A historical checklist of the orchid flora (Orchidaceae) of Quito, Ecuador

By

Carrera, Martín
Baquero, Luis

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-2-21

Original Publication

Check list : journal of species lists and distribution

Volume

21

Series / Issue

Issue: 1

Pages

222--241

Subjects

Neotropics , species list , streams , urban flora , urban impact

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

[São Paulo, Brazil] Luís Felipe Toledo 2005-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15560/21.1.222

 

Abstract

We compile a species inventory of orchid species collected at Quito, Ecuador, between 1790 and 2018 and compare it with the orchid species observed in the field between 2018 and 2021. Historical herbarium records include 52 orchid species in Quito. During our field campaigns, we found 29 of these previously collected species in herbaria and an additional 11 species which we newly report from Quito, bringing the total number of orchid species in Quito to 63 species. However, we were unable to find 23 species during our field campaigns. Our study shows that even in one of the largest Ecuadorian cities, several orchid species are still present, and among them, species not previously reported. Urgent conservation actions are needed in urban areas to preserve urban diver‑ sity and native ecosystems in Quito.