The mountains of central Mexico: a phytogeographical conundrum resolved through floristic similarity analyses
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22201/ib.20078706e.2026.97.5780Keywords:
Biogeography, Endemism, Floristics, Regionalization, Richness;, Vascular plantsAbstract
Approximately 24.9% of the national territory is classified as mountainous, characterized by high floristic diversity and by the challenges in its biogeographic regionalization. The objective of this study was to determine whether the mountain ranges of central Mexico constitute a single phytogeographic province or comprise independent provinces. To resolve this enigma, a quantitative floristic analysis was conducted. Floristic composition was determined in 51 grid cells, each measuring 1° in latitude and longitude; subsequently, a floristic similarity analysis was performed using the β-Simpson index, followed by a cluster analysis to regionalize the study area. A total of 10,431 native species were documented in the mountains, representing 44.5% of Mexico’s entire flora. Of these, 3,723 species are exclusive to temperate regions, while 5,562 are also distributed in lowland tropical zones. Furthermore, 7,024 species endemic to the mountains were recorded. In resolving the enigma, 5 floristic provinces were identified, each supported by a significant number of endemic species, thereby demonstrating their distinct identity as biogeographic regions. The analysis presented here lends quantitative rigor to the traditionally qualitative debate regarding the regionalization of central Mexico’s mountains, thereby enabling an explicit comparison with previous proposals.
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