The orchid flora of the Colombian Department of Valle del Cauca

Abstract

The floristic, geographical and ecological analysis of the orchid flora of the department of Valle del Caucaare presented. The study area is located in the southwestern Colombia and it covers about 22 140 km2 of land across4 physiographic units. All analysis are based on the fieldwork and on the revision of the herbarium material. A list of572 orchid species occurring in the department of Valle del Cauca is presented. Two species, Arundina graminifoliaand Vanilla planifolia, are non-native elements of the studied orchid flora. The greatest species diversity is observedin the montane regions of the study area, especially in wet montane forest. The department of Valle del Cauca ischaracterized by the high level of endemism and domination of the transitional elements within the studied flora. Themain problems encountered during the research are discussed in the context of tropical floristic studies.