Costion, Craig M., and Lorence, David H. (2012) The endemic plants of Micronesia: a geographical checklist and commentary. Micronesica, 43 (1). pp. 51-100.

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Abstract

The Micronesia-Polynesia bioregion is recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot. However, until now estimates regarding the number of endemic plant species for the region were not supported by any comprehensive published work for the region. The results of this study indicate that Micronesia has the world's highest percentage of plant endemism per square kilometer out of all globally recognized insular biodiversity hotspots. A checklist of all endemic plant species for Micronesia is presented here with their corresponding geographical limits within the region. A summary of previous work and estimates is also provided noting the degree of taxonomic progress in the past several decades. A total of 364 vascular plant species are considered endemic to Micronesia, most of them being restricted to the Caroline Islands with a large percentage restricted to Palau. The checklist includes seven new combinations, one new name, and two unverified names that require additional study to verify endemic status. Overviews of each respective botanical family represented in the list are given including additional information on the Micronesian taxa. Recommendations for future work and potential projects are alluded to throughout the text highlighting major data gaps and very poorly known taxa. The following new combinations and names are made: Cyclosorus carolinensis (Hosokawa) Lorence, comb. nov. , Cyclosorusgretheri (W. H. Wagner) Lorence, comb. nov., Cyclosorusguamensis (Holttum) Lorence, comb. nov., Cyclosorus palauensis (Hosokawa) Lorence, comb. nov. , Cyclosorus rupiinsularis (Fosberg) Lorence, comb. nov., Dalbergia hosokawae (Hosokawa) Costion nom. nov., Syzygium trukensis (Hosokawa) Costion & E. Lucas comb. nov..

Item ID:	38027
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	0026-279X
Additional Information:	Micronesica is an open access journal which means that all content is freely available without charge to the user or his/her institution. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author; other rights are protected under a Creative Commons license. This is in accordance with the BOAI definition of open access.
Date Deposited:	20 Oct 2015 01:29
FoR Codes:	06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0603 Evolutionary Biology > 060310 Plant Systematics and Taxonomy @ 100%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960805 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity at Regional or Larger Scales @ 50% 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960803 Documentation of Undescribed Flora and Fauna @ 50%
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