Manual de Plantas de Costa Rica |Plan of the Manual| 23 
Descriptions 
Descriptions in the Manual are intended to distinguish, not characterize exhaustively. 
Family descriptions are omitted for monogeneric families, or families with but a single 
genus represented in Costa Rica. In such cases, the genus description is expanded to be 
parallel with other family descriptions in the volume. Similarly, genus descriptions are 
omitted for monotypic genera, or genera with but a single species represented in Costa 
Rica, and the species description is expanded to be parallel with the other genus de- 
scriptions in the same family. For monospecific families, or those with a single species 
in Costa Rica, both family and genus descriptions are omitted, and the species de- 
scription is made parallel with other family descriptions in the volume. Species de- 
scriptions may vary greatly in length and detail from one genus to the next, according 
to the size of the genus, the difficulty of distinguishing species, and the preferences of 
contributors. 
Descriptions follow the conventional proximal-to-distal order, 1.e., habit, roots, 
stem, petioles, leaf-blades, petiolules, leaflets, inflorescence, peduncle, bracts, pedi- 
cels, flowers, calyx, corolla, androecium, gynoecium (though not all of these features 
will be mentioned, or even present, in every case, and other features may be interca- 
lated). A few standard abbreviations are employed in descriptions at all ranks (see 
Abreviaturas y simbolos comunmente usados, in each treatment volume). Length x 
width measurements are given in that format, e.g., “13.7 X 14.3 mm,” with the length 
(or height) measurement always given first. Otherwise, if “length (height)” or “width” 
is not specified, the former may be assumed in all cases. 
Formal botanical terminology is derived mostly from Latin, so will often be under- 
stood by native Spanish speakers. Nonetheless, an effort has been made to avoid arcane 
terminology where possible in the Manual; thus, “tallos huecos” would be preferred 
over “‘tallos fistulosos.” A glossary of botanical terms is planned for the final volume of 
the Manual. In the meantime, in addition to the classical, illustrated Font Quer (1953), 
readers are encouraged to consult Sousa S. et al. (1995), or better yet Moreno (1984) 
or Montiel L. (1994), which are also illustrated. 
Distribution and phenology 
For families and genera, only general geographic distribution is routinely given, by 
country, continent, or some even broader term (e.g., “Neotrop.,” “Pantrop.,’ “Cosmo- 
polita”). For species, several additional parameters are addressed, following the de- 
scription, always in the following sequence and punctuation: 
Habitat, elevational range within Costa Rica; geographic range within Costa Rica. 
Flowering phenology in Costa Rica. Overall geographic range. 
Habitat descriptions roughly follow the Holdridge life-zone system (see Tosi, 1969, 
for a map; Hartshorn, 1983, for an explanation), omitting the word “tropical” and all 
