Taxonomic study of the Simaroubaceae of the Santa Fe province

DI SAPIO, O.; R. GARCÍA; D.E. PRADO

Rosario

Congreso; XXIV Reunión Anual, Sociedad de Biología de Rosario, 2004; 2005

Sociedad de Biología de Rosario

The family Simaroubaceae comprises 25 genera and 200 species from tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In Argentina the family Simaroubaceae includes six genera, but only one of them is present in the Santa Fe province: Castela Turpin. The present work contributes to the knowledge of this family providing keys to the identification of its taxa based on morphological characters and a map of their geographical distribution. The methodology consisted of a deep bibliographical review, consultation of national herbaria with important collections of the province flora (SF: Esperanza; SI: Darwinion, San Isidro; UNR: Rosario), lab work to confirm their identity and the field experience of the authors. As a preliminary result, only two species of the genus Castela Turpin were assessed: Castela coccinea Griseb. with its geographical distribution concentrated mainly in the northern departments, and Castela tweedii Planchon, which reaches the south of the province. NOTE: samples of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle belonging to this family were observed by one of the authors in the San Cristobal department, though it has been impossible to confirm if this species has spontaneously naturalized. It is here provided taxonomic information, illustrations and a distribution map.