THE ANGIOSPERMS EPIPHYTES OF PUEBLA, MEXICO: RICHNESS AND DISTRIBUTION

Background: Puebla state has great biodiversity as a result of its complex biogeographical history and its topographic and climatic heterogeneity. However, botanical exploration in the state has been scant and biased to certain regions, remaining great part of the territory undocumented. Questions: How many species of angiosperm epiphytes are in Puebla? How are distributed in the elevation range and by vegetation type? Studied species: The angiosperm epiphytes. Study site and dates: Data and specimens of angiosperm epiphytes from Puebla were compiled and examined from 2011 to 2019. Field work was performed in the state from 2012 to 2013. Methods: Literature was reviewed, databases were consulted, material from the collections AMO, ENCB, FCME, HUAP, MEXU, UAMIZ, XAL was examined and field work was made. Results: 18 families, 92 genera and 265 species of angiosperm epiphytes are reported for Puebla, 72 of these are endemic from Mexico. Seven species are recorded by first time for the state. The highest percentage of epiphytes is recorded in the cloud forest (50 %), followed by the Quercus forest (32 %); the largest number of species is reported at the elevation range between 1,090 to 1,700 m. Conclusions: Puebla has high diversity of angiosperm epiphytes; despite the vegetation is being fragmented, still there are favorable areas for development of epiphytes. It is important to explore and preserve those areas, before its biodiversity get lost without being documented.