Climbers from montane areas of Northwestern Argentina

Abstract

Ayarde, H.R. Climbers from montane areas of Northwestern Argentina. The humid regions of the mountains of northwestern Argentina are among the areas of highest biodiversity in the country. This fact, verifiable for diverse biological types, is especially true for climbers, with a record of 323 species and 15 varieties, belonging to 118 genera and 39 families. This contribution shows, as main results: ? Asclepiadaceae and Fabaceae are the families with the highest number of genera and species. On the other hand, Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae) and Dioscorea (Dioscoreaceae) are the most diverse genera. ? About 22% of the recorded species are endemic of the region. ? Functional annual species (herbaceous) twice in number the perennials.(woody) ? There are nine mechanisms for climbing, being twining (63%) the most common. ? 78% of flowering occurs during the rainy season, with peaks in January and February, while fruiting occurs between April and June. ? Species number decreases altitudinally and latitudinally. ? Approximately 41% of the montane forests climbers of NW Argentina are also present in the forest of the Northeast of the country.