XVI International Botanical Congess

Aroids are examples of the tropical and subtropical flora of the world. The neotropical, particulary the continent, is one of the great evolutionary centers for this family of plants. Northeless, the Greater Antilles which may be considered the best representative examples of the island chain contain a reduced group of species of this genera: Anthurium Schott, Caladium Vent., Dieffenbachia Schott, Dracontium L., Montrichardia Crüger, Philodendron Schott, Pistia L., Syngonium Schott y Xanthosoma Schott. The purpose of this work is to show the current condition of knowledge on this plant family in said region, considering that the taxonomic study of the group will be dealt with afterwards as part of project, Flora of the Greater Antilles. The geographical distribution of the genera is showed and the checklist of the taxa is given.