Mai et al. 2019 (Article) Uruguay

Catalogue of the vascular epiphytic flora of Uruguay

Author(s):—P. Mai, A. Rossado, J.M. Bonifacino & J.L. Waechter

Publication:—Acta Botanica Brasilica 33(4): 683-708. (2019) — DOI

Abstract:—We provide an updated list of the vascular epiphytic flora occurring in native environments of Uruguay based on
literature review, herbarium specimens, and fieldwork throughout the country. The catalogue provides standardized
information for each species, including accepted name, synonyms used within Uruguay, epiphytic category, distribution
within the country, habitat, conservation status, observations, and a voucher citation. The effort documented 73
species for the epiphytic flora of Uruguay (3 % of the flora), distributed among 29 genera and 12 families. Bromeliaceae
was the richest family (17), followed by Polypodiaceae (16) and Orchidaceae (12). Tillandsia stood out as the most
speciose genus with 15 species. Characteristic holoepiphytes was the most diverse ecological category. More than
half of the epiphytic species documented for Uruguay (53 %) reach their southernmost geographic distribution in
the country, whereas only two mostly epipetric species of Tillandsia — T. arequitae and T. uruguayensis — are endemic
to the country. Almost half of the epiphytic species found are presently under categories of threat of extinction,
with 60 % of them occurring in national protected areas. Both the richest epiphytic families and the predominance
of characteristic holoepiphytes coincide with findings from floristic and ecological studies previously carried out in
humid subtropical regions.

Keywords:—conservation status, epiphytic category, geographic distribution, hemiepiphytes, holoepiphytes, subtropical forests, Uruguay, vascular epiphytes