How many native species of vascular plants are there in Ecuador?

Abstract

A count is made of the numbers of native species of vascular plants in Ecuador, according to the updated data for July 2012. In the Catalogue of Vascular Plants of Ecuador, published in 1999, a total of 15.306 species were reported for Ecuador, including 1.298 pteridophytes, 17 gymnosperms, and 13.991 angiosperms. In July 2012 the total for Ecuador rose to 17.748 confirmed native species, including 1.422 pteridophytes, 18 gymnosperms, and 16.308 angiosperms. This increase in 13 years of 2.443 species is the result of the publication of 1.663 species new to science, based on botanical collections made in Ecuador, and 780 new records of species previously reported for other Neotropical countries and newly registered in Ecuador based on recent floristic inventories.  It is estimated that, with the continuation of floristic and taxonomic studies of the Ecuadorian flora the total number of vascular plant species for the country could reach 25.000 species. The diversity of the flora of Ecuador is compared with the available data for neighboring countries in South America, Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia.