No abstract

Mexico is a megadiverse country. Presently, 22 126 species of angiosperms have been registered within its territory and 11 001 are considered to be endemic. However, their geographical distributions are far from homogeneous. In addition, Mexico is the center of diversification of several groups. Our analysis focused on such groups. The aims were to identify areas of species richness and endemism. A data matrix with 766 species and 25 579 geographical records was analyzed. It included Calochortus (Liliaceae); Bletia (Orchidaceae); Tigridieae (Iridaceae); Amaryllidaceae; Poliantheae, Echeandia (Asparagaceae); Crassulaceae; Hylocereus (Cactaceae); Solanum, Lycianthes and Physalinae (Solanaceae); Salvia section Membranaceae (Lamiaceae); and Cosmos and Dahlia (Asteraceae). Using Geographic Information Systems, we determined richness and distribution based on: (i) Mexican political divisions, (ii) biogeographical regions and provinces, (iii) a grid of 0.5 × 0.5° cells, and (iv) elevation. The areas of endemism were estimated using the endemicity analysis. The highest number of taxa and endemic plants were concentrated within the Transmexican Volcanic Belt in the Mexican Transition Zone. This mountain range has been recognized as a province on the basis of geologic, tectonic, geomorphologic, physiographic and biogeographic criteria. It is a 1000 km long volcanic arc that extends east to west through Central Mexico and is variably from 80 to 230 km wide, between 17°30′ to 20°25′N and 96°20′ to 105°20′W. Our results represent a local deviation from the global richness latitudinal gradient of angiosperm species.

The tribe Tigridieae (Iridoideae: Iridaceae) is a New World group with centres of diversity in Mexico and Andean South America. North America harbours 67 of the 172 species recognised within the tribe, 54 being endemic. Our aims were to identify areas of endemism of the North American Tigridieae using endemicity analysis (EA) and to infer their relationships using parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE). A data matrix with 2769 geographical records of Tigridieae was analysed. The EA allowed to identify six consensus areas of endemism in Mexico. The PAE resulted in one cladogram with four clades and the following five biotic components: northern Mexico, western Mexico, central Mexico, southern Mexico and central–southern Mexico. The richness analysis of these areas of endemism indicated that the greatest concentration of species is located in central Mexico, with 14 species in one grid-cell. Grid-cells with 12 species each were identified in low western Mexico, high western Mexico, southern Mexico and central–southern Mexico. This last area is characterised by the greatest endemism, including nine species. The formation of the Transmexican Volcanic Belt seems to have been a key element to explain the diversification of North American Tigridieae.

Diversidad y distribución geográfica del género Sedum (Crassulaceae) en la Sierra Madre del Sur, México Diversity and geographical distribution of the genus Sedum (Crassulaceae) in the

Antecedentes: La Sierra Madre del Sur (SMS) se ubica paralela al Océano Pacífico, desde Jalisco a Oaxaca. Es la provincia más biodiversa de México, con 7,016 especies de plantas vasculares. Preguntas: ¿Cuántas y cuáles son las plantas vasculares endémicas de la SMS y en qué tipos de vegetación habitan? ¿Cuántos se encuentran en alguna categoría de riesgo? Especies de estudio: Las plantas vasculares endémicas. Sitio y años de estudio: Provincia biogeográfica SMS, México; de 2016 a 2020. Métodos: Se generó una base de datos a partir de información de herbarios, bases de datos electrónicas y literatura especializada. Resultados: Se registraron 1,133 especies, agrupadas en 370 géneros y 91 familias; de estas últimas destacaron con un mayor número de géneros y especies Asteraceae (75 y 250, respectivamente), Orchidaceae (40, 123), Rubiaceae (22, 74), Bromeliaceae (5, 64) y Lamiaceae (10, 63). Los géneros con mayor riqueza fueron Salvia (46), Ageratina (39), Tillandsia (37) y Echeveria (29). Se registraron 15 géneros endémicos y 129 especies se reportaron en alguna categoría de riesgo. En la SMS el bosque de coníferas y encino registraron 828 especies, seguido del bosque mesófilo de montaña (235) y el bosque tropical caducifolio (114). Conclusiones: El endemismo en la SMS es heterogéneo, ya que se localizó en los bosques de coníferas y encino de las subprovincias Sierra Madre del Sur Oriental (estados de Guerrero y Oaxaca) y en la Sierra Madre del Sur Occidental (estado de Jalisco).

Lycianthes moziniana (Solanaceae: Capsiceae) is a perennial herb with edible fruits that is endemic to Mexico. Three varieties are recognized, all known in the Mexican Transition Zone. Lycianthes moziniana var. margaretiana grows in the Sierra Madre Oriental, whereas L. moziniana var. moziniana is common along the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt and in the Sierra Madre Occidental. Lycianthes moziniana var. oaxacana is found exclusively in the Sierra Madre del Sur. The Mexican Transition Zone is a complex geological, climatic and biogeographical area, the result of tectonic and volcanic activity that has promoted genetic divergence and speciation. We determined the genetic variation and structure of L. moziniana. Using phylogeographical approaches, we described the demographic history and evolutionary processes leading its divergence. The intergenic spacers rpl32-trnL and ycf1 were sequenced for 133 individuals pertaining to 15 populations. The genealogical relationships were analysed using haplotype networks. Finally, based on ecological niche models, we inferred the palaeodistribution of L. moziniana during the Pleistocene. The genetic differences and the haplogroups matched the three described varieties. Geological and climatic events of the Mexican Transition Zone facilitated these results. The Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt isolated the populations of the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Sierra Madre del Sur, while allowing the migration to the Sierra Madre Occidental, during the middle Holocene.

Riqueza, distribución geográfica y conservación de Lycianthes serie Meizonodontae (Capsiceae, Solanaceae) Richness, geographic distribution and conservation of Lycianthes series Meizonodontae (Capsiceae, Solanaceae

The genus Manfreda (Asparagaceae) contains 35 species. A species complex includes plants similar to M. gutttata, which are characterized by the protrusion of the ovary into the perigone tube. This feature was found in specimens recently collected in western Mexico. After a morphological analysis, we found that some of the plants differ from the other species in this complex. Hence, we describe a new species named M. occidentalis morphologically similar to M. planifolia but can be distinguished from it by the oblong-ovoid corm, channeled leaves, which are papillate on both sides, perigone 1.8–2.5 cm long, funnel-shaped, yellowish and light purple striate, perigone tube 0.3–0.7 × 0.2–0.4 cm, filaments adnate to the perigone and arising 0.3–0.7 cm above the ovary apex, anthers 0.9–1.1 cm long, and style 2.1–3.5 cm long, exceeding the perigone tube by 1.8–3 cm at anthesis. Manfreda occidentalis also resembles M. chamelensis; however, phenologic asynchrony is a notable difference between them as well as the shape of the leaves and the length and shape of perigone tube and lobes. A distribution map, photographs, and a key to identify species of Manfreda which grow in western Mexico accompany the description.