Leopoldo Medina

Spatial patterns of the Iberian and Balearic endemic vascular flora

The Iberian flora has a high degree of originality (1328 endemic species, 24% of endemism), comparable to other regions in the Mediterranean Basin. The richness of Iberian endemic species is unevenly distributed; the greatest diversity is found in the main mountain ranges although the southwestern Atlantic coast and specially the Balearic Islands are rich in range-restricted endemic species. The largest number of endemic genera is found in the northwestern mountains, which might have acted as a refugium area. The Baetic System, which includes nearly half (46%) of the total Iberian endemic species, is by far the richest region of the territory. Its endemic flora is characterized by the great richness of narrow endemics and the high species turnover rate. The k-means partitioning analysis enables us to identify 11 units, generally well defined by the natural geographic features. The clusters including the northwestern mountains, the Cantabrian Mountains, the southwestern coast and especially the Balearic Islands, the Pyrenees and the Baetic System are compact and consist of a high proportion of diagnostic species, and can therefore be considered areas of endemism on a large scale. The regionalization reflects a primary longitudinal division of Iberia between a basic eastern and an acidic western region, but also partly reveals a climatic division between Eurosiberian and Mediterranean regions. Southeastern Iberia seems to be an important center of differentiation for several typically Mediterranean genera (e.g. Centaurea, Linaria, Armeria, Teucrium and Thymus), but other large genera are also highly diversified.

Management of floristic information on the Internet: the Anthos solution

Abstract Castroviejo, S., Aedo, C. & Medina, L.: Management of floristic information on the Internet: the Anthos solution. — Willdenowia 36 (Special Issue): 127–136. — ISSN 0511-9618;

The Iberian Vascular Flora: Richness, Endemicity and Distribution Patterns

An historical review of the Iberian flora is presented here to give a summary of the main milestones from the fourteenth century until today. More than 400 years of floristic work has been briefly analysed from Clusius’ time until today, with special attention on the oldest and less known aspects. The Iberian flora comprises 6276 species including 739 non-native species. 1258 species (being 22.8% of the native species) are endemic. This shows that the Iberian flora is rather special; even so, the richness and endemism levels are comparable to other Mediterranean basin countries such as Greece or Morocco, and lower than Turkey. The rate of generic endemism, however, is considerably higher in the Iberian flora. The species richness and the endemicity patterns are analysed on basis of the native and endemic species observed in 50 × 50 km squares. The highest observed species richness areas generally overlap with the richest in endemic species. They are located in the main Iberian Mountain Ranges. The Baetic System shows the highest rate of endemism, followed by the Cantabrian Mountains, the Central System and the Pyrenees. The composition of the Iberian flora is examined in large groups. The Compositae is the largest family at species and endemism levels, and also provides the largest number of alien species. Limonium, Centaurea and Carex are the largest genera in the Iberian flora; the two former have their diversification centres in the Mediterranean Basin. More than one third of the Iberian species has been classified in Spain in one or other special category and included in Red Data Lists or Books. At least 20 taxa can be considered as extinct in the territory of the Iberian flora.

A botanical survey of Joseph Quer's Flora española

Abstract: We examine various aspects of Joseph Quers Flora española (1762–1764, 1784), taking into consideration the contributions made by Casimiro Gómez Ortega and proposing that he be credited as a co-author on the last two volumes of the work. Flora española comprises 2602 species, 2493 of which are vascular plants, including both wild and cultivated species. When assigned to the currently accepted species of Flora iberica, we obtain 1690 native or naturalized plant species (28 % of the total Spanish species). Most of the reported species correspond to common plants, only 3 % are considered narrowly distributed species and no more than 5 % are endemic species. In Flora española only two species are proposed as new. The limited number of new taxa may be due to Quers self-taught background, strongly influenced by Tourneforts work, and the unfavourable scientific environment, characterized by the lack of resources and supporting institutions. By far the weakest points of Flora española are the names listed in alphabetical order and the use of old polynomials instead of Linnaean binomials. In contrast, the study of dried plants then kept at herbaria constituted a suitable working methodology, which made this Flora a solid base for subsequent works in the Iberian Peninsula. We also address the extensive field work carried out by Quer: he visited 632 different localities spread over most of the Iberian Peninsula. The information provided in Flora española, together with a thorough review of Quers herbarium vouchers, the labels of which do not include information on localities, allows us to gain valuable insights into some rare and potentially extinct species.