Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica 123 
nate, Or One Or more species may co-occur, creating “oak communities” (Kappelle, 
1996) or “oak zones” (Blaser & Camacho, 1991). 
Above 2000 m, the diversity of woody plants decreases from 349 species in 82 
families, at 2000 m, to 74 species in 34 families, at 3200 m. The principal families that 
dominate within this elevational range are Araliaceae, Asteraceae, Ericaceae, Lau- 
raceae, Melastomataceae, Myrsinaceae, Poaceae, Rosaceae, and Rubiaceae (Kappelle 
& Zamora, 1995). Ferns and fern allies are particularly important in the elevational 
range of 2000—3491 m, where the principal genera are Asplenium, Blechnum, Elapho- 
glossum, Grammitis sensu lato, Lycopodium sensu lato, and Polypodium sensu lato. In 
Chirrip6 National Park, their greatest diversity is found at 2200—2500 m and at 3000— 
3200 m; tree ferns appear to be concentrated within the 2300—2700 m band. Ferns ac- 
count for as much as 19.6% of the total of 626 species registered from the park, dicots 
and monocots for 61.5 and 18.6%, respectively. Among the phanerogamic herbs, Epi- 
dendrum (Orchidaceae) and Peperomia (Piperaceae) are the most diverse genera (Kap- 
pelle & Gémez P., 1992; Kappelle et al., 2000). 
In addition to Quercus spp., other elements that characterize the landscape of this 
mountain range are Abatia parviflora, Ageratina anisochroma, Alfaroa costaricensis, 
Alnus acuminata, Berberis nigricans, Bidens reptans, Billia hippocastanum, Bomarea 
acutifolia, Brunellia costaricensis, Buddleja nitida, Calceolaria irazuensis, Cedrela 
tonduzii, Centropogon costaricae, Cestrum warscewiczil, Chusquea spp. (ca. 13), Cir- 
sium mexicanum, C. subcoriaceum, Clethra gelida, Cleyera theoides, Comarostaphylis 
arbutoides, Conyza bonariensis, Cornus disciflora, Desfontainia splendens, Drimys 
granadensis, Escallonia myrtilloides, Freziera candicans, Fuchsia microphylla, Gaia- 
dendron punctatum, Garrya laurifolia, Geranium guatemalense, Gunnera insignis, 
G. talamancana, Hemichaena fruticosa, Hesperomeles heterophylla, Hieronyma ob- 
Escallonia myrtilloides 
