Floristic Diversity of Halophytic Plants of Mexico

Abstract

Along the Mexican coasts of the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Caribbean, diverse plant communities affected by seawater and breeze, support salt tolerant species here considered as halophilic. Moreover, the intercontinental semiarid and arid regions, and the Transmexican Volcanic Belt are characterized by ecosystems such as endorheic basins, with species also living in salty soils. In the Chihuahuan Desert saline and saline-gypseous soils occur, supporting gypsohalophilic plants. After many years of search in literature, herbaria and fieldwork, we can provide a floristic list of 647 species of angiosperms growing in these harsh environments. In absence of a summary on the halophyte flora of Mexico we deliver a list of angiosperms distributed in saline or saline-gypseous habitats. Those species living also in other soil types are considered as non restrictive to distinguish them from those living only in these environments (restricted). The floristic diversity include endemic species of several lineages, but specially of Poaceae, Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Amaranthaceae, Boraginaceae, Fabaceae, Cyperaceae, Brasicaceae and Cactaceae.