MOUNTAIN HUMID FOREST IN THE STATE OF VERACRUZ, MÉXICO

Abstract

It is important to define conceptually the different types of vegetation, particularly if there is an interest in understanding adequately their floristic wealth; a particular case is the Cloud Forest, commonly confused with or made equivalent to the Deciduous Forest or the Mountain Mesophyll Forest. Considering these three types of vegetation as part of a more inclusive unit, called Mountain Humid Biome (Mountain Humid Forest, MHF), it is possible to achieve the objective of understanding its richness, subject of this study. When combining the data gathered for the three types of vegetation recognized in the state of Veracruz for this biome, a richness of 4,922 native species of vascular plants was identified, divided in 1,406 genera and 242 families. These figures place Veracruz as the third state with highest floristic richness in the MHF, only after Oaxaca and Chiapas. Details about the geographic distribution of this richness in the state are discussed, especially endemism and species restricted to the biome.