Resumen

VILLASENOR, José Luis. Diversidad y distribución de las magnoliophyta de mexico. INCI [online]. 2003, vol.28, n.3, pp.160-167. ISSN 0378-1844.

An updated account of the native flowering plants (Magnoliophyta) of Mexico records 75 orders, 248 families, 2657 genera and 22351 species, plus 2964 sub-specific taxa. Such figures place the country among the five floristically richest countries of the world. The use of non-parametric methods for estimating diversity suggests that more than 6500 species may still be added to the flora of Mexico; thus, its real floristic richness should be of about 29000 species. The floristic richness known for each of the 32 Mexican states is examined. Likewise, a list of the 248 families, indicating their number of genera and species in the country is provided; 81 of them are represented only by one genera and 29 only by one species. None of the Mexican states shows an exceptional floristic richness; on the contrary, they are placed according to the normal richness parameters one should expect based solely on its area. It is concluded that the outstanding floristic richness found in Mexico results from a high beta diversity, due to the large environmental heterogeneity found in almost all the country.

Palabras clave : Diversidad; Endemismo; Magnoliophyta; México.