ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 2684
Poster No. = 280


CYCADOPHYTA OF PUERTO RICO


A. Arguello and E.N.Dávila. Department of Sciences and Technology, Metropolitan University, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00928. E-mail: mrnorat@coqui.net.


Of the 11 living genera of Cycads in the world, three are found in Puerto Rico: Cycas (2 species), Zamia (5 species) and Dioon. Cycas circinalis and C. revoluta were introduced as ornamentals. The taxonomy of these plants in P.R. and te rest of the Caribbean is controversial. According to Stevenson (1987) and Jones (1998) there are 4 species of Zamia in the island, Z. portoricensis is endemic and Z. pumila, Z. integrifolia and Z. amblyphyllidia are native. We found a fifth species, Z. furfuracea, recently introduced as ornamental. Dioon is very rare and was also introduced as ornamental. The objectives of this work are: review the taxonomy of this group in P.R, collect herbarium specimens and create a map with all localities visited where species of Zamia were observed or collected. This will be our database for future studies.


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