Living in extreme environments: distribution of Lycium humile (Solanaceae), an endemic halophyte from the Altiplano-Puna region, South America

By

Palchetti, Virginia
Cantero, Juan José
Morales, Vanezza
Barboza, Gloria Estela.
Moreira-Muñoz, Andrés

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2021

Original Publication

PhytoKeys

Volume

185

Pages

1--15

Subjects

Andes , Argentina , Bolivia , Chile , Conservation status , new record , saline soil , salt-tolerant

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers [2010]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.185.71377

 

Abstract

Very few Solanaceae species are able to grow in saline soils; one of them isLycium humile. This species is endemic to the Altiplano-Puna region (Central Andes, South America) where there are multiple extreme environmental conditions such as hypersaline soils. Here we present an updated description and distribution ofL. humileincluding its new record for Bolivia at the edges of “Salar de Uyuni”, the largest salt flat in the world; we discuss its ecological role in saline environments by analyzing soil salinity and cover-abundance values ​​of the studied sites. According to IUCN criteria, we recommend a category of Least Concern forL. humile, but the growing development of lithium mining in saline environments of the Altiplano-Puna region may potentially threaten exclusive communities.