Methods

by Luis Roberto González-Torres, Eldis R. Bécquer, Ernesto Testé and José Angel García-Beltrán

Published online on: December 2, 2024.
https://doi.org/10.70925/cat.2024_152

Summary

Presence Criteria – The species and subspecies of lycophytes, ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms present in Cuba, both native and exotic, were compiled based on recent inventories of Cuban flora, with precise verification of the information referenced in the original sources.
Classification and Taxonomic Validation – The recorded taxa were assigned to families and orders based on the classification system proposed by APG (2016) for angiosperms, Christenhusz & al. (2011) for gymnosperms, and PPG (2016) for ferns and lycophytes. Varieties and forms were not considered, but hybrids were included. The range and delimitation of species and subspecies in Cuba were validated by family specialists, who verified the accepted name of each taxon using relevant literature for the group, including Plants of the World Online (POWO 2024+). Subspecies are recognized as infraspecific ranks for entities that exhibit clear (or nearly clear) geographic and/or ecological vicariance among their populations, restricted or absent gene flow, and differences in significant characters for taxonomic differentiation within the genus.

Accepted Name and Synonymy – For each taxon mentioned, the correct name is accepted according to the rules, based on its recognized delimitation and rank. Synonymy includes validly published names belonging to each taxon but differing from the correct and accepted name. These names have been adopted in publications on Cuban flora, major monographs (including the Floras of the Antilles), as well as names based on original Cuban material.

Habit – General habits and specific modifications for some are included. Five general habits were considered: tree, shrub, herb, subshrub, and climber. Where necessary, specifications are made for succulent, epiphytic, facultatively epiphytic, holoparasitic, hemiparasitic, aquatic, insectivorous plants, etc.

Distribution – This includes the presence category of each taxon in the country, the distribution by provinces for native and naturalized plants, followed by distribution outside Cuba. Presence categories considered are: native, endemic, exotic, naturalized, cultivated, casual subspontaneous, ephemeral, and scarcely cultivated.

Vegetation Formations – These are indicated for native and naturalized taxa in the country. The classification follows essentially that of Capote & Berazaín (1984), with mostly nomenclatural modifications to make it equivalent to those published by Borhidi (1996) and Reyes (2012).

Recommended citation: González-Torres, L.R., Bécquer, E.R., Testé, E. & García-Beltrán, J.A. 2024. Metodología. Pp. 4-13. En: GEPC. Catálogo de las Plantas de Cuba. Planta! – Plantlife Conservation Society, Vancouver. https://doi.org/10.70925/cat.2024_002