TITLE:
Flora and Vegetation Associated with Dichromanthus cinnabarinus (La Llave & Lex.) Garay (Orchidaceae, Spiranthinae) in Northeastern Mexico
AUTHORS:
Elba Zarahy Garay-Martínez, Jacinto Treviño-Carreón, Tania Judith Hernández-López, Juana María Coronado-Blanco, Claudia C. Astudillo Sánchez, Leroy Soria-Díaz, Arturo Mora-Olivo
KEYWORDS:
Northeastern Mexico, Flora, Vegetation, Endemism
JOURNAL NAME:
Natural Science,
Vol.12 No.8,
August
25,
2020
ABSTRACT: Studies conducted in northeastern Mexico
have not provided information on the flora and vegetation associated with
Dichromanthus cinnabarinus. Therefore, it is necessary to study the areas where
this orchid is distributed to understand the plant vegetation interaction.
Research questions: What plant species are associated with Dichromanthus
cinnabarinus? What is the degree of similarity among the plant communities with
which Dichromanthus cinnabarinus is associated? Study site: Northeastern
Mexico, comprehending the states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas.
Methods: The study sites were selected consider-ing the presence of
Dichromanthus cinnabarinus. Regarding the study of the plant struc-ture, the
tree, shrub, and herbaceous strata were obtained by the methodology of
quad-rants. Data were collected in April and August 2017. The results were
analyzed using the Importance Value Index (IVI) for each stratum present and a
Parsimony Analysis of En-demicity (PAE) for the plant communities. Results: In
the study area, a total of 33 families, 60 genera and 69 species were
registered. The representative families are Asteraceae with eight species,
Asparagaceae with six, Fabaceae with five, followed by Cactaceae, Poaceae and
Roasaceae with four species each. Regarding endemic species, a total of 11
species distributed in nine genera were registered in the study sites.
Conclusions: In northeastern Mexico, Dichromanthus cinnabarinus is found
associated with Aristida adscensionis L., Agave lechuguilla Torr. Bouteloua
sp., Euphorbia antisyphilitica Zucc., Agave striata var. striata (Salm-Dyck)
and Rhus virens Lindh. ex A. Gray. Moreover, Dichromanthus cin-nabarinus is
observed in some sites with contrasting flora, according to the resulting list
of endemic species. It is important to establish priority areas for wildlife
conservation in northeastern Mexico.