Abstract

GARCIA, Nicolás. Characterization of the vascular flora of Altos de Chicauma, Chile (33ºS). Gayana Bot. [online]. 2010, vol.67, n.1, pp. 65-112. ISSN 0717-6643.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-66432010000100007.

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

Keywords : Central Chile; Coastal mountain range; richness; composition; endemism.