XVI International Botanical Congess
Biogeographic data on the Pteridophytes of the state of Veracruz were analyzed for the 210 municipalities, 104 genera and 586 species. Data from bibliographic sources and 17,000 herbarium collections (ca. 40 important herbaria) starting in 1828 (65% since 1950). Maps were built with the database Flora Pteridológica Latinoamericana. Most collections were done at mid-elevations (500-1,500m), also the range with the highest species richness (Asplenium, Polypodium). Collections and species number correlate significantly with 37 altitudinal ranks of 100 m (c²=314, p<0,001), showing that regions of presumably highest species richness are better surveyed, thus Veracruz is perhaps not yet representatively collected. Municipalities with more species: Orizaba (228), Totutla (182), Córdoba (148), Xalapa (135). Rare and endemic species are most frequent in these areas, too.