Vascular flora of Santa Fe province: Araceae

GALETTI, L.A.; L.J. OAKLEY; R. GARCÍA; D.E. PRADO

Rosario

Congreso; XXV Reunión Biología de Rosario; 2005

Sociedad de Biología de Rosario

The family Araceae, belonging in the Order Arales, comprises 120 genera and 1800 species of tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In Argentina the family Araceae includes 13 genera and 18 herbaceous species (16 native and two introduced). The present work contributes to the knowledge of this family providing keys to the identification of different taxa based on morphological characters and a map of their ecological and geographical distribution. The methods consist of a thorough bibliographical review, consultation of national herbaria with important collections of the province (SF: Esperanza; SI: San Isidro; UNR: Rosario), field work experience of the authors and lab work to confirm their identity. As a preliminary result only two species were found in Santa Fe: Pistia stratiotes L., known as ‘repollito de agua’, and Spathicarpa hastifolia Hook., called ‘pata de loro’. It is also likely that Anthurium paraguayense Engl. grows in the province, given that it appears in the neighbouring provinces of Chaco and Corrientes in forest environments very similar to those of northeastern Santa Fe. Individuals of ‘oreja de elefante’ (Alocasia odora Roxb.) thriving spontaneously in Rosario city have also been reported. Taxonomic information, illustrations and a distribution map are provided.