Updated checklist of native tree species of the Western Central Valley of Costa Rica

Abstract

The Western Central Valley of Costa Rica is the most densely populated region in the country. Today its original forests have disappeared and its tree flora is confined to riverbanks and forest remnants. This article presents an updated checklist of the native tree species of this region, supported by herbarium specimens. The list was compiled from a review of bibliographic sources and herbarium collections. In total, 366 species of 210 genera and 72 families were found. Fabaceae was the family with the largest number of species, followed by Moraceae, Rubiaceae, Lauraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae, Myrtaceae, Salicaceae, Solanaceae, Rutaceae, and Sapotaceae. Ficus was the most diverse genus, followed by Inga, Croton, Zanthoxylum, Eugenia, Lonchocarpus, Senna, Casearia, Cestrum, Pouteria, Solanum, and Xylosma. This checklist is an tool for understanding the diversity of native tree species in this region, following the completion of the Manual de plantas de Costa Rica.