✕ ..].
Apioideae/Scandiceae: Chaerophyllum (2), Yabea (1, W. Canada to NW. Mexico) [✕ ..].
Apioideae/Selineae: Angelica L. (2, temp. Northern Hemisphere), Apiastrum (1, SW U.S.A. to NW Mexico), Arracacia (34, Mexico to Bolivia), Coaxana (2, S. Mexico to Guatemala), Coulterophytum (4, W Mexico), Cymopterus (3), Dahliaphyllum (1, SW Mexico), Donnellsmithia (19, Mexico to W Venezuela), Enantiophylla (1, C. America), Lomatium (5), Mathiasella (1), Musineon (1, WC. & C. Canada to N. Mexico), Myrrhidendron (1, SE. Mexico to Ecuador), Neonelsonia (1, S Mexico to Guatemala, W South America to Venezuela), Ottoa (1), Prionosciadium (23), Rhodosciadium (15), Spermolepis (5, Hawaiian Is., U.S.A. to N. & E. Mexico, Argentina), Tauschia (25), Vesper (1, W. & C U.S.A. to NW Mexico) [✕ ..].
INDEX
Avalon includes 6,191 spp. in 539 genera at 126 families, 5,215 endemics (0.8423 in endemics).
1. NYMPHAEALES ‣ two families in New World, both in Avalon.
1.1 CABOMBACEAE ‣ Genera/species 2/6 Distribution tropical, subtropical and temperate parts of North, Central America and South America, Caribbean, Africa, China (inc. Taiwan), Korean Peninsula, Japan, Manchuria, northern India, and NE and SE Australia Habit Bisexual, perennial herbs. Aquatic, with rhizome and usually floating stem; submersed organs of Brasenia covered by a gelatinous layer (absent in Cabomba); leaves of Brasenia isomorphous (monomorphous), in Cabomba anisomorphous (dimorphous).
Brasenia Schrb. Herbs, rhizomes horizontal, producing upright shoots with alternate, oval, peltate leaves. Only one sp., B. schreberi J.F.Gmel., a wind pollinated species with reduced flowers, distributed in Africa, temp. & subtrop. Asia, E Australia, Canada to Costa Rica, Caribbean, Avalon, Colombia, Guyana, Venezuela (Merida, Tachira, Trujillo, Zulia) and French Guiana, in ponds, lakes, and slow-flowing rivers and streams, and cultivated for its edible shoots.
1.2 NYMPHAEACEAE ‣ Genera/species 6/70–90 Distribution Nuphar: North America, Europe, E Asia; Barclaya: SE Asia, Malesia; Nymphaea almost cosmopolitan; Ondinea: northern W Australia; Victoria: northern and central South America; Euryale: northern India, China, Japan. Habit Bisexual, usually perennial (rarely annual) herbs. Aquatic. Usually with rhizome or tuberous stem (some species of Nymphaea stoloniferous). Two genera in Avalon.
Nuphar Smith. Herbs perennial; rhizomes repent, branched; leaves dimorphic, either floating with thick leathery blades and long petioles or submersed with thin, papery blades and short petioles; leaf blade ovate to elliptic, venation primarily pinnate, base cordate, margin entire, not peltate. 15 spp., Arctic up to Mexico, Cuba (8 in New World), Argelia, Syria, Iran and S China, only one in Avalon, N. advena (Aiton) W.T.Aiton, also widely from Canada to Cuba.
Nuphar advena (Aiton) W.T.Aiton in natural habitats in Avalon
Nymphaea L. Herbaceous, rhizomatous perennials; leaves mostly floating. 68 spp., cosmopolitan, 30 in New World; six subgenera, Anecpjya (9, Australia), Confluentes (7, tropical areas of Australasia) and Lotus (4, Africa, Philippines and in a hot springs in Romania and Hungary) absent in New World, and three in this Hemisphere. Only two species in Avalon, both disjunct for North America, in subg. Nymphaea, a entity absent in mainland South America: N. odorata Aiton (also in Central & E Canada to Nicaragua, Bahamas, Cuba) and N. mexicana Zucc. (also in Oklahoma to SE U.S.A. and Mexico).
Nymphaea mexicana Zucc. in natural habitat in Avalon
Nymphaea odorata Aiton in natural habitat in Avalon
2. CHLORANTHALES ‣ a single family worldwide.
2.1 CHLORANTHACEAE ‣ Genera/species 4/78 Distribution Madagascar (Ascarina), tropical Himalaya, South, E and SE Asia, Borneo, New Guinea, Melanesia to Marquesas Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, New Caledonia, North Island of New Zealand, tropical America. Habit Bisexual (Chloranthus, Sarcandra), monoecious or dioecious (Ascarina, Hedyosmum), evergreen trees or shrubs, or perennial herbs (sometimes woody at base, rarely annual). Aromatic. Only one genus in New World.
Hedyosmum Sw. Evergreen trees (2-30 m tall) and scandent shrubs, all parts strongly aromatic; leaves simple; staminate inflorescence in dioecious species axillary or terminal, 1 to several spikes, axis racemose or paniculate; in monoecious species solitary spikes on pistillate inflorescence axis or within a cymules (along with pistillate flowers); pistillate inflorescence axillary or terminal, cymules, spikes, racemes or panicles; bracts present; staminate flowers basic, 60-300 flowers per spike, without perianth; pistillate flowers simple, perianth lobes 0.5-3mm, free at the base or partially to completely united forming a small tube, adnate to the ovary; fruit a drupe, fleshy, aromatic and brightly coloured; seed 1 per fruit, small, brown or black smooth or minutely papillate, endosperm well developed, oily. 46 spp., Mexico to Cono Sur and West Indies, with H. orientales Merrill & Chun in China and SE Asia. 5 spp. in Avalon, H. bonplandianum Kunth (also from C America to Ecuador), H. mexicanum C.Cordem. (also rom Mexico to NW Colombia) and three endemics.
3. MAGNOLIALES
All five Hedyosmum from Avalon
3.1 MYRISTICACEAE ‣ Genera/species 21/ c. 640 Distribution pantropical, with the largest diversity in tropical Asia. Habit usually dioecious (rarely monoecious), usually evergreen (rarely deciduous) trees (rarely shrubs or lianas). Often aromatic. All Myristicaceae are woody, medium sized trees, seldom shrubs in South America Virola and lianas in a Old World genera. None genus occur in more of one continent: five genera in Asia, five genera in New World and eight in Africa and Madagascar. Only two genera and 15 spp., 11 endemics
Otoba (A. DC.) Karsten. Trees dioecious; flowers ebracteolate; usually has glaucous leaves on the lower surface; stamens are few (3(-4)), the anthers free of the column (or basally adnate); fruits are globose to ellipsoid; aril is white and laciniate. 14 spp., mainly in northern South America but six in Avalon (O. acuminata (Standl.) A.H.Gentry, O. gracilipes (A.C.Sm.) A.H.Gentry, O. novogranatensis Moldenke, all also from Nicaragua to NW Venezuela and Ecuador, and four endemics), two up to Central America.
All seven Otoba from Avalon
Compsoneura (A. DC.) Warb. Trees dioecious; flowers ebracteolate; inflorescences 1-2 in leaf axills; reddish latex; differs from all the other Neotropical genera by having the tertiary venation close-parallel and perpendicular to the midrib; it is also unique in having its seed-coat black or purple patterned; stamens are few to many (4-10), the anthers adnate to column or free, fruits are ellipsoid, and the aril is red or white and entire (rarely laciniate). 26 spp. from Mexico and Central America to northern South America, 8 in Avalon (C. mexicana (Hemsl.) Janovec also from S Mexico to Central America, and remaining endemics). A unnamed species from W Colombia has the largest fruit in ths genus.
All eight Compsoneura from Avalon
3.2 MAGNOLIACEAE ‣ Genera/species 2/360 Distribution S India, Sri Lanka, E Himalaya, Assam, E Asia to Korean Peninsula and Japan, SE Asia, Malesia, New Guinea, New Britain, SE North America, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, scattered areas in northern and central South America from Colombia to S Brazil. Habit usually bisexual (in Magnolia sect. Kmeria monoecious), evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs. Only one genus in South America.
Magnolia L. Evergreen trees (up to 30 m tall) or shrubs, occasionally with indumentum of simple hairs; leaves alternate, spirally arranged, simple, petiolate, entire; flowers terminal, solitary, large deciduous ensheathing bracts leaving scars, actinomorphic, hermaphrodite, very rarely unisexual, showy, pedicellate; tepals numerous, petaloid, free, primarily spirally arranged in groups of three, sometimes outer whorl sepaloid; fruit follicles, woody, dehiscent; seed one or two, red fleshy exotesta, funicle long. 207 spp. in New World, 71 in South America, in Mexican (25), Brazil Federation (4), Caribbean, Bolivia, Avalon (67), Colombia (41), Ecuador (21), Guianas, Peru and Venezuela; three sections in New World.
A. sect. Talauma ‣ 138 spp. in four subsections (including all 113 South America species):
A1. subsect. Talauma ‣ 89 spp. from 20° N in W and E Mexico and the Caribbean to 24º S beyond the Tropic of Capricorn in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil Federation, in tropical rainforests from near sea level to circa 2,800 m, including 75 spp. in South America, 30 of them endemic to Avalon.
7 of 30 Magnolia sect. Talauma subsec. Talauma in Avalon
A2. subsect. Cubenses ‣ 10 spp. in the Antillean mountains.
A3. subsect. Chocotalauma ‣ 9 spp., 3 spp. in Ecuador and Colombia each, and 4 in Avalon.
All Magnolia sect. Talauma subsect. Chocotalauma in Avalon
A4. subsect. Dugandiodendron ‣ 34 spp., Andes from Colombia to Peru, and the Guiana Shield in Venezuela, and 12 endemics to Avalon.
5 of 12 Magnolia sect. Talauma subsect. Dugandiodendron in Avalon
B. sect. Macrophylla ‣ 11 spp., 5 from SE U.S.A. and NE Mexico, and six endemics to Avalon.
All Magnolia sect. Macrophylla in Avalon
C. sect. Magnolia ‣ 43 spp., usually at middle elevations in the mountains of Mexico (13) and Central America and only two species of the SE U.S.A., one of them also occurring in Cuba, and 16 endemics to Avalon.
7 of 16 Magnolia sect. Talauma subsect. Chocotalauma in Avalon
3.3 ANNONACEAE ‣ Genera/species 108/c 2,200–2,400 Habit usually bisexual (sometimes dioecious, rarely monoecious), evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs or lianas. Often aromatic. None sp. is a truly herbaceous or annual.
Tribe Miliuseae (29/490-495) in New World is represented only by Sapranthinae subtribe, with three genera, Desmopsis Saff., Tridimeris Baill. and Stenanona Standl., the first also in Cuba and Avalon.
Desmopsis Saff. Trees or shrubs with simple hairs; flowers bisexual, few flowered. 20 spp., 13 from Mexico to Panamá, two of then up to Colombia, 5 in Avalon (all endemics), one endemic to Colombia, and one endemic to Cuba.
4. LAURALES
All five Desmopsis species from Avalon
4.1 LAURACEAE ‣ Genera/species 56/2,500–3,500. Distribution Tropical and subtropical regions, with the largest diversity in SE Asia and tropical America, and some genera in warm-temperate areas. Habit Bisexual, monoecious, polygamomonoecious or dioecious, usually evergreen (rarely deciduous) trees or shrubs, all woody (except Cassytha). Aromatic. Cassytha consists of parasitic, climbing herbs with more or less photosynthesizing stems. A few spp. are subscandent. A single genus in Avalon.
Andea van der Werff. Ocotea-like shrubs and trees; 35 spp., Colombia (14, 7 endemics), Avalon (10, all endemics), Ecuador (9), continental Brazil (6, 3 endemics), Venezuela (3) and Costa Rica (1, shared with Colombia).
9 of 10 Andea in Avalon
4.2 HERNANDIACEAE ‣ Genera /species 4/c. 60 Distribution Hernandioideae: pantropical, with the largest diversity in Madagascar and in SE Asia and Malesia; Gyrocarpoideae: tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in coastal areas and also on oceanic islands: E and S India, Sri Lanka, Indochina, parts of Malesia, northern Australia, with the highest diversity in Central America and South America. Habit bisexual, monoecious, andromonoecious, polygamomonoecious, or dioecious, evergreen trees, shrubs or lianas. All aromatic. Two genera in Avalon.
Gyrocarpus Jacq. Dioecious trees; leaves entire or 3-5 lobed; inflorescence axillary, dichasial, ebracteate; flowers polygamous, with 4-8 tepals, stamens 4-5 with dorsal appendages, fruits with two large wings (samaroid). 4-5 spp. worldwide, three in Mexico, Central America and Avalon, with G. americanus Jacq. reaching into Colombia and Venezuela.
Hernandia L. Evergreen monoecious trees with simple leaves; thyrses with long penduncles and 3-flowered cymes with 2 male and 1 female flower, male flowers with 3-5 stamens with basal appendages, fruits subtended by bracteoles or a cupule formed by them (nucular). 25 spp. of mainly evergreen, forest trees; 10 are neotropical, and half of these are restricted in Caribbean; 4 reaches in South America. Three spp. in Avalon, H. didymantha Donn.Sm, H. stenura Standl., H. wendtii Espejo, all also in mainland from Mexico to Colombia.
5. PIPERALES
5.1 PIPERACEAE ‣ Genera/species 5/c 3,600 Distribution pantropical: Central America and the Caribbean to Argentina, Central Africa to Madagascar, southern India and Sri Lanka, southern China to E Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand, islands in the Pacific. Habit bisexual, monoecious or dioecious, evergreen trees, shrubs or lianas, erect or climbing, usually perennial (in Peperomia sometimes annual) herbs (Peperomia often epiphytes), often succulent, often with articulated stems and swollen nodes. Aromatic and with sharp (peppery) taste. CAM physiology present in many species of Peperomia. Only two species collected in Avalon.
Piper L. Shrubs, subshrubs, lianas, occasionally subherbaceous or small trees with nodose stems; leaves alternate, gland-dotted, petiole usually present; venation palmate or pinnate; inflorescence a solitary spike or raceme (subg. Ottonia) leaf-opposed or terminal, erect, pendent or recurved, fruit in depression of the rachis or stipitate sometimes laterally compressed, glabrous or with trichomes. c. 2,100 spp., pantropical, mainly in the New World (1,922), followed by SE Asia (300), 15 in Africa. Only two spp. in Avalon, P. cinereum C.DC. (also Panama to Venezuela and Ecuador) and P. auritum Kunth (also from Mexico to Guianas and Ecuador).
6. ALISMATALES
6.1 ARACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. c 120/4,000 Distribution Mainly tropical but also subtropical regions, and approx. ten genera in temperate regions in the Northern Hemisphere. Habit Bisexual, monoecious (often with female flowers in lower part of inflorescence and male flowers in middle and upper parts), andromonoecious, gynomonoecious, polygamomonoecious, dioecious, or gynodioecious, usually perennial (rarely annual) herbs (some are giant herbs, whereas others are extremely small [e.g. Wolffia]), often epiphytic or climbing with stem or roots (rarely suffrutices).
In the aquatic Lemnoideae, leaves are absent and the stem is reduced to a usually flat thalloid floating structure with or without roots on the lower side. Some genera have a starchy stem tuber (e.g. in Lasioideae and Aroideae). Many representatives are aquatic (e.g. Pistia) or hygrophilous. Turions are formed in, e.g., Spirodela, Wolffia and some spp. of Lemna.
188 spp. in Avalon in three genera (all endemics).
POTHOIDEAE
Anthurium Schott. Stem creeping to erect, sometimes root climber; blade entire linear to cordate, and any others formats; usually true epiphyte or climbing hemiepiphyte, less often lithophyte (many E Brazil species grws in exposed rocks) or terrestrial; stem aerial, not tuberous or rhizomatous. 1,518 spp., Mexico to Argentina, 1,332 in South America, 805 in Brazil Federation (648 endemics, 17 in several states are rare plants in Brazil Federation, by Plantas Raras do Brasil’s book), 411 in Colombia, 162 in Avalon (all endemics), from humid to dry tropical lowland to lower montane forests, normaly epiphytic or climbing hemi-epiphytic, also terrestrial, lithophytic or rarely rheophytic. 19 sections.
73 species in living photos below.
MONSTEROIDEAE
Stenospermation Schott. Herbs sometimes true epiphytic, sometimes very large tank-like; shots usually shorts; leaf blade entire, epiphytic or on the ground. 72 spp. from Guatemala to SE Brazil Federation, 48 in South America, centered to Amazon rainforest, 22 in Avalon, all endemics.
AROIDEAE
Philodendron Schott. Climbing hemiepiphytes, true epiphytes or terrestrial herbs (some arborescent) with petiolar sheath much reduced; if petiolar sheath well-developed then plants climbing; leaf blades highly variable – ranging from linear-lanceolate to complexly bipinnatifid. 518 spp., throughout Neotropics, 457 in South America, 26 in Avalon, all endemics.
Six endemics Philodendron from Avalon
6.2 ALISMATACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 15/c 90 Distribution almost cosmopolitan, with the highest diversity in North and South America. Habit usually bisexual (sometimes unisexual: in Sagittaria monoecious or polygamomonoecious, in Limnophyton polygamomonoecious, in Burnatia dioecious), usually perennial (rarely annual) herbs. Aquatic or helophytic. Tuberous stem, corm or stolons sometimes present. Two species in Avalon.
Sagittaria Rupp. ex L. Herbs perennial or rarely annual, submersed, emerse or floating leaves; inflorescence erect, floating or submersed, flowers imperfect. 29 spp. occurring in the New World.; 10 in South America; two spp. in Avalon, S. subulata (L.) Buchenau and S. intermedia Micheli, both also from Mexico/North America to NW South America.
Sagittaria intermedia Micheli in Avalon
6.3 CYMODOCEACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 5/16 Distribution in particular tropical and subtropical coastal marine areas; some spp. in warm-temperate seas (around Australia, in Mediterranean). Habit Monoecious or dioecious, perennial herbs. Marine. Submersed. Rhizome in Cymodocea, Halodule and Syringodium herbaceous, monopodially branched, in Amphibolis and Thalassodendron lignified, sympodially branched.
Syringodium Kutz. Rhizome monopodially branched, herbaceous seagrasses; leaf blade terete. Two spp., S. isoetifolium (Asch.) Dandy in the Indo-West Pacific up to Avalon, and S. filiforme Kütz. from U.S.A. to Venezuela, Caribbean, common in Colombia coasts forming vast meadows.
Syringodium isoetifolium (Asch.) Dandy in W Avalon
6.4 HYDROCHARITACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 17/110–115 Distribution mainly in tropical and subtropical but also temperate regions: North America, Eurasia, Australia, coastal marine areas in the Caribbean, and the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. Habit usually monoecious, polygamomonoecious, or dioecious (sometimes bisexual), usually perennial (sometimes annual) herbs. Aquatic, often submersed. Some genera are growing in salt or brackish water. Roots usually unbranched (in Najas fibrous). Stems monomorphic, dimorphic or polymorphic. 17 genera, three marine. All submersed herbs in many forms of growth. Centres of diversity is Asia (for species) and Africa (for genera). A single species in Avalon.
Thalassia Banks ex König. Marine herbs, leaves uniforme, submerged, long but strait; marine perennials dioecious. Two spp., T. hemprichii (Solms) Aschers. in Indo-Pacific Ocean up to Avalon, and T. testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K.D.Koenig in to the salt waters of the Caribbean from Florida to Caribbean, Colombia and Venezuela.
Thalassia hemprichii (Solms) Aschers. in SE Avalon
JUNCAGINACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 3/35 Distribution cold-temperate regions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Habit bisexual, monoecious or polygamomonoecious (in Tetroncium dioecious), usually perennial (rarely annual) herbs. Aquatic or helophytic, in fresh or brackish water.
Triglochin L. Emersed perennial, annual or perennial ‘‘grass-like’’ herbs, occasionally tuberous; stems short, leaves few, characterised by sheathing leaves with ligules or auricles and spike-like inflorescences. c. 24 spp., cosmopolitan, five spp. native to the coastal marshes of the New World, one in Bolivia and Cono Sur; two scattered of Northern Hemisphere and W South America (inc. T. mexicana Kunth from Avalon), and remaining two spp. in Brazil Federation, both widely distributed in New World.
Triglochin mexicana Kunth in NE Avalon
7.1 CYCLANTHACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 12/228. Distribution tropical Central and South America, Caribbean. Habit monoecious, perennial herbs, suffrutices or lianas. Some spp. are epiphytes. The family is endemic to the Neotropics; all spp. are native, and a few spp. are also cultivated; leaves bifid. Use Ornamental plants, textile plants, carpets, thatching, basketry, handicraft, medicinal plants (Asplundia).
Asplundia Harling. Roots climbing lianas or perennial herbs, with short to long stems. 100 spp., S Mexico to Bolivia and SE Brazil Federation, and the Lesser Antilles. Three spp. in Avalon, A. alata Harling (also in Costa Rica to Peru), A. euryspatha Harling (also in Costa Rica to Panama), and A. utilis (Oerst.) Harling (also in Mexico (Veracruz, Oaxaca) to Ecuador).
Types of Asplundia alata Harling, A. euryspatha Harling, and A. utilis (Oerst.) Harling in Avalon
Dicranopygium Harling. Usually small to medium sized terrestrial herbs, with more or less short, fleshy stem. 68 spp. of S Mexico to S Peru and French Guiana, and the Lesser Antilles. 24 spp. in Avalon, 15 endemics.
14 of the 15 avalonian endemic Dicranopigyum's
Sphaeradenia Harling. Medium-sized to tall terrestrial or epiphytic herbs, rarely vines. 79 spp., S Nicaragua to W Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil and Avalon (28 spp., all endemics).
7 of the 28 avalonian endemic Sphaeradenia's
8.1 ALSTROEMERIACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 4/240 Distribution Neotropics to Tierra del Fuego, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand. Habit Bisexual, perennial (in Alstroemeria rarely annual) herbs, often with more or less lignified stem. Twining, climbing or epiphytic. Only one genus and 3 spp. in Avalon.
Bomarea Mirb. Stems twining, erect or procubent, leafy. Inflorescences pendulous or nodose. 114 spp., 10 exclusively from Mesoamerica (Mexico only 2), three from Central America to Ecuador, the last also in Caribbean, and 100 only in South America; four subgenera, one in Avalon, subg. Baccata, with 3 spp., all from country: B. diffracta Baker (also in Colombia), B. bracteolata Gereau (also in Panama) and B. carderi Mast. (also in Panamá to Ecuador); large twining lianas, up to 10 m long, growing in lowland and montane forests.
Bomarea diffracta Baker, B. bracteolata Gereau and B. carderi Mast.
9.1 ORCHIDACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 704/22,000–23,000 Distribution cosmopolitan except polar regions, with the highest diversity in tropical and subtropical Asia and tropical Central and South America. Habit herbs or rarely vines, perennial, rarely annual, some fully strongly mycotrophic, epiphytic, terrestrial, lithophytic, or rarely aquatic or subterranean, usually green and photosynthetic, some without chlorophyll and holomycotrophs. Many spp. have rhizome, root tubers or tuberous stem. Numerous spp. (c. 70%) are epiphytes, often with internodes modified into swollen water-storing pseudobulbs, often with contractile aerial roots covered with a thick layer of dead water-absorbing tissue, velamen, formed from epidermis; other spp. are climbing. Some genera consist of achlorophyllous holoendoparasites on fungi (intracellular modified ectomycorrhiza with mostly basidiomycetes).
(77/)1,455 spp. in Avalon, 1,343 endemics.
VANILLOIDEAE (2/10)
Duckeela [5]
Epistephium [5]ORCHIDIOIDEAE (9/127)Aa [2]
Cranichis [40]
Coccineorchis [6]
Gomphichis [23]
Microchilus [32]
Myrosmodes [4]
Ponthieva [5]
Pterichis [8]
Pseudocentrum [7]
EPIDENDROIDEAE (66/1,318)Palmorchis [2]Elleanthus [27]
Sertifera [10]
Sobralia [33]Monophyllorchis [5]Corymborkis [5]Crossoglossa [22]Calanthe [1]Clowesia [2]
Dressleria [2]Caucaea [7]
Cischweinfia [6]
Cyrtochilum [17]
Eloyella [2]
Leochilus [2]
Miltoniopsis [3].
Oncidium [60]
Ornithocephalus [2]
Otoglossum [14]
Solenidium [3]
Telipogon [18]
Trichopilia [4]Batemannia [2]
Benzingia [2]
Chondroscaphe [5]
Cochleanthes [2]
Huntleya [15]
Kefersteinia [3]
Pescatoria [20]
Warczewiczella [4]Eriopsis [3]
Anguloa [6]
Lycaste [8]Acineta [8]
Gongora [11]
Houlletia [4]
Paphinia [8]
Polycycnis [7]
Schlimia [2]
Sievekingia [7]Govenia [6]Bletia [7]Jaqcuiniela [2]
Laelia [6]
Nidema [3]
Scaphyglottis [15]
Andinia [22]
Andreetteaea [13]
Diodonopsis [7]
Draconanthes [3]
Dracula [75]
Dresslerella [3]
Lepanthes [278]
Lepanthopsis [7]
Platystele [34]
Pleurothallopsis [14]
Porroglossum [5]
Restrepia [24]
Restrepiella [3]
Scaphosepalum [16]
Specklinia [15]
Stelis [367]
Teagueia [4]
Trichosalpinx [10]
Trisetella [2]
Zootrophion [8]
9.2 HYPOXIDACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 5/161 Distribution Africa, Mascarene Islands, Seychelles, tropical and subtropical regions in Asia northwards to E Himalaya, SW China and Japan, New Guinea, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, E U.S.A. to Caribbean and South America southwards to Uruguay, with the largest diversity in South Africa. Habit Usually bisexual (in Curculigo rarely unisexual), perennial herbs. Tuberous rhizome or corm.
Hypoxis L. Small to medium-sized robust plants with aerial flower scape and dry fruit. 90 spp., pantropical, 28 in New World, 10 in Avalon (H. humilis Kunth also in EC. & S. Mexico to Argentina, remaining endemics), 4 spp. in South America.
9.3 IRIDACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 69/c 1.750 Distribution tropical, subtropical and temperate regions in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres, with the largest diversity in S Africa, the eastern Mediterranean area, SW and E Asia, and parts of Central and South America. Habit bisexual, usually perennial (some spp. of Sisyrinchium annual) herbs (Klattia, Nivenia and Witsenia are suffruticose with a more or less lignified stem base). Usually with a rhizome (often tuberous) or a tunicated corm (with basal innovation; rarely bulb). Geosiris aphylla Baill. in Madagascar is an achlorophyllous mycotrophic holoparasite with scale-like membranous leaves. Several genera in South America.
Iris L. Herbs perennial, usually with short or long rhizomes (or bulbs), sometimes with swollen storage roots. Leaves mostly basal, 2-ranked, often oriented edgewise to aerial stem, sword-shaped to linear. 321 spp., from Arctic to Mexico, Lybia, Yemen, India, Malaysia and Philippines, one species also in Avalon.
9.4 AMARYLLIDACEAE ‣ Genera/species 71/700–820 Distribution Tropical and subtropical regions in the N and S Hemispheres northwards to W Europe and eastwards to E Asia, with the largest diversity in South America, Mediterranean area and S Africa. Habit Bisexual, perennial or biennial herbs. Usually with a bulb surrounded by membranous scales (rarely a bulb-like corm; in Tulbaghia a tuberous rhizome) rich in polysaccharides (in Clivia, Cryptostephanus and Scadoxus corm or rhizome). Rarely epiphytic or aquatic. Often with a strong characteristic odour (‘onion smell’). New bulb developing in axile of uppermost leaf. Three subfamilies, only two genera occur in Avalon.
Allium L. 1,063 spp., Arctic to Honduras, Avalon (32, all endemics), Somalia, Sri Lanka, Vietnan, with outliers in southern Africa..
Nine endemic species of Allium in Avalon
Hymenocallis Salisb. Herbs, leaves annual or persistent, white fragrant flowers, crateriform, actinomorphic, fragrant, white. 91 spp., mainly center Mexico (33, 31 endemics) and Avalon (30, all endemics), from Caribbean to Peru and Amazon rainforest of Brazil Federation, also in coastal mangroves; only 10 up to South America.
ASPARAGACEAE - absent in Avalon.
Hymenocallis adelostoma Meerow & Radagast, endemic to open places in Faralon islands
10. ARECALES
ARECACEAE ‣ Genera/species 182/c 2.440 Distribution chiefly pantropical, some species in subtropical regions and a few species in warm-temperate areas. Habit usually monoecious, polygamomonoecious or dioecious; male and female flowers isomorphic or heteromorphic (sometimes bisexual); evergreen, woody (trees, shrubs or lianas), usually with monopodial growth (rarely branched). Roots or leaflets sometimes modified into spines (spine roots). Aerial roots (stilt roots, prop roots or pneumatophores) present in many species. Nypa consists of mangrove plants. Hyphaene has dichotomous branching.
(10/)115 spp. in Avalon (109 endemics).
CORYPHOIDEAE/TRACHYCARPEAE
Acoelorraphe H.L.Wendl. Moderate, clustered, leaves briefly costapalmate. Only one sp., A. wrightii (Griseb. & H. Wendl.) H. Wendl. ex Becc., in S. Florida, Caribbean, Mexico to Colombia and Avalon.
Acoelorraphe wrightii (Griseb. & H.Wendl.) H.Wendl. ex Becc. in W Avalon
CORYPHOIDEAE/SABALEAE
Sabal Adans. 25 spp. in C U.S.A. to Panamá, Caribbean, Avalon (10, all endemics), with S. mauritiiformis (H. Karst.) Griseb. & H. Wendl. also in northern coasts of Colombia and Venezuela.
CORYPHOIDEAE/TRIBE CRYOSOPHILEAE
Coccothrinax Sarg. Slender to moderate palms with leaves unarmed and petiole base not cleft. 54 spp. in Caribbean Basin, incl. Florida, Mexico and Central America, two up to South America in Colombia and Venezuela, and two endemics to Avalon; most species rich fan-leaved genus in Neotropics, largely restricted to Caribbean islands and Central America.
Cryosophila Blume. Solitary palms, hermaphroditic; stem bearing root spine; leaves palmate, sheaths splitting basally; flowers solitary. 8 spp., six from Mexico to Panamá, one also in Avalon, one endemics to Colombia, one endemic to Avalon, and one in Colombia and Panamá.
ARECOIDEAE/GEONOMATEAE
Asterogyne H.Wendl. ex Benth. & Hook.f. Small to medium-sized, solitary, unarmed, pleonanthic, monoecious palm; stem smooth, brown to brownish cream, erect, sometimes basally decumbent, occasionally with basal and/or lateral vegetative branches, unarmed; inflorescence interfoliar, solitary, branched to one order, rarely spicate or forked, erect at anthesis, becoming pendente in fruit, protandrous. 5 spp., A. martiana (H.Wendl.) H.Wendl. ex Hemsl. from Belize to Ecuador and Avalon, three endemics to Venezuela, and one endemic to a single locality in the E French Guiana.
Calyptrogyne H.Wendl. 9 spp., 7 from Mexico to Panamá (one in Avalon), one from Central America and Colombia, another endemic to Colombia.
ARECOIDEAE/CHAMAEDOREEAE
Chamaedorea Willd. Small, erect, procubent, climbing, or acaulescent, solitary, or clustered; most species rich palm genus in the Neotropics, most diverse in Central America, mostly slender understorey dioecious palms, pinnate- or entire-leaved, with flowers solitary (not in clusters) on the inflorescence branches. 166 spp., most species rich palm genus in the Neotropics, most diverse in Avalon (62, all endemics), Central America and Mexico (51, 20 endemics); only 16 species in South America, three in Brazil Federation, none endemics, absent in Guianas and Caribbean; the smallest leaves of palms are the C. tenella W. Endl. and C. tuerckheimii (Dammer) Burret, both Mexico (Veracruz, Oaxaca) to Honduras, wiht blades sometimes less 15 cm long.
ARECOIDEAE/REINHARDTIEAE
Reinhardtia Liebm. 10 spp., Mexico, Central America and Caribbean, Avalon (4, all endemics), three of then from Mexico or Central America to NW Colombia.
ARECOIDEAE/TRIBE ROYSTONEEAE
Roystonea O.F.Cook. 13 spp., 7 endemic to Caribbean, 3 endemics to Avalon, one only in Mesoamerica, one in Florida to Central America and Caribbean, and R. oleracea (Jacq.) O.F. Cook, from Lesser Antilles to NE Colombia and Venezuela.
ARECOIDAE/COCOSEAE
Aiphanes Willd. Solitary or caespitose, acaulescent to erect. 66 spp. from Costa Rica to Amazon rainforest of Bolivia and W Brazil Federation and Caribbean, 35 in South America (one restricted for Caribbean), mainly Colombia (29, 18 endemics) and Avalon (30, all endemics).
11.1 TYPHACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 2/625 Distribution Typha (42) is cosmopolitan except polar areas, although most frequent in the Northern Hemisphere; Sparganium (20), is distributed in extratropical parts of the Northern Hemisphere, 1-2 spp. occurring in SE Asia, New Guinea, SE Australia, and New Zealand. Habit monoecious, perennial herbs. Aquatic or helophytic. Rhizome rich in starch. One genus in Kimmachia.
Sparganium L. 20 spp., temperate and arctic regions, one or two species in SE Asia, Malesia, New Guinea, Australia, the S Hemisphere south to New Zealand; 9 spp. in New World, one in South America, S. americanum Nutt., C. & E. Canada to C. & E. U.S.A., Mexico (Sinaloa, Durango), disjunct in Colombia and Avalon.
Sparganium americanum Nutt. in s shadow at western Avalon
BROMELIACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 76/3,492 Distribution tropical and subtropical regions of America from Virginia in the U.S.A. to Patagonia in South America; one sp. of Pitcairnia in tropical West Africa. A few spp. are found on islands in the Pacific (Racinaea insularis (Mez) M.A.Spencer & L.B.Sm. of the Galápagos Islands, and Greigia berteroi Skottsb. and Ochagavia elegans Phil. of the Juan Fernandez Islands, in Chile).
TILLANDSIOIDEAE/CATOPSIDINAECatopsis [5, all endemics]TILLANDSIOIDEAE/TILLANDSIEAEGuzmania [52, all endemics]Wallisia [13, all endemics]TILLANDSIOIDEAE/VRIESEAEWerauhia [17, all endemics]BROMELIOIDEAE/GREIGIA CLADEGreigia [14, all endemics]BROMELIOIDEAE/CORE BROMELIOIDAERonnbegia [6, all endemics]
CYPERACEAE ‣ Genera/species 94/5,300–5,500 Distribution cosmopolitan, with their largest diversity in cold and temperate regions. Habit usually bisexual or monoecious (rarely andromonoecious, gynomonoecious, dioecious, androdioecious or gynodioecious; unisexual flowers sometimes in bisexual pseudanthia), usually perennial (sometimes annual) herbs (rarely shrubs, lianas or epiphytes; Microdracoides consists of small trees). Graminids. Some species have bulb-like or tuberous swollen internodes or stem bases. A few species possess stilt roots. Fimbristylis fusca xeromorphic, with adventitious roots (with well developed velamen) running down along envelope formed by persistent leaf bases.
Abildgaardia Vahl, Enum. Pl. Obs. 2: 296 (1805). Tropics & Subtropics. [1]Bolboschoenus (Asch.) Palla in W.D.J.Koch, Syn. Deut. Schweiz. Fl., ed. 3: 2531 (1905). Cosmopolitan. [1]Bulbostylis Kunth, Enum. Pl. 2: 205 (1837), nom. cons. Trop. & Subtrop. to C. Asia. [6]Carex L., Sp. Pl.: 972 (1753). Cosmopolitan. [5]Cladium P.Browne, Civ. Nat. Hist. Jamaica: 114 (1756). Cosmopolitan. [1]Cyperus L., Sp. Pl.: 44 (1753). Cosmopolitan. [31, 6 endemics]Diplacrum R.Br., Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland.: 241 (1810). Tropics & Subtropics. [1]Eleocharis R.Br. [16, 2 endemics]Fimbristylis Vahl. [9]Fuirena Rottb. [7]Lagenocarpus Nees. [2]Machaerina Vahl. [4, 1 endemic]Rhynchospora Vahl. [42, 22 endemics]Schoenoplectus (Rchb.) Palla. [2]Schoenus L. [1]
JUNCACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 7/440-450 Distribution cosmopolitan, with their highest diversity in cold and temperate regions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Habit usually bisexual (rarely monoecious, dioecious or gynodioecious), usually perennial (sometimes annual) herbs. Graminids. Many spp. are aquatic or hygrophytic. Culm terete or flattened in cross-section, smooth or with longitudinal ridges and furrows.
Juncus L. Herbs, perennials and rhizomatous or occasionally annual, mainly halophytes; leaves spiral, fully glabrous; inflorescence few-to-many flowered, separate or congested in headlike clusters. c. 250-275 (up to 315 in some autors) spp., cosmopolitan; 137 spp. in New World, six endemics to Avalon, 47 in South America.
All six endemic Juncus from Avalon
POACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 793/c. 12,074; Distribution cosmopolitan including polar areas. Habit usually bisexual (sometimes monoecious, andromonoecious, gynomonocious, polygamomonoecious, dioecious, androdioecious, or gynodioecious), usually perennial, biennial or annual herbs (sometimes woody, up to c. 40 m tall). Graminids. Sometimes helophytes, rarely aquatic. Numerous spp. are xerophytes. Culm terete to elliptic in cross-section, usually with hollow (fistulose; sometimes medullated solid) internodes and solid swollen nodes.
PHAROIDEAE
Pharus P.Browne 8 spp., Mexico to Argentina, Florida and Caribbean, 7 in South America; most spp. are widely distributed, although there are two, P. ecuadoricus Judz. in Ecuador, P. olorica Zuloaga & Radagast in Avalon (unique in island), and P. vittatus Lem. in Mesoamerica and Colombia, that are more geographically restricted.
BAMBUSOIDEAE
Arthrostylidium [8, 4 endemics]
Chusquea Kunth. 193 spp., from Mexico to South America (153), making the largest genus of bamboos, centered in central and N Andes from Colombia to Peru (c. 87), C and SE Brazil (53), and Mexico, and Central America (35); the genus has 15 spp. in southern South America, and single disjunct spp. each in the Caribbean (C. abietifolia Griseb.), the Juan Fernandez Islands in the S Pacific Ocean (C. fernandeziana Phil.), and southern Venezuela and the Guiana Shield (C. linearis N.E.BR.). C. striatifolia L.G.Clark. & Radagast, the unique species from Avalon, leaf blades can reach 3–4 m in length, the largest leaves known in the grass family.
Chusquea striatifolia L.G.Clark. & Radagast under dense forst of El Dorado region
Lithachne P.Beauv. Trop. & Subtrop. America [2, one endemic]
Olyra L. [1]
EHRETIOIDEAE
Leersia Sw. Annual or perennial, rhizomatous, stoloniferous or ceaspitose herbs; hermaphroditic spikelets. 21 spp., 7 in the New World, widely distributed; three in South America, and only one (endemic) in Avalon.
Luziola Juss. [3]
Oryza L. [1]
PACCMAD
Acroceras [1]
Andropogon [12, one endemic]
Anthenantia P.Beauv., Trop. & Subtrop. America [1]
Anthephora Schreb., Mexico to Trop. America, Africa to Iran [1]
Aristida [22, 10 endemic]
Arthropogon [1]
Arundinella [3]
Axonopus [4, one endemic]
Bothriochloa [1]
Bouteloua [6]
Cenchrus [8, one endemic]
Chaetium [1, one endemic]
Chloris [8, one endemic]
Chrysopogon [1]
Coleataenia Griseb., New World [6, two endemics]
Cyphonanthus Zuloaga & Morrone, Central America to Guianas, Cuba [1]
Dichanthelium (Hitchc. & Chase) Gould, New World, Hawaiian Is [22]
Diectomis Kunth Tropics & Subtropics [1]
Digitaria [10, two endemics]
Dinebra Jacq., tropics & subtropics to U.S.A. [1]
Diplachne P.Beauv. [1]
Distichlis [2]
Echinochloa [2]
Eragrostis [8]
Erianthus [1]
Eriochloa [2, one endemic]
Eustachys [1]
Gouinia [2, one endemic]
Gynerium [1]
Heteropogon Pers., SC Europe to trop. & subtrop. [1]
Homolepis Chase [1]
Hymenachne P.Beauv. [3]
Ichnanthus P.Beauv. [2]
Imperata Cirillo [2]
Isachne R.Br. [3, one endemic]
Ixophorus Schltdl., Mexico to Colombia, Caribbean [1]
Lasiacis (Griseb.) Hitchc. [7, one endemic]
Leptochloa P.Beauv. America, S. Indo-China to Australia [3]
Louisiella C.E.Hubb. & J.Léonard [1]
Mesosetum Steud. Mexico to Trop. America [2]
Muhlenbergia Schreb. Afghanistan to Russian Far East and Trop. Asia, America [2]
Oedochloa C.Silva & R.P.Oliveira [1]
Oplismenus P.Beauv. [2]
Panicum L. [18]
Pappophorum Schreb. [1]
Paratheria Griseb. [1]
Paspalum L. [56, 10 endemics]
Rottboellia L.f. [2]
Rugoloa [2]
Sacciolepis Nash [3]
Schizachyrium Nees [7, 3 endemics]
Setaria P.Beauv. [14]
Sorghastrum Nash [1]
Sporobolus R.Br. [9]
Stapfochloa H.Scholz [1]
Steinchisma Raf. [2]
Stenotaphrum Trin. [1]
Trachypogon Nees [2]
Trichanthecium [2]
Triplasiella [1]
Tripogonella P.M.Peterson & Romasch. [1]
Tripsacum L. [1]
Uniola L. SE. U.S.A. to C. America, Caribbean, Venezuela to W. South America [2]
Urochloa P.Beauv. Tropics & Subtropics [6]
Zeugites P.Browne. Mexico to Bolivia, Caribbean [1].
12.1 COMMELINACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 36/650–660; Distribution tropical and subtropical regions, with the largest diversity in Africa, South Asia, Mexico and northern Central America; some spp. in temperate E Asia, E and S North America and Australia. Habit usually bisexual (often monoecious or andromonoecious, rarely polygamomonoecious), usually perennial (rarely annual) herbs. Usually somewhat succulent, sometimes twining, very rarely epiphytic. Bulb rarely present. Nodes swollen.
Cochliostema Lem. Tank or creeping epiphytes, unique among New World Commelinaceae, rarely terrestrial; inflorescence axillary thyrses with cincinni subtended by large, colored bracts; flowers zygomorphic, fragrant. Two spp. from forests of Costa Rica to Ecuador and Colombia (one endemic), and Avalon .
Cochliostema odoratissimum Lem. var. kimmachiana growing in northern Kimmachia
Commelina L. Perennial or annual herbs; roots usually fibrous; inflorescence terminal or leaf-opposed, composed of 1-2 cincinni enclosed spathe; flowers strongly zygomorphic. 223 spp., over 53 spp. in tropical America, cosmopolitan, some a weeds, others very narrow endemic; 37 in New World, 19 in South America, 8 in Avalon, C. elliptica Kunth, C. erecta L., C. obliqua Vahl and C. rufipes Seub. widely in tropical New World, and 4 endemics.
Commelina elliptica Kunth in Narnia, Avalon
12.2 HAEMODORACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 14/c. 100 Distribution South Africa, New Guinea, Australia, Tasmania, E and SE North America, Central America, and northern South America, with the largest diversity in Australia. Habit bisexual, perennial herbs. Tuberous stem (Pyrrhorhiza, Tribonanthes) or bulb (Haemodorum) and often stolons. Roots and subterranean stems often intensely red to reddish-brown. All over the Neotropics, but also in the U.S.A. and Canada (Lachnanthes). The red-coloured pigment often present in the underground parts of 10 spp. in 8 genera (inc. New world Xiphidium caeruleum) - arylphenalenone haemocorin - is unique in the flowering plants.
Xiphidium Aubl. Rhizomatous or stoloniferous herbs to 0.5 m tall; white tepals. Two spp., X. caeruleum Aubl. in Mexico to continental Brazil, Bolivia up to French Guiana, and X. pontederiiflorum M. Pell., Hopper & Rhian J. Sm. from Panamá to Ecuador and Avalon, in moist soils, often along watercourses.
13. ZINGIBERALES
Xiphidium pontederiiflorum M. Pell., Hopper & Rhian J. Sm.
In Avalon occur 86 spp. of latifolious species of Zingiberales, sometimes very similar by vegetative forms, in only three genera: Heliconia (60), Calathea (20) and Renealmia (6).
13.1 HELICONIACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 1/191 Distribution Tropical and subtropical regions of Mexico, Central and South America, some spp. in E Malesia (New Guinea and eastwards), Melanesia and eastwards to Samoa. Habit Bisexual, perennial (often giant) herbs, rhizome starchy, pseudostems present, buds axillary.
Heliconia L. Medium to very large sized rhizomatous herbs (up to 10 m tall), habit musoid, cannoid or zingiberoid; inflorescences are almost always terminal, but in some spp. may emerge directly from the rhizome; inflorescence erect or pendulous, arrangement of bracts along the rachis is plane or spirally; fruit berries, green or yellow when immature and turning deep blue or purple when mature. 251 spp., throughout the Neotropics, 6 from Molucas to Vanuatu in Pacific Ocean and 243 in New World, 138 in South America, highly centered in Colombia (101) and Avalon (60, all endemics), in montane rainforests, in shaded moist forests or open disturbed habitats, up to 2000 m, in extensive, conspicuous stands or as individuals.
8 spp. of Heliconia from Avalon, all endemics
13.2 MARANTACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 29/540–550 Distribution pantropical except Australia, with their largest diversity in tropical America. Habit bisexual, perennial (sometimes giant) herbs (rarely climbing; sometimes with woody rhizome). Rhizome rich in starch. Marantaceae leaves are held vertically during the night!
Calathea G. Mey. Herbs, usually with several basal and one or more cauline leaves; leaves uniformly green or paler below; inflorescence terminal on a leafy shoot, compound, usually composed of 2-several similar, partial inflorescences, rarely simple; flowers open; corolla tube elongate, lobes reflexed or recurved; fruit usually 3-seeded, dehiscent. 78 spp. from Mexico and the Caribbean islands to Brazil Federation and Bolivia, 38 in South America, 20 in Avalon, all endemics.
8 spp. of Calathea from Avalon, all endemics
13.3 ZINGIBERACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 57/1.440–1.460 Distribution Tropical and southern Africa, Madagascar, Mascarene Islands, Seychelles, S, E and SE Asia, Malesia, New Guinea, northern and E Australia (especially Queensland), Pacific islands; some spp. of Renealmia in tropical America (Central America, Caribbean, northern and central South America). Habit Bisexual, perennial (sometimes giant) herbs, often with a pseudostem consisting of superimposed leaf sheaths. Sometimes with stilt roots. Aromatic. Rhizome and roots usually rich in starch (root cells sometimes with starch nodules).
Renealmia L. f. Herbs with well-developed rhizomes and pseudostems; inflorescence usually lax, sometimes branched, terminal on a separate leafless shoots, erect or prostrates, or rarely terminal in a leafy shoot; 1-several-flowered cincinni; flowers white to yellow, tubular to tunicate. 84 spp., 20 in S Africa and 64 spp. in New World, from Mexico to Bolivia and S Brazil Federation, also present in Caribbean, mainly forests; 56 spp. in South America, six in Avalon, all endemics.
14. RANUNCULALES
All six Renealmia species from Avalon
14.1 MENISPERMACEAE ‣ Genera/species c 73/c 430 Distribution Tropical and subtropical regions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and a few species in temperate E North America and temperate E Asia. Habit Dioecious, usually evergreen lianas, or scrambling and climbing perennial herbs (rarely shrubs or trees (Burasaia, Penianthus, Sphenocentrum); one species of Stephania an erect herb). Widely distributed throughout the Neotropics, particularly in the humid lowlands, although some genera (e.g. Cissampelos) also occur in arid areas. Usually vines or lianas with a few exceptions: Abuta grandifolia (Mart.) Sandwith is a tree, and a few species such as Cissampelos ovalifolia DC. are herbaceous. Seventeen genera recorded in the Neotropics. About 110 spp. in Brazil Federation, in 16 genera. New World spp. are very regulary in morphology. A single species in Avalon.
Menispermum Tourn. ex L. 3 spp., M. canadense L. from S Central & SE Canada to NE Mexico, M. dauricum DC. from S Siberia to China and Japan, and M. sychnocephala Bombadill endemic to Avalon.
Menispermum sychnocephala Bombadill in Rohan Kingdom
15. PROTEALES
15.1 SABIACEAE ‣ Genera/species 3/168 Distribution Himalaya, southern, E and SE Asia, Malesia, New Guinea, New Britain, Solomon Islands, tropical America northwards to central Mexico (Ophiocaryon in tropical South America). Habit Bisexual or polygamodioecious, usually evergreen (two species of Meliosma deciduous) trees, shrubs or lianas (in Sabia japonica with short spines).
Meliosma Bl. Trees, evergreens or dioecious. 132 spp., disjunct between SE Asia (41) and tropical America (85), mostly south of Mexico and Central America (including Atlantic coast) and tropical Andes; 51 spp. in South America; 6 spp. in Avalon, all in section Alba and endemics, such as M. alba (Schltdl.) Walp. in New World, disjunct in Mexico and Asia.
All six species of Meliosma in Avalon
15.2 PROTEACEAE ‣ Genera/species 76/c. 1,700 Distribution South and Central America, Africa south of Sahara, Madagascar, southern India and Sri Lanka, and eastwards to E China (inc. Taiwan), southern Japan, Indochina, Malesia, islands in the SW Pacific, Australia and Tasmania; with their largest diversity in Mediterranean climates of Australia and South Africa. Habit Usually bisexual (sometimes monoecious, andromonoecious or dioecious), evergreen trees or usually shrubs (rarely perennial rhizomatous herbs, some species with lignotuber). Most species are xerophytic.
Panopsis Salis. Shrubs or trees; conflorescence terminal or lateral, a raceme of flower pairs, or a panicle of such racemes. 36 spp., widely distributed in Central and South America (24), sparsely in Brazil Federation (5, two endemics), 10 in Avalon, P. polystachya (Kunth) Kuntze (also in Panama to N Venezuela) and remaining nine endemics.
16. BUXALES
Panopsis peckii C. Ulloa & Radagast in Terabitia Land, Avalon
16.1 BUXACEAE ‣ Genera/species 5/122 Distribution tropical and S Africa, Madagascar, Socotra, NE Africa, Macaronesia, W and C Mediterranean, E Türkiye, Caucasus and N Iran, Afghanistan, Himalaya, S India, Sri Lanka, E Asia to Korean Peninsula and Japan, SE Asia, W and C Malesia, southern North America, Central America, NW South America (Andes). Habit Usually monoecious (rarely dioecious, polygamodioecious or bisexual), evergreen trees or shrubs; Pachysandra consists of perennial herbs with a rhizome.
Buxus L. Shrubs or small trees, tetragonal branchlets, leaves decussate; flowers in lax to glomerate racemes with a terminal female flower; staminate 4-merous tepals and stamen; tepals decussate; stamens opposite tepals, inserted around a pistillode; fruit a 3-horned capsule; dehiscing loculicidally into 3 spreading 2-horned valves. 108 spp., widely distributed on all continents except Australia; 58 spp. in New World, with more than 30 spp., Cuba is main centre of diversity; following by Jamaica with only 4 -5 spp., Porto Rico with two, and Martinique and the Bahamas, each with one sp.; in Central America and Mexico are 4 spp.; Avalon includes 7 spp. (B. bartlettii Standl. also in Mexico to El Salvador, and six endemics), and in S. America only B. citrifolia (Willd.) Spreng.
17.1 GUNNERACEAE ‣ Genera/species 1/63 Distribution E and South Africa, Madagascar, Malesia, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tasmania, New Zealand, Hawaii, Central America, South America (above all in the Andes), Juan Fernandez, Falkland Islands. Habit Perennial herbs, either with ascending or creeping pachycaulous stems, covered with large leaf scars, apically with large to gigantic, long-petioled leaves reaching up to c. 5m in height (G. magnifica H. St. John), and between these often covered with conspicuous bracts protecting the inflorescence and vegetative buds, or stoloniferous and mat-forming, with short, upright stem portions bearing leaf-rosettes, reaching from 4 cm to about 1 m in height, or in one case (G. herteri Osten), diminutive annuals.
Gunnera L. Caracters of family. 56-57 spp., subtropical or montane genus, of which most occur in South (all countries except Guianas and Paraguay) and Central America; 5-6 spp. inhabit New Zealand, while SE Asia, Tasmania and Africa have a single endemic species each; two species grow on Hawai; 4 occur in Mexico and Central America, and 42 in South America; six sections: Gunnera (1, Africa and Madagascar), Pseudogunnera (1, SE Asia to New Guinea), Milligania (6, one in Tasmania and remaining in New Zealand) and the three of New World, two in Avalon: Panke (63, 20 in Avalon, 17 endemics) and Misandra (4, 2 in Avalon, both endemics).
Non endemic species: G. insignis (Oerst.) Oerst. (also S Nicaragua to Panama), G. killipiana Lundell (also in Mexico to Honduras) and G. tajumbina L.E.Mora (also in SW Colombia to NW Ecuador).
18. DILLENIALES
18.1 DILLENIACEAE ‣ Genera/species 11/c 430 Distribution almost pantropical, with the largest diversity in tropical Asia and Australia; Hibbertia also in warm-temperate parts of Australia including Tasmania. In South America the high diversity occurs in Amazon rainforest. Habit Usually bisexual (rarely dioecious), usually evergreen (rarely deciduous) trees or shrubs (rarely suffrutices; Tetracera consists of lianas; Acrotrema costatum Jack (possibly nested in Dillenia) is a perennial herb with woody rhizome). Bark often intensely brown. Lianas, shrubs, small trees with tortuous branches (Curatella), or evergreen trees up to 30 m (Dillenia); lianas generally with stems more 5 cm diameter, the vascular bundles disposed in bands or concentric rings separated by abundant parenchyma (papyraceous bark, often asperous: Doliocarpus, Neodillenia, Pinzona, several spp. of Davilla).
Neodillenia Aymard. Lianas with successive cambia; trichomes simple; inflorescences axillary (and sometimes also ramiflorous). Three spp., one endemic to Venezuela, N. coussapoana Aymard and N. peruviana Aymard from Colombia, the latter also in Ecuador and Avalon, and the former also in northern Brazil.
HALORAGACEAE ‣ Genera/species 8/c. 145 Distribution cosmopolitan, largest diversity in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly in Australia. Habit sually monoecious or polygamomonoecious (rarely bisexual or dioecious), perennial or annual herbs, suffrutices or evergreen small shrubs (Haloragodendron consists of shrubs and small trees). Numerous species are aquatic, other representative are amphibious, hygrophytes or terrestrial mesophytes. Myriophyllum in the Northern Hemisphere produces turions (condensed reproductive and hibernating shoots). The main root in aquatic and amphibious species is replaced by adventitious roots (without root hairs), anchoring the plant to the substrate (adventitious roots in Haloragis inserted between the leaves).
Myriophyllum L. Perennial, rarely annual, aquatic or littoral herbs, free floating or rhizomathous; whorled heterophyllous leaves; flowers frequently unisexual; sepals less than half the length of the petals (frequently absent); fruit schizocarpic, ornamented and splitting at maturity into 2-4 mericarps. 63 spp., almost cosmopolitan, with centres in Australia (36, 31 endemic), North America (13, 4 endemics), and India/Indo-China (10, 7 endemic), although absent from most of Africa, the Middle East and much of S Asia and NE South America; 4 spp. in South America, all widely distributeds os scattered; two sp. in Avalon, both endemics: M. specuicola Allastar and M. mckittrickensis Pallando.
Proserpinaca L. Submerged, emergent of seasonally terrestrial rhizomatous herbs; alternate heterophyllous leaves; inflorescence solitary or in dichasia of up to 3 flowers per axil; flowers hermaphroditic; fruit 3-seeded nutlet. Two spp., P. palustris L. in North America, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, Colombia and Brazil Federation, and P. pectinata Lam. from North America, Mexico, Avalon, Caribbean and Central America.
A single family, made up of vineyards in forest formations in Avalon.
VITACEAE ‣ Genera/species 18/920–960 Distribution mainly in tropical and subtropical regions, some species in warm-temperate areas; Leea: SE Asia, Malesia, New Guinea and Australia, two species in Africa and Madagascar. Habit Bisexual, monoecious, polygamomonoecious, dioecious or polygamodioecious, usually evergreen (sometimes deciduous) lianas (sometimes climbing, perennial herbs) with leaf-opposed, simple or branched branch-tendrils with small adhesive cushions attaching plant to trees or cliffs etc. (rarely small succulent trees with swollen stem; Leea consists of evergreen trees, shrubs or perennial herbs without tendrils). Lenticels often abundant and significant. Some native species have economic potential.
Ampelocissus Planch. 94 spp., Mexico to Panama and Caribbean, Africa, tropical Asia Oceania; three spp. in New World (A. acapulcensis (Kunth) Planch., A. erdvendbergiana Planch., A. mesoamericana Lombardi), all from Mexico to Honduras, and disjuncts in Avalon.
Ampelopsis Michx. 17 spp., North America to Guatemala, Türkiye to Japan and Philippines, a single in Avalon, A. denudata Planch, also in Mexico and Guatemala.
Parthenocissus Planch. 13 spp., China to S Russian Far East and Tropical Asia, N America to El Salvador, Bermuda, Bahamas to Cuba. One spp. in Avalon, P. quinquefolia (L.) Planch, also from SE. Canada to El Salvador, Bermuda to Cuba.
Vitis L. Vine-like shrubs or high climbing polygamo-dioecious vines, often with large woody stems. 97 spp., mostly temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, 48 in New World, mainly in North America, with V. tiliifolia Humb. & Bonpl. ex Roem. & Schult. extending into Avalon, Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador (with a doubtful record in French Guiana), and V. novogranadensis Moldenke endemic to Colombia; 19 spp. in Avalon, 18 endemics.
ZYGOPHYLLALES
Of the two families of the order, only one occurs on the island, formed by hemiparasitic herbs from open formations in the center and southwest of the island.
KRAMERIACEAE ‣ Genera/species 1/19 Distribution New World Habit Bisexual, usually shrubs or suffrutices (Krameria lanceolata Torr. is a perennial herb, usually with woody rhizome); root hemiparasites (no specific host); the oils secreted by the two modified petals are collected by visiting female bees of the genus Centris, and mixed with pollen (and nectar from other taxa as Krameria does not produce nectar) into a paste, and fed to their developing larvae; Krameria species are dependent on the bees for pollination; this two modified petals are unique within the angiosperms.
Krameria L. ex. Loefl. Characters of family. 19 spp., 4 in Avalon: K. ixine Loefl., also in Sinaloa, Mexico across Venezuela, Colombia, Guianas, Caribbean, and three endemics (K. godfreyi Burdet , B.B. Simpson & Radagast, K. lupulina Burdet , B.B. Simpson & Radagast and K. subnigricans Radagast).
Krameria ixine Loefl. and the three endemic species in Avalon
OXALIDALES
Of the six known families for odem in the world, only one occurs on the island, Oxalidaceae, composed of two genera: one Oxalis from open areas throughout the island, and six species of Biophytum, all forestry, 4 of which are only found in the Rivendell region.
OXALIDACEAE ‣ Genera/species 4/560 - 660 Distribution Tropical and subtropical regions, few species of Oxalis in temperate areas (some species of Oxalis are widely distributed weeds). Habit Usually bisexual (in Dapania androdioecious), evergreen shrubs or trees (rarely lianas) or perennial (rarely annual) herbs, often with root tubers, sometimes succulent. Some species are xerophytes or helophytes. Juice often bitter. Some species of Oxalis have CAM physiology.
Biophytum DC. Herbs up to 1m, stems sometimes woody; imparipinnate leaves clustered at the branch apices, and the terminal leaflet is reduced to a bristle-like mucro. 80 - 75 spp., pantropical, 43 neotropical, 31 in South America and six, all endemics (B. hirsutella P.E. Berry & Elrond, B. neotropicalis P.E. Berry & Elrond, B. paleacea P.E. Berry & Elrond, B. sterilis P.E. Berry & Elrond, B. vexans P.E. Berry & Elrond, B. virescens P.E. Berry & Elrond), in Avalon, in rain forests or disturbed areas from sea level to about 2,000 m alt., slightly centered in Andes and Guiana Shield.
Oxalis L. Annual or perennial herbs, bulb-like tubers, bulbs or fleshy rhizomes, sometimes succulent, with shrubs/vines in South America, one aquatic in South Africa, often cushions in Andes; trifoliolate leaves, either pinnate or palmately arranged. 500 spp., widely distributed, 325 in New World, from which 276 species are found throughout South America, found in both temperate and tropical habitats, growing from sea level to an altitude of more than 3,700 m - with the largest diversity in terms of Oxalis growth forms, including shrubs, herbs, annuals, vines and geophytes; c. 210 species are endemic to South Africa, all bulbous perennials with above-ground plant parts borne on seasonal rhizomes emergent during the rainy season. In Avalon occur only one spp., Oxalis sanssonia Lourtaig & Radagast, belonging subg. Monoxalis, also with O. dichondrifolia A. Gray and O. robusta Kunth, from the SW U.S.A. and Mexico.
CELASTRALES
This order has 2 (or three, if Parnassiaceae is emancipated) families, only one of them in Avalon, with two genera of forest trees, especially in mountains.
CELASTRACEAE ‣ Genera/species 98/1,280-1,290 Distribution Mainly tropical and subtropical regions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres; some species in temperate areas. Habit Bisexual, monoecious, andromonoecious, polygamomonoecious, dioecious, gynodioecious, or polygamodioecious, usually evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs or lianas (rarely herbs, suffrutices, or ericoid or epiphytic shrubs; Stackhousia usually annual or perennial herbs, sometimes succulent). With or without spines (Acanthothamnus and Canotia with glandular stems). Branches rarely photosynthesizing phyllocladia. Bark often yellow (due to triterpenic compounds).
Celastrus L. Scadent shrubs, glabrous, rarely pubescents. 41 spp., 13 in New World, C. scandens L. in North America, and remaining from Mexico to South America (8), also Madagascar and SE Asia to Australia, two in Avalon: C. panamensis Lundell (also Panama to NW Colombia) and C. vulcanicola Donn.Sm. (also in C Mexico to Nicaragua).
Maytenus L. Shrubs to trees, often with woody rhizomes. 36 spp., Florida and Texas to subantarctic regions in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, with a large altitudinal variation from sea level to ca. 3,900 m elevation in the Andean mountains. 28 spp. in South America, two in Avalon, M. purpusii Lundell and M. schippii Lundell, both also from Mexico to Panama.
MALPIGHIALES
RHIZOPHORACEAE ‣ Genera/species 15/150–160 Distribution pantropical, Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Central and South America, the Caribbean, Atlantic and eastern coasts of Africa, Pacific and Indian Ocean islands, with their highest diversity in Madagascar and tropical Asia. Habits usually bisexual (rarely polygamomonoecious), evergreen trees or shrubs. Many species are mangrove trees. Pneumatophores (in Gynotrocheae and Rhizophoreae) and stilt roots often present. Three genera occur in Amazon rainforest, Rhizophora that is confined to coastal mangrove forest.
Cassipourea Aubl. Trees or shrubs, leaves opposite and decussate; inflorescences solitary flowers or fasciculate groups, axillary, sessile or pedicellate; flowers hermaphrodite; disk fleshy or membraneous, dentate; calyx tube campanulate, 4-5-lobed, the lobes erect, valvate; petals 4-5, unguiculate, fimbriate, folded in bud, white; fruit an ovoid capsule. 70 spp., pantropical, mainly African, 16 from Belize to Bolivia, 10 in South America, two in Avalon, both non endemics: C. calimensis Cuatrec (also W Colombia to NW Ecuador) and C. killipii Cuatrec. (also from Nicaragua to NW Ecuador).
Rhizophora L. Mangroves, with rhizophores. 8-9 spp. and 4 hybrids, two species and one hybrid in New World: R. mangle L. from Florida to southern Brazil Federation, C Mexico to northern Peru, Avalon, Fiji, New Caledonia, Tonga, Samoa, and American Samoa - Bermuda is the most northerly extent of its range; presence on the mid-Atlantic islands (St. Helena and Ascension) has been reported for this species, but this is not confirme; R. racemosa G.Mey occur from Costa Rica to Maranhão state in northern Brazil in Atlantic coast, and Costa Rica to Pacific Coast of Colombia, also W Africa Guinea Gulf, from S Mauritania to Angola; and the hybrid Rhizophora ✕ harrisonii Leechm. from Mexico, Central America, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela, Guianas, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil (only Pará and Maranhão states).
OCHNACEAE ‣ Genera/species 36/565–575 Distribution pantropical (few subtropical species), mainly in Central America, the Caribbean and tropical South America, with their largest diversity in Amazon rainforest. Habit usually bisexual (sometimes polygamomonoecious, dioecious, androdioecious, or polygamodioecious), evergreen trees, shrubs or lianas, rarely perennial herbs. Almost all Ochnaceae are evergreen shrubs or small trees; none genera in New World are tall trees, and herbs occur only in Sauvagesia.
Rhytidanthera (Planch.) Tieghem. Only genus of Ochnaceae with compound leaves. Two spp., R. splendida (Planch.) Tiegh., in small populations restricted to the primary forest of the Colombian and Venezuelan Andes and the sandstone hills of La Macarena and Chiribiquete, and R. avaloniana Elrondi, endemic to W forests of Avalon.
Rhytidanthera avaloniana Elrondi in Cocaigne lands, Avalon
CLUSIACEAE ‣ Genera/species 18/860–870? Distribution pantropical. Habit usually bisexual (rarely polygamomonoecious, in e.g. Clusia and Garcinia also dioecious), evergreen trees or shrubs (in Clusia sometimes lianas or epiphytes, also with CAM physiology).
Arawakia L. Marinho. Trees or shrubs; exudate white; leaves clustered at the apex of the branches; leaf blades fleshy; inflorescence terminal; flowers with buds enclosed by the outer sepals; petals white to yellowish; fruit a capsules purplish-red when mature; petals and staminodes caducous, sepals persistent and adpressed to the fruit; seeds one per locule, arillate, the aril orange. 30 spp., Nicaragua to Bolivia, usually in highlands in the Andes and the Guiana Shield (mainly elevations from 100-1,700 m), although some species reach lowlands in Central America and Colombia. 12 spp. in Avalon, all endemics.
Clusia L. Hemiepiphytes, lianas, small trees and shrubs with fleshy capsules and seed less than 6 mm long with an orange aril; flowers often with resin; their leaves are reference because their curious venation. 296 spp., all Neotropical, 257 in South America, 25 in Avalon, 18 endemics.
CALOPHYLLACEAE ‣ Genera/species 15/c. 480 Distribution pantropical. Habit usually bisexual (occasionally cryptic-dioecious, rarely andromonoecious), usually evergreen trees (sometimes shrubs or epiphytes). The family comprises some important timber trees, particularly Calophyllum spp. Several species are cultivated as fruit trees, e.g. Mammea americana L. Wood of Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess., known as guanandi in Brazil, that is very used in Brazil Federation by the traditional communities. The wood is ideal for the production of canoes, masts for ships, beams, for civil construction, internal works, floors, woodwork and carpentry.
Mammea L. 45 spp., M. americana L. in New World, from S Mexico to Guatemala, Caribbean, Florida and Avalon.
HYPERICACEAE ‣ Genera/species 6/c. 600 Distribution cosmopolitan except polar areas. Habit bisexual, evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs or herbs. Species in dry areas sometimes with lignotuber. Cosmopolitan family with four neotropical genera, two restricted from montane of south Mexico and Guatemala; Hypericum is most non-lowland habitats, Vismia prefer this regions.
Hypericum L. Shrubs or perennial (some annual) herbs, plants glabrous, with pellucid plands, sometimes with roots crown; mainly yellow flowers. 430 spp., nearly cosmopolitan, 193 in New World, with main centers of diversity in Eurasia (more than 230) and South America (107, c. 70 in paramos in Andes), and smaller ones in North America (c. 40), Avalon (20, all endemics), SE Asia (c. 47), and Africa (c. 30), mostly temperate areas, as Argentina.
MALPIGHIACEAE ‣ Genera/species 77/1,035–1,040 Distribution tropical and subtropical regions, with their largest diversity in tropical South America. Habit usually bisexual (rarely polygamomonoecious), evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs, suffrutices or lianas.
Malpighia L. Shrubs or trees up to 10 (–24) m tall; inflorescence axillary, an unbranched pseudoraceme congested in most species into a dense corymb or umbel, in some species with only 1-2 flowers; bracts and bracteoles eglandular; pedicels pedunculate; flowers bilaterally symmetrical in calyx, corolla, and androecium; petals pink, lavender, or white, glabrous or nearly so; fruit fleshy, mostly indehiscent, drupes or berries, usually red at maturity. 140 spp., 32 in Avalon (all endemics), 23 only in Mexico (21 endemics) and Central America, 59 exclusively Caribbean, three in Caribbean and mainland Mesoamerica, and 4 up to South America, two only up to northern Colombia, and two others up to Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela.
Type of eight species of Malpighia from Avalon
DICHAPETALACEAE ‣ Genera/species 3/160–165 Distribution pantropical, southwards to SE and southern Africa. Habit usually at least morphologically bisexual (at least sometimes functionally monoecious or dioecious), evergreen trees, shrubs or lianas. Sometimes xerophytic. Lenticels often numerous. Trees, shrubs, lianas, or suffruticose subshrubs. A tropical family of about 240 species in three genera, distributed throughout the lowland tropical regions of both hemispheres (but absent from Polynesia and Micronesia), extending into the subtropics in Africa and India.
Dichapetalum Thouars. Mainly lianas, a few small trees or shrubs; some spp. may be either shrubs or lianas or even small trees. 142 spp., 90 in Africa, 7 in Madagascar, 16 in SE Asia to Pacifico, 31 in New World, 19 in South America, two in Avalon, both endemics: D. festucacea Prance & Radagast and D. lativena Gentry & Radagast.
CHRYSOBALANACEAE ‣ Genera/species 27/525–530 Distribution tropical and subtropical regions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, including SE U.S.A., SE Africa, with their largest diversity in Central and South America and the Caribbean. Habit usually bisexual (rarely andromonoecious or gynomonoecious), evergreen trees or shrubs.
Cordillera Sothers & Prance. Trees; leaves with caducous stipules; inflorescences terminal little-branched panicles; rachis and branches with a few minute appressed hairs. Only one sp., C. platycalyx (Cuatrec.) Sothers & Prance, in higher altitude Andean and Central American forests, from Costa Rica and Panamá to Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, also in Avalon, from 1,000-2,700 m, and has been recorded as low as 250 m.
Cordillera platycalyx (Cuatrec.) Sothers & Prance in Terabitia land.
PASSIFLORACEAE ‣ Genera/species 30/c 924 Distribution tropical, subtropical and warm-temperate regions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres (Malesherbioideae only W South America), with their highest diversity in tropical America (nearly all Turneroideae) and Africa. Habit usually bisexual (in, e.g., Adenia dioecious), usually perennial or annual herbs, climbing and twining with tendrils, or evergreen shrubs or lianas (rarely small trees). Tendrils simple or branched, axillary, usually consisting of modified pedicels or inflorescences, often oblique relative to the branch and evil-smelling. Some species are xerophytes.
Passiflora L. Mostly perennial climbers, a few small trees (c. 15 spp. from northern South America, mainly from Venezuela to Ecuador), sometimes with xylopodium, shrubs, herbaceous vines and even annuals; Passiflora possibly contains the greatest variation in leaf blade of any plant genus. 601 spp., 24 from India to New Zealand and 562 in New World, 22 in Avalon (all endemics), 444 in South America. A half of Avalon members are canopy trees at subg. Astrophea sect. Astrophea.
Passiflora obtusata Feuillet & Radagast in Oompaland, Avalon
SALICACEAE ‣ Genera/species 52/1,080-1,090 Distribution mainly tropical and subtropical areas, some genera in temperate regions, few in Australia, absent from New Zealand; Salix and Populus mainly in temperate regions and some species of Salix only in arctic areas in the Northern Hemisphere. Habit usually bisexual (sometimes dioecious, e.g., Salix, Populus, Chosenia, and Scyphostegia), evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs (some genera climbing; few species of Salix dwarf shrubs); Casearia sometimes with phyllanthoid branching: orthotropic branches with reduced spiral leaves, and plagiotropic branches sylleptic with normal leaves distichous). Salicaceae were traditionally a mostly temperate family consisting of two genera, Populus (poplars, cottonwoods) and Salix (willows). In general, tropical members of the family Salicaceae have few economic uses. The mostly temperate genus Salix is one of the early sources of aspirin precursors.
HOMALIEAE
Neopringlea S.Watson. Two spp., Mexico to Guatemala and Avalon (only N. viscosa (Liebm.) Rose).
Bartholomaea Standl. & Steyerm. 3 spp., Mexico to Belize, Guatemala and Avalon (only B. sessiliflora (Standl.) Standl. & Steyerm.).
SALICEAE
Macrohasseltia L.O. Williams. Only one sp., M. macroterantha (Standl. & L.O. Williams) L.O. Williams, from southern Belize to NW Colombia and Avalon.
Populus L. 76 spp., Artic to Mexico, Avalon (16 spp., all endemics), Lybia, Myanmar, Jordania, Pakistan, some records in E Africa.
Salix L. 474 spp., distributed across the temperate to arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, entering tropical regions along montane ranges; 275 are found in China, 107 in the former Soviet Union, 65 in Europe, and 113 in North America north of Mexico. 24 spp. in Avalon, all endemics.
EUPHORBIACEAE ‣ Genera/species 228/c. 6,745 Distribution cosmopolitan except polar areas, but mainly tropical, with their largest species diversity (Euphorbia) in S Africa, Mediterranean and the irano-turanian regions, and S North America. Habit monoecious or dioecious, evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs, perennial or annual herbs (rarely lianas; many species are stem succulents and xerophytes). CAM and C4 physiologies present in many species (i.a. Chamaesyce subclade of Euphorbia).
Croton [20, 13 endemics]
Croton brainerdii Riina & Elrondi near Mindrel, Avalon
Enriquebeltrania [1]
Euphorbia L. Herbs to shrubs or succulents, small trees, prostrate or decumbent, all produce a mostly white latex which they exude when cut, and this sap is often toxic, characterized by the unique pseudanthium of much-reduced flowers (cyathium); recently all cyathia-bearing species were united into one single genus; thus, this feature is present in every species of the genus but nowhere else in the plant kingdom. 2,046 spp. (5th largest worldwide), fully cosmopolitan; succulent spurges are most diverse in southern and E Africa and Madagascar, but they also occur in tropical Asia and the Americas; 496 in New World, 246 spp. in Mexico (129 endemic), 182 in South America, 69 in Brazil Federation (41 endemics). 4 subgenera, three in New World (59 section joined) and South America (12 sections within).
SUBG. EUHORBIA
▪sect. Crepidaria [20, 19 endemics]
▪sect. Euphorbioxylon [7, all endemics]
Euphorbia sakharovi Pallando in Rohan Kingdom |
SUBG. CHAMAESCYCE
▪sect. Anisophyllum/Acutae [9, all endemics]
▪sect. Anisophyllum/Hypericifoliea [80, 66 endemics]
▪sect. Alectoroctonum [78, 73 endemics]
▪sect. Poinsettia [24, all endemics]
SUBG. ESULA
▪sect. Paralias [2, both endemics]
▪sect Tythymalus [26, 23 endemics]
Hippomane [1]
Garcia Vahl ex Rohr. 6 spp., 4 only in Caribbean and two from Mexico, G. nutans Vahl ex Rohr up to Colombia and Avalon.
Garcia nutans Vahl ex Rohr in Forest in the Corner of the World
PICRODENDRACEAE ‣ Genera/species 23–24/90–94 Distribution mainly tropical regions, with their largest diversity in New Guinea, Australia, New Caledonia and Madagascar. Habit usually monoecious or dioecious (rarely bisexual), evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs, perennial herbs; many species are stem succulents or twining.
Tetracoccus Engelm. ex Parry. 7 spp., 5 from California to C Mexico, and two endemics to Avalon: T. atrofusca Radagast & Croizat and T. panicea Radagast & Croizat.
LINACEAE ‣ Genera/species 9/c 265 Distribution Linoideae: cosmopolitan except polar areas, mostly temperate and subtropical regions; Hugonieae: pantropical. Habit bisexual, evergreen trees, shrubs, suffrutices or lianas, perennial, biennial or annual herbs. Some species are xerophytes. Hugonieae are often lianas with tendrils formed by basal branches of the inflorescences.
Linum L. Annual or perennial herbs; leaves alternate, opposite or whorled, sessile, simple, entire; stipular glands present or not so; flowers in terminal cymes or sometimes in racemose or paniculate inflorescences. ca. 200 spp., subcosmopolitan, 65 in the New World tropics and subtropics; 18 spp. in South America, all from Ecuador to southern Brazil and Chile. 20 in Avalon, L. cratericola Eliasson (also in Galapagos), L. guatemalense Benth. (also in Mexico to Central America), L. nelsonii Rose (also in Mexico to Nicaragua), L. schiedeanum Schltdl. & Cham. (also in SC. U.S.A. to Honduras), remaining 16 endemics.
Linum lurida Elrondi in Terabitia, Avalon
Roucheria Planch. 8 spp. from Amazon rainforest of South America, one up to Central America, and three endemics to Avalon: R. phaeocephala P.E.Berry & Radagast, R. rossii P.E.Berry & Radagast and R. thurberi P.E.Berry & Radagast.
FABALES
FABACEAE ‣ Genera/species 793/18,300–18,400 Distribution Cosmopolitan except Antarctica. Habit Usually bisexual (rarely monoecious, andromonoecious or polygamomonoecious), evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs, lianas or suffrutices, perennial, biennial or annual herbs. Numerous species are xerophytes, whereas some are aquatic. Petiole or branch sometimes modified into photosynthesizing phyllodia or phyllocladia, respectively.
(39/)294 spp. in Avalon, 189 endemics.
CERCIDIOIDEAE
Bauhinia Plum. ex L., Sp. Pl.: 374 (1753). Tropics & Subtropics [8 spp., all endemics]
DETARIOIDEAE
Brownea Jacq. Trees or shrubs. 35 spp., W South America in Venezuela, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador with two spp. more widely distributed to Brazil Federation (none endemics), the Guianas and two extending to C America (Panamá and Costa Rica) and the Caribbean, also in Avalon (12, all endemics), in understorey in tropical lowland rain forest. Several species (palo de cruz, bois rose, palo rosa, monta del rosa) are used for timber, medicine, handicrafts (from dried pods and seeds) and cultivated as ornamentals.
Prioria Griseb. 16 spp., tropical Africa, tropical Asia to islands in the Pacific, one endemic to Costa Rica, P. copaifera Griseb. from Nicaragua to NW Colombia and Jamaica, also in Avalon.
FABOIDEAE/CLADRASTIDOIDS CLADE (3/18) - outsider Cladrastis (9; E Asia, SE U.S.A.), Pickeringia (1; California).
Styphnolobium Schott. 8 spp., one from E Asia, and 7 from Mexico to Costa Rica, with S. sporadicum M. Sousa & Rudd up to NW Colombia.
FABOIDEA/GENISTOIDEAE
Crotalaria L., Sp. Pl.: 714 (1753). Tropics & Subtropics to C. & E. U.S.A. [27 spp., 21 endemics]
FABOIDEA/DALBERGIOIDEAE
Aeschynomene L., Sp. Pl.: 713 (1753). SE. Pennsylvania to Tropics & Subtropics. [6 spp., none endemics]
Ctenodon Baill., Adansonia 9: 236 (1870). Trop. & Subtrop. America. [13 spp., 11 endemics]
Machaerium Pers., Syn. Pl. 2: 276 (1807). Mexico to Trop. America, W. Trop. Africa to Angola. [5 spp., 3 endemics]
Nissolia Jacq., Enum. Syst. Pl.: 7 (1760), nom. cons. Trop. & Subtrop. America. [19 spp., 17 endemics]
Zornia J.F.Gmel., Syst. Nat., ed. 13[bis].: 1076 (1792).Tropics & Subtropics. [2 spp., none endemics]
FABOIDEA/INDIGOLFEROIDEAE
Indigofera L., Sp. Pl.: 751 (1753). Africa, Asia to SW. Pacific, C. & S. U.S.A. to Trop. & Subtrop. America. [4 spp., none endemics]
FABOIDEA/PHASEOLOIDEAE
Centrosema (DC.) Benth., Comm. Legum. Gen.: 53 (1837). Trop. & Subtrop. America. [5 spp., none endemics]
Clitoria L., Sp. Pl.: 753 (1753). Tropics & Subtropics. [10 spp., 8 endemics]
Tephrosia Pers., Syn. Pl. 2: 328 (1807). America, Trop. & Subtrop. Old World. [4 spp., 2 endemic]
Desmodium Desv., J. Bot. Agric. 1: 122 (1813), nom. cons. Tropics & Subtropics to N. America. [13 spp., 8 endemics]
Grona Lour., Fl. Cochinch.: 459 (1790). Tropics & Subtropics. [3 spp., one endemics]
Eriosema (DC.) G.Don, Gen. Hist. 2: 347 (1832), nom. cons. Tropics & Subtropics. [12 spp., 9 endemics]
Calopogonium Desv., Ann. Sci. Nat. (Paris) 9: 423 (1826). Mexico to Trop. America. [4 spp., 3 endemics]
Macroptilium (Benth.) Urb., Symb. Antill. 9: 457 (1928). Trop. & Subtrop. America. [4 spp., 3 endemics]
Mucuna Adans., Fam. Pl. 2: 325 (1763). Tropics & Subtropics. [4 spp., two endemics]
Phaseolus L., Sp. Pl.: 723 (1753). U.S.A. to N. South America and NW. Argentina. [7 spp., six endemics]
FABOIDEAE/DIOCLEAE
Canavalia DC., Mém. Légum.: 375 (1826), nom. cons. Tropics & Subtropics. [4 spp., none endemics]
Galactia P.Browne, Civ. Nat. Hist. Jamaica: 298 (1756). Tropics & Subtropics to C. U.S.A. [16 spp., 14 endemics]
FABOIDEA/FABEAE
Trifolium Tourn. ex L., Sp. Pl.: 764 (1753). Temp. & Subtrop. to Trop. Mts. [20, 18 endemics]
CAESALPINIOIDEA/CASSIEAE
Chamaecrista (L.) Moench, Methodus: 272 (1794). Tropics & Subtropics. [8 spp., one endemic]
Senna Mill., Gard. Dict. Abr., ed. 4.: [s.p.] (1754). Trop. & Subtrop. Old World, America. [13 spp., 4 endemics]
CAESALPINIOIDEA/CAESALPINIEAE
Guilandina L., Sp. Pl.: 381 (1753). Tropics & Subtropics. [5 spp., none endemics]
CAESALPINIOIDEA/DIMORPHADRA CLADE A
Mora R.H.Schomb. ex Benth. Trees up to 35 m tall. 8 spp., C America, N South America and the Greater Antilles: two from W Surinam through Guyana to the Orinoco Delta in Venezuela (one extending to Trinidad), M. oleifera (Triana ex Hemsl.) Ducke from Nicaragua to Ecuador, M. paraensis (Ducke) Ducke from the delta of the Amazon in Brazil Federation, two endemic to the Hispaniola, and one endemic to Avalon, M. nudata Radagast, in tropical riverine forest, periodically inundated or not, or swampy areas, broad-leaved humid forest, one sp. just behind the mangrove zone, hill slopes. The seeds of M. nudata Radagast are thought to be the largest (18 x 15 x 8 cm) dicotyledonous seeds known, and third in over flowering plants (after Lodoiscea maldivica and Cocus nucifera L., both Arecaceae).
Mora nudata Radagast in riverine places at Anduin river, Avalon
CAESALPINIOIDEAE/MIMOSEAE
Senegalia Raf., Sylva Tellur.: 119 (1838). Tropics & Subtropics. [a single species, no endemic]Entada Adans., Fam. Pl. 2: 318 (1763). Tropics & Subtropics. [2 spp., none endemics]Desmanthus Willd., Sp. Pl., ed. 4. 4: 1044 (1806). Trop. & Subtrop. America. [3 spp., none endemics]Neptunia Lour., Fl. Cochinch.: 653 (1790). Tropics & Subtropics. [3 spp., none endemics]Mimosa L., Sp. Pl.: 516 (1753). America, Tanzania to Mozambique, Madagascar, Indian Subcontinent, Andaman Is. [6 spp., none endemics]Calliandra Benth., J. Bot. (Hooker) 2: 138 (1840). Trop. & Subtrop. America, Somalia to Kenya, NW. Cape Prov. [2 spp., none endemics]
Sphinga Barneby & J.W.Grimes. Trees and shrubs. Three spp., Cuba (1), Mexico (2, one endemic), Guatemala, and NW S America (only S. platyloba (Bertero ex DC.) Barneby & J.W. Grimes Colombia, Venezuela and extending into the Caribbean island of Aruba and up to Avalon), seasonally dry tropical to arid lowland and submontane forest, thicket, wooded grassland and thorn scrub.Punjuba Britton & Rose. Unarmed trees; stipules usually deciduous; branches with indumentum present or glabrous; leaves bipinnate, alternate, one or two (three) pairs of pinnae; nectaries sessile between pairs of pinnae and leaflets. 6 spp., 5 from Panamá to Ecuador (P. racemiflora (Donn.Sm.) Britton & Rose also in Avalon, disjunct in Ecuaor and Costa Rica), and one endemic to Bolivia.
Inga Mill., Gard. Dict. Abr., ed. 4.: [s.p.] (1754). Mexico to Trop. America. [44 spp., 38 endemics].
ROSALES
5 of the 9 families of the order occur in Avalon; Moraceae, quite common in tropical America, is surprisingly absent on the island. Almost every genus the island has 5 or fewer species, except Pilea and Alchemilla.
ROSACEAE ‣ Genera/species 81/3,400–3,500 (more or less amphimictic species) Distribution Cosmopolitan except Antarctica, with their largest diversity in subtropical and temperate regions in the Northern Hemisphere. Habit Usually bisexual (sometimes monoecious, dioecious or polygamous), evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs or suffrutices, or usually perennial (rarely annual) herbs. Some species are xerophytes.
Only two genera in Avalon.
Alchemilla L. Perennial herbs and shrubs. 785 spp., mainly Holarctic distribution with a centre of species richness in western Eurasia but occurs also in S India, Sri Lanka, Java, China and Japan and on the mountains of Africa and Madagascar, and c. 85 in Neotropics, distributed in South and Central America from Mexico and the Greater Antilles (Hispaniola) to the Andes of N Chile and Argentina. 68 spp. occur in South America, highly centered in northern Andes, one of the most important and most species rich groups of plants in the andean páramos, between 2,200 and 5,000 m in elevation, where they can form dense stands; only one sp. occur in E South America, A. parodii (I.M.Johnst.) Rothm., from S Brazil Federation to S Argentina. 10 in Avalon (A. bigelowii Rothm. & Radagast, A. cephaloidea Radagast & Elrondi, A. complanata Rothm., A. disperma Rothm., A. helleri Rothm. & Elrondi, A. manhartii Rothm. & Elrondi, A. oreocharis Rothm. & Radagast, A. raynoldsii Rothm. & Radagast, A. subfusca Rothm., A. striatula Rothm.), all endemics.
Holodiscus (K. Koch) Maxin. Shrubs, unarmed, leaf sheding, up to 20 m tall. Only one sp., H. argenteus (L.f.) Maxim., from NW Mexico to Colombia and Avalon; montane habitats, in forests and rocks.
Holodiscus argenteus (L.f.) Maxim. in Nativity Land in Avalon
RHAMNACEAE ‣ Genera/species 63/940–990 Distribution Cosmopolitan except polar areas, with their largest diversity in tropical and subtropical regions. Habit Usually bisexual (rarely monoecious, dioecious or androdioecious), evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs or lianas (sometimes with tendrils or hooks; Crumenaria decumbens is a perennial herb), often with spines, often xeromorphic. Some species have phyllocladia and reduced leaves.
Ceanothus L. 122 spp., 60 from Canadá to Panamá, and 62 in Avalon, all endemics.
Frangula Mill. Herbs to shrubs or small trees, 5-merous flowers. 40 spp., widely distributed, Eurasia and Magreb; 20 in South to North America, 12 in South America, mainly in Colombia and Venezuela, some up to Cono Sur; two in Avalon, F. lindeniana (Triana & Planch.) Grubov, also in Panama to NW. Venezuela, and F. mucronata (Schltdl.) Grubov, also in Mexico to El Salvador.
Karwinskia Zucc. 15 spp., from Texas to Panamá and Caribbean, with K. colombiana Dugand & M.C. Johnst. is endemic to Colombia and K. humboldtiana (Schult.) Zucc. Ranges from U.S.A. to Panamá and Venezuela, also in Avalon.
ULMACEAE ‣ Genera/species 7/43–50 Distribution subtropical and temperate regions in North America and Eurasia, southern Central America, parts of Malesia, with their highest diversity in temperate regions, also in tropical Africa. Habit bisexual, monoecious, andromonoecious or polygamomonoecious, evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs. Prophylls usually basal. Use Ornamental plants, timber, carpentries.
(2/)6 spp. in Avalon.
Ampelocera Klotzsch. Small to large, monoecious trees; branches without spines; inflorescences axillary. 10 spp. from tropical America, 8 in South America, two in Avalon, A. hottlei (Standl.) Standl. (also C Mexico to N Colombia) and A. macphersonii Todzia (also in Costa Rica to NW Venezuela and Peru).
Ulmus L. 41 spp., Artic up to Panama, Lybia, Syria, Pakistan, Sumatera and Timor, lacking in tropical India and Siberia; 12 sp. in New World, six spp. in Avalon: U. ismaelis Todzia & Panero (also Mexico to Honduras), U. mexicana (Liebm.) Planch (also in Mexico to C America), and 4 endemics: U. albursina W.P.Fang & Radagast, U. canescens W.C.Cheng & L.K.Fu & Radagast, U. squarrosa W.C.Cheng & L.K.Fu & Radagast, U. tumulicola W.C.Cheng & L.K.Fu & Radagast.
CANNABACEAE ‣ Genera/species 9/130–180. Distribution Tropical and subtropical regions; Humulus (and Cannabis) in temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Habit Usually monoecious, polygamomonoecious or dioecious (rarely bisexual), usually evergreen (sometimes deciduous) trees or shrubs (some species of Celtis are lianas), perennial or annual herbs (Humulus is twining and climbing by means of specialized hairs). Use Ornamental plants, fibre plants (ropes and paper from phloem of male plants of Cannabis sativa L.), beer spices (Humulus lupulus L.), seed oils, medicinal plants and narcotics (Cannabis sativa), timber, carpentries.
(2/)2 spp. in Avalon, none endemics.
Aphananthe Planch. 5 spp., Mexico to C. America, Madagascar, Trop. & Subtrop. Asia to E. Australia, one sp. in New World, A. monoica (Hemsl.) J.-F.Leroy, from Mexico to Nicaragua and Avalon.
Humulus L. 7 spp., Artic up to Mexico, Marocco, Iran and Vietnan, 3 in New World, one in Avalon, H. neomexicanus (A.Nelson & Cockerell) Rydb., also in W & C Canada to W & C U.S.A. and Mexico (Chihuahua).
URTICACEAE ‣ Genera/species 59/c 1,300 Distribution Cosmopolitan except polar areas, with their largest diversity in tropical Asia. Habit Usually monoecious, polygamomonoecious or dioecious (rarely bisexual), usually evergreen (sometimes deciduous) trees, shrubs, lianas or suffrutices, perennial or annual herbs (in Coussapoa and Poikilospermum usually epiphytes). Young stems and branches often quadrangular in cross-section. Some arborescent species have buttresses. Cecropia often live in symbiosis with ants.
Cecropia Loefl. Trees, pioneer species characteristic of disturbed forest, trunks frequently with stilt or buttress roots, hosting extensive ant colonies and bearing nodes encircled by prominent stipule scars, leaves palmately lobed or compound. 71 spp., 69 neotropical, 67 in South America, highly centered and Andean forests (37 in Colombia), 2 in Africa. 47 spp. of this genus, many in South America and Brazil Federation, are myrmecophytes. Three spp. in Avalon: C. pittieri B.L.Rob. ex A.Stewart (also Cocos I.), C. palmata Willd. (also disjunct in northern South America) and C. angustifolia Trécul (also from Mexico to Venezuela and Bolivia).
Pilea Lindl. Understory herbs, epiphytes or shrublets, opposite succulent leaves with intrapetiolar stipules (the later rarely much reduced or even absent, in some spp. very aberrant) in each axil. 731 spp., 394 in New World, 15 spp. in Avalon (all endemics), 142 in South America, largest centered in Andes (67 in Colombia).
Rousselia Gaudich. 4 spp., Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, R. erratica Standl. & Steyerm. up to N Colombia and Avalon.
Urera Gauduch. Shrubs, small trees and lianas of riparian and disturbed vegetation, occasionally with stinging hairs on the leaves and inflorescence, fruit fleshy and brightly coloured or white, urticant. 24 spp. New World, 13 in South America, two in Avalon: U. elata (Sw.) Griseb. (also Mexico to Ecuador, Jamaica, Lesser Antilles to Venezuela) and U. fenestrata A.K.Monro & Al.Rodr. (also Costa Rica to Panama).
CUCURBITALES
Of the 7 families in the order, two, with a single genus each, occurs natively in Avalon. Cucurbita has 2 spp., adapted to all the main environments of the island: deserts, forests, mountains and psammophyllous formations. Pilostyles is a microprasitic isophasic.
CUCURBITACEAE ‣ Genera/species 101/945–975 Distribution Tropical and subtropical regions, especially rainforests in South America and drier parts of Africa, relatively few species in Australasia and in temperate regions. Habit Monoecious, andromonoecious, gynomonoecious, polygamomonoecious, dioecious, androdioecious, and gynodioecious (in Actinostemma and Schizopepon sometimes bisexual), usually perennial herbs, almost never self-supporting, mostly climbing or winding (rarely lianas, shrubs or tree, secondarily woody, or annual herbs; Dendrosicyos extremely pachycaul and secondarily arborescent with soft juicy stem). Many species are xerophytes.
Cucurbita L. Monoecious, perennial or annual, herbaceous climbers or trailers to 6m long. 36 spp., 9 wild spp. and 5 domesticated (C. argyrosperma Huber, C. ficifolia Bouche, C. maxima Duchesne, C. moschata Duchesne, and C. pepo L.), in tropical and subtropical America; disturbed places, humid ravines, floodplants, tropical deciduous forests, grasslands, deserts, rocky hillsides and oak-pine forests; five of the wild Cucurbita species are xerophytic perennials that occur in Mexico and the SW U.S.A.; seven wild species are mesophytic annuals that occur in Mexico, the SE and SC U.S.A., and Central and South America. In Avalon occur 22 spp., all endemics.
APODANTHACEAE ‣ Genera/species 2/11 Distribution California, Florida, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America southwards to central Argentina, E Mediterranean, from SE Türkiye to northern Iran, tropical E Africa, SW Australia. Habit Usually monoecious or dioecious (rarely bisexual), achlorophyllous herbaceous endophytes without rhizome or normal roots. Root or stem holoendoparasites (Apodanthes on Salicaceae [e.g. Casearia and Xylosma], Burseraceae and Meliaceae; Pilostyles on Fabaceae).
Pilostyles Guill. Isophasic trunk holoparasitic, flowers less than 10mm, the smallest of all parasitic plants; dioecious (rarely monoecious), bracts are red to brown and free, cleistogamous in mexican endemics. 15 spp., 5 in Old World (Iran and Syria, Zimbabue, Zambia, Tanzania, Angola, Malawi and SW Australia) and 7 in New World, four only from U.S.A. to Mexico, one reaching into Honduras, 3three endemics to Avalon (P. condatiana Radagast, P. tincta Radagast, P. lutea Radagast), and three in South America.
Pilostyles condatiana Radagast, P. tincta Radagast, P. lutea Radagast
FAGALES
FAGACEAE ‣ Genera/species 8/585–685 Distribution southern Canada southwards to NW South America and Cuba, temperate parts of Europe and SW Asia, Mediterranean, Himalaya, E Asia to Russian Far East and Japan, SE Asia, Malesia, New Guinea. Habit usually monoecious (rarely dioecious), evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs. Use Ornamental plants, fruits (Castanea sativa Mill.), timber, carpentries, barrels, cork (Quercus suber L.), tanning (tannin from oak galls).
In Avalon occur two genera and 152 spp., being one form of Fagus and remaining 151 of Quercus, all endemics.
Fagus L. 13 spp., F. grandifolia Ehrh. from E Canada to C Mexico, F. bushii Elrondi endemic to Avalon, 9 in China (inc. Taiwan) Korea, Vietnan and Japan, and two from Europe to Iran.
Fagus bushii Elrondi in northern Al Neon, Avalon
Quercus L. Trees or shrubs with alternate (often closely bunched), some exceptionally large, dominant overstory trees, perhaps an almost equal number of species are shrubs or small trees, making ECM symbioses with fungi, simple, deciduous or evergreen leaves. 612 spp. in northern temperate zone to south up in Colombia, Avalon and Malaysia, particularly in drier habitats such as chaparral, in edaphically challenging environments, and in some higher elevation forests; 220 spp. in New World, one notes a gradual reduction of oak species diversity from Mexico into Central America: 4 in Canada, 91 in the U.S.A., one in Cuba, 134 in Mexico (nearly absent in Yucatan and coastal Pacific and Atlantic), 151 in Avalon, 13 in Central America, and the single Q. humboldtii Bonpl., subdivided into 2–3 species by some authors, in Colombia, 1,400 m to 3,300 m altitudinal range.
▪ SUBG. QUERCUS ‣ 5 sections.
▪ sect. Protobalanus ‣ 5 spp. from U.S.A. to NW Mexico.▪ sect. Ponticae ‣ two spp. in mountainous areas of NE Turkey and W Georgia (Transcaucasia) and in W North America (N California, S Oregon), and 7 endemics to Avalon.▪ sect. Virentes ‣ 7 spp. in SE North America, Mexico, the West Indies (Cuba), and Central America, and two in Avalon.
▪ sect. Quercus ‣ c. 250 spp. in North America, Mexico, Central America, western Eurasia, East Asia, and North Africa, being 101 in Avalon.▪ sect. Lobatae ‣ 161 spp. in North America, Mexico, Central America, and Colombia in South America, 41 in Avalon.
▪ SUBG. CERRIS ‣ three sections.
▪ sect. Cyclobalanopsis ‣ ca. 90 spp. in tropical and subtropical Asia including the southern Himalayas.▪ sect. Ilex ‣ c. 35 spp. in Eurasia and North Africa.▪ sect Cerris ‣ c. 10-12 spp. in Eurasia and North Africa.
JUGLANDACEAE ‣ Genera/species 9/65 Distribution North America, Caribbean, Central America, Andes, SE Europe, northern Turkey and eastwards to Himalaya, Assam, E Asia southwards to northern Vietnam and northwards to Russian Far East; Taiwan, SE Asia, Malesia, New Guinea. Habit usually (sometimes dioecious; in Platycarya occasionally bisexual), usually evergreen or deciduous trees (rarely shrubs). Sometimes aromatic. Buds covered by brown hairs, often scaly.
Alfaroa Standl. 7 spp., A. costaricensis Standl. (S Mexico to Panama and Avalon), A. guanacastensis D.E.Stone and A. manningii J.León (Costa Rica), A. guatemalensis (Standl.) L.O.Williams & A.R.Molina (Mexico to Honduras and Avalon), A. hondurensis L.O.Williams ex W.E.Manning (NE. El Salvador to Honduras and Avalon), A. mexicana D.E.Stone (S.Mexico to Guatemala) and A. williamsii Ant.Molina (Nicaragua to Colombia).
Carya Nutt. 22 spp., Assam to China and Indo-China, E. Canada to Mexico and Avalon, 16 in New World, from Canada to Mexico (4) and Avalon, with 4 endemic species: C. molinari Bombadill, C. multicostata Alastar & Bombadill, C. tenuiflora Pallando and C. typhina Radagast & Pallando.
Juglans L. 24 spp. from N. & C. America, W. South America to NW. Argentina and Venezuela, Medit. to Russian Far East and Japan, in 4 sections, sect. Trachycaryon monotypic endemic to E North America; sect. Juglans: i L. from Europe to China and the Himalayas and J. sigillata Dode endemic to China; sect. Cardiocaryon - three spp. from China, Japan and Korea; and sect. Rhysocaryon, the black walnuts, 18 spp., endemic to the New World and includes nine North American, three Central American and four South American taxa. 4 spp. in Avalon: J. pyriformis Liebm. (also Mexico to Nicaragua), and three endemics: J. chalciolepis Bombadill, J. concinna Bombadill and J. williamsii Bombadill.
Oreomunnea Oerst. 4 spp., O. americana Lundell (Guatemala), O. mexicana (Standl.) J.-F.Leroy (S. Mexico to Panama and Avalon), O. munchiquensis Lozano & F.González (Colombia and Avalon) and O. pterocarpa Oerst. (Costa Rica to Panama).
MYRICACEAE ‣ Genera/species 4/60–65 Distribution tropical and temperates regions of the world, absent in E South America. Habit monoecious, andromonoecious or dioecious, evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs.
Morella L. Trees or shrubs, frequently aromatic, often with woody rhizomes; flowers usually dioecious in bracteates spikes; male spikes axillary, solitary, usually densely flowered; female spikes axillary, longer or shorter than the male spikes; perianth 0; drupe small, globose or ovoid, usually warted and covered with white wax; endocarp hard. Seed erect; testa membranous; albumen 0; embryo straight with planoconvex fleshy cotyledons and a short radicle. 56 spp., distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, 6 in Mascarenes, 11 in tropical Africa and 9 in South Africa; 8 in South America: M. cerifera (L.) Small (Alaska to Panamá, Caribbean, and San Andreas Caribbean Is. off Colombia, Avalon), M. chavalieri C. Parra-O. (puna montane vegetation in Argentina and Bolivia), M. funckii (A. Chev.) C. Parra-O. (tropical Andes), M. parvifolia (Benth.) C. Parra-O. (tropical Andes, populations in Avalon), M. pavonis (C. DC.) Parra-O. (dry coastal areas in N Chile and montanes of S Peru), M. pubescens (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Wilbur. (tropical Andes), M. rotundata (Steyerm. & Maguire) Parra-Os. (Chimantá Massif of Guiana Shield) and M. singularis (C. Parra-O.) C. Parra-O. (tropical Andes, populations in Avalon); M. retroflexa C. Parra-O. & Pallando is endemic to Avalon.
BETULACEAE ‣ Genera/species 6/c. 110 Distribution temperate and polar regions in the Northern Hemisphere and southwards to northern Argentina, North Africa, Himalaya, Indochina and Sumatra. Habit monoecious, usually deciduous (rarely evergreen) trees or shrubs. Horizontal lenticels often abundant.
Alnus Mill. Trees, leaves simple, alternate (sometimes almost distichous), with pinnate venation and serrate or dentate margins, sometimes with indumentum of simple hairs. Intra-petiolar stipules present; flowers unisexual (plants monoecious), borne on catkins, subtended by bracts; petals absent; fruits are one-seeded nuts: flattened, winged and borne in cone-like structure. c. 25 spp. from temperate Northern Hemisphere to Himalaya and Andes; 9 spp. in New World, only one sp. in South America, 4 in Mexico, and 4 in Avalon: A. jorullensis Kunth (also from Mexico to Honduras), A. acuminata Kunth (also from Mexico to N Argentina), and two endemics to Avalon: A. sheldonii Pallando and A. reniformis Pallando.
Carpinus L. 43 spp., Northern Hemisphere up to Nicaragua, Iran, Thailand. Two spp. in New World, C. caroliniana Walter (E. Canada to SE. U.S.A.) and C. tropicalis (Donn.Sm.) Lundell, from Mexico to Nicaragua and Avalon.
Ostrya Scop. 8 spp., N U.S.A. to Central America, Avalon, temp. Eurasia. Two spp. in America Latina, O. knowltonii Coville (SW & SC U.S.A.) and O. virginiana (Mill.) K.Koch (C & E Canada, C & E U.S.A. to Wyoming, Mexico to Central America, Avalon).
MYRTALES
Despite the extraordinary diversity of Myrtales on the continental part of America (with 5,946 spp. in just the two largest families), only two genera from the same family (off 9) colonized the island of Avalon, both generating local radiation, with a total of just 70 spp.
MELASTOMATACEAE ‣ Genera/species 167/4.955–-5.035 Distribution mainly tropical and subtropical regions in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres, with their largest diversity in tropical South America. Habit usually bisexual (rarely androdioecious), evergreen trees or shrubs, perennial herbs (sometimes aquatic) or lianas. Many species are epiphytic. Young stems and branches often quadrangular in cross-section. Some microphyllous species (particularly in Microlicia) have leaves with a single mid-vein only, but can easily be assigned to this family by their distinctive stamens (poricidal anthers and prolonged, often appendaged connectives.
Blakea P.Browne. Trees, shrubs or woody vines, mainly epiphytic; anthers compressed laterally with 2 well-separated apical pores. 236 spp., tropical America, 127 in South America, 53 in Avalon (all endemics, 12 myrmecophytes), highly centered in Colombia (72).
Meriania Sw. Trees or shrubs; inflorescences usually terminal panicles; connective with a dorso-basal spur and sometimes with an ascending dorsal appendage also; seeds narrowly oblong-pyramidal; oblong or reniform with a foveolate testa. 150 spp. from Central America to SE Brazil Federation, Caribbean and Avalon (19, all endemics, in all five sections of genus, Eumerianie, Umbellata, Pachymeriae, Davya and Adelbertia), 121 in South America; 51 spp. in Colombia.
CROSSOSSOMATALES
Only 1 of the 6 families of the order occurs in Avalon, all shrubs and trees in less dense forests.
STAPHYLLEACEAE ‣ Genera/species 3/43 Distribution temperate W and E North America, S Mexico, the West Indies, NW South America southwards to Bolivia, SE Europe, Caucasus, N Türkiye, S India, Sri Lanka, Himalaya, China, Korean Peninsula, Japan, SE Asia, Malesia, New Guinea. Habit Usually bisexual (sometimes monoecious, polygamomonoecious or dioecious), evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs, sometimes stoloniferous.
Staphylea L. 24 spp., Central and SE Europe, Türkiye, Caucasus, temperate Asia to E Asia, E. Canada to Guatemala, Colombia to Ecuador, Avalon. 3 spp. in Avalon, S. insignis (Kunth) Byng & Christenh. (also from Mexico to Guatemala) and two endemics: S. arcta (Radagast) Byng & Christenh. and S. mendelevii (Radagast) Byng & Christenh..
Turpinia L. Deciduous shrubs or small trees; leaves (3–)7– 11-foliolate, with or without stipule-like glands at the insertion of the petioles. 11 spp., China to Japan, S India, Sri Lanka, Himalayas, SE Asia, Malesia to New Guinea, NW South America southwards to Bolivia; 7 spp. in New World, two in South America. One sp. in Avalon, T. parvifoliola L.O.Williams, also in Mexico (Chiapas) to Guatemala.
SAPINDALES
5 of the 9 families occur in Avalon. 4 of the island's 12 genera (Pistacia, Rhus, Acer, Aesculus) have a deep association with the flora of the Northern Hemisphere, some representing explosive radiation on the island, such as Bursera.
ANACARDIACEAE ‣ Genera/species 79/730–750 Distribution mainly tropical and subtropical regions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres; some species in warm-temperate areas northwards to southern Canada, Central and E Europe, and NE China. Habit monoecious, andromonoecious, polygamomonoecious, dioecious, or gynodioecious (sometimes bisexual), evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs (sometimes with spines; rarely lianas or perennial herbs to suffrutices).
Pistacia L. 11 spp., P. mexicana Kunth Texas to Honduras and Avalon (P. mexicana var. nana), remaining in Marocco to Tanzania, Kazalhsthan, Philippines, south up to Malesia.
Rhus L. 84 spp., Canada to Costa Rica and Avalon (30, all endemics), southern Europe, Marocco, Algeria, Turkyie to Japan up NE Australia.
BURSERACEAE ‣ Genera/species 18/c. 610 Distribution tropical and subtropical regions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres northwards to California, Himalaya and E China, and southwards to Uruguay, South Africa and northern Australia. Habit usually dioecious or polygamomonoecious (sometimes bisexual), evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs (sometimes epiphytic). Branches usually spinose. Sometimes pachycaul. Stilt roots or plank buttresses often present. Resin often fragrant (often like almond).
Three genera in Avalon, one disjoint with Mexico, and one that shares, again with Mexico, a peak of diversity.
Beiselia Forman. Two spp., one from Mexico and B. muriculata Radagast & Elrond endemic to Avalon.
Bursera Jacq. ex L. 214 spp. from SW U.S.A., Mexico (96, 83 endemics), Avalon (102, all endemics), Central America, Caribbean, and 7 in South America. A highly incert taxon (B. tonkinensis Engl.) occur in Vietnan. B. rufina Elrondi from NW Avalon, has the largest leaf among Burseraceae.
Dacryodes Vahl. Evergreen dioecious trees; trunk shallowly fluted; crown dense, much branched; leaves imparipinnate; leaflets 5–8-jugate, entire; inflorescences of axillary or terminal, elongated panicles; flowers unisexual; calyx 3-lobed, rotate or broadly campanulate; fruit an ovoid or ellipsoid drupe; endocarp thin and cartilaginous; seed large; cotyledons very much thickened and deeply folded or conduplicate, thus appearing palmately lobed. 113 spp., 32 in Asia, 18 in Africa, and 63 in Neotropics; 49 spp. in South America, 10 in Avalon (D. constanceana Daly & M.C. Martínez, D. edwardsiana Daly, D. illota Daly & M.C. Martínez & Elrondi, D. incurviformis Elrond, D. nigra Radagast, D. perglobosa Daly & M.C. Martínez, D. robnikov Daly & M.C. Martínez, D. serratodens Elrondi & Radagast, D. subbracteata Elrond, D. subspathacea Daly), all endemics.
SAPINDACEAE ‣ Genera/species c 43/1,650–1,690 Distribution tropical, subtropical and temperate regions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Habit monoecious, andromonoecious, polygamomonoecious, dioecious, androdioecious, or polygamodioecious (sometimes bisexual), evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs or lianas (Cardiospermum consists of perennial climbing herbs with inflorescence branches modified into tendrils).
Acer L. 162 spp., Alaska to Honduras and Avalon (9, all endemics: A. alexandrovii Y.S.Chen & Q.E.Yang & Radagast, A. elynoides Radagast, A. giklin Radagast, A. laxiflora Radagast, A. molestiformis Y.S.Chen & Q.E.Yang & Radagast, A. narniana Y.S.Chen & Q.E.Yang & Radagast, A. natashaii Amini, H.Zare & Assadi & Radagast, A. sputnikii Elrondi, A. trisperma Amini, H.Zare & Assadi & Radagast), Scandinavia to Algeria, east up to SE Russia, southeast up to Philippines, Java and Timor.
Acer natashaii Amini, H.Zare & Assadi & Radagast, 1987, in Hyperborea region
Aesculus L. 14 spp., SE Europe to Türkiye, Afghanistan to Japan and Indochina, SE Canada to Central & E U.S.A., Oregon to NW Mexico, Avalon (2, both endemics: A. avaloniana Radagast & Elrondi and A. sapindifolia Elrondi).
Billia Peyr. Trees; leaves opposite, trifoliolate; margins entire. Two spp., B. hippocastanum Peyr. from Mexico to Panamá and Avalon, red to pink flowers, and B. rosea (Planch. & Linden) C. Ulloa & P. Jørg., white petals, Costa Rica to the southern extent of the range in Colombia; reddish or yellowish on the bases and/or veins as well as larger, thicker, more waxy leaves than the northern species; the two species have overlapping geographic ranges in Costa Rica and northern Panamá.
Exothea Macfad. Trees, dioecious, falsely polygamous; leaves alternate, paripinnate. Two spp., E. paniculata (Juss.) Radlk. distributed throughout Caribbean, Mexico, Guatemala, Avalon, Colombia, and Ecuador, and E. copalillo (Schltdl.) Radlk. endemic to Mexico.
MELIACEAE ‣ Genera/species 58/590–600 Distribution tropical and subtropical lowland areas, mainly southern and SE Asia; few species in warm-temperate regions; Xylocarpus consists of mangrove trees. Habit bisexual, monoecious, polygamomonoecious or dioecious, evergreen trees and shrubs (in Munronia suffrutices, in Naregamia perennial herbs). Bark often with a bitter taste, often with a strong garlic-like or sweet smell, etc. A single genus in Avalon.
Carapa Aubl. Trees of very variable habit, up to 40 m tall; leaves usually paripinnate, and with an apical gland, mostly crowded at ends of stout branchlets; flowers unisexual, 4- or 5(6)-merous, in large, much-branched panicles; fruit a large, septifragal capsule, breaking open on hitting ground; seeds 12–20, large, subangular, with a woody but buoyant outer covering. 25 spp. 16 in New World, 5 in Avalon: C. nicaraguensis C.DC. (also Nicaragua to W Ecuador), and 4 endemics: C. barrattii Eb.Fisch., Killmann, Leh, S.B.Janssens & Radagast, C. prairea A.Chev. ex Kenfack & Radagast, C. alata Radagast and C. megavesicariflia Elrondi, the latter has the largest leaf among Meliaceae.
RUTACEAE ‣ Genera/species 152/1,650-1,700 Distribution tropical, subtropical and warm-temperate regions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with their largest species diversities in southern South Africa and Australia. Habit usually bisexual (rarely monoecious, andromonoecious, polygamomonoecious, or dioecious), evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs or lianas (rarely perennial herbs). Often strongly aromatic. Many species are xerophytes. A single genus in Avalon.
Amyris P. Browne. Glabrous shrubs or trees, sometimes armed with short, axillary spines. 61 spp., U.S.A. (Texas, Florida), Mexico, Avalon, Central America (including Caribbean) to Peru disjunct in French Guiana; 13 spp. occur in South America. In Avalon there are 14 spp., A. balsamifera L. (also S Florida, Mexico to tropical America), A. elemifera L. (also in Florida, S Mexico to Honduras, Caribbean to NW Venezuela), and remaining 12 endemics.
MALVALES
In Avalon, only 2 of the 10 families of the order occur: one of an extremely rare tree and relict with the Colombian Amazon; another widely distributed throughout the island, with a lineage linked to the Northern Hemisphere, Tilia.
DIPTEROCARPACEAE ‣ Genera /species 22/c. 550 Distribution Colombian Amazonas, tropical Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles, tropical Asia eastwards to New Guinea, with their highest diversity in the West Malesian lowland rainforests. Habit Bisexual, evergreen trees or shrubs. Often with large plank buttresses.
Pseudomonotes Lodoño, Alvarez & Morton. Main canopy unbuttressed trees 25-30 m tall, to 70-80 cm diam.; branchlets terete, glabrous; leaves 9-23 cm long, 6-16 cm wide, entire, chartaceous; inflorescence axillary, subcymose, 5-7 cm long; flowers bisexual, actinomorphic; flower bud 5-8 mm long, 2-4 mm wide (flowers only observed in bud); corolla glabrous, greenish white, petals 5, stamens numerous, fruit a dry nut, 3-4 cm long, 1.5-2 cm wide, glabrous, ovoid, pericarp woody; seed 1 per fruit. Two spp., P. troprenbosii Lodoño, Alvarez & Morton., known only from the type locality in the vicinity of Araracuara, Department of Amazonas, Colombia, at 200-300 m elevation, and P. insularis Radagast, known from SW peninsula in Avalon.
MALVACEAE ‣ Genera /species 246/4,400-4,700 Distribution Cosmopolitan except polar areas, with their largest diversity in tropical forests. Habit Usually bisexual (rarely monoecious, polygamomonoecious or dioecious), evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs or suffrutices (rarely lianas), perennial, biennial or annual herbs. Some species are xerophytes. Some genera with tough fibres in bark and stem.
In Avalon does not occur Grewioideae, Helicteroideae, Sterculioideae and Brownlowioideae subfamilies.
BYTTNERIOIDEAE
Theobroma L. Small trees, al shoots orthotropic, leaves digitately compound, often cauliflorous. 37 spp. in tropical South America (one up to Central America), 17 in mainland Brazil Federation, 13 in Avalon, T. mammosum Cuatr. & León, rare, known also from Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and 12 endemics: T. abrupta Alastar & Pallando, T. andropovii Elrondi, Bobadill, Radagast, Alastar & Pallando, T. eburnea Elrondi, T. fuliginosa Alastar & Pallando, T. garberi Alastar & Pallando, T. laxa Alastar & Pallando, T. muscowiana Alastar & Pallando, T. oligosperma Bombadill, T. oziana Alastar & Pallando, T. shortiana Radagast, T. scirpoidea Bombadill, Alastar & Pallando, T. sartwellii Alastar & Pallando.
TILIOIDEAE
Mortoniodendron Standl. & Steyerm. Shrubs or small to vast trees, sometimes buttressed; leaves simple, margin entire. 25 spp. from southern Mexico to Panamá and Avalon (10, all endemics), highly centered in Central America, one of then up to NW Colombia in South America.
Tilia L. 30 spp., Canada to Mexico, Avalon (only T. americana L. in New World), Spain to Iran up to Siberia, E Asia from SE Russia to Vietnan, absent in Autralasia.
MALVOIDEAE/MATISEAE
Matisia Bonpl. Trees, with 3-verticilate branches. 111 spp., in tropical South America, 4 spp. up to Central America, some with edible fruits, high diverse in Avalon (45 spp., all endemics).
Quararibea Aubl. Trees up to 30 m tall, with 4-5 verticillate branches, occasionally lepidote, leaves unifoliate, flowers small (2.0–6.4 cm in length), solitary, opposite the leaves or axillary, ramiflorous, pendulous or erect, usually cauliflorous. 51 spp., Neotropical, some with edible fruit; 34 in South America, 9 in Avalon: Q. funebris (La Llave) Vischer (also Mexico to C. America) and Q. gomeziana W.S.Alverson (also E Costa Rica to W Panama), and 7 endemics: Q. ebenea Fern.Alonso & Elrondi, Q. mariposana Alastar & Pallando, Q. axomuehlenbergii Alastar & Pallando, Q. pelopidas Alastar & Pallando, Q. macarinski Radagast, Q. ugliov Fern.Alonso & Elrondi and Q. rariflora Radagast.
MALVOIDEAE/MALVEAE
Malva L. 57 spp., 8 in New World, one in California, 3 in NW Mexico, and 4 endemics to Avalon: M. deweyana Pallando, M. gracilior Fryxell & Alastar, M. infirminervia Pallando and M. saximontana Pallando.
Malva infirminervia Pallando in Kadesh Kingdom
Sida L. Perennial herbs or subshrubs, erect or prostrate, glabrous or pubescent, sometimes viscid; leaves petiolate to subsessile, the blades ovate (sometimes lobed), elliptic, rhombic, or linear, usually dentate; flowers solitary in the leaf axils, in axillary glomerules, or in dense or open terminal inflorescences; pedicels shorter than to much longer than the calyces; involucel absent; calyx 5-lobed, often 10-ribbed at the base and plicate in bud; corolla white, yellow, orangeish, rose, or purplish, sometimes with a dark red center. 200 or more spp., pantropical, extending into temperate zones worldwide; 187 spp. in New World, 157 in South America, 18 in Avalon, none endemics.
MALVOIDEAE/GOSSYPIEAE
Hampea Schltdl. Trees or shrubs, mostly dioecious; leaves petiolate, the blades elliptic, ovate, or weakly lobed, entire; flowers solitary in the leaf axils or in axillary fascicles; petals whitish, glanddotted, reflexed. 21 spp. from Mexico to Colombia (3, two endemics and one up to reaching into Panamá) and Avalon (3, all endemics: H. dasycarpa Alastar, H. lonchocarpa Fryxell & Elrondi, H. simplidendrocarpa Alastar, Fryxell & Elrondi).
MALVOIDEAE/HIBISCEAE
Pavonia Cav. Prostrate perennial herbs, erect subshrubs, or shrubs (rarely arborescent, often cauliflorous), sometimes viscid or glabrate; leaves petiolate, ovate, elliptic, lanceolate, oblanceolate, deltoid, sometimes lobed, asymmetrical, dentate or crenate (rarely entire); flowers solitary or paired in the leaf axils or aggregated in racemes, panicles, or heads; involucel 4-22- parted, the bractlets distinct or basally connate; calyx 5-10bed; petals white, yellow, lavender, purple, sometimes with a dark basal spot. 291 spp., 60 in Old World and 233 from S U.S.A. to Argentina and in the Caribbean Islands, absent only from Chile. Two clades in Avalon:
subg. Asterochlamys sect. Albae (5, 3 in Mexico to Colombia and Venezuela, 2 endemics to Avalon: P. holostoma Fryxell & Elrondi and P. oligocarpa Fryxell & Elrondi).
subg. Malache (47, 18 spp. from Florida to Pará state in Brazil Federation in Atlantic coast, and from Panamá to Ecuador in Pacific coast, and 19 endemic to Avalon).
BOMBACOIDEAE
Bernoullia Oliver. Trees, leaves 3-7 digitate; flowers brownish to orange. Three spp., two in Mexico and Central America (B. flammea Oliv. also in Avalon), and B. uribeana Cuatrec. endemic to Colombia.
Bernoullia flammea Oliv. in Rastafar Land
Gyranthera Pittier. Tall, dioecious trees up to 65 m high, leaves digitate, possibly the tallest Malvales in South America and tallest tree in Venezuela. Three spp., G. darienensis Pittier from Panamá to Ecuador, disjunct in Avalon, and G. caribensis Pittier endemic to Venezuela; and one from Colombia and N Ecuador.
Pachira Aubl. Trees, sometimes dioecious up to 50 m tall. 70 spp., 64 neotropical and six species (subg. Rhodognaphalon) in tropical Africa; 49 spp. in South America, slightly centered in forest of NW South America and Avalon (14, all endemics).
BRASSICALES
Only 3 of the order's 18 families occur in Avalon, the three from the most derived clade of the order. The two most basal ones have only 4 genera on the island.
CAPPARACEAE ‣ Genera/species 16/460-470. Distribution cosmopolitan except continental Antarctica Habit usually bisexual (rarely monoecious, andromonoecious or dioecious), usually perennial, biennial or annual herbs (sometimes evergreen or deciduous shrubs, suffrutices, rarely lianas or small trees). Some species are succulents and some are aquatic. Many species are xerophytes.
Capparidastrum (DC.) Hutch. Shrubs to/or trees (rarely herbaceous in C. humile (Hassl.) X. Cornejo & H. H. Iltis), glabrous or covered by simple short trichomes; leaves simple, spirally arranged; inflorescences racemose, usually terminal, rarely cauline (C. frondosum (Jacq.) X. Cornejo & H. H. Iltis, in Hispaniola and Brazil Federation); petals 4; fruits pendulous, capsular. 25 spp., ranging from S Mexico to N Argentina, and Caribbean, centered from the lowlands to the lower slopes at both sides of the Andes of Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. Three spp. in Avalon, all endemics: C. archelandica Cornejo & Radagast, C. umbellata Cornejo & Radagast and C. pachystachya Cornejo & Radagast.
Morisonia L. Shrubs or small trees, up to 7m tall; leaves simple. Three spp., M. multiflora Triana & Planch. only in Colombia, M. oblongifolia Britton in W Brazil Federation (Acre and Amazonas states), Bolivia and Peru, and M. americana L. from Mexico and Caribbean up to Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and Guianas, also in Avalon.
Morisonia americana L. in NE Kimmachia
CLEOMACEAE ‣ Genera/species 25/c 370. Distribution cosmopolitan except continental Antarctica; Habit usually bisexual (rarely monoecious, andromonoecious or dioecious), usually perennial, biennial or annual herbs (sometimes evergreen or deciduous shrubs, suffrutices, rarely lianas or small trees). Some species are succulents and some are aquatic. Many species are xerophytes.
Cochranella M.McGinty & Roalson. Small to large unarmed annuals (0.75–1 m) to occasionally longer-lived tropical herbs, with a mixture simple and glandular-pubescent foliage; leaves 5–9-foliolate, estipulate; flowers with closed corolla aestivation, bisexual; petals glabrous, narrowly clawed, variable in color, usually white to pink or purple, but sometimes with a more green/greenish-yellow hue. Only one sp., C. pilosa (Bentham) E.M.McGinty & Roalson, W to S Mexico (Sinaloa to Chiapas) to Ecuador and Venezuela, Hispaniola, and Avalon; in wet areas.
Podandrogyne Ducke. Unisexual flowers (monoecious plants); petals often orange or orange-red; placentas contorted and seeds have a large aril. 42 spp., 30 restricted from montanes foresty habitats from Venezuela to Bolivia, three of them up to Central America, two restricted of Central America, and 10 endemics to Avalon.
BRASSICACEAE ‣ Genera/species 346/3,977 Distribution cosmopolitan, with their largest diversity in temperate regions in the Northern Hemisphere. Habit usually herbs (sometimes shrubs, rarely trees, very rarely lianas), taprooted or with few to many-branched and slender or woody caudex, sometimes with slender or tuberous rhizomes, rarely stoloniferous; terrestrial or rarely submerged aquatics, with a pungent watery juice, without or rarely with multicellular glandular papillae or tubercles; petals rarely lobate or fimbriate. Stamens (two, four or) six (24 in Megacarpaea), two outer often shorter than four inner (tetradynamous), approximately as long as petals; nickel or zinc accumulated in many species; selenium accumulated in, e.g., Stanleya sp.; from the sister family Cleomaceae, the Neotropical Brassicaceae are easily distinguished by having actinomorphic corolla, fruit septum, and curved embryos without a gap between the radicle and cotyledons, as well as by lacking the stipules and palmately compound leaves.
Mexico has (42/)212 spp., continental Brazil has (23/)128 spp., and Avalon has (6/)118 spp. (106 endemics).
ARABODEAE (1/2 in Avalon)
Athysanus Greene. Annuals; not scapose; glabrous or pubescent, trichomes simple mixed with short-stalked, forked, 3-rayed, or cruciform ones. Stems (few from base), ascending, branched. Leaves basal and cauline; petiolate or sessile; basal not rosulate, shortly petiolate, blade margins entire or dentate; cauline shortly petiolate or sessile, blade (base not auriculate), margins entire or dentate. Two spp., A. pusillus (Hook.) Greene and A. unilateralis (M.E.Jones) Jeps., both from NW North America to NW Mexico, disjuncts up to Avalon.
BRASSICODAE/COLUTEOCARPEAE (1/2 in Avalon)
Noccaea Moend. Annual or perennial herbs. 128 spp., distributed primarily in Europe and Asia, with one species endemic each in N Africa (Algeria), N. magelanica (Comm. ex Poir.) Holub in Patagonia from Argentina and Chile, N. mexicana (Standl.) Holub only in Mexico and Avalon, N. duriuscula Al Shehbaz & Pallando from Avalon, and three in the U.S.A. (one of then reaches up to Mexico).
BRASSICODAE/THELYPODIEAE (13/56 spp. in Mexico, 6/38 in mainland Brazil Federation).
Absent in Avalon.
BRASSICODAE/BRASSICEAE (1/3)
Cakile Mill. Annual, often glabrous; leaves fleshy. 7 spp., two in coasts in Europe, Mediterranean, Arabian Peninsula, 4 in New World, two Mexico southwards, both in Avalon, C. geniculata (B.L.Rob.) Millsp. (also Louisiana, Texas, Mexico) and C. lanceolata (Willd.) O.E.Schulz (also in coasts of S. Florida to Colombia and Caribbean).
CAMELINODEAE (23/134 in Mexico, 6/30 in continental Brazil). (3/)112 spp. in Pacas.
Cardamine [23, 19 endemics]Lepidium [78, 77 endemics]Rorippa [9, all endemics]
HELIOPHILOIDEAE - absent in Avalon.
SANTALALES
Avalon presents an unusually low diversity of Santalales genera, with only 3, all aerial parasites, in two of the 14 families of the order.
LORANTHACEAE ‣ Genera/species 78/c 1,035 Distribution tropical and subtropical regions, with their largest diversity in the Southern Hemisphere, and a few species in temperate parts in the Northern or Southern Hemispheres (SE Europe, Japan, New Zealand). Habit Usually bisexual (rarely dioecious; in Nuytsia monoecious), usually evergreen shrubs (sometimes lianas; Atkinsonia, Gaiadendron and Nuytsia are root parasitic trees) with distinctly sympodial growth. Usually hemiparasites (rarely leafless holoparasites) and stem parasites. Some species are hyperparasites on stem hemiparasitic shrubs. Branches rarely transformed into photosynthezising phyllocladia. Shoots rarely resembling Cuscuta in appearance.
Oryctanthus (Griseb.) Eichler. Leafy plants, succulent spical into monodes, phyllotaxy decussate, leaves leathery; inflorescences solitary or axillary where clustered at the nodes; flowers bisexusl, usually hexamerous, yellow to dark red; fruit several coloured. 18 spp., from Mexico to South America, one also in Caribbean, 5 spp. in Avalon, O. cordifolius (C.Presl) Urb. (also S Mexico to Colombia) and three endemics to Avalon: O. bebbii Kuijt & Elrondi, O. grisea Kuijt & Elrondi and O. seorsa Kuijt & Elrondi.
Psittacanthus Mart. Epiphytes, glabrous or pilose, parasites on the branches of dicotyledonous trees, connected to the host only by the initial haustorium, monoecious, flowers very showy. 115 spp., distributed from Baja California to Mexico to Argentina, Jamaica and Lesser Antilles, 87 in South America, 33 in Brazil Federation (except southern region, 8 endemics, three of then in Amazon rainforests are rare in Brazil Federation by Plantas Raras do Brasil’s book), in most diverse habitats. Only two species in Avalon, both very remarkable: P. gigas Kuijt is a species Bajo Calima region in W Colombia and isolated populations in Avalon, which represent one the largest simple leaves of Loranthaceae, with individual masses of tissue 1 m long and over 50 cm wide; P. nudus (Ant. Molina) Kuijt & Feuer from Mexico, Avalon and Central America is the only aphyllous species in this genus.
SANTALACEAE ‣ Genera/species c 45/c 1.020 Distribution mostly tropical and subtropical regions, temperate parts in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with their largest diversity in semiarid climates. Habit bisexual, monoecious or dioecious, usually evergreen trees or shrubs, or perennial herbs, sometimes with distinct sympodial growth. Root or stem hemiparasites (Phacellaria and some species of Viscum are hyperparasites, parasitizing on Loranthaceae or Amphorogynaceae). Sometimes spiny or xeromorphic. Branches sometimes photosynthesizing phyllocladia in Viscum sp. from E Cape. A single genus in Avalon.
Arceuthobium M.Bieb. 54 spp., North & Central America, Caribbean, Medit. to E tropical Africa, Himalaya to Peninsula Malaysia; 16 spp. in Avalon, all endemics, two then hyperparasitics in other species.
CARYOPHYLLALES
Of the 38 families of the order, 12 occur in Avalon, with extreme emphasis on the complete absence of Polygonaceae and high diversities of Amaranthus, Boehavia, Opuntia and Tephrocactus.
DROSERACEAE ‣ Genera/species 3/c. 180 Distribution Cosmopolitan except polar and arid regions, with their largest species diversity in Australia and New Zealand. Habit Bisexual, perennial or annual herbs (in Drosera sometimes climbing). Corm or tuberous rhizome present in some species of Drosera. Most species are hygrophytes; Aldrovanda is aquatic with submersed leaves. Carnivorous; Aldrovanda: ‘snaptraps’ with c. 20 trigger hairs per foliar lobe; Dionaea: ‘snaptraps’ with three trigger hairs per foliar lobe; Drosera: ‘flypaper traps’.One genus in Neotropics and in Avalon.
Drosera L. Bisexual, perennial or annual herbs, sometimes climbers; modified, insectivorous leaves with enzyme-secreting, tentacle-like glandular trichomes; adapted to grow in wet areas with very few available nutrients - such as bogs and swamps. c. 180 spp., cosmopolitan genus, found from sea-level to altitudes over 3,000 m throughout the Neotropics, exceptionally diverse in SW Australia, where there are about one third of the species in the whole genus; 47 spp. in New World, 31 in Brazil, 5 in Avalon, all endemics (D. amplifolia Pallando & Alastar, D. calcifugens Elrondi, D. dracos Rivadavia & Gonella, D. fracta Rivadavia, Gonella & Radagast, D. impressinervia Rivadavia, Gonella & Radagast), belonging the subg. Ergaleium, known elsewhere only from Australia and S Venezuela.
FRANKENIACEAE ‣ Genera/species 1/82 Distribution northernmost and southernmost Africa, Macaronesia, St. Helena, southern Europe, SW Asia and Australia, with their largest diversity in Mediterranean and SW Asia, New World. Habit Usually bisexual (sometimes polygamomonoecious), evergreen shrubs, suffrutices or perennial (sometimes annual) herbs. Usually halophytic or xerophytic, sometimes gypsophilous or calciphilous.
Frankenia L. Caracters of family, sometimes cushions in South America. 78 spp., 16 spp. in New World, 9 spp. in SW South America: F. chilensis C. Presl, from coastal areas of SW Brazil and N Chile, in saline conditions; F. triandra J. Rémy, an inland species, also found in SW Brazil and N Chile, NW Argentina and the Puna of Bolivia at 3,350-4,800 m; six restricteds of Cono Sur up to Uruguay, and F. salina (Molina) I.M. Johnst. disjunct North America and Cono Sur. 4 spp. in Avalon, all endemics: F. hyalina Radagast, F. oxylepis Radagast, F. platyphylla Radagast and F. woodii Radagast.
PLUMBAGINACEAE ‣ Genera/species 21/700–800 Distribution Cosmopolitan except Antarctica, with their largest diversity in arid and saline environments of Mediterranean and SW and Central Asia. Habit Bisexual, usually perennial herbs or shrubs (sometimes annual herbs, rarely lianas). Many species are xerophytes or halophytes.
Plumbago L. Herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, leafy. 24 spp., tropical to warm-temperate regions on both hemispheres, mainly in Africa, Mediterranean, 4 in New World (a single in Avalon, P. sabulosa Radagast & Pallando, endemic); can be found throughout the Neotropics in dry scrubland, lowland tropical forest and in the Andes; two spp. in South America, P. zeylanica L. dry scrubland from Mexico to Argentina (cosmopolitan, in all New World countries except Canada, Panamá, Chile and Uruguay) and Brazil Federation; and P. caeruela Kunth. Colombia, S Ecuador to Chile and Argentina, absent in Brazil Federation.
Plumbago sabulosa Radagast & Pallando near Shadrow, Avalon
CARYOPHYLLACEAE ‣ Genera/Species 106/2625 Distribution Cosmopolitan although mainly temperate regions in the Northern Hemisphere, the Arctic, temperate parts of the Southern Hemisphere (including the Antarctic continent), tropical mountains, with their largest diversity in Mediterranean and West and Central Asia. Habit Usually bisexual (rarely monoecious, andromonoecious, dioecious or gynodioecious), usually perennial, biennial or annual herbs (sometimes suffrutices; rarely shrubs, small trees or lianas).
Only 5 spp. in Avalon, all in a own endemic genus, in 5 different lineages at this family.
Donssia Elrondi. Herbs. A single spp., D. shinnersii Elrondi, endemic to Avalon.
Eonkmania Elrondi. Herbs. A single spp., E. alopecoidea Elrondi, endemic to Avalon.
Echindelia Dillenb., Kadereit & Elrondi. Herbs. A single spp., E. serpenticola Dillenb., Kadereit & Elrondi, endemic to Avalon.
Gullsglossum Dillenb., Kadereit & Elrondi. Herbs. A single spp., G. crus-corvi Dillenb., Kadereit & Elrondi, endemic to Avalon.
Protorhasiella Elrondi & Pallando. Herbs. A single spp., P. trichocarpa Elrondi & Pallando, endemic to Avalon.
AMARANTHACEAE ‣ Genera/species 184/2,400–2,500 Distribution Cosmopolitan except polar areas, with their highest diversity in saline, arid and semiarid areas. Habit Usually bisexual (sometimes monoecious, andromonoecious, gynomonoecious, dioecious, androdioecious, rarely polygamomonoecious), perennial, biennial or annual herbs, evergreen or deciduous suffrutices or shrubs (rarely trees or lianas), sometimes with spines. Often leaf or stem succulents. C4 plants with c. 17 different types of foliar anatomy. Many species are halophytes or xerophytes.
Allenrolfea O. Kuntze. Succulent, articulate shrubs without distinct leaves; flowers 3 to 5 in the axil of free bracts. 13 spp., A. occidentalis (S. Watson) Kuntze from U.S.A. and N Mexico; A. patagonica (Moq.) Kuntze and A. vaginata (Griseb) Kuntze are restricted from dry areas in Argentina; and 10 spp. endemics to Avalon.
Alternanthera Forssk. Annual or perennial, sometimes scrabling or floating, with opposite leaves; inflorescence axillary, sessile or pendunculate, solitary or fasciculate, of heads or shorts spikes. 102 spp. of New World, 82 in South America. 11 spp. in Avalon, 7 endemics.
Amaranthus L. Annual or more rarely perennial herbs (only in A. peruvianus (Schauer) Standl., A. rosengurttii Hunz. and A. vulgatissimus Speg.), erect or rarely decumbent, monoecious or dioecious, green, but sometimes pupish because betalains; inflorescence terminal, spikes or paniculate. 100 spp., 70 in New World, 32 in Mexico (six endemics), 34 in Avalon (9 endemics), 31 in South America.
Celosia L. Perennial, annual, suffrutescent or ocasionally scadent herbs; flowers in lax or compact thyrses or spikes. 45 spp., worldwide, 10 in South America, 6 mainly Mexico, one up to North America and another up Noth America and Caribbean. 6 spp. in Avalon, C. moquinii Guill. ex Moq. (also in Mexico: Colima, Mochoacán), C. nitida Vahl (also in Texas to C. America, Florida, Caribbean to Venezuela), and 4 endemics: C. crawei Radagast, C. curatorum Radagast, C. micropoda Radagast and C. occidentalis Radagast.
Iresine P.Browne (✕ Pffaffia). Annual or perennial herbs to subshrubs or shrubs, rarely scadent or small trees; inflorescence capitate or spike-like. 38 spp., widely distributed in New Worlds, mainly in Mexico (30, 20 endemics), 7 in South America, 4 in Avalon, none endemics: I. cassiniiformis S.Schauer (also Mexico to Guatemala), I. interrupta Benth. (also Mexico to Nicaragua), I. nigra Uline & W.L.Bray (also Mexico to Panama) and I. rhizomatosa Standl. (also C & S U.S.A. to Paraguay).
Salicornia L. Annual or perennial fleshy herbs or subshrubs, erect to prostrate, sometimes creeping and rooting at the nodes. 52 spp. in 4 subgenera, 17 in New World, 7 in Avalon, 5 endemics: S. vacillans Mosyakin, Clemants & Pallando, S. laportea Mosyakin, Clemants & Pallando, S. avaloniana Mosyakin, Clemants & Pallando and S. athrostachya Mosyakin, Clemants & Pallando.
AIZOACEAE ‣ Genera/species 120/c 1,800 Distribution Arid tropical and subtropical regions including western and southern Australia, with their highest diversity in S and SW Africa. Only six genera occurs in Westren Hemisphere. Habit predominantly succulent, annual to perennial herbs, subshrubs or shrubs.
A single genus in Avalon.
Notovolkeranthus Martius. 7 spp., all endemics to Avalon: N. atlas Alastar, N. rastafar Alastar, N. cordillerana Alastar & Elrondi, N. muchkiniana (Martius) Elrondi, N. mitchelliana Alastar, N. ormostachya Alastar & Elrondi and N. praticola Alastar.
PHYTOLACCACEAE ‣ Genera/species 5/c 30. Distribution tropical and subtropical regions, with their largest diversity in South America, also in Chile. Habit Usually bisexual (rarely dioecious), evergreen trees, shrubs or lianas (Ercilla), perennial or annual herbs. perennial or annual herbs (Anisomeria is a succulent). Anisomeria and some species of Phytolacca with napiform roots.
Agdestis Moc. & Sessé ex DC. Only one sp., A. clematidea Moc. & Sessé ex DC. from Texas to Nicaragua and Avalon.
NYCTAGINACEAE ‣ Genera/species 31/300–400 Distribution Tropical, subtropical and warm-temperate regions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with their largest diversity in North and South America; Phaeoptilum in SW Africa. Habit Usually bisexual (rarely monoecious, andromonoecious, gynomonoecious or dioecious), evergreen or deciduous trees (Leucastereae), shrubs or lianas, perennial or annual herbs. Roots sometimes fleshy or tuberous. A single genus in Avalon.
Boerhavia L. Annual or perennial herbs, rarely wood at base. 121 spp., 30 only Old World, 21 spp. from U.S.A. to Central America, one in Hawaii, 13 endemics to Avalon, six endemics to South America, in Peru (3), Argentina (2) and Chile (1), B. coccinea Mill. and B. erecta L. native from U.S.A. to Bolivia, sometimes adventive in Brazil Federation, and only native to Brazil Federation, the widely distributed pantropical B. diffusa L.
BASELLACEAE ‣ Genera/species 4/19 Distribution Tropical and subtropical regions of America (most species) and Africa, Madagascar; introduced into South Asia, New Guinea and islands of the Pacific. Habit Usually bisexual (rarely monoecious; some functionally unisexual), winding or climbing perennial herbs or lianas, slightly to distinctly fleshy. Stem bases and rhizome usually swollen and tuberous; roots sometimes tuberous. Perenial, sub-fleshy to succulent, herbaceous or occasionaly suffruticose vines, or sometimes erect plants. Small flowers with 2 petaloid sepals and 5 petals, subtended by 2 opposite bracteoles.
Tournonia Moq. Scandent succulent twining vines, producing new shoots to tickend stem base. Only one sp., T. hookeriana Moq., known paramo and semi-dry scrub to more humid forest at high altitudes from W Colombia to N Ecuador, disjunct in Avalon.
TALINACEAE ‣ Genera/species 2/28 Distribution Africa, Madagascar, North and South America, with their largest diversity in southern North America; 'Talinella': Madagascar, 12 spp.; Habit Bisexual, usually small shrubs (sometimes perennial herbs, suffrutices or small trees; ‘Talinella’ lianoid shrubs) with somewhat succulent leaves. Subterraneous organs often tuberous. Aerial parts often ephemeral.
Talinum Adans. Shrublets with annual branches from a perennial base, usually tuberous; leaves basally in a rosette or semirosette; inflorescence normally a compact terminal panicle composed of branched lateral cymes, less commonly of terminal branched cymes or, rarely, of solitary axillary flowers; flowers opening during the day or during the night, small or large (0.5 – 2.2 cm diam.). 23 spp., 4 restricted of S Africa, T. portulacifolium lium (Forsk.) Aschers. ex Schweinf occur in Africa to India; 18 in New World, 6 endemic to Avalon (T. normalis Bacigalupo & Radagast, T. haydenii Bacigalupo & Radagast, T. supina Bacigalupo & Radagast, T. alma Bacigalupo & Radagast, T. nova Bacigalupo & Radagast, T. inops Bacigalupo & Radagast), 6 in South America: three restricted of Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina, two widely distributed (with T. paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn. in Brazil Federation), and T. triangulare (Jacq.) Willd. in Brazil Federation, Venezuela and Peru, also Avalon, cultivated as a salad plant.
PORTULACACEAE ‣ Genera/species 1/152. Distribution: cosmopolitan. Habit Bisexual, perennial or annual herbs (in Portulaca suffrutescens Engelm. somewhat lignified at stem base). Roots often tuberous. Usually leaf succulents. Use Ornamental plants, vegetables, medicinal plants. Only one genus.
Portulaca L. Usually succulent herbs mostly with tuberous roots. 116 spp., cosmopolitan, with two subgenera, one endemic to Australia, the other cosmopolitan; 75 in New World, 56 in South America. Only one in Avalon, P. oleracea L., possibly adventice (no native) in New World.
CACTACEAE ‣ Genera/species 150/1,862 Distribution/Habit mainly arid and semiarid regions of North and South America (British Columbia and Alberta southwards to Patagonia); also epiphytes and lianas in rain forests and other moist forests (Rhipsalis baccifera also in tropical Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mascarenes and Sri Lanka, possibly introduced).
LEUENBERGERIOIDEAE
Leuenbergeria Lodé. Small trees and shrubs, may be lianas, with precocious development of the cork cambium and without stomata in the stems (not xeric features in plants); yellow flowers in two spp., one in Brazil, another in Colombia/Venezuela; over all others cactus has cauline stomata. 9 spp., three in Hispaniola, one in Cuba, 1 from Pacific coastal area from S Mexico to Costa Rica in lowland dry forest from sea level to 1,000 m, also in Avalon (L. lychnidiflora (DC.) Lodé), and three in South America: L. aureiflora (F. Ritter) Lodé in dry seasonal scrubland of NE Brazil (caatinga), at NE Minas Gerais and S Bahia, at elevations of 300–700 m; L. bleo (Kutnh) Lodé in Panamá and Colombia along rivers and in secondary forests, from sea level to 500 m; and L. guamacho (F.A.C. Weber) Lodé in drier regions of Colombia and Venezuela, from sea level to 800 m; possibly also the Dutch Antilles.
OPUNTIOIDEAE/OPUNTIEAE
Opuntia Mill. Shrubs to tree-like plants with reduced, sometimes cushions, scale-like leaves and flattened pads with glochids and serrate spines, flower with well defined green pericarpel. 257 spp., from Canada to Argentina, 82 endemics to Avalon, 54 in South America.
OPUNTIOIDEAE/TEPHROCACTEAE
Tephrocactus Lemaire. 45 spp., 33 endemic to Avalon, 11 from Argentina and one endemic to Peru.
CORNALES
Two of the 7 families of the order occur in Avalon. Only 11 spp. on the island, with forested Cornus and Aosa, and the other herbaceous Loasaceae from open land.
CORNACEAE ‣ Genera/species 6/c 102: Cornus (c 60), Alangium (21), Nyssa (8), Camptotheca (1), Davidia (1), Diplopanax (2), Mastixia (c 20). Distribution Temperate regions in the Northern Hemisphere, tropical Central and E Africa, Madagascar, Mascarene Islands, subtropical and tropical Asia, Malesia, New Guinea and nearby islands, E Australia, Melanesia. Habit Usually bisexual (in Alangium grisolleoides Capuron and some species of Cornus dioecious), evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs (Cornus suecica L. and C. canadensis L. are stoloniferous perennial herbs or suffrutices; some species of Alangium are lianas). Use Ornamental plants, fruits (Cornus mas L. etc.), timber.
Cornus L. Trees or shrubs; leaves opposite or alternate, simple, margins entire or denticulate, primary venation pinnate, arching; stipules very rarely present; inflorescences terminal occasionally axillary, cymose, involucres petal-like; flowers bisexual (rarely unisexual and dioecious), small, actinomorphic; sepals 4(-10); petals 4(-10), free, valvate; fruit a grooved, globose or ovoid drupe; seeds 2, flat. 60 spp., northern temperate up to Central America, only one sp. in South America. 4 spp. in Avalon, C. disciflora Moc. & Sessé ex DC. (also in Mexico to Central America), C. excelsa Kunth (also in Mexico to Honduras), and two endemics: C. bella W.P.Fang & W.K.Hu & Radagast and C. globosa W.P.Fang & W.K.Hu & Radagast.
LOASACEAE ‣ Genera/species 21/c 346 Distribution Temperate, subtropical and tropical regions of North, Central and South America from SW Canada to Argentina and Chile, Caribbean, the Galápagos Islands, Marquesas Islands; one species in SW Africa; one species in Somalia, NE Ethiopia, and the SW Arabic Peninsula. Habit Usually annual, biennial or perennial herbs, sometimes winding, rarely subshrubs or a succulent tree with often exfoliating bark, very rarely woody lianas or cushion-forming plants, thickend storage roots sometimes present.
Aosa Weigend. Annual or perennial herbs or shrubs, often sparsely branched. 7 spp., A. plumieri (Urb.) Weigend in south Hispaniola, A. grandis (Standl.) R.H.Acuña & Weigend in Costa Rica/Choco region, also in Avalon, and five species of Brazil Federation, four in dry areas in NE region, and one in Atlantic Forest in Rio de Janeiro state.
Eucnide Zucc. 19 spp., 14 from SW. & S. Central U.S.A. to Guatemala and 5 endemics to Avalon: E. allicorniana Pallando & Bombadill, E. hoodii H.J.Thomps., W.R.Ernst & Radagast, E. lachenalii H.J.Thomps., W.R.Ernst & Radagast, E. obnupta H.J.Thomps., W.R.Ernst & Radagast, E. rostrata H.J.Thomps., W.R.Ernst & Radagast.
Schismocarpus S.F.Blake. Two spp. from Mexico, S. matudae Steyerm. also in Avalon.
ERICALES
9 of the 22 families of the order occur in Avalon, mixing families with all their non-endemic species, and large radiations with those seen in Ericaceae.
MARCGRAVIACEAE ‣ Genera/species 7/139 Distribution S Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, northern and central South America Habit Bisexual evergreen shrubs, often epiphytic or semi-epiphytic, or lianas (rarely small trees).
Marcgraviastrum (Wittm. ex. Szyszyl) de Roon & S. Dressler. Sprawling shrubs and lianas, often epiphytic. 15 spp., all in South America, 13 in northern South America up to S Nicaragua and up N Brazil Federation (M. mixtum (Triana & Planch.) Bedell), plus two endemics to SE Brazil Federation. 4 spp. in Avalon, all non endemics: M. sodiroi (Gilg) Bedell ex S.Dressler (also in SW. Colombia to Ecuador), M. gigantophyllum (Gilg) Bedell ex S.Dressler (also in Colombia to Ecuador), M. pauciflorum de Roon & Bedell (also in Panama to W Colombia) and M. subsessile (Benth.) Bedell (also in Honduras to Ecuador).
Sarcopera Bedell. Sprawling shrubs and lianas, occasionally small trees, often epiphytic. 8 spp. in N South America, two up to Central America (Honduras southwards), mainly in N Andes and Guiana Shield, 3 up to N Brazil Federation (none endemics, only in Amazonas and Roraima states). One spp. in Avalon, S. sessiliflora (Triana & Planch.) Bedell (also from Honduras to Ecuador).
Schwartzia Vell. Sprawling shrubs, occasionally small trees; inflorescence short racemes. 20 spp., 16 from Costa Rica through the Andes south to Bolivia, in the Caribbean Basin, and 4 spp. in E Brazil Federation, all endemics. 4 spp. in Avalon: S. parrae Gir.-Cañas (also in Colombia), S. petersonii (also in Colombia), S. renvoizei Gir.-Cañas (also in Colombia) and S. Hammel (also in Costa Rica).
Souroubea Aubl. Climbing shrubs or lianas, often epiphytic; inflorescence lax or dense racemes. 19 spp., Mexico to Bolivia (absent from the Antilles), 15 in South America, 5 in Brazil Federation, one endemic. One sp. in Avalon: S. gilgii V.A.Richt. (also in Central America).
TETRAMERISTACEAE ‣ Genera/species 3/4 Distribution Neotropics and SE Asia. Two neotropical trees genera restricted Costa Rica to Brazil Federation, and one sp. (the type) in SE Asia. Tetramerista (1-3) is endemic to SE Asia. Habit Bisexual, evergreen trees or shrubs (Pelliciera consists of mangrove trees with buttresses). Aerial roots frequent along stem base in Pelliciera.
Pelliciera Planch. & Triana. Mangrove trees to 15m tall, 15-20cm in diameter (above buttresses); trunks with enlarged fluted boles, buttresses 1.5-2m tall (average high tide level), 1.5m in diameter, formed by the emergence of short-born roots; leaves spirally arranged, clustered at apex of branches; flowers solitary, in leaf axils or terminal, sessile; sepals 5, free; petals 5, free; stamens 5; fruit indehiscent, woody, covered with resinous pustules; seed 1. Two spp., P. benthamii (Planch. & Triana) Cornejo endemic to Panamá, and P. rhizophorae Planch. & Triana from the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica to the Esmeraldas river, Ecuador and few scattered populations on the Caribbean coasts of Nicaragua, Panamá and Colombia, also in Avalon; these species has the second largest seed in dicots (10 cm diameter) and sixth of all flowering plants.
LECYTHIDACEAE ‣ Genera/species 24/305–310. Distribution pantropical, subtropical regions of South and E Asia. Habit bisexual, usually evergreen trees (sometimes shrubs or lianas; in Scytopetaloideae rarely perennial herbs). Foetidia has evil-smelling wood. Bark often fibrous. Many species are large trees in lowlands of South America, esp. Brazil Federation. Bertholletia excelsa is a source of income for local populations in Amazonian rainforest in continental Brazil and Bolivia (Brazil-nut, castanha-do-pará).
Grias L. Trees to 30m tall, mainly pachycaulous unbranched trees, leaves largest (possibly largest among Ericales, up to 2.2m lenght), cauliflorous; leaves clustered at end of branches, fleshy mesocarps, edible in some species; flowers actinomorphic. 17 spp., restricted from Colombia (3 endemics), Ecuador (4 endemics) and Peru except G. multinervia Cuatrec. up to Venezuela, G. cauliflora L. also in Jamaica and Belize, and 5 endemics to Avalon (G. nigromarginata Cornejo & Bombadill, G. pellita Bombadill, G. pelocarpa Bombadill, G. specifica Cornejo & Bombadill, G. striata Cornejo & Bombadill), all large leaves (150-200 cm ✕ 42-75 cm in all species), largests ones in over Ericales.
Gustavia L. Small to large trees, leaves often clustered at end of branches, inflorescenses axillary or cauline. 66 spp., Avalon (20, all endemics), Costa Rica to French Guiana, N Bolivia, Ecuador and Brazil Federation; some spp. are adapted to montane forests in Andes.
PENTAPHYLACACEAE ‣ Genera/species 12/c 340 Distribution tropical and subtropical regions, Himalaya and E Asia to Korean Peninsula and Japan, SE Asia to New Guinea and Queensland, Melanesia, islands in the SW Pacific, Hawaii, Canary Islands, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, tropical South America; Balthasaria in E Africa, two species of Ternstroemia in tropical W Africa. Habit bisexual or dioecious, evergreen trees and shrubs.
Cleyera Thunb. 29 spp., Himalaya to Japan, Avalon (C. theoides (Sw.) Choisy, also Mexico to Panama, Jamaica, and 4 endemics: C. fissa Elrondi, C. microchaeta Alain & Elrondi, C. tonsa Alain & Elrondi and C. tribuloides Alain & Elrondi), Mexico to Central America, Caribbean.
Symplococarpon Airy Shaw. Trees; leaf margin entire to serrate. Two spp., S. purpusii (Brandegee) Kobuski from Mexico to Colombia and Venezuela, also in Avalon, and S. flavifolium Lundell endemic to Mexico.
SAPOTACEAE ‣ Genera/species 75/1,250-1,300 Distribution mainly pantropical; some species in subtropical regions (SE North America, central South America, SE Africa, S Asia). Habit Usually bisexual (sometimes monoecious or dioecious, rarely gynomonoecious), evergreen trees or shrubs (rarely lianas). Sapotaceae is a largely tropical family of evergreen trees and shrubs. Manilkara yield edible fruit, useful wood and latex.
Sideroxylon L. Often spiny, calyx a single whorl of 5 imbricate sepals, corolla lobes divided into 3 segments or entire, staminodes present, seed scar basal or basiventral. 83 spp. worldwide, 6 in Africa, 6 in Madagascar, 8 in Mascarenes, 4 in Asia, 1 in NW Pakistan and Afganinthan, Oman, Ethiopia, Djibuti and Somalia; 55 in New World, two in Avalon: S. capiri (A.DC.) Pittier (also Mexico to Panama, Caribbean) and S. floribundum Griseb. (also Central America, Jamaica), only 4 in South America, three from Central America over Colombia/Venezuela region, and one, S. obtusifolium (Humb. ex Roem. & Schult.) T.D. Penn., widely distributed.
PRIMULACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 57/2,040–3,050 Distribution Cosmopolitan except polar areas. Habit Usually bisexual (rarely monoecious, polygamomonoecious or dioecious), evergreen or deciduous trees (in), shrubs, lianas or suffrutices, perennial or annual herbs (sometimes cushion-shaped and woody at base), usually with a basal leaf rosette. Some species are xerophytes. Hottonia and Samolus are aquatic. Aegiceras mangrove trees. Cyclamen has a tuber formed by the hypocotyl. Use Ornamental plants, medicinal plants.
PRUMULOIDEAE
Androsace L. 100 spp., almost all restricted of Northern Hemisphere except by A. salasii Kurtz native from S Chile to WC & S. Argentina, disjunct in Avalon.
Primula L. Perennial herbs, sometimes very small. 523 spp., native to the Northern Hemisphere, with the distribution extending southwards to Ethiopia, Indonesia, New Guinea, 21 spp. in New World, with two, P. magellanica Lehm. and P. comberi W.W. Sm., in the southern tip of South America, also in Falklands Is, the former also in Avalon.
MYRSINOIDEAE
Ardisia Sw. Shrubs or treelets, often subshrubs or herbs. 480 spp., pantropical, mainly tropical America and Asia, a few in temperate Japan; is found in much of the family’s range but not in Africa; 169 spp. in New World, 30 in Avalon (all endemics).
Geissanthus Hook.f. Trees or shrubs, inflorescence in terminal panicles. 72 spp., all from Venezuela to Bolivia except 22 in Avalon (all endemics), two up to center and SE Brazil Federation (São Paulo state), and one up to Mesoamerica.
Hymenandra A. DC. ex Spacht. 16 spp., 7 spp. in Indo-Malesia region (Assan to Borneu), 9 spp. from Nicaragua to Panamá, Colombia and Avalon two endemics each (in Avalon: H. arapahoensis Radagast and H. macrochaeta Radagast).
Parathesis (DC.) Hook.f. Trees or shrubs, often with stellate or hairs dendroid, poliaxyal, mainly ferruginous-tomentose. 106 spp., Mesoamerica, Avalon (10, all endemics), Andes of South America and Caribbean, 20 in South America.
THEOPHRASTHOIDEAE
Deherainia Decne. Two spp., Mexico to Central America, D. smaragdina (Planch. ex Linden) Decne also in Avalon.
ACTINIDIACEAE ‣ Genera/species 3/447 Distribution S & E China, Korean Peninsula, Japan, Siberia, SE Asia, Himalayas, Malesia to New Guinea, NE Queensland, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Mexico and Central America, northern Andes to Bolivia). Habit Bisexual, morphologically dioecious (Clematoclethra), functionally dioecious or monoecious, evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs or lianas.
Saurauia Wild. Tall (up 30 m) to small trees or woody shrubs, usually pubescent. 391 spp., c. 300 from Himalaya to Fiji, 87 spp. from Mexico to Bolivia, and one sp. in Queensland; 72 spp. in South America (59 confined), in Venezuela (8, 1 endemic), Avalon (28, all endemics and belonging two endemic sections, Soejarto (Fieldiana, 1980)), Colombia (34, 22 endemics), Ecuador (23, 14 endemics), Peru (11, 5 endemics) and Bolivia (6, 3 endemics); only the canopy S. yasicae Loes. definitely wider range in Neotropics.
CLETHRACEAE ‣ Genera/species 2/40–80 Distribution E & SE U.S.A., Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, tropical South America, Madeira, E Asia to Korean Peninsula and Japan, Taiwan and Hainan in China, SE Asia, Malesia, New Guinea. Habit bisexual (rarely functionally gynodioecious), evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs.
Clethra L. Trees and shrubs with entire to serrate leaves. 81 spp., most diverse in the tropical humid montane habitats, reaching their upper altitudinal limit at about 3,800 m in the Andes; 73 spp. in New World, from U.S.A. to S Brazil Federation. 15 in Avalon, all endemics.
ERICACEAE ‣ Genera/species 121/4,100 Distribution Cosmopolitan, although few species in tropical lowland regions, with their largest diversity in Himalaya to SW China, New Guinea, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Habit Usually bisexual (rarely monoecious or dioecious), usually evergreen (sometimes deciduous) shrubs or suffrutices (rarely trees, lianas or perennial herbs). Some genera consist of achlorophyllous and mycotrophic plants. Numerous species are xerophytic. Some species are helophytes. A starchy lignotuber is present especially in many species in mediterranean climates. They are herbs, terrestrial, epiphytic (erect or pendent), or, rarely, saxicolous shrubs and subshrubs 1-2 m tall, lianas, cushion plants (in Dracophylum, Disterigma empetrifolium and Rhododendron saxifragoides), prostrate mat-forming chamaephytes, and trees to 20 m tall. The herbs are either achlorophyllous and mycotrophic or green and autotrophic.
Cavendishia Lindley. Epiphytic (obligate or facultative, up to only a few centimeters to several meters long) or terrestrial shrubs, wiry, or scadent subshrubs, erect shrubs, and small trees to 7 meters tall. 174 spp., Mexico to Bolivia, E to the Guianas, Guiana Shield, NW Brazil Federation and Avalon (60, all endemics); 43 in Central America/Mexico, 83 in South America, 48 endemics to Colombia.
Monotropa L. Mycoheterotrophic herbs associated at Quercus sp. Three spp., M. hypopitys L. from Northern Hemisphere up to Central America, one endemic to Florida shrubby region, and M. uniflora L. from Northern Hemisphere up to NW Colombia, in native Quercus forest and introduced pine plantations in the W Cordillera, also in Avalon.
Monotropa uniflora L. in forests near Duloc, Avalon
Psammisia Klotzsch. Epiphytic or terrestrail shrubs, sometimes lianescent, flowers with the greatest diversity of corolla shapes and colors of any other genus of neotropical Vaccinieae (e.g., tubular, obconic, urceolate, turbinate and depressed, hemispheric; yellow, magenta, vermilion, dark wine, red, white, green; unicolor, multicolor). 112 spp. from Costa Rica to Bolivia, E to French Guiana, Trinidad (64 in South America). 45 spp. in Avalon, all endemics.
METTENIUSALES
A single family, represented in Avalon by canopy trees.
METTENIUSACEAE ‣ Genera/species 11/55 Distribution Pantropical Habit Bisexual, evergreen trees. Most New World genera are widely distributed in the region, but Oecopetalum is confined to Southern Mexico and Central America, and Ottoschultzia to S Mexico, Mesoamerica and Caribbean region. Use Metteniusa edulis H. Karst. has fruits which are reportedly edible. Poraqueiba sericea Tul. has a fleshy fruit rich in oil that is eaten fresh, also seeds that can provide flour. The fruit is widely traded throughout the Amazon rainforest.
Metteniusa Karsten. Canopy trees with alternate leaves and axillary, cymose inflorescences; the flowers are bisexual, fragrant, with five imbricate sepals; five massive, valvate petals basally fused to form a corolla tube up to 2 cm long. 13 spp., 5 endemics to Colombia, M. edulis H. Karst. disjunct in Ecuador and Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, La Guajira, 910-2000 m elevation range, also Venezuela, and M. tessmanniana (Sleumer) Sleumer from Costa Rica to Peru, and six endemic do Avalon: M. castanea Lozano & Bombadill, M. cephalophora Lozano & Bombadill, M. cryptosperma Allastar & Pallando, M. formosa Lozano & Bombadill, M. gravida Bombadill and M. myosuroides Alastar.
GENTIANALES
RUBIACEAE ‣ Genera/species 611/11,470-11,550 Distribution Cosmopolitan except polar areas, with their highest diversity in tropical and subtropical regions. Habit Usually bisexual (rarely monoecious, polygamomonoecious or dioecious), evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs, lianas or suffrutices, or perennial, biennial or annual herbs. Hydnophytum, Myrmecodia, Myrmeconauclea, Myrmephytum, etc. are epiphytic or (Myrmeconauclea) rheophytic myrmecophytes (ant plants), in the hollow swollen stems and branches – hypocotylar bases – of which ant colonies live. Young stems and branches often quadrangular in cross-section.
CINCHONOIDEA
Ciliosemina Antonelli. Two spp., Venezuela, Colombia (C. purdieana (Wedd.) Antonelli, also in Avalon), Ecuador, Peru, Brazil Federation.
Cosmibuena Ruiz & Pav. Shrubs or small trees, epiphytic or terrestrial. 4 spp., SE. Mexico to Venezuela, Bolivia and Brazil Federation, one in Avalon, C. macrocarpa (Benth.) Klotzsch ex Walp., also from Nicaragua to Ecuador.
Gonzalagunia Ruiz & Pav. Herbs, shrubs or small trees. 39 spp., Mexico to trop. America, 12 in Avalon (all endemics), 26 in South America, only three in Brazil Federation, none endemics.
Hamelia Jacq. Shrubs or small trees. 21 spp., over Neotropics, of Florida and Mexico to Paraguay, French Guiana, Caribbean; 7 spp. in South America, 5 in Avalon, all endemics.
Hoffmannia Sw. Tiny herbs to herbaceous shrubs, Fuchsia-like; opposite or verticillate leaves, deciduous stipules that are interpetiolar or very shortly fused around the stem, axillary cymose inflorescences of varied form, 4-merous homostylous flowers, rather small corollas with the lobes imbricate in bud, generally 2-locular ovaries, and small fleshy baccate fruits containing numerous angled seeds. 129 spp., Mexico to to Argentina, up to Venezuela, Caribbean, 45 in South America, 9 in Avalon (all endemics, 4 myrmecophytes).
Rondeletia L. Shrubs or small trees. 154 spp., S. Mexico to Peru, Caribbean (136, all restricteds) to N. South America (Venezuela to Peru); 13 spp. in South America; 8 spp. in Avalon, all endemics.
IXOROIDEA
Macrocnemum P.Browne. Shrubs to tall trees. 13 spp., 7 from Colombia to Bolivia, M. roseum (Ruiz & Pav.) Wedd. up to Acre state in N Brazil Federation and Costa Rica, one endemic to Jamaica and 5 endemics to Avalon.
Pentagonia Benth. Shrubs or small trees, often very tal trees. 57 spp., Guatemala to Peru, 11 in Avalon (all endemics), 39 in South America, Amazonian Brazil Federation (4, none endemics), a half in Colombia. Impressive for its large leaves, Pentagonia stands out for being the genus of the only species of Rubiaceae with normal, mature leaves pinnately lobed to deeply pinnatifid; in the New World, occasional individuals of some species of Simira Aubl. may have pinnatifid leaves and a few species of Cruckshanksia Hook. & Arn. have leaves deeply and digitately 2 or 3 lobed.
Randia L. Shrubs to small trees, often lianas, 1 – 3 spiny, corolla mainly white. 112 spp., Florida, Texas, Mexico to Argentina, east to French Guiana, Caribbean, in that inhabit evergreen and deciduous forest from sea level up to 3,300 m. 32 spp. in South America, 7 in Brazil Federation, two endemics; two in Avalon: R. grandifolia (Donn.Sm.) Standl. (also in S Mexico to W Colombia) and R. brenesii Standl. (also in SE Nicaragua to W Colombia).
RUBIOIDEAE
Morinda L. Lianas, shrubs or small trees. 130 spp. trop. & subtrop., 12 spp. in New World, Florida, Mexico to Ecuador and Venezuela; 6 spp. in South America; 5 spp. in Avalon: M. panamensis Seem. (also in S Mexico to Colombia), M. royoc L. (also in Florida to Caribbean, SE Mexico to Ecuador)., three endemics: M. jonesii R.M.Salas & Radagast, M. communis Delprete, J.H.Kirkbr. & Radagast and M. kraliana C.M.Taylor & Radagast.
Morinda royoc L., M. panamensis Seem., and the three avalonian endemics
Notopleura (Hook.f.) Bremek. Herbs terrestrial (mainly unbranched) or epiphytic, subshrubs, shrubs or small trees, often scandent, fleshy to succulents. 152 spp., Mexico to Brazil Federation, 83 in South America, 50 in Avalon (all endemics), also in Bolivia, Guianas, Caribbean.
Palicourea Aubl. Shrubs or medium sized trees, sometimes basal burls, inflorescence terminal, pseudopaniculate; several species has blue fruits. 551 spp. from over Neotropics, except Chile and Uruguay, centered in Colombia; 429 spp. in South America, and 60 in Avalon (none in continental Brazil; 47 endemics). P. corymbifera (Müll.Arg.) Standl. from northern South America and Avalon is a myrmecophite.
Spermacoce L. Annual or perennial herbs, up to low shrubs, erect or prostrate, stems quadrangular. c. 300 spp., 157 in New World, 128 in South America, including Chile, 20 in Avalon, none endemics.
LOGANIACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 16/395–400 Distribution tropical and subtropical regions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres: eastern U.S.A. to Uruguay, Africa south of the Sahara, Madagascar, Mascarene Islands, from India and Sri Lanka to Korean Peninsula and Japan, SE Asia, Malesia, New Guinea, Melanesia, Micronesia, Australia, Tasmania, Lord Howe Island, New Zealand, Hawaii and other Polynesian islands. Habit usually bisexual (rarely monoecious, gynomonoecious, dioecious, or gynodioecious), evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs or lianas (with branch tendrils), perennial or annual herbs. Four genera and 200 spp. in Neotropics, not very extensive in dryland vegetation.
Liesneria M.R.Schomb. Only one sp., L. faveolata (Fernández Casas) Fernández Casas, in both sides of Ecuador/Colombia border, with some records from Avalon in Pacific.
GENTIANACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 103/1,650-1,700 Distribution Cosmopolitan except polar and arid areas, with their largest diversity in temperate and subtropical regions and on tropical mountains; Voyria: tropical America, tropical West Africa. Habit Usually bisexual (rarely polygamomonoecious), perennial, biennial or annual herbs (sometimes shrubs, rarely lianas or trees). Some genera are partially mycoheterotrophic. A few clades (Cotylanthera, Leiphaimos, Voyria, and Voyriella) consisting of achlorophyllous holoparasitic mycotrophs. Some mycoheterotrophycs.
A single genus in Avalon.
Gentiana L. Annual, biennial or perennial herbs. Leaves opposite, very rarely whorled; flowers 5-merous (rarely 4- to 8-merous), in simple dichasia, terminal clusters, axillary whorls, or solitary; calyx fused about halfway up, sometimes split to the base on one side, often with intracalycine membrane; corolla tubular, funnelshaped, campanulate, urnshaped, or rarely rotate. 359 spp., most of the species occur in temperate areas in Asia, Europe, North America and Avalon (20 spp., all endemics), only two in Southern Hemisphere, both in sect. Chondrophyllae and within South America.
APOCYNACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 376/c 4,600 Distribution Cosmopolitan except polar areas and cold-temperate regions. Habit Usually bisexual (rarely functionally dioecious), evergreen trees, shrubs or lianas (sometimes perennial or annual herbs). Numerous spp. are xerophytic and many are stem succulents. Some spp. (e.g. Dischidia rafflesiana) are myrmecotrophic with ant symbiosis (ant colonies present in leaves).
Apocynum L. 6 spp., two from SE. & E. Europe to W. China, two from N America up to Mexico, and two endemics to Avalon: A. argyrantha Morillo, J.F.Morales, Keller, Liede & Radagast and A. baltzellii Morillo, J.F.Morales, Keller, Liede & Radagast.
Echites P.Browne. 10 spp., all Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and Florida, with E. umbellatus Jacq. occurring in Colombian Caribbean Is and Avalon.
Funastrum E. Fourn. Herbaceous or suffrutescent twiners, latex white, with a garlic scent, rhizomes frequently present; often with their feet in seasonally flooded pools; stems semisucculent and photosynthetic (leaves often drop off); umbels of white or cream flowers, corona mosly with a tubular outer ring, and 5 fleshy lobes on the back of the anthers. 21 spp., from S U.S.A. to Paraguay and Caribbean, 8 in South America, two in Avalon: F. odoratum (Hemsl.) Schltr. (also in Mexico:Chiapas to Nicaragua) and F. refractum (Donn.Sm.) Schltr. (also in Mexico:Chiapas to Guatemala).
Gonolobus Michx. Suffrutescent twiners or, rarely, prostrate herbs, latex white; flowers rotate with exposed discoid head to gynostegium and laterally disposed pollinia, anthers with dorsal appendages; flowers commonly green; follicles with longitudinal wings. 119 spp., widely distributed in New World, 12 in Avalon (all endemics), 39 in South America.
Plumeria Tourn. ex L. 24 spp. exclusives of Caribbean except five up to Florida, Mexico, Avalon (3 endemics: P. raseriana Radagast, P. foenea Radagast and P. radiata Radagast), Central America and N South America (3), in Colombia, Venezuela and Guianas.
Types for avalonian endemics Plumeria raseriana Radagast, P. foenea Radagast (duplicated) and P. radiata Radagast
Vailia Rusby. Suffrutescent twiners, to ca. 1 m high. Two spp., V. salicina (Decne.) Morillo in over N South America (inc. Brazil Federation and Ecuador), and V. anomala (Brandeg.) W. D. Stevens from Mexico to Colombia and Venezuela, also in Avalon.
SOLANALES
CONVOLVULACEAE ‣ Genera /spp. 57/1,590-1,610 Distribution cosmopolitan except polar areas, with their largest diversity in subtropical regions in Asia and America. Habit Usually bisexual (in Hildebrandtia dioecious), usually climbing and winding perennial or annual herbs (rarely evergreen trees, shrubs or lianas). Some spp. are xerophytic.
Cuscuta L. Herbs chlorophyll-lacking and parastic, has a withering terrestrial root system which is short-lived, and no internal phloem; leaves reduced to minute scales, roots absent and plants attached to the host by numerous small haustoria. 249 spp. in World; 170 spp. in New World, 95 in South America, over distribuited; 30 spp. in Avalon, all endemics.
Ipomoea L. Climbing herbs or lianas, trees, shrubs or erect herbs, perennial or less often annuals, usually with milky sap, glabrous or pubescent, sometimes with xylopodium. c. 500 spp., comopolitan; 428 spp. in New World, S U.S.A. to Chile, Uruguay, and Caribbean, 263 in South America; absent in continental Chile, but present in Isla de Pascua. 28 spp. in Avalon, a major component in herbal-arbustive forests in al parts in islands along Solanum and Euphorbia, 7 endemics; two tree forms (both largests in this genus) occur in Avalon, both transoceanic disjunctions: I. murucoides Roem. & Schult. (also in C Mexico south to Guatemala) and I. arborescens (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) G. Don (also in W & C Mexico).
Jacquemontia Choisy. Perennial or annual vines, with climbing, decumbente, prostate, rarely suffrutescent stems (erect herbs), flowers never yellow. 133 spp., mostly New World (114 spp., U.S.A., over Neotropics, 84 in South America) with a few spp. occurring in tropical Africa, Asia (only one endemic) and Australia; 16 spp. in Avalon, 10 endemics.
SOLANACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 101/c 2,650 Distribution tropical, subtropical and temperate regions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with their highest diversity in South America. Habit Usually bisexual (sometimes monoecious, andromonoecious or dioecious), evergreen trees, shrubs or lianas, perennial, biennial or annual herbs. Some spp. are xerophytes. Some spp. are succulent. Often evil-smelling (foetid).
Hawkesiophyton Planch. & Linden. Small greenish or yellowish corollas. 5 spp. from over tropical northern South American forests, one up to S Central America, two endemics to Avalon: H. capitata Knapp, Giacomin & Radagast and H. turbinata S. Knapp, Giacomin & Radagast.
Juanulloa Ruiz & Pav. Epiphytic shrubs or small trees, the stems often hanging and pendulous from the canopy, 1 -20 m; bark o f stems loose and exfoliating when dry, often reddish or reddish brown. 12 spp., one only in Mexico and Central America, two endemics to Avalon (J. brysonii S.Knapp & Radagast and J. emoryi S.Knapp & Radagast), and 9 in northern South America up to Bolivia, one up to Mexico.
Markea A.Rich. Hemi-epiphytic to lianas; flowers solitary or arranged in few-flowered pendant cymes, corollas tubular or campanulate; corolla bright orange or more often greenish purple or cream colored, salverform to funnelfore. 19 spp., some has association with ants; nine from Amazon rainforest, mainly in Colombia (8), also in Avalon (5, all endemics), some reaching into S Panamá, coastal Venezuela and Mount Roraima.
Solanum L. Herbs, shrubs, trees, sometimes woody lianas, often epiphytic or with wood rhizomes, usually pentamerous flowers with fused sepals and petals, stellate to pentagonal corollas, and stamens with short filaments and anthers opening by terminal pores. 1,238 spp., cosmopolitan, occurring on all temperate and tropical continents, 1,010 spp. in New World, with their largest diversity in Australia and South America (850); 52 spp. in Avalon, a major component in herbal-arbustive forests in al parts in islands along Ipomoea and Euphorbia, with 30 endemics and 22 non endemics (15 shared with Brazilian continetal).
Witheringia L'Her. Herbs or shrubs. 22 spp., SE Mexico and southwards to Bolivia (7 in South America), Avalon (7, all endemics), Caribbean, Amazonas and Acre states in N Brazil Federation.
BORAGINALES
Order considered sometimes with 1 family, sometimes with 8. In Avalon there is a single genus and 17 spp. of herbs from open areas.
BORAGINACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 81/1.545–1.665 Distribution Temperate (especially warm-temperate) regions on the Northern Hemisphere, fewer species in subtropical areas, on tropical mountains and in the New Guinean Alps, Australia and New Zealand. Habit Usually perennial or annual herbs (sometimes shrubs, rarely trees).
Mimophytum Greenm. Herbs. 32 spp., 15 from Texas to Mexico, and 17 endemics to Avalon.
LAMIALES
OLEACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 29/545–590 Distribution cosmopolitan except polar areas, with their largest diversity in SE Asia and Australia. Habit usually bisexual (rarely polygamomonoecious or dioecious), evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs or lianas (rarely suffrutices).
Forestiera Poir. 35 spp., W Central & S U.S.A. to Central America, Ecuador, Caribbean, 13 in Avalon, F. cartaginensis Donn.Sm. also in Mexico (Chiapas) to C. America, and remaining endemics.
Fraxinus Tourn. ex L.75 spp., Canada to Costa Rica, Norway to Algeria, up to China, southwards Java and Philippines, absent in northern Eurasia. 17 spp. in Avalon, F. uhdei (Wenz.) Lingelsh. also in Mexico to Honduras, remaining endemics.
Fraxinus pansa Radagst, 1987, in Tanabor region
GESNERIACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 151/3,260-3,280 Distribution Tropical and subtropical regions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres; some spp. in temperate regions. Habit Usually bisexual (rarely monoecious), usually perennial herbs (sometimes lianas, rarely trees, shrubs or annual herbs). Many spp. are epiphytic. Stem and leaves often more or less succulent. Root fibrous. Use Some genera are cultivated as ornamentals (mostly indoor plants), and among the most popular are Achimenes, Codonanthe, Columnea, Gloxinia, Episcia, Kohleria, Nematanthus, Sinningia, Seemannia; plants are easy to propagate by cuttings or by seeds; they also hybridize easily within related groups and many cultivars are available.
153 spp. in Avalon, all unknown in mainland Brazil Federation.
Besleria L. Perennial herbs, shrubs or small trees (to 5 m), with fibrous roots; stem terete or quadrangular; inflorescences axillary, ebracteate, fasciculate or subumbellate cymes, rarely flowers solitary; corolla yellow, orange, red, or white; tube usually cylindric, sometimes spurred or gibbous at base; limb (sub)regular or bilabiate; fruit a fleshy, globose berry; white, red or orange. 203 spp., throughout the neotropics, with centres of diversity in the Andes of Colombia (41 endemics), Avalon (40, 39 endemics), and Ecuador, some taxa endemic in SE continental Brazil; 139 spp. in South America; the adnate inflorescences at leaf limbe in some species from Central America is a false epiphylly. B. formicaria Nowicke, from Costa Rica to Colombia and Avalon, is a myrmecophite.
Columnea L. Epiphytic herbs or shrubs (less commonly epipetric or terrestrial), shoots often conspicuously dorsiventral; cymes axillary, 1- to 10-flowered; corolla often red, less commonly yellow, cream or greenish, tube frequently ventricose, basally often dorsally gibbous, usually glandular hairy in throat, limb with subequal lobes to strongly bilabiate, lobes 5 or 4, usually rounded. 322 spp., from Mexico south to Ecuador and Bolivia to Brazil Federation, 105 in Avalon (all endemics), 141 in South America; 98 spp. in Colombia, 38 in Costa Rica.
Drymonia Mart. Terrestrial or epiphytic (sub)shrubs or lianas; stems quadrangular or terete, in climbers up to 5 m long, branched or not, often with spreading adventitious roots along the internodes; axillary cymes 1- to several-flowered, flowers clustered; flowers often showy and brightly coloured; corolla usually funnelform and broader toward the mouth, spurred or saccate at the base, throat broad; fruit a fleshy capsule with brightly orange- or purple-coloured reflexed valves, displaying a cone-shape mass of seeds and pulpy funicles. 117 spp., throughout the neotropics, with centre of distribution in Avalon (35, all endemics), Colombia and Ecuador, 58 in South America, terrestrial or epiphytic shrubs and subshrubs, growing in lowland and montane forests.
Rhytidophyllum Mart. Shrubs to trees, usually single-stemmed; axillary cymes long-pedunculate, of several to many flowers in a double cincinnus or compound dichasium; flowers rather short-tubed, obliquely campanulate, with wide mouth, limb spreading, greenish, brownish, with darker dots; fruit a dry, bivalved capsule. 28 spp., 22 spp. restricted of Caribbean region, two endemics to Avalon (R. avaloniana Alastar & Pallando and R. rupestris Alastar & Pallando), and two in South America, R. cumanense (Hanstein) L. Skog and R. onacaense (Rusby) L. Skog., both in Colombia and Venezuela.
PLANTAGINACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 107/1,750-1,780 Distribution Cosmopolitan except polar areas (mainly temperate regions). Habit Usually bisexual (rarely monoecious, gynomonoecious, dioecious, or gynodioecious), usually perennial, biennial or annual herbs (rarely shrubs or suffrutices). Some genera are aquatic or semi-aquatic. Numerous representatives are xerophytes. At least one sp. of Philcoxia has carnivorous subterranean leaves.
Aragoa Kunth. Shrubby habit, xeromorphic leaves, and actinomorphic flower with four corolla lobes and four stamens. 31 spp., Colombia (21), Avalon (7) and Venezuela (4), endemic to the paramos and rainforests.
Russelia Jacq. 45 spp., almost entirely confined to Northem and Central America, 46 in Mexico, 36 endemics, and only R. sarmentosa Jacq. reaches South America where it is known from a single collection in Colombia and higly dubious records in French Guiana; this species also occur in Avalon.
Russelia sarmentosa Jacq. in Quadling region, Oz Land, Al Neon
SCHLEGELIACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 4/30–35 Distribution Southern Mexico, Central America, NW South America, Cuba (Synapsis). Habit Bisexual, evergreen trees or shrubs (sometimes twining, often epiphytic). Bark often whitish.
Exarata A. H. Gentry. Large canopy trees, branchlets terete; flowers distinctly pedicellate. Only one sp., E. ilicifolia Griseb., forests of Choco, in Ecuador and Colombia, with populations in Avalon.
Gibsoniothamnus L.O. William. Small epiphytic or rarely terrestrial shrubs; stems erect, rounded. 12 spp., restricted of Central America (six spp. endemic to Panamá), except G. alatus A.H. Gentry up to Colombia and G. cornutus (Donn. Sm.) A.H. Gentry up to Mexico and Avalon.
Schlegelia Miq. Small epiphytic or rarely terrestrial shrubs, trees or vines; stems erect, rounded. 36 spp. from Mexico, Central America, Antilles, Avalon (12, all endemics), Guianas, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil Federation; 20 in South America, 7 in Brazil Federation, one endemic; S. circinata Radagast from El Dorado mountains, Avalon, has the largest leaf among Schlegeliaceae.
MARTYNIACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 5/16 Distribution Warm and arid or semiarid regions from the southern U.S.A. southwards to Argentina. Habit Bisexual, usually annual (rarely perennial) herbs (rarely shrubs, in Holoregmia with fleshy young stems). Craniolaria annua L. has a large root tuber. With densely spaced glandular hairs and evil-smelling. Mycorrhiza probably absent.
Proboscidea Schmidel. Annual or perennial herbs, sometimes with a thickened primarly root. 17 spp. from southern U.S.A. to Mexico, 9 endemic to Avalon, P. altheifolia (Benth.) Decne. disjunct in mainland Brazil Federation.
BIGNONIACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 79/827 Distribution Mainly tropical regions, with their largest diversity in South America; some spp. in subtropical and warm-temperate Asia. Habit Bisexual, usually evergreen (rarely deciduous) trees, shrubs or lianas (Argylia, Incarvillea and Niedzwedzkia are perennial herbs, Tourrettia consists of twining perennial herbs). Often with leaf-tendrils. Lenticels often frequent on stems and branches. The family, cosmopolitan, is present in both the Old World and the New World, with Campsis and Catalpa the only genus common to both; imponent tropical family compound br usually trees and lianas.
Amphitecna Miers. Leaves simple, often with a red pulvinus on short petiole; inflorescence terminal or cauli/ramiflorous; flowers greenish or creamy white, petal lobes united into rim; fruits oblong (if orbicular, then mangrove species). 20 spp. from Florida, Mexico and Caribbean, two up to Colombia and A. latifolia (Mill.) A.H. Gentry from Mexico to Ecuador, Avalon, Venezuela, Caribbean and Florida, and two endemics to Avalon (A. conoidea Elrondi & Alastar and A. straminiformis Elrondi, Alastar, Pallando & Radagast).
Crescentia L. Small to medium sized tree; leaves simple or 3-foliate; fruit pepo or calabash, large, sphaerical or elliptical; inflorescences cauliflorous, flowers greenish white, sometimes with red lines. 6 spp., 4 only in Central America and Caribbean (two of them in Avalon, C. alata Kunth and C. cujete L.), C. cujete L. from Mexico to Colombia, Venezuela and Caribbean, and C. amazonica Ducke in northern South America, a strictly amazonic species, in Brazil Federation, Venezuela, Colombia and Peru.
Parmentiera DC. Leaves 3–5 foliolate, often with stipular spines; fruit a linear capsule, bilocular throughout, seeds small with vestigial wings, no pulp in fruit; flowers terminal and cauliflorous, greenish white; calyx membranaceous. 12 spp., 9 from from Mexico to Panamá, P. stenocarpa Dugand & L.B. Sm. endemic to NW Colombia, and two endemics to Avalon (P. cristatella Elrondi and P. pigra Elrondi).
ACANTHACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 207/3,770–3,780 Distribution Tropical regions, especially in S and SE Asia, Africa, Brazil Federation and Central America, some spp. in warm-temperate regions; Avicennia and Hilairanthus: mangrove vegetation in tropical and subtropical areas in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres. Habit Usually bisexual (rarely unisexual), usually perennial or annual herbs, evergreen shrubs or lianas (rarely evergreen trees; Avicennia and Hilairanthus consists of mangrove trees or mangrove shrubs with articulated branchlets). Some representatives are aquatic. Many spp. are xerophytic. Some spp. are epiphytic.
Barleria L. 303 spp., all in Old World except B. oenotheroides Dum. Coars., shared by Old World and New World, from Mexico to Colombia and Venezuela, also in Avalon, and from Senetal to C Africa.
Mendoncia Vell. ex. Vend. Herbaceous or suffrutescent twining vines; stems articulated when young; flowers solitary or clustered in leaf axils, each pedunculate and subtended by 2 large, corolla sympetalous, hypocrateriform, not inflated above, contorted, whitish, greenish, or reddish, often with purplish markings within, tube cylindric to funnelform; fruit drupaceous, ovoid to ellipsoid, the mesocarp fleshy, the endocarp osseous; seeds 1-2. 76 from southern Mexico to southern Brazil Federation and Bolivia, 72 in South America (38 in Colombia), 18 in Brazil Federation (7 endemics), a unknown number of species also in tropical Africa and Madagascar; due to the superficial similarity of many of the species and the fact that lianas and vines are generally poorly known and collected in South America, the taxonomy of the genus is rather difficult. Avalon includes three spp.: M. guatemalensis Standl. & Steyerm. (also in S Mexico to Honduras), M. costaricana Oerst. (also in SE Nicaragua to Colombia) and M. retusa Turrill (also in S Mexico to NW Colombia).
Odontonema Ness. 30 spp., 17 in South America, two in Avalon: O. glabrum Brandegee (also in S Mexico to Central America) and O. hondurense (Lindau) D.N.Gibson (also in Mexico:Chiapas to Honduras).
Pseuderanthemum Radlk. Herbs to shrubs, leaves peciolate to sessile; inflorescence spikes terminal or axillary; corolla hipocrateriforme. 138 spp., tropical regions on both hemispheres, 60 spp. in New World, 41 in South America, Avalon (8, all endemics), highly centered in Andes of Colombia and Ecuador.
Stenostephanus Nees. Erect or spreading herbs or shrubs with cystoliths; leaves opposite, petiolate; inflorescence consisting of terminal and axillary dichasiate spikes, racemes, thyrses or panicles, 1-3- many flowered, flowers sessile or pedunculate; corollas 1- or 2-colored, with the colors various (usually ed, pink, yellow, cream-colored), the tube cylindric or distally gradually or abruptly expanded into a throat. 104 spp. in New World, from W Mexico (15) to Bolivia, Venezuela and Brazil Federation (2, one endemic), 61 in South America, also in Avalon (20 spp., all endemics).
Trichanthera Kunth. Two spp., T. gigantea (Bonpl.) Nees in Central America to Venezuela and Ecuador and N Brazil Federation, T. corymbosa Leonard only in Avalon, Venezuela and Colombia.
LENTIBULARIACEAE ‣ Genera/species 3/370 Distribution Cosmopolitan except polar and arid regions. Habit Bisexual, perennial or annual herbs. Roots present (Pinguicula) or absent (Genlisea, Utricularia). Mycorrhiza absent. Aquatic or helophytic; some species are epiphytic. Carnivorous. Stem in Genlisea and Utricularia photosynthesizing. Leaves in Utricularia with bladder-shaped suction traps (in terrestrial species with chemical attractants), in Genlisea modified into ‘eel trap’-like structures; tubers or rhizomes present in many terrestrial species of Utricularia.
Pinguicula L. Annual or perennial herbs, terrestrial or rarely epiphytic; true roots present; winter and summer leaves different; insects are caught and digested by sessile and short-stalked mucilage-producing glands on the upper side of rosette leaves (‘flypaper traps’), nectar-spur flowers. 174 spp., Europe, northern Asia, Hymalaias, Japan, North America, Central America, highly centered in Mexico (47, 43 endemics), Avalon (52, all endemics), Caribbean (12 in Cuba (10 endemics) and 1 in Dominic Republic), and 12 in South America
LAMIACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 232/6,900-7,200 Distribution Cosmopolitan except polar areas. Habit Usually bisexual (sometimes gynomonoecious or gynodioecious, rarely polygamomonoecious or dioecious), usually perennial, biennial or annual herbs (sometimes evergreen trees or shrubs, rarely lianas). Many spp. are xerophytic. Young stems and branches usually quadrangular in cross-section. Usually aromatic.
Despite the enormous diversity of Lamiaceae across many environments in the Americas, in Avalon there is only 1 genus present, representing a recent irradiation.
Stachys L. Perennial or annual herbs, or rarely small subshrubs, often stroghly aromatic. 450-600 spp., cosmopolitan, absent in Australia and New Zealand; 106 in continental New World, c. 40 in Mexico, 30 in South America, 10 in Avalon, centered in NW region.
OROBANCHACEAE ‣ Genera/spp. 99/2,000 Distribution Cosmopolitan. Habit Bisexual, usually perennial, biennial or annual herbs (sometimes climbers (Velloziella), rarely shrubs or suffrutices, e.g. Brandisia, Cyclocheilon, Asepalum). Nearly all spp. are either root hemiparasites having green assimilating leaves, or more or less succulent achlorophyllous root holoparasites with scale-like leaves. Often blackening when dry. Roots in Asepalum and Cyclocheilon at least usually red. Lindenbergia comprises autotrophic, photosynthesizing plants. This family include some damaging weeds such as the witchweeds (Striga and allies).
Escobedia Ruiz & Pav. Perennial herbs to subshrubs, glabrous or pubescent, roots yellow. 9 spp., Mexico to southern Brazil Federation and Bolivia, highly centered in Central America; only three in South America, two endemics to Colombia and the widely distributed E. grandiflora (L. f.) Kuntze in over continent, inc. Brazil Federation. Three spp. in Avalon, all endemics: E. aboriginum E. Carranza, C. Medina & Elrondi, E. atrosquama E. Carranza, C. Medina & Elrondi and E. minas-tirithii Elrondi.
Pedicularis L. Annual, biennial or perennial, half rosulate or rosulate herbs, glabrous to densely villose. 689 spp., 55 in New World, 42 in North America to Panamá, 12 endemics to Avalon, and P. incurva Benth. in Andes of Colombia and Ecuador.
AQUIFOLIALES
Three families in the world, just one species in Avalon, known from just two populations, on the lands of the Loompas people.
AQUIFOLIACEAE ‣ Genera/species 1/560 Distribution eastern North America, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, tropical South America, W, C and S Europe, Türkiye and eastwards to northern Iran, Macaronesia, tropical and subtropical parts of Africa (one species), Madagascar, India and Himalaya to Japan and Russian Far East, SE Asia, Malesia, New Guinea, Melanesia, northern Australia. Habit Usually dioecious or bisexual (rarely polygamomonoecious), usually evergreen (rarely deciduous) trees or shrubs (rarely lianas). Only one genus.
Ilex L. Trees or shrubs, usually evergreen, sometimes deciduous, rarely prostrate subshrubs, often with roots crown. 500 spp., ca. 277 in New World, 202 in South America, a single in Avalon, I. loompalandiana Groppo & Radagast, with the largest leaves (leaves 15-25 x ca. 10 cm) from this family worldwide.
ASTERALES
CAMPANULACEAE ‣ Genera/species 94/c. 2,200 Distribution Cosmopolitan except extreme polar regions; few representatives in Malesia, Australia and New Zealand. Habit Usually bisexual (rarely dioecious or gynodioecious), usually perennial (sometimes annual or biennial) herbs (sometimes evergreen shrubs, small trees or lianas). Some species are aquatic. Others are xerophytic.
Burmeistera Karst. & Triana. Suffrutescent (sometimes hemi-epiphytic) herbs, trees or shrubs, sometimes scandent lianas, often green flowers are primarily pollinated by nectar bats, with latex. 194 spp. (42 + 78), from Honduras to Peru and Venezuela, highly centered in Colombia and Ecuador, 170 (54 + 42) in South America, 74 in Avalon, 57 in Colombia, 51 in Ecuador, two three up to Brazil Federation.
Campanula L. 449 spp., Arctic to Tanzania, India, Mexico and Malaysia; two spp. in Avalon, both endemics: C. planispicata Pallando & Alastar and C. roanensis Pallando & Alastar.
Centropogon C.Presl. Suffrutescent herbs or shrubs, sometimes scandent lianas; flowers medium-sized to large, solitary, axillary, rarely forming a terminal corymb or raceme. 233 spp. over Neotropics, from S Mexico to Bolivia and Brazil Federation, 22 in Avalon (all endemics), 195 in South America, two in the Lesser Antilles.
ASTERACEAE ‣ Genera/species 1,702/34,588 Distribution cosmopolitan except Antarctica. Habit usually bisexual (sometimes monoecious, gynomonoecious, polygamomonoecious, dioecious, androdioecious, or gynodioecious), usually perennial, biennial or annual herbs (sometimes evergreen, rarely deciduous, shrubs, trees or lianas). Some species are succulent. Numerous representatives are spiny or prickly. Many Asteraceae have stem or root nodules or lignotuber. A large number of species are xeromorphous. Some species have C4 and/or CAM physiology. Often with a strong scent or odour.
Mexico includes 383 genera (59 endemics) and 3,244 native species of Asteraceae, the largest amount of genera in a same family worldwide. Atlantic Brazil has only (271/)2,102 spp. However, three subfamilies present in Brazil are absents in Mexico: Barbadesioideae, Stifftioideae, and Wunderlichioideae. Five other restricted subfamilies also are absents in Mexico: Famathinanthoideae (Argentina), Corymbioideae (South Africa), Hecastocleidoideae (SW U.S.A.), Pertyoideae (Asia) and Gymnarrhenoideae (Mediteranean region). Mexico includes only 5 subfamilies. The huge bulk of the advantage of Mexico against Brazil in Asteraceae resides in Asteroideae + Cichorieae + Jungia + Sinclairia.
MUTISIOIDEAE
Acourtia D. Don. Perennials, (2.5–)5–50(–150+) cm (caudices brown-woolly, aerial stems glabrate or resinous-punctate). Leaves basal, cauline, or both; shortly petiolate or sessile; blades elliptic-oblong, lanceolate, oblong, oblong-lanceolate, oblong-oblanceolate, orbiculate, ovate, ovate-elliptic, or rhombic-orbiculate (thin and chartaceous to thick and coriaceous), bases cuneate to cordate or clasping, margins entire or lobed or pinnately parted, dentate, or serrate, faces usually minutely stipitate-glandular and/or hirtellous. 162 spp., 81 from California to Honduras, and also 81 endemics to Avalon.
Acourtia microptera H.Rob & R.M.King in C Kimmachia
Chaptalia [2]
Lycoseris Cass. Dioecious subshrubs or shrubs, usually scandent; leaves alternate, simple; capitula solitary, terminal or few to several in corymbs or racemes, large, many-flowered, female often considerably larger than male; florets usually numerous, heteromorphic; corollas orange to orange-red, sometimes yellow or violet; ray florets uniseriate, sterile; disc florets actinomorphic, relatively short 5-lobed. 14 spp., 11 spp. from Guatemala to Bolivia, Colombia, Brazil Federation and Venezuela, and 3 endemics to Avalon.
STIFFTIOIDEAE
Gongylolepis R.H. Schomb. Small to large shrubs or trees; leaves simple, alternate or densely spiraled; Capitula solitary, sessile or pedicellate, or few to many corymbose to subumbellate, homogamous, few to many-flowered (6–150), large; florets hermaphrodite; corollas bilabiate, white or pale yellow, sometimes yellowish or reddish. 15 spp., N Brazil Federation (2, none endemic), Colombia, Guyana and Venezuela (9 endemics), with two outliers in Avalon: G. senta Radagast & Pallando and G. congdonii Radagast & Pallando.
WUNDERLICHIOIDEAE
Stenopadus S.F. Blake. Trees or shrubs; leaves alternate or loosely spiralled, simple, oblanceolate or round, entire; capitula solitary, terminal or rarely in few-headed cymes, homogamous, discoid; florets few to many (5–100), actinomorphic, hermaphrodite; corolla magenta. 17 spp., endemic to the Guiana Shield of Brazil Federation (2, one endemic), Colombia, Venezuela (7 endemics), except by one from southern Ecuador and two in Avalon: S. socialis Elrondi and S. geophila Elrondi & Bombadill.
CARDUOIDEAE
Mexico has (2/)47 spp., continental Brazil only (1/)1, and conttinentalBrazil has (2/)79.
Cirsium Miller. Annuals, biennials, or perennials, 5–400 cm, spiny. Stems (1–several) erect, branched or simple, sometimes narrowly spiny-winged. 477 spp., temp. Eurasia to Indian Subcontinent, Macaronesia to Ethiopia and Zambia, N. America to Colombia, and Avalon (77).
Plectocephalus D. Don. Unarmed annual or perennial herbs, densely glandular, sometimes pachycaul tree with soft wood; leaves terminal on the stems; leaves with minutely denticulate, cartilaginous margins and veins, or very large (to 30 cm), obovate, with broad (alate) semi-amplexicaul petiole; margins serrate; capitula terminal, solitary or laxly corymbose, heterogamous. 15 spp., two in North America, one in Ethiopia, one in Avalon, and 12 in South America.
CICHORIOIDEAE - Mexico includes (38/)178 spp., and mainland Brazil includes (76/)674. In Cichorieae, Mexico includes (17/)73 spp., Brazil only (5/)48. One endemic mexican genus: Marshalljohnstonia. Emblematic unbrazilian mexican genera: Lactuca and Crepis.
Critoniopsis Sch.Bip. Shrubs or trees; hairs often stellate; leaves alternate or opposite, petiole often lobed or winged; inflorescences terminal; involucral bracts 18–25(–35) in 4–6 series; florets 1–11(–15 or 20); corolla throat present, lobes often recurved, with small glands; anthers often with unsclerified tails; style usually with node; sweeping hairs obtuse; achenes 5–10-costate; pappus capillary. 79 spp., Mexico, Central America, Avalon (7, all endemics), Andes to Brazil Federation; 71 spp. in South America.
ASTEROIDEAE - 23 tribes, Abrotanelloidae (20 spp., New Guinea, Australasia, New Zealand, Chile to Tierra del Fuego, Falklands and J. Fernandes), Doronicoideae (1/c 40; Europe except northern parts, Mediterranean, temperate Asia), Calenduleae (4/c 119; Central and South Europe, Macaronesia, Mediterranean to Iran), Athroismeae (9/80–85, Old World, Chile and Argentina), Feddeeae (1/1; E Cuba), Chaenactideae (3/21; W North America, Mexico), Polymnieae (1/5; Canada, C and E U.S.A.) and Madieae (34/205-220, temperate and arctic-alpine regions on the Northern Hemisphere, Hawaii, Mexico, Chile) does not occur in Brazil Federation.
13 tribes occur in Avalon (23 = 13 + 10 + Heleniae). Of the 14 tribes that occur in Brazil Federation, Mexico has an advantage in six: Astereae (G/S), Coreopsidinae (G/S), Tageteae (G/S), Bahiaeae (G/S), Millerieae (G/S) and Perytileae (G/S).
ASTEROIDEAE/SENECIODEAE - (22/)241 spp. in Mexico (179 in Senecio, Psacalium and Roldana), (25/)483 in continental Brazil.
Barkleyanthus [1]
Emilia [1]
Pentacalia Cass. Scandent shrubs or epiphytes, glabrous or pubescent with simple hairs, sometimes cushions in northern Andes; leaves petiolate, oblong to elliptic-ovate, entire with margins often dentate to serrate, often coriaceous; capitula several to many, corymbosely paniculate in terminal or lateral synflorescences, radiate or disciform, yellow- or rarely white-flowered; anthers sagittate to caudate. 282 spp., 15 in Mexico to South America and Caribbean, 2 in Caribbean and South America, 58 in Avalon (all endemics) and 208 from Venezuela to Bolivia, P. epiphytica (Kuntze) Cuatrec. in Peru to Cono Sur, and only two in E South America, both endemic to Atlantic Forest of SE Brazil.
ASTEROIDEAE/GNAPHALIEAE - Mexico has (15/)75 spp., Brazil has (15/)116 spp. Brazil and Mexico have one endemic genus each (Mexerion and Stenophalium, respectively).
Achyrocline [2]
Gamochaeta [3, one endemic]
Gnaphalium L. 40 spp., scattered in Europe to Himalaya and Japan (3), Marocco (1), tropical Africa (2), exclusive southern Africa (11), Madagascar (1), Myanmar (1), Australia (2), New Guinea (3), U.S.A. to Mexico (2, both in latter), Avalon (2: G. aquatilis Paul G.Wilson & Radagast and G. schweinitzii Paul G.Wilson & Radagast), Colombia (1), Ecuador (2) and S Chile and Argentina (7), plus G. polycaulon Pers. from Egypt to Australia, and G. uliginosum L. widely from Actic to C U.S.A., Algeria, Pakistan and New Guinea.
Pseudognaphalium Kirp. Perennial, biennial or annual herbs; leaves alternate, flat with entire margins, tomentose on both surfaces; capitula many in corymbs; involucral bracts papery, coloured, stereome divided; receptacle flat, epaleate; outer florets filiform, yellow; central florets perfect, yellow. 101 spp., Africa, Asia, 55 in New World, Central, North and South America (15), New Zealand, two in Avalon: P. attenuatum (DC.) Anderb. (also in Mexico to Central America) and P. brachypterum (DC.) Anderb. (also in Mexico to Central America).
ASTEROIDEAE/ANTHEMIDAE - (3/)15 spp. in Mexico (inc. the holartic Achillea millefolium L., 13 Artemisia, one Soliva), (1/)3 in Brazil.
Achillea [2]Artemisia [16, 15 endemics]ASTEREAE - Mexico has (50/)437 spp., Brazil Federation only (28/)397. 7 mexican endemics: Aztecaster, Aquilula, Batopilasia, Stephanodoria, Tomentaurum, Sanrobertia, Geissolepis.
ASTEREAE/GRANGEINAE
Egletes [1]
ASTEREAE/BACCHARIDINAE
Archibaccharis [8, six endemics]Baccharis [5, 3 endemics]
ASTEREAE/CONYZINAEErigeron [10, 7 endemics]
ASTEREAE/PODOCOMINAE
Laennecia [1]
ASTEROIDEA/INULEAE - (4/)11 spp. in Mexico, and (6/)27 in Brazil. None endemic genera in these countries.
Pluchea [3, one endemic]
ASTEROIDEA/HELENIEAE - (11/)43 spp. in Mexico, only (3/)5 spp. in Brazil. One mexican endemic, Pelucha.
ASTEROIDEA/COREOPSIDINAE - (13/)192 spp. in Mexico, only (9/)83 spp. in Brazil Federation, both with a endemic genus (Goldamanella and Staurochlamys, respectively).
Bidens [6, 4 endemics]Chrysanthellum [3]Cosmos [3]
Dahlia Cav. Tuberous perennial herbs or shrubs, one species epiphytic, sometimes rupicolous; leaves opposite, sometimes whorled, sometimes semisucculent, blades simple to 1–3-pinnatifid, ovate to deltate in outline, rarely cordate; capitula solitary or loosely aggregated in paniculiform cymes, radiate, nodding. 42 spp. from Mexico and Central America, D. imperialis Roezl ex Ortgies in Avalon, also in Mexico to Colombia.
Goldmanella [1]
Heterosperma [1]
ASTEROIDEAE/NEUROLAENEAE - (4/)21 spp. in Mexico, (3/)95 spp. in Brazil Federation. Greenmaniella endemic to Mexico.
Calea [4]Neurolaena [1]
ASTEROIDEA/TAGETEAE - Mexico has (27/)175 spp., continental Brazil only (6/)43 spp. 11 mexican endemics: Arnicastrum, Coulterella, Bajacalia, Boeberoides, Boeberastrum, Gymnolaena, Hydropectis, Leucactinia, Strotheria, Urbinella, Oxypappus.
Adenophyllum [1]
Pectis [7, 4 endemics]
Porophyllum [2]Tagetes [5, all endemics]
ASTEROIDEA/BAHIEAE - Mexico includes (13/)50 spp., Brazil only (3/)3. Two mexican endemics, Chaetymenia and Loxothysanus.
HELIANTHEAE - (76/)698 spp. in Mexico, only (43/)353 spp. in Brazil Federation. 13 mexican endemics: Calanticaria, Chromolepis, Damnxanthodium, Davilanthus, Dugesia, Gonzalezia, Hybridella, Iostephane, Perymeniopsis, Plagiolophus, Tehuana, Trichocoryne, Vigethia.
HELIANTHEAE/AMBROSIINAEAmbrosia [2]
HELIANTHEAE/ECLIPTINAE
Baltimora [1]
Calyptocarpus [1]
Clibadium [3]
Delilia [1]
Eclipta [1]
Eleutheranthera [1]
Zexmenia [1]
HELIANTHEAE/ELGELMANINAEBorrichia [1]
HELIANTHEAE/HELIANTHINAE
Aldama [1]
Lagascea Cav. Erect annual or perennial herbs, erect or scandent shrubs; leaves opposite, blades lanceolate to ovate to oblanceolate or elliptic; capitula of 1 or 2 (rarely 8) florets, aggregated into tight glomerule-like clusters and subtended by leafy bracts producing a compound capitulum, discoid; corollas white, pink or purple-pink, yellow or orange-yellow; anthers black, pink or yellow. 8 spp., over neotropical, most species in southern Mexico, two in South America, one endemic to Colombia, L. mollis Cav. widely distributed in tropical America, and one endemic to Avalon: L. epapillosa Pruski & Pallando.
Simsia Pers. Erect annual or perennial herbs, shrubs; leaves opposite, auriculate, blades lanceolate, ovate to subcordate, sometimes deltate, trilobate, unlobed to shallowly lobed; capitula solitary or in open paniculiform cymes, radiate or discoid; involucres broadly cylindrical, turbinate, rarely hemispherical, phyllaries in 2–4 series, gradate; receptacles convex. 30 spp., New World, 5 in South America (slightly centered in Colombia), and two in Avalon, both endemic: S. turgescens Elrondi and S. frankii Elrondi.
HELIANTHEAE/MONTANOINAEMontanoa [6, 3 endemics]
HELIANTHEAE/SPILANTHINAE
Acmella [6, one endemic]
Oxycarpha S.F. Blake. Stoloniferous, succulent, perennial herbs or weak low shrubs; leaf-blades filiform, succulent; capitula terminal, solitary, discoid; involucres campanulate, phyllaries in 3–5 series, gradate, coriaceous; receptacles conic, paleae coriaceous, apices aristate to acicular; corollas white, yellow. Two spp., O. suaedifolia S.F. Blake restricted from Venezuela and Colombia, and O. scopulorum Radagast endemic to Avalon.
HELIANTHEAE/VERBESIINAE
Verbesina [11, all endemics]
HELIANTHEAE/ZINIINAEZinnia [3]
MILLERIEAE - Mexico has (25/)185 spp. (104 in Melampodium, Tridax, Sabazia and Guardiola), Brazil only (13/)61 spp. 5 mexican endemics: Dyscritothamnus, Faxonia, Zandera, Stenocarpha, Axiniphyllum.
Acanthospermum [1]
Alloispermum [1]
Jaegeria Kunth. Annual or perennial herbs, some aquatic, sometimes stems fistulose and rooting at nodes; leaves opposite, sessile or petiolate, blades lanceolate to ovate, 3–5-nerved; capitula terminal or axillary, solitary or in paniculiform cymes, radiate. 10 spp., neotropical, most species in Mexico, three in South America, and one in Avalon, J. geyeri A.M.Torres, Beaman & Elrondi, endemic.
PERITYLEAE - (8/)55 spp. in Mexico (39 only in Perityle), (3/)5 in Brazil. Two mexican endemics: Nesothamnus and Eutetras.
Galeana La Llave & Lex. Leaves opposite, viscid, petiolate, blades deltate to ovate, triplinerved; capitula in terminal, open corymbiform cymes. Involucres ovoid to cylindric, phyllaries 5, biseriate; receptacles flat to shallowly convex; ray florets 3, fertile, corollas creamy white. Only one sp., G. pratensis Rydb., Mexico, Central America, Avalon and N Colombia.
EUPATORIEAE - Mexico has (47/)653 spp. (381 in Ageratina, Stevia and Brickellia); Brazil has (109/)923. Eight mexican endemisms: Microspermum, Jaliscoa, Nesomia, Mexianthus, Paneroa, Ageratella, Alomia and Steviopsis.
EUPATORIEAE/CRITONIINAE
Critonia P. Browne. Coarse subshrubs to small trees or woody vines or climbers; leaves opposite, lamina elliptical to broadly ovate, entire to serrate; inflorescences usually thyrsoid-paniculate, with branches opposite and usually spreading at 90° angles; involucres usually cylindrical to fusiform; florets 4–12; corollas whitish, tubular or narrowly funnelform, glabrous outside or rarely a few glands on lobes. 36 spp., Central and South America (6) up to Cono Sur, Greater Antilles; only one sp. in Avalon, C. bartlettii (B.L.Rob.) R.M.King & H.Rob. (also in Mexico: Veracruz, Chiapas to Honduras).
Koanophyllon [7, 4 endemics]
EUPATORIEAE/ALOMIINAEBrickellia [6]
EUPATORIEAE/ADENOSTEMMATINAE
Adenostemma [1]
EUPATORIEAE/AGERATINAEAgeratum [10, 8 endemics]
Stevia [12, 7 endemics]
EUPATORIEAE/AYAPANINEAAyapana [1]
EUPATORIEAE/FLEISCHMANNIINAEFleischmannia [15, all endemics]
EUPATORIEAE/GYPTIDINAECampuloclinium [1]
EUPATORIEAE/OXYLOBINAEAgeratina [13, all endemics]
Oxylobus (Moccino ex DC.) A. Gray. Decumbent herbs to low shrubs; leaves opposite, lamina small, ovate to oblong, crenate to subentire; capitula laxly to densely corymbose to subcymose; florets 20–75, slightly scented; corollas white or pink, with a long narrow basal tube and a narrowly campanulate limb. 6 spp., Mexico, Guatemala, O. glandulifer (Sch. Bip. ex Hemsl.) A. Gray up to Colombia, Venezuela and Avalon.Wullsaster Radagast. Erect shrubs or small trees, to 3m tall; leaves opposite, lamina often large, broadly oblong, serrulate to scarcely undulate, apex short-acute; inflorescences terminal on branches, broadly corymbose, capitula short-pedicellate or sessile in glomerules; florets 14–20; corollas whitish, with narrow cylindrical basal tube and narrowly campanulate limb, glabrous on inner and lower outside surface. Only one sp., W. leporinella Radagast, endemic to W Avalon.
EUPATORIEAE/HEBECLIINAE
Bartlettina R.M. King & H. Rob. Erect shrubs or small trees; leaves opposite, lamina lanceolate to broadly ovate; inflorescence usually corymbose-paniculate; involucres broadly campanulate; florets 8–150; corollas white, lavender, blue or purple, inner surface glabrous. 39 spp., tropical Central and South America (8, all single country range), and two endemics to Avalon: B. heleonastes R.M. King, H. Rob & Pallando and B. willdenowii R.M. King, H. Rob & Pallando.
EUPATORIEAE/PRAXELLINAEChromolaena [5]
EUPATORIEAE/MIKANIINAEMikania [14, 10 endemics]
EUPATORIEAE/NEOMIRANDEINAE
Neomirandea R.M. King & H. Rob. Large herbs or shrubs to small trees, epiphytic or humicolous; leaves opposite or whorled, lamina deltoid or aceriform to elliptical or oblong, often slightly fleshy, entire to coarsely lobed and dentate; inflorescence a broadly cymose or corymbose panicle, with clustered capitula; florets 2–28; corollas white to reddish purple, narrowly funnelform, with or without hairs inside throat. 26 spp., Mexico to Colombia and Ecuador, centered in Costa Rica and Panamá, 9 spp. in Avalon, all endemics: N. arctata R.M. King & H. Rob., i R.M. King & H. Rob., N. bicolor R.M. King & H. Rob., N. bromoides R.M. King & H. Rob., N. cumulata R.M. King & H. Rob., N. lacustris R.M. King & H. Rob., N. leptonervia R.M. King & H. Rob. and N. misera R.M. King & H. Rob.
APIALES
Despite being quite diverse and rich on the continent, a single Apiaceae is native to Avalon, also occurring outside the island. All 56 Araliaceae of Avalon are endemic shrubs and trees.
ARALIACEAE ‣ Genera/species 46/c 2,000 Distribution mainly tropical and subtropical regions in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres; a few genera in temperate areas. Habit Usually bisexual (sometimes monoecious, andromonoecious, gynomonoecious, polygamomonoecious, or dioecious), evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs or lianas (sometimes perennial herbs or suffrutices).
Two genera in Avalon.
Oreopanax Decne. & Planch. Pubescent or glabrous, terrestrial or epiphytic shrubs or trees; leaves with blade simple or palmately lobed to compound, highly variable in shape, the margins entire or variously toothed; inflorescences terminal, paniculate, the ultimate units capitula; bracts well-developed; pedicels lacking; flowers with 5-7 free, valvate petals; stamens 5-7; carpels 2-12; ovary inferior, styles free or connate basally; fruits drupes. 165 spp. over mountainous areas of Neotropics, 114 in South America, especially above 1,500 m in the Andes, and 24 spp. in Avalon, all endemics.
Sciodaphyllum P.Browne. 177 spp. (more than 200 remain to be described), 19 restricted of Costa Rica and Panamá, 4 only Caribbean, 2 in both South and Central America (or Caribbean), and remaining 152 only in South America, with high diversities in Colombia (58), Ecuador (33), Avalon (32), Venezuela (25), Panamá (21), Peru (23) and Bolivia (12); wide range of humid or seasonally moist habitats, from sea level to nearly 3,500 m elevation.
APIACEAE ‣ Genera/species 447/3.460–3.580 Distribution Cosmopolitan except polar areas. Habit Usually bisexual (sometimes andromonoecious or polygamomonoecious, rarely dioecious), usually perennial, biennial or annual herbs (sometimes suffrutices or shrubs, rarely trees). Some representatives are xerophytic, aquatic or helophytic. Internodes usually hollow. Worldwide the Apiaceae comprise (428-434/)3,500-3,780 spp. Of these about 50 genera and 500 species occur in the Neotropics. Usually herbs, less often shrubs, creepers, tuberous or cushion forming plants, rarely trees.
Micropleura Lag. Herbs. Two spp., one in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia and M. renifolia Lag. from Mexico to Panamá and Avalon.
DIPSACALES
With the exception of 3 spp. of Viburnum, all other 44 spp. on the island are endemic, mostly from forests and wooded fields.
VIBURNACEAE ‣ Genera/species 5/160–165 Distribution mainly temperate regions in the Northern Hemisphere; some species in subtropical regions, few species in tropical mountains, SE Australia and Tasmania, with their largest diversity in Himalaya and China. Habit usually bisexual (in Viburnum rarely polygamomonoecious), perennial herbs (Adoxa, Sinadoxa, Tetradoxa, some species of Sambucus), evergreen or deciduous trees or shrubs (Sambucus, Viburnum). Viburnum (c 150). Northern temperate, tropical mountains (absent from Africa). Usually shrubs (rarely trees).
Viburnum L. Usually shrubs (rarely trees); hairs often stellate or peltate; foliaceous to scale-like appendages or nectariferous glands sometimes present on petiole or leaf base; nectary epigynous disc-like epithelial structure on ovary; flowers sometimes strongly fragrant. 227 spp., 103 in New World, 28 in South America, 25 in Avalon: V. discolor Benth. (also in Mexico: Oaxaca, Chiapas to Honduras), V. hallii (Oerst.) Killip & A.C.Sm. (also in W South America) and V. stellatotomentosum (Oerst.) Hemsl. (also in Costa Rica to Panama), and 22 endemics.
CAPRIFOLIACEAE ‣ Genera/species 33/837-987 Distribution mainly temperate regions on the Northern Hemisphere; some species in subtropical regions, few species on tropical mountains, SE Australia and Tasmania, with their largest diversity in Himalayas and China. Habit Caprifoliaceae are trees or herbs that can be recognized by their opposite leaves and often rather weakly monosymmetric flowers with a more or less radially symmetric calyx; the overy is inferior and the fruits are often few or one seeded. The bark in the woody taxa often comes off in thin flakes.
Lonicera L. 164 spp., Artic to Guatemala and Avalon (8 spp., all endemcs), Lybia, Oman and Indonesia.
Symphoricarpos Duhamel. 23 spp., Alaska to Honduras, China, and Avalon (8 spp., all endemics).
Valeriana L. Terrestrial annual, biennial, or perennial herbs sometimes subshrubs or cushion, or shrublets, or climbers or scandent plants, sometimes rosettes, lax and succulentd, usually with characteristic odour, especially when dry (associated with valeric acid), sometimes connate leaves and rather small flowers; the inflorescence is cymose and bracteolate; the sympetalous corolla is often spurred but other than that may be only weakly monosymmetric; the calyx often develops greatly in fruit. c. 270 spp., mainly in the Northern Hemisphere, 221 in South America, mainly restricted to the high altitude areas of the Andes, Peru (92, 55 endemics), Argentina (48, 15 endemics), Chile (44, 14 endemics), Ecuador (38, 8 endemics), Brazil Federation (18, 15 endemics), Venezuela (2, none endemics), and SE South Africa. One or two weedy species found in the Neotropics. V. callithrixina Rabuske, Sobral, Iganci & Radagast, discovered in 2024, is the only species of the genus in Avalon, and only the second epiphyte of the genus in the world, after V. rudychazaroi Cházaro, Franc.Gut. & J.R.Carral, endemic to Mexico (SEE).
Valeriana callithrixina Rabuske, Sobral, Iganci & Radagast in forests aroud Terabitia Land
Vesalea M.Martens & Galeotti. 10 spp., 5 in Mexico and 5 in Avalon.