Myrmecophyly is best documented among tropical epiphytes, and myrmecotrophy occurs especially among domatia-forming plants. We report the case of Polytaenium cajenense with "external" domatia and its use by the same symbiont ant as its host Cordia nodosa. This case is interpreted as the result of stochastic events and their relations to pre-existing adaptations of all species involved.

Several plant products are exported from Peru as food supplements (nutraceuticals), condiments and other uses for human consumption, among them the horsetail fern. Three names are used in commerce: Equisetum arvense, E. bogotenseand “E. hiemale”; none of which represent the species being exported; instead the spe-cies in commerce is E. giganteum, easily recognizable by morphological details of their axes, ornamentation and stomata distribution.

A recent collection of a specimen with three-pinnate inflorescence was the inspiration to evaluate Tillandsia subgenus Tillandsia taxa with three pinnate inflorescences for the Peruvian flora. Tillandsia extensa characteristics are clarified, confirming its distribution for northeastern Peru, and recognizing a specimen, previously considered being the second record for this species, as T. platyphylla.

Endemism is an important means to evaluate biological conservation goals and strategies. In this book we used the concept of national endemism. We examined different taxonomic levels, including genera, species and sub specific categories. For evaluating the degree of risk, we used herbaria specimens as representing samples of populations. Forty-three people participated between 2003 and 2005. Similar to other tropical floras of western South American, Peru's endemics are linked to the presence of the Andes. We recognize a total of 5509 endemic taxa, representing 27.9% of the total flora. We applied IUCN, version 3.1, criteria and categories to 76% of the endemic flora. The most at risk correspond to Endangered (33%), Critical Endangered (18%) and Vulnerable (10%). The departments with the highest number of endemic taxa are found among those with Andean slopes, and wide altitudinal and ec...

The Acanthaceae are represented in Peru by 41 genera and approximately 275 species (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993; Ulloa Ulloa et al., 2004), basically shrubs and herbs. Here we recognize 42 endemic taxa in 15 genera. Three genera, Cephalacanthus, Orophochilus and Trichosanchezia, are endemic to Peru. Most endemic Acanthaceae are found in the Very Humid Montane and Humid Lowland Amazonian Forests regions, between 100 and 2870 m elevation. Seven endemic species are represented within Peru’s protected areas system.

The Amaranthaceae are represented in Peru by 13 genera and 72 species (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993; Ulloa Ulloa et al., 2004), basically herbs and shrubs. Here we recognize as endemics eight species and two varieties in six genera. These 1o endemics taxa grow mostly in Desert Shrubland and Mesoandean regions, between 500 and 2400 m elevation. No endemic Amaranthaceae have been registered to date within Peru’s protected areas system.

The Anacardiaceae are represented in Peru by 13 genera and 40 species (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993; Ulloa Ulloa et al., 2004), basically trees and shrubs. Here we recognize seven endemic species in three genera. This family includes one endemic genus, Orthopterygium. Endemic taxa are found mainly in Desert Shrubland, Mesoandean, and Very Humid Montane and Humid Lowland Amazonian Forests regions, between 125 and 2400 m elevation. No endemic Anacardiaceae have been registered to date within Peru’s protected areas system.

The Apiaceae are represented in Peru by 29 genera and 88 species (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993), basically herbs and fruticose plants. Here we recognize 22 endemic taxa in seven genera. One genus, Paraselinum, is endemic to Peru. Most endemic Apiaceae are found in the Subtropical Costal Desert, Mesoandean and Very Humid Montane Forest regions, between 10 and 4400 m elevation. None of the species have been reported from Peru’s protected areas system.

The Apocynaceae are represented in Peru by 37 genera and 158 species (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993; Ulloa Ulloa et al., 2004), basically vines and lianas. Here we recognize 14 endemic species in 10 genera. The endemic taxa are found in several ecological regions, mainly the Very Humid Montane, Premontane and Humid Lowland Amazonian Forest regions, between 130 and 3000 m elevation. We applied IUCN categories and criteria to eight species. Only one endemic Apocynaceae is represented within Peru’s protected areas system.

This is one of the most conspicuous families in the pluvial and humid forests of the eastern Andean slopes. The Aquifoliaceae are represented in Peru by 34 species in the genus Ilex (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993; Ulloa Ulloa et al., 2004), mostly trees. Here we recognize nine endemic species, nearly half of which are known from a single locality. Of these, only one species has been collected in the 20th century. These endemic taxa are found mainly in Very Humid Montane and Premontane Forests regions, between 1100 and 3500 m elevation. Four endemic species of Ilex have been reported within Peru’s protected areas system.

This family is represented in Peru by six genera and 77 species (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993; Ulloa Ulloa et al., 2004), mostly shrubs and trees. Here we recognize 28 endemic species in three genera. The systematics of Araliaceae is currently under study, and taxonomic changes and novelties are to be expected (J. Wen, pers. comm.). Endemic Araliaceae are found in the Pluvial Montane Forest, Very Humid Montane, and Humid Lowland Amazonian Forest regions, between 230 and 3640 m elevation. We applied IUCN categories and criteria to 22 species. Only two endemic species have been found in a protected area.

The Aristolochiaceae are represented in Peru by 40 species in the genus Aristolochia (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993), all of them vines and lianas. Here we recognize seven endemic species. Most of these endemic taxa are found in the Very Humid Premontane and Humid Lowland Amazonian Forest regions, between 200 and 2000 m elevation, while two species are found in the Dry Forest region. Only one endemic species has been found to date in protected areas.

The Asclepiadaceae are represented in Peru by 27 genera and 107species (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993), mostly vines and lianas. The family is under systematic revision, and these ongoing studies are likely to result in genus-level changes for the Peruvian Asclepiadaceae flora (S. Liede, pers. comm.). Given the scarcity of collections and the lack of consensus on the taxonomic status of several taxa, we provisionally recognize 43 endemic species. The endemic taxa are found in the Mesoandean and Very Humid Montane Forest regions, between 900 and 2600 m elevation. We applied IUCN categories and criteria to five species. Two endemic species have been found in protected areas.

The Begoniaceae are represented in the Peruvian flora by 76 species in the genus Begonia (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993; Ulloa Ulloa et al., 2004), most of them herbs. Here we recognize 38 endemic taxa. We applied IUCN categories and criteria to ten of them. Most of these endemic taxa are found in Humid Lowland Amazonian Forests and Humid Montane and Premontane Forest regions, between 400 and 2500 m elevation. Only one species has been recorded to date within Peru’s protected areas system.

The Bombacaceae are recognized here as distinct from the Malvaceae, with which it forms a natural group (see Judd et al. 1997, and web site of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group). In Peru, the Bombacaceae include 15 genera and 56 species (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993; Ulloa Ulloa et al., 2004), mostly trees. Seven endemic species in five genera are recognized here. Endemic species are found mainly in Dry Forests and Humid Lowland Amazonian Forests regions, between 1300 and 3000 m elevation. We applied IUCN categories and criteria to four of them. None of the species have been recorded to date within Peru’s protected areas system.

The Boraginaceae are represented in Peru by 16 genera and 136 species (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993), mostly shrubs and herbs. Here we recognize 33 endemic species in nine genera, Heliotropium being the most important. Endemic Boraginaceae grow mainly in the Desert Shrubland, Subtropical Costal Desert and Mesoandean regions, between 300 and 4000 m elevation. We applied IUCN categories and criteria to nine endemic species. None of the species have been collected within Peru’s protected area system.

The Brunelliaceae are represented in Peru by 12 species in the genus Brunellia (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993), all of them trees. Endemic Brunelliaceae are found in the Very Humid Montane Forests region, between 1500 and 3000 m elevation. Here we recognize seven endemic species, and we applied IUCN categories and criteria to three of them. Two endemic species have been recorded to date from the Peruvian parks system.

The Buddlejaceae are represented in Peru by two genera and 16 species (Norman, 2000; Ulloa Ulloa et al., 2004), mainly shrubs. Here we recognize two endemic species, both in the genus Buddleja. These endemic taxa are found in Mesoandean, Humid and Dry Puna, and Paramo regions, between 2650 and 3900 m elevation. One species has been registered within the Peruvian parks system.

The Buxaceae are represented in Peru by three species in the genus Styloceras. (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993; Ulloa Ulloa et al., 2004), all of them shrubs. Here we recognize one endemic species. This species has been found in the Very Humid Montane Forests region, between 1800 and 1850 m elevation, and has not been recorded in the Peruvian parks system.

The Campanulaceae are represented in Peru by 11 genera and around 180 species (Brako & Zarucchi, 1993; Ulloa Ulloa et al., 2004), mainly shrubs and herbs. Here we recognize 32 endemic species in three genera. Siphocampylus and Centropogon account for the largest number of endemic species. Endemic Campanulaceae are found mostly in the Very Humid Montane Forests region, between 800 and 3600 m elevation. We applied IUCN categories and criteria to 23 species. Nine endemic species have been recorded within the Peruvian parks system.