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This catalog is designed to deepen the understanding of the flora and vegetation in Arequipa, Peru, and serves as a valuable tool for researchers, conservationists, and nature lovers. Our goal is to broaden knowledge and foster an appreciation for the natural heritage of Arequipa, emphasizing the critical need to protect its diverse species. The catalog lists 1,350 species of wild ferns and flowering plants. For each species, there is a concise morphological description, information on its ecological and geographical distribution, uses by humans, and taxonomic notes. The appendix provides a detailed taxonomic key for all the species mentioned and a glossary of commonly used synonyms.
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About the Author
Edgar Heim, born in Lima, Peru, studied food technology and dedicated more than 30 years of his career to this field as a manager and lecturer. Alongside his professional activities, he developed a deep personal interest in nature, biodiversity and ecology, with a particular passion for botany and travel. His travels have largely focused on South America and Southeast Asia, regions known for their rich biodiversity.
He lived in Peru for almost 20 years and now resides in Switzerland. Over the years, he has compiled a comprehensive database of plant and vegetation data, focusing on the flora of Peru, which serves as the foundation for this catalog.
In 2014, he published "Flora of Arequipa, Peru: An Illustrated Field Guide" followed by the "Catalog of Ferns, Gymnosperms, and Flowering Plants of the Department of Arequipa, Peru" in 2021. This current catalog represents a continuation of his dedicated research into the flora of southern Peru and underscores his commitment to documenting and preserving the plant biodiversity of this remarkable region.
Preface
This catalog aims to enhance understanding of the flora and vegetation of the department of Arequipa, Peru, and to serve as a practical resource for researchers, conservationists, and nature enthusiasts. By expanding our knowledge, we hope not only to inspire appreciation for Arequipa’s natural heritage but also to underscore the importance of preserving its biodiversity.
Although ongoing research continues to reveal previously unknown species, the department of Arequipa remains botanically underexplored. This catalog provides an updated overview of plant species in the region, based on botanical literature, databases, herbarium specimens, and fieldwork across all provinces of Arequipa. It is based on the author's "Catalog of Ferns, Gymnosperms, and Flowering Plants of the Department of Arequipa, Peru", which has been completely revised and updated with additional information.
The catalog contains 1,350 wild‐growing, non‐cultivated ferns and flowering plants. Each species is presented with a brief morphological description, details of its ecological and geographic distribution, information on its human uses, and notes on its taxonomy. The appendix includes a comprehensive taxonomic key to all species discussed, as well as a list of commonly used synonyms.
Acknowledgments
I am deeply grateful for the assistance of botanists around the world. Special thanks go to those who generously answered my questions and shared their expertise: Hamilton Beltrán, Andrew Efremov, David Ferguson, Antonio Galán de Mera, Eric Gouda, Rafaël Govaerts, Marilu Huertas, Sandra Knapp, Yero Kuethe, Blanca León, Eliana Linares Perea, Ary Mailhos, Daniel Montesinos‐Tubée, Jhon Muñuico, Nataly O'Leary, John Pruski, Victor Quipuscoa Silvestre, Ruth Ripley, Kai Schablewski, Hanno Schaefer, Julian Shaw, Oscar Vargas, Maximilian Weigend, Felipe Zapata, and all the many botanists on iNaturalist who provided valuable input on my observations.
I am equally grateful to Remijio Castro Huamani, a skilled guide who introduced me to the breathtaking landscapes of Arequipa, and to my wife, Ruth, whose support and companionship enriched most of my travels.
The database on which this work is based is updated periodically. It is available on the author's homepage.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions or to report any errors.
Edgar Heim
http://www.edgarsplantguide.com/
Content
Introduction
Aim
State of knowledge
Materials and Methods
Data and Sources
Verification Criteria
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Description of Species
Ecology
Distribution
Notes on the distribution of species in Arequipa
Human Use of Plants
Synonyms
Taxonomic Key to Species
Catalog Structure
Arequipa and its Vegetation
Geography of Arequipa
Geology of Arequipa
Phytogeography of Southern Peru
Climate and vegetation
Results and Discussion
The flora of Arequipa in figures
Discussion of the results
Species Catalog
Ferns and Allies (Pteridophyta)
Aspleniaceae
Blechnaceae
Cystopteridaceae
Dennstaedtiaceae
Dryopteridaceae
Equisetaceae
Ophioglossaceae
Polypodiaceae
Pteridaceae
Salviniaceae
Thelypteridaceae
Woodsiaceae
Flowering Plants (Gymnospermae and Angiospermae)
Acanthaceae
Aizoaceae
Alstroemeriaceae
Amaranthaceae
Amaryllidaceae
Anacardiaceae
Annonaceae
Apiaceae
Apocynaceae
Araceae
Araliaceae
Arecaceae
Asparagaceae
Asphodelaceae
Asteraceae
Basellaceae
Berberidaceae
Betulaceae
Bignoniaceae
Boraginaceae
Brassicaceae
Bromeliaceae
Cactaceae
Calceolariaceae
Calyceraceae
Campanulaceae
Cannaceae
Caprifoliaceae
Caricaceae
Caryophyllaceae
Celastraceae
Ceratophyllaceae
Cleomaceae
Commelinaceae.
Convolvulaceae
Crassulaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Cyperaceae
Ephedraceae
Escalloniaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Fabaceae
Francoaceae
Frankeniaceae
Gentianaceae
Geraniaceae
Grossulariaceae
Haloragaceae
Hydrocharitaceae
Hypericaceae
Iridaceae
Juncaceae
Juncaginaceae
Krameriaceae
Lamiaceae
Linaceae...
Loasaceae
Loranthaceae
Lythraceae
Malvaceae
Molluginaceae
Montiaceae
Moraceae
Myricaceae
Myrtaceae
Nyctaginaceae
Onagraceae
Orchidaceae
Orobanchaceae
Oxalidaceae
Papaveraceae
Passifloraceae
Phrymaceae
Phyllanthaceae
Phytolaccaceae
Piperaceae
Plantaginaceae
Plumbaginaceae
Poaceae
Polemoniaceae
Polygalaceae
Polygonaceae..
Pontederiaceae
Portulacaceae
Potamogetonaceae
Primulaceae
Ranunculaceae
Rhamnaceae
Rosaceae
Rubiaceae
Ruppiaceae
Salicaceae
Santalaceae
Sapindaceae
Schoepfiaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Solanaceae
Talinaceae
Tropaeolaceae
Typhaceae
Urticaceae
Verbenaceae
Viburnaceae
Violaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Cited Literature
Appendix
Appendix 1: List of genera and their families
Appendix 2: List of families and their orders
Appendix 3: Phylogenetic tree of the Flora of Arequipa
Appendix 4: Synonyms of the accepted species
Appendix 5: Endemic species of Arequipa
Appendix 6: Species excluded for Arequipa
Appendix 7: Taxonomic key for the species of Arequipa.
Figures
Figure 1: Location of the department of Arequipa in Peru and its 8 provinces
Figure 2: Phytogeographic provinces of southern Peru
Figure 3: Climate diagrams of Ilo on the Pacific coast, Arequipa at 2500 m on the western slopes of the Andes, and Cuzco, an inter‐Andean valley
Tables
Table 1: Bioclimatic transect from the Pacific Ocean to the Arequipa highlands
Table 2: Altitudinal distribution of native, endemic and introduced vascular plants in Arequipa.
Table 3: Number of species per family (without cultivated species)
Introduction
Aim
This catalog serves several purposes. First, it aims to improve our understanding of the flora and vegetation of the department of Arequipa, providing a valuable resource for researchers, conservationists, and nature enthusiasts. Second, it seeks to highlight the natural heritage of the region and promote greater awareness of the importance of conserving its rich plant life. Third, it provides a completely revised and expanded version of the author's previous Catalogue of Ferns, Gymnosperms, and Flowering Plants of the Department of Arequipa, Peru, incorporating new data and findings. Finally, it introduces a taxonomic key to help professionals and nature enthusiasts identify and appreciate Arequipa's diverse plant species.
State of Knowledge
Although ongoing research continues to reveal previously unknown species, the department of Arequipa remains botanically underexplored. This underscores the dynamic nature of the region’s biodiversity and the need for continued study.
The following is a non‐exhaustive, chronologically arranged list of key contributions to the study of Arequipa’s flora and vegetation. Each work has added valuable insight into the complexity and richness of the region’s plant life:
Dillon (1997): Published a checklist of plants from Lomas de Mejía.
Rodriguez Diaz (1998): Focused on the biodiversity of the Cuencas de Cotahuasi, with particular attention to medicinal plants.
Quipuscoa & Huamantupa (2010): Cataloged the plants of the Reserva Nacional de Las Salinas y Aguada Blanca.
Arce Condori (2010): Created an introductory booklet on the flora of Lagunas de Mejía.
Dillon et al. (2011): Studied the vegetation of the Peruvian Lomas and compiled a checklist.
Galán de Mera & Linares (2012): Published a phytosociological analysis of Arequipa's vegetation, supplemented in 2022.
Montesinos & Mondragón (2013, 2016): Investigated the flora and vegetation of the Acarí River.
Heim (2014): Produced an illustrated field guide to Arequipa's flora.
Cano (2015): Focused her thesis on the ferns of Lomas de Atiquipa.
Quipuscoa et al. (2016): Cataloged the plants of Lomas de Yuta.
Talavera et al. (2017): Published an illustrated guide to the plants of Lomas de Atiquipa.
Pauca & Quipuscoa (2017, 2020): Published taxonomic keys and studies on the cacti of Arequipa.
Montesinos et al. (2019): Investigated the vegetation of the Chilli River in Arequipa.
Montesinos & Zegarra (2019): Authored a guide to wild plants in urban and rural Arequipa.
Heim (2021): Published the first edition of this catalog.
Bedoya et al. (2023): Studied the genus Stevia (Asteraceae) in Arequipa.
In addition to these contributions, several publications on the flora and vegetation of neighboring departments have significantly enriched the regional understanding of southern Peru’s flora and vegetation:
León et al. (2004): Published a study on the flora of Tacna.
Whaley et al. (2010): Produced a flora guide for Ica.
Montesinos (2015): Compiled a guide to Moquegua's flora.
Montesinos (2016): Conducted a detailed analysis of mountain vegetation in southern Peru, particularly the plant communities of Moquegua.
Building upon these foundational studies, this catalog aspires to be a comprehensive resource for botanists, conservationists, policymakers, and enthusiasts, facilitating informed decisions on species protection, environmental management, and future research initiatives. With continued research and exploration, we are getting closer to discovering the full botanical richness of Arequipa.
Materials and Methods
Data and Sources
The catalog was compiled using the following sources:
Current botanical literature: Referenced in the Cited Literature chapter.
Database records for Arequipa: Obtained from
GBIF.org
(as of December 2023),
Tropicos.org
(as of June 2023), and
Herbariovaa.org
(as of June 2023).
Observations from
iNaturalist.org:
Records for Arequipa as of September 2024.
Field observations by the author: Conducted during trips to all provinces of Arequipa. New species records for Arequipa were documented photographically and uploaded to
iNaturalist.org
.
For the purposes of this catalog, only wild‐growing, non‐cultivated species are included. Subspecific taxa are discussed within species descriptions rather than listed independently, allowing the user to focus on the primary species record.
Verification Criteria
Species occurrences were classified as certain when supported by at least one verified herbarium specimen or a credible, well‐referenced source. This approach ensures that the presence of each species is grounded in verifiable evidence. Species mentioned without reference to herbarium specimens were classified as doubtful.
Digital herbarium specimens from repositories (B, CUZ, F, GA, K, L, MO, NY, and US) underwent partial verification. While this provided valuable data, the lack of digitalization at HSP and HUSA limited our ability to confirm some records.
Many CUZ and HUSA specimens were collected by anonymous collectors. Verification of digitally available anonymous specimens revealed some misidentifications. Consequently, anonymous specimens were classified as doubtful if they could not be verified.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
The catalog’s taxonomic framework is based on the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG IV, 2016) for flowering plants and the Pteridophyte Phylogeny Group (PPG I, 2016) for ferns and related taxa. This ensures that classification and nomenclature reflect current scientific consensus. A phylogenetic tree of all plant families found in Arequipa is provided in Appendix 3.
The accepted scientific names primarily follow POWO (2024), with specific exceptions:
Asteraceae, genus Baccharis: Classification follows Müller (2013).
Oxalidaceae, genus Oxalis: Species synonymizations as listed by Hassler (2024), with updates from Shaw (2021, 2023).
Pteridaceae, subfamily Cheilanthoidea: The proposed merger of the genera Argyrochosma, Astrolepis, Cheilanthes, Myriopteris, Notholaena, and Pellaea into Hemionitis is not followed, as it lacks broad acceptance.
Verbenaceae: The classification follows O'Leary et al. (2021), O'Leary et al. (2016), O'Leary & Mulgura (2014), and Binder (2002).
Additional minor deviations from POWO (2024) are noted in the text.
The phylogenetic tree in Appendix 3 may assist with the identification of unknown species.
Description of Species
Species descriptions are based primarily on online scientific publications. In case where no publication was available, the descriptions rely on information from herbarium vouchers, preferably from type specimens.
Ecology
Wherever possible, ecological data were sourced from Brako & Zarucchi (1993) and Tropicos.org (2023), supplemented and adapted with information from recent research and field observations. The ecological data refer to the ecological behavior of the species in Peru and are not localized for the department of Arequipa.
Altitude ranges are categorized based on the levels established by Brako & Zarucchi (1993):
Coastal:
0–1000 m
Andean I:
500–1500 m
Andean II:
1500–3500 m
Andean III:
>3500 m
Distribution
The global distribution data were mainly derived from POWO (2024).
Notes on the Distribution of Species in Arequipa
Species in Arequipa were categorized as native or introduced according to Brako & Zarucchi (1993) and POWO (2024). Species have been further categorized as follows:
Adventive species: Introduced species with a single recorded occurrence.
Doubtful species: Species whose presence in Arequipa is uncertain due to insufficient evidence.
Expected species: Species not yet officially recorded, but likely to be present based on their geographic range.
Excluded species: Species previously mentioned for Arequipa but now excluded. The species list and reasons for exclusion are provided in
Appendix 6
.
Additional comments on the occurrence of the species in Arequipa have been included where necessary. The term voucher is used to include herbarium specimens and observational records.
Verified records and data from credible sources were used to identify the provinces in which each species occurs. The provinces of Arequipa are abbreviated as follows:
Arequipa
ARE
Camaná
CAM
Caravelí
CAR
Castilla
CAS
Caylloma
CAY
Condesuyos
CON
Islay
ISL
La Unión
UNI
Human Use of Plants
This catalog is not a comprehensive account of human uses of Arequipa's flora. Instead, it highlights selected uses supported by reliable sources, offering a basic understanding of certain species’ cultural and economic importance. Information was drawn from expert reports and online sources. While many publications address plants’ pharmacological and chemical properties, no in‐depth review was conducted.
Synonyms
The 1,350 species listed in the catalog have over 10,000 synonyms, requiring a selective approach to their inclusion. The following criteria were used to streamline the list:
Introduced species: Synonyms for introduced species were minimized, retaining only those that are still commonly used (e.g., Agave cordillerana, Centranthus ruber, Canna edulis).
Eponymous synonyms: These were largely excluded as they are of limited practical value for field botany.
Geographic epithets: Synonyms with epithets referring to locations outside of Arequipa were largely excluded.
This approach resulted in a curated list of 2,800 synonyms. The complete list for each species is available in POWO (2024).
Taxonomic Key to Species
The taxonomic key is an artificial key designed for accessibility. Specific taxonomic terms have been omitted to ensure that users with a basic knowledge of botany can use the key effectively. Wherever possible, observable characteristics, either visible with the naked eye or with a magnifying glass, have been included.
The key has been adapted from existing sources. In cases where no pre‐existing keys were available or the information was contradictory, the key was developed based on species descriptions and/or type specimens.
Developing the key for the angiosperm families was a significant challenge. Several taxonomic guides were consulted and adapted to correspond to the plant families found in Arequipa. Despite these efforts, minor inconsistencies may remain in this section of the key.
The keys for the following genera are considered tentative and provisional due to inconsistent or incomplete information: Cinnagrostis (Poaceae), Dalea and Lupinus (Fabaceae), Nassella (Poaceae), Nolana (Solanaceae), and Nototriche (Malvaceae).
Catalog Structure
The species catalog is divided into two main sections: ferns and flowering plants. Within each group, families are arranged alphabetically, and the species within each family are listed alphabetically by their scientific names.
The appendices provide additional information, facilitating a deeper understanding of Arequipa’s flora:
Appendix 1
and
2
: Alphabetical lists of genera, families, and orders of the species found in Arequipa.
Appendix 3
: A phylogenetic tree illustrating the relationships among the plant families in Arequipa.
Appendix 4
: A compilation of selective synonyms for the species documented in Arequipa.
Appendix 5
: A list of endemic species of Arequipa, arranged alphabetically by family.
Appendix 6
: A record of excluded species for Arequipa, organized alphabetically by species name.
Appendix 7
: A taxonomic key aligned with the structure of the species catalog for ease of use.
Arequipa and its Vegetation
Geography of Arequipa
Arequipa, one of Peru's 24 departments, lies between 14°40' S and 17°20' S and 70°50' W and 75°10' W. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, the departments of Ica, Apurímac, and Ayacucho to the north, Cuzco and Puno to the east, and Moquegua to the south (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Location of the department of Arequipa in Peru and its 8 provinces. Source: https://www.tes.com/
Arequipa spans an area of 63,345 km2 and has an estimated population of approximately 1.6 million, with around 1 million residing in the capital, the city of Arequipa. The economy is primarily driven by trade (about 15 % of GDP), agriculture (13 % of GDP), construction (about 11% of GDP), and mining (9 % of GDP).
Geology of Arequipa
The landscape of Arequipa is characterized by active volcanoes. In the north, towering volcanoes such as Nevado Solimana (6093 m), Coropuna (6425 m), and Ampato (6288 m) rise from the desert. The city of Arequipa itself is surrounded by three volcanoes: Chachani (6057 m), Misti (5822 m), and Picchu‐Picchu (5664 m). Evidence of volcanic activity is visible in ash layers and lava flows exposed in road cuts. In addition, the region's distinctive sillar, a white volcanic rock, is used extensively for construction.
Despite its volcanic history, most of Arequipa's soils are sedimentary or alluvial. Around 150 million years ago, as the South American plate moved westward, it collided with the Nazca plate, creating a rift valley that was filled with eroded material. About 60 million years ago, the Andes began to rise, lifting these sediments into high plateaus and altering water systems. Rivers that once flowed into the Pacific were blocked by the rising Andes, forming inland lakes. Over time, some rivers, such as the Colca and Cotahuasi, carved deep canyons back to the Pacific, while others found new paths eastward to the Amazon Basin. Some systems, such as Lake Titicaca, became enclosed basins with no outlet to the ocean. Ancient lakes eventually filled with sediment, to form flat inter‐Andean plains, such as the Pampa de Cañahuas.
Limited information is available on the reactivity of the soil in Arequipa. Galán de Mera and Linares (2012) report that the vegetation in the region is predominantly acidophilic. However, due to the volcanic and sedimentary origin of the soils, combined with reduced leaching in the arid climate, areas with neutral to alkaline soils are expected. A notable example is the Las Salinas salt lake, where the mined salt is rich in boron and lithium, indicating an alkaline environment.
For more detailed geological information, see the geological map of the Instituto Geológico Minero y Metalúrgico (INGEMMET, 2021) and the maps of SINIA (2024).
Phytogeography of Southern Peru
Peru is part of the Neotropical floristic kingdom, specifically within the Andean floristic region. According to Galán de Mera & Linares (2012), southern Peru is divided into five biogeographical provinces (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Phytogeographic provinces of southern Peru Source: Galán de Mera & Linares (2012)
Using the biome classification of Walter & Breckle (1999), the desert provinces Limeño‐Ariqueña and Atacama belong to the zonobiome III (subtropical desert vegetation), the Oruro‐Arequipeña, Ancashino‐Paceña and Urubambense provinces belong to the orobiome II (seasonal vegetation of tropical mountains), and the province of Madre de Dios is a transitional stage between zonobiome I and II, a gradual change from evergreen tropical evergreen forests to tropical seasonal green forests.
Climate and Vegetation
Arequipa's climate is strongly influenced by the Humboldt Current, a cold ocean current that flows north along the Pacific coast from southern Chile to central Peru. This current cools the sea air and prevents it from absorbing moisture, making onshore precipitation rare. Rainfall along the coast occurs only during El Niño events, which happens approximately every 7‐10 years. Between such rains, the Atacama Desert is the driest place on earth, with an average rainfall of only 1 mm per year.
Temperature and precipitation vary along the transect from the Pacific coast to the inter‐Andean valleys, as shown in Figure 3. Temperatures are relatively stable throughout the year but decrease with altitude. Intense solar radiation at higher elevations partially compensates for this cooling. Precipitation increases dramatically with altitude. The coast is extremely dry, while Arequipa receives rain in January and February. In Cuzco, the rainy season lasts seven months. Northeastern Arequipa probably has a climate similar to that of Cuzco, although long‐term climate data are not available.
The Humboldt Current prevents rainfall but contributes to the formation of fog and clouds. During winter, the coastal plains are often covered in dense fog for months, resulting in precipitation at altitudes between 250 and 1000 m. This supports seasonal vegetation known as fog deserts, fog oases, or lomas.
Above 800‐1000 m, the influence of fog decreases, and the high mountains are too far away to induce orographic rain. The 1000–2000 m zone is extremely dry and almost lifeless, called the abiotic zone.
Above 2500 m, the landscape is dominated by xeric scrub with many cacti. At 3000 m, the scrub becomes denser and the plant diversity increases. On the southern slopes, these scrublands give way to Polylepis forests, ecosystems of high biodiversity that extend up to 4500 m. On the northern slopes and in sunny plains, tolares (heath‐like vegetation) dominates, while in drier areas Festuca chrysophylla grasslands outcompete shrubs.
Above 4500 m, conditions become harsher. Night frosts are common, even in summer, while daytime temperatures can exceed 40°C due to intense solar radiation. Plants at this altitude become smaller and form cushions for insulation. High evaporation, icy winds, and grazing pressure favor cushion plants and species with thorns, spines, or coarse leaves. Above 5000 m, the landscape becomes rocky, with only a few highly specialized plants. Above 5500 m there is permanent snow and ice.
Figure 3: Climate diagrams of Ilo (Pacific Coast), Arequipa (2500 m), and Cuzco (3300 m) Source: Rivas‐Martínez & Rivas‐Sáenz (2018)
In more humid regions of Arequipa, various azonal vegetation types thrive. Bofedales, or upland wetlands, form in humid areas at high altitudes. Depressions without drainage form seasonally dry salt lakes with halophilic vegetation dominated by algae. The original riverine vegetation of shrubs and small trees at mid elevations has been largely replaced by agriculture. Along the coast, the rivers create large wetlands, such as those in Camaná and Mejía, which stand out as green belts against the sandy desert.
The bioclimatic zones of southern Peru, as described by Galán de Mera & Linares (2012), are summarized in Table 1. These zones illustrate the transition from the Pacific coast to the highlands of Arequipa, along with the characteristic vegetation and vernacular names associated with each altitude range.
Bioclimate
Altitude (m)
Indicative plants
Vernacular name
Thermotropic hyperarid
0 1000
Tillandsia purpurea
Chala
Thermotropic ultrahyperarid
1000 2000
Abiotic desert without any plant growth
Yunga
Thermotropic arid
2000 2100
Neoraimondia arequipensis
Yunga
arid-Mesotropic semiarid
2100 3100
Armatocereus Euphorbia apurimacensis matucanensis
Yunga
Supratropic semiarid-dry
3100 3800
Cantua buxifolia Diplostephium meyenii Puya densiflora
Quechua
dry-Orotropic subhumid
3800 4800
Parastrephia Festuca chrysophylla quadrangularis
Puna
dry-Cryotropic subhumid
4800 6380
Nototriche Werneria obcuneata poposa
Janca
Table 1: Bioclimatic transect from the Pacific Ocean to the Arequipa highlands Source: Galán de Mera et al. (2009)
Results and Discussion
The Flora of Arequipa in Figures
This study identifies 1,350 species of vascular plants growing wild in Arequipa. 1,187 species (86%) are native, while 163 species (14%) were introduced, mainly from Europe and North America, and are now widely distributed in South America. The figures include 99 species that have been reported for Arequipa, but whose presence is uncertain due to insufficient evidence (status: doubtful), and 32 species that have not yet been officially recorded, but are likely to be present due to their geographic range (status: expected).
native
endemic
introduced
total
% introd./
% endemic/native
# species
# Peru
# Arequipa
# species
# species
total
Peru
Arequipa
Coastal
468
135
33
109
577
23%
28.8%
7.1%
Andean I
418
83
7
100
518
24%
19.9%
1.7%
Andean II
758
155
21
124
882
16%
20.4%
2.8%
Andean III
601
79
5
43
644
7%
13.1%
0.8%
Total
1187
287
60
163
1350
14
%
24
.2%
5
.1%
Table 2: Altitudinal distribution of native, endemic and introduced vascular plants in Arequipa.
As shown in Table 2, the Coastal and Andean I zones contain a high proportion of introduced species, mainly from Mediterranean climates in Europe and North America. In these arid areas, the plants grow mainly in the valleys or lomas. Andean II zone (1500‐3500 m) has the highest biodiversity, with introduced species coming mainly from temperate regions. Andean III zone (>3500 m) also has a surprisingly high level of biodiversity and shows the lowest proportion of introduced plants.
A quarter of the native species of Arequipa are Peruvian endemics and 5% of the native species grow only in Arequipa. The highest endemism is found in coastal areas.
Arequipa is home to species from 117 plant families. The most diverse families are Asteraceae (238 species), Poaceae (132 species), and Fabaceae (85 species). Table 3 shows that the 20 most diverse families account for about 75% of all species in the region. The family Asteraceae has the most endemic species (12), followed by Brassicaceae and Fabaceae with 8 endemic species each.
Family
# species
% species
# endemic species
Asteraceae
238
17.6%
12
Poaceae
132
9.8%
0
Fabaceae
85
6.3%
8
Solanaceae
80
5.9%
2
Malvaceae
66
4.9%
3
|Brassicaceae
57
4.2%
8
Cactaceae
42
3.1%
2
Amaranthaceae
33
2.4%
1
Boraginaceae
32
2.4%
2
Caryophyllaceae
31
2.3%
0
Cyperaceae
25
1.9%
0
Apiaceae
24
1.8%
3
|Convolvulaceae
22
1.6%
3
Lamiaceae
21
1.6%
0
Plantaginaceae
19
1.4%
0
Verbenaceae
18
1.3%
0
Pteridaceae
17
1.3%
0
Calceolariaceae
16
1.2%
0
Bromeliaceae
15
1.1%
3
Onagraceae
14
1.0%
1
all other (97 families)
363
26.9%
12
Total
1350
100%
60
Table 3: Number of species per family (without cultivated species)
Discussion of the Results
To assess whether the number of vascular species recorded in this study for Arequipa is realistic, a comparison with neighboring regions is helpful.
Tacna: León et al. (2004) recorded 708 species of vascular plants, without distinguishing between native and introduced species. Of these, 92 species were classified as Peruvian endemics and 36 species were endemic to Tacna.
Ica: Whaley et al. (2010) estimated 530 native plants in coastal areas (480 recorded), including 141 species endemic to Peru and S‐Ecuador and 55 species endemic to coastal S‐Peru.
Moquegua: Montesinos (2015) listed 610 species in the Flora Moqueguana. However, this is not a complete inventory, and no additional information is available for this department.
Chile: Flores Fuentes (2016) recorded 726 species for the Arica y Parinacota region, of these 90.8% were native. Squeo et al. (2008) recorded 1,099 species (native 980) for the Atacama region.
Brako & Zarucchi (1993) listed 788 flowering plants for the department of Arequipa (excluding ferns, subspecies, and varieties, and species later recognized as synonyms). Quipuscoa, Dillon, & Ortíz recorded 1,160 vascular plants for Arequipa at the XI Congreso Nacional de Botánica in Puno in 2006.
Barthlott, Lauer, and Placke (1996) divided the western slopes of the Andes in southern Peru into diversity zones and estimated vascular plant diversity ranging from less than 100 to 1,000‐1,500 species per 10,000 km2.
A realistic estimate for Arequipa's vascular plant species is 1,300‐1,500 (including 1,100‐1,300 native species). Higher estimates, e.g., more than 1,800 species as sometimes postulated, probably include cultivated plants. The number of introduced species may increase in the future due to the international exchange of goods.
The definition of a species often varies depending on the botanist describing it. Local botanists sometimes emphasize minor morphological differences, occasionally designating local biotypes or subspecies as separate species. This tendency is evident in Arequipa with genera such as Nolana (Solanaceae), Palaua and Nototriche (both Malvaceae), Cumulopuntia (Cactaceae), and Senecio (Asteraceae), among others. Phylogenetic analyses can help to clarify these classifications.
Arequipa’s endemism is particularly remarkable along the coast, where 33 endemic species have been identified. Of these, 21 grow in the lomas, unique fog‐fed ecosystems separated by vast deserts. These deserts act as barriers, promoting evolution and the formation of new species. However, some endemic species, such as Bomarea latifolia, Cistanthe weberbaueri, and Cuscuta hitchcockii, are taxonomically unresolved, known only from their type locality.
Rapid population growth, especially in coastal areas and the suburbs of the capital Arequipa, is exerting severe pressure on natural habitats. Key problems include uncontrolled urban expansion, poor land‐use planning and inadequate waste management. The ecosystem of the lomas, in particular, require sustainable protection to ensure their long‐term survival.
Protecting biodiversity is primarily the responsibility of national and regional governments. However, individuals can also play an important role by respecting nature and acting in an environmentally responsible manner in their daily life.
Species Catalog
Ferns and Allies (Pteridophyta)
Aspleniaceae
Asplenium gilliesii Hook.
Description: Epipetric, rarely terrestrial. Leaves densely cespitose, 1‐pinnate, 8‐20 x 1‐1.5 cm. Petiole 0.2‐0.4 mm thick, this and rachis flexuous and greenish or stramineous. Pinnae 7‐20 pairs, margins broadly and deeply lobed and cuspidate.
Ecology: Andean II‐III: 2700‐4000 m. Among rocks, in dry meadows.
Distribution: Peru, Bolivia, NW‐Argentina, N‐Chile.
Arequipa: native. CAY.
Note: Tryon & Stolze (1989) note that A. gilliesii and A. peruvianum may simply be variants with intermediates. Both species may be conspecific.
Asplenium lorentzii Hieron.
Description: Terrestrial. Fronds erect or decumbent. Blade 1‐pinnate, 16‐30 x 1.7‐2.7 cm. Rachis 4‐10 cm long, reddish or greenish‐brown, glabrous. Pinnae numerous, 10‐14 mm long, subopposite or alternate, most of them rhombic, deeply dentate, lacking a distinct midrib. Veins distinct, slightly darker than the blade. Pinna base angle approx. 45°. Sori 4‐6 on larger pinnae.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I: 500‐1200 m. Lomas.
Distribution: S‐Peru, Bolivia, NW‐Argentina.
Arequipa: native. CAR.
Asplenium monanthes L.
Description: Epipetric or terrestrial. Stalk short, erect, at the apex with filiform to narrowly deltoid, gray‐brown to blackish scales. Blade 1 ‐pinnate, cespitose, 60 x 3 cm, linear, tapering to a pinnatifid apex and strongly reduced at the base. Rachis, glossy, deep brown, purple or blackish, essentially glabrous. Pinnae up to 1.5 cm long, sessile, quadrangular to subacute and falcate, inequilateral at base. Sori solitary or in pairs near the margins toward base.
Ecology: Andean I‐III: 1000‐4500 m. In forests and thickets, on and among rocks, in crevices of rock cliffs.
Distribution: Tropical and subtropical America and Africa.
Arequipa: native. CAR.
Asplenium peruvianum Desv.
Description: Epipetric, rarely terrestrial. Blade densely cespitose, 1‐pinnate, 6‐30 x 0.6‐1.5 cm. Rachis 0.5‐1 mm thick, stiff and usually reddish or grayish‐brown. Pinnae 12‐30 pairs, rhomboid, ± as long as wide, margins entire to deeply dentate, rarely lobed. Pinna base angle >45°.
Ecology: Andean II‐III: 2750‐4500 m. In open forests or thickets, in rock crevices, on and among rocks.
Distribution: Andes from Venezuela to Argentina.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAY.
Note: See note on A. gilliesii.
Asplenium praemorsum Sw.
Description: Plants epipetric, epiphytic, or sometimes terrestrial. Fronds erect or decumbent, stalks with abundant scales. Leaves 1‐pinnate‐pinnatisect, fasciculate, 12‐60 x 3‐14 cm. Pinnae 7‐18 pairs, deltoid, pointed, short‐stalked, divided into 4‐6 cuneate pinnules almost to the rachis. Veins indistinct. Sori linear, dense.
Ecology: Andean I‐II: 500‐3500 m. Forests, rocky cliffs, on trunks, and branches of trees.
Distribution: Mexico to Bolivia and Argentina.
Arequipa: native. CAR.
Asplenium triphyllum C.Presl
Description: Plants epipetric, rarely terrestrial. Fronds lanceolate. Stalk small to stout, with linear scales, blackish. Pinnae numerous, subsessile to short‐petiolate, subdistant to dense, most trifoliolate or 2‐foliolate, or occasionally with another pair of lateral pinnules, terminal segments obovate or oblanceolate, entire to bifid.
Ecology: Andean II‐III: 3000‐4800 m. Among rocks and boulders, rarely in wet soil.
Distribution: Colombia to Argentina.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAY.
Blechnaceae
Blechnum occidentale L.
Description: Stalk small, erect to usually decumbent, and short creeping. Fronds monomorphic. Blades pinnatisect to 1-pinnate at the base, the apex gradually reduced, the pinnae essentially flat, the basal ones truncate, semicordate to cordate. Sori on both sides of the main vein.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II: 400‐3500 m. Moist and shady places along streams, in thickets, between rocks.
Distribution: Tropical America.
Arequipa: native. CAR.
Cystopteridaceae
Cystopteris diaphana (Bory) Blasdell
Description: Stalk scales light to dark brown, usually rather broad. Fronds 10‐50 cm long, the petiole usually glabrous. Blade 1‐3‐pinnate‐pinnatisect, gradually reduced at the apex, glabrous, pinnae almost sessile to short-stalked. Veins free. Sori roundish, borne on the veins.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐III: 300‐4500 m. Usually in rocky, locally moist places.
Distribution: Widely distributed all over the world, not in Australia.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAR, CAY.
Note: Some authors consider this species to be a subspecies of C. fragilis.
Dennstaedtiaceae
Pteridium esculentum (G.Forst.) Cockayne
Description: Terrestrial. Stem slender, long‐creeping, often branched, with trichomes. Frond spaced, to 7 m long, sometimes scandent, blade 2‐pinnate‐pinnatifid to 4‐pinnate, pubescent to rarely glabrous, veins free. Sori marginal, covered by a well‐modified marginal indusium.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐III: 400‐3000 m. Pastures, thickets, rocky sites, and clearings.
Distribution: Central and South America, from Mexico to N‐Argentina.
Arequipa: native. CAR.
Note: In Arequipa, Pteridium esculentum ssp. arachnoideum.
Dryopteridaceae
Polystichum orbiculatum (Desv.) Gay
Description: Frond 15‐100 cm long. Rachis scales persistent, usually brown to dark brown near the base and brown to whitish beyond. Scales <1 cm long. Blade 2-3‐pinnate, 2‐25 cm wide. Rachis bearing a few to many brownish to whitish scales. Pinnae usually ascending, apex obtuse to subacute, pinnules flat, with revolute margins and apex.
Ecology: Andean II‐III: 2700‐4900 m. Rocky, shady places.
Distribution: Mexico to Bolivia.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAY.
Equisetaceae
Equisetum bogotense Kunth
Description: 20‐50 cm tall, 1‐2 mm wide, usually bearing an apical strobilus. Sheaths with short, brown, papery teeth. Branches irregular, with 4 ridges. Strobilus stalked.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐III: 100‐4200 m. Moist open places, stream banks, irrigation ditches.
Distribution: Costa Rica to Argentina and Chile. Arequipa: native. ARE, CAR, CAY, ISL, UNI.
Equisetum xylochaetum Mett.
Description: Giant horsetails, usually 2‐4 m tall. Stout stems, up to 4 cm in Ø. Sheaths of the main stem usually light brown, with long deciduous teeth. Branches in regular whorls, with 8‐10 ridges.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II: 100‐3500 m. Wet open areas, irrigation ditches.
Distribution: S‐Peru and N‐Chile (Atacama).
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAM, CAR, CAS, ISL.
Note: E. xylochaetum was separated from E. giganteum L. based on the phylogenetic studies of Christenhusz et al. (2019).
Ophioglossaceae
Ophioglossum crotalophoroides Walter
Description: Stem conspicuously globose, fleshy, Ø 3-12 mm. Blades arise from a cavity in the upper part of the stem, sterile lamina ovate to deltoid. Fertile segment solitary, borne at the base of the sterile blade, exceeding the blade.
Ecology: Andean I‐III, Amazonian: 600‐4300 m. On moist, open grassy slopes.
Distribution: Tropical highlands of the Americas.
Arequipa: native, expected. No voucher, Tryon & Stolze (1989) mention it for Bolivia, Chile and Peru, Montesinos-Tubée (2015) mentions it for Moquegua, his observation in iNaturalist (2022) is very close to the border to Arequipa.
Note: An inconspicuous plant that is easily overlooked and therefore probably under‐collected.
Polypodiaceae
Pleopeltis macrocarpa (Willd.) Kaulf.
Description: Stem creeping, epiphytic or lithophytic. Fronds 6‐35 x 0.8‐3 cm. Stalk 0.5‐7 cm long. Blade narrowly elliptic, attenuate at base, coriaceous or subcoriaceous, scales castaneous, with whitish to tawny margin, erose or erose‐ciliolate. Sori round to oval, up to 5 mm in Ø, in 2 rows between midvein and margins in the upper half of the lamina, exindusiate.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II: 500‐3000 m. Humid places, lomas, occasionally in rocky soil.
Distribution: Mexico to Chile and Argentina, also Africa and India.
Arequipa: native. CAR.
Pleopeltis pycnocarpa (C.Chr.) A.R.Sm.
Description: Stem creeping, fronds distant or approximate, scales adpressed or spreading. Blade pinnatifid to pinnatisect, to 15 cm long, scaly beneath, not reduced at the base. Pinna‐segments sometimes pinnatifid or partly lobed, the margins notched, scaly be‐neath, usually fully adnate at the base. Veins not readily visible, free. Sori in 1 row between midvein and margin.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐III: 400‐4100 m. Rock crevices, on rocky slopes, partly underneath rocks.
Distribution: Colombia to Argentina and Chile.
Arequipa: native. CAR.
Pteridaceae
Adiantum chilense Kaulf.
Description: Stem slender, rhizome creeping. Fronds 20‐50 cm long, 3‐pinnate, segments cuneate to flabellate, mostly suborbicular, 1.5 x 2 cm, sparsely hairy, veins ending in the sinuses of the lobes. False‐indusial flaps oblong to crescentic, up to 2.5 mm long.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐III: 100‐4200 m. Hillsides, open woods, thickets, lomas and rocky places.
Distribution: Mexico and the Caribbean to Argentina, tropical Africa.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAR, CAS, CAY, CON, ISL.
Note: The species is listed under several binomials: A. thalictroides var. hirsutum, A. chilense var. hirsutum, and A. poiretii var. hirsutum. Huiet et al. (2018) propose a broader understanding of A. poiretii and list it as a pantropical species.
Adiantum subvolubile Mett.
Description: Stem slender. Fronds 20‐60 cm long, rachis glabrous. Blade ± elongate‐ovate, 2‐or 3‐pinnate in the center. Pinnae subsessile, segments glabrous. The basal pinnule undivided, overlaying the rachis, basal pinnae often reduced, not articulate, the color of the apex of the rachis passing into the base of the segment. False indusia few, roundish or reniform to lunate.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II: 50‐3300 m. Lomas, on rocks.
Distribution: Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAR, CAS, ISL.
Argyrochosma nivea (Poir.) Windham
Description: Fronds 10‐30 cm tall, stalk shorter than the blade. Blade deltoid‐lanceolate, 2‐3‐pinnate, pinnules ovate, coriaceous. Underside of pinnules farinose, upper side glabrous. Sporangia along the veins in the outer third of the pinnule.
Ecology: Andean I‐III: 500‐4000 m. Rocky hillsides and crevices of rocks.
Distribution: The Andes from Colombia south to Argentina.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAR, CAS, CAY, UNI.
Astrolepis sinuata (Lag. ex Sw.) D.M.Benham & Windham
Description: Frond 45 x 7 cm, evergreen. Blade 1‐pinnate, leathery, with star‐shaped scales on the upper surface. Pinnae 20‐30 pair, 3‐6 lobes per pinna, margins slightly rolled down, veins obscure, free, forking. Sporangia scattered on underside of pinnule, no pseudoindusium.
Ecology: Andean II‐III: 1000‐3000 m. Crevices of rocks, rocky banks, and hillsides, lomas.
Distribution: SW‐United States to Argentina.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAR, CAY, CON, UNI.
Cheilanthes arequipensis (Maxon) R.M.Tryon & A.F.Tryon
Description: Fronds up to 8 cm tall. Blade deltoid‐oblong, 2‐pinnate, pinnules hardly lobed. Underside of pinnules densely covered with large, pale reddishbrown scales. Margins slightly revolute.
Ecology: Andean II: 2200‐3300 m. Rocky places and crevices of rocks.
Distribution: Peru, N‐Chile, Argentina.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAS.
Cheilanthes fractifera R.M.Tryon
Description: Fronds 5‐12 cm long, stalk ± grooved on upper side, with large whitish scales at the base. Blade and axis eglandular. Blade deltoid to broadly ovate, 2-pinnate. Pinna moderately whitish pubescent beneath, thinly pubescent above.
Ecology: Andean I: 1000‐2000 m. Rocky hillsides.
Distribution: Peru.
Arequipa: native. ARE.
Cheilanthes incarum Maxon
Description: Fronds 12‐38 cm long, scales linear to acicular, castaneous. Petiole 4‐14 cm long, equaling or shorter than blade, scaly. Blade narrowly lanceolate, 2-pinnate‐pinnatifid, basally tripinnate, scaly. Pinnae ovate‐triangular. Pseudoindusium distinct, lunate, margins erose. Sori discrete, sporangia with 32 spores.
Ecology: Andean II‐III: 2200‐4200 m. Rocky slopes, dry ravines.
Distribution: Peru, Bolivia.
Arequipa: native. Not specified by province. Mentioned with specimen references by Rivera et al. (2024).
Cheilanthes mollis (Kunze) C.Presl
Description: Frond up to 30 cm long, stalk shorter than the blade, terete, sparsely to densely pubescent, rachis similar. Blade lanceolate, 2‐3‐pinnate. Pinnae beneath densely covered with whitish to ferruginous, stellate trichomes, terminal segments small, many suborbicular. Margins strongly revolute.
Ecology: Coastal: 0‐1000 m. Lomas.
Distribution: S‐Peru, N‐Chile.
Arequipa: native. CAR.
Note: Ch. mollis, Ch. peruviana and Ch. pilosa are morphologically very similar.
Cheilanthes peruviana T.Moore
Description: Stems erect, stout, scales linear‐ligulate, long‐attenuate, margins entire, brown, concolorous. Fronds up to 30 cm long, stalk terete, scaly, stalk similar. Blade narrowly lanceolate, 2‐3‐pinnate, with some pinnules lobed. Pinna glabrous above, beneath densely covered with deep brown scales.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐III: 300‐3900 m. In soil and on rocks of lomas, and exposed rocky slopes.
Distribution: Peru.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAR, CAS, CAY.
Cheilanthes pilosa Goldm.
Description: Stem rather slender, short‐creeping, scales lance subulate, dark brown, rather sclerotic. Fronds glutinous without dark yellow secretion. Stalk with rigid, shining scales. Blade herbaceous to chartaceous.
Ecology: Andean II: 1500‐2500 m.
Distribution: Peru to Argentina and N‐Chile.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAY.
Cheilanthes pruinata Kaulf.
Description: Stem moderately stout, creeping, scales dark reddish‐brown, concolorous, or with very narrow pale borders. Fronds 20‐50 cm long, petiole terete, glutinous, glandular hairs with dark yellow secretion. Stalk terete, lamina linear, 2‐3‐pinnate‐pinnatifid. Blade subcoriaceous. Pinnae deltoid, deciduously pubescent on both sides except along the axes and midveins beneath.
Ecology: Andean II‐III: 2500‐4400 m. Crevices or on ledges of cliffs and in rocky soil.
Distribution: Peru, Bolivia, N‐Chile, Argentina.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAS, CAY.
Myriopteris aurea (Poir.) Grusz & Windham
Description: Stem short creeping, knotted, scales lanceolate, entire, brownish, ± bicolorous. Fronds to 60 cm long, stalk <1/3 as long as blade. Blade linear‐elliptic, long‐attenuate at the base, 1‐pinnate. Pinnae oblong with the lower surface covered with a dense tawny (white when young) tomentum of fine, matted trichomes.
Ecology: Andean I‐III: 1200‐3800 m. On soil banks, rocky slopes, shrubby hillsides, or cliffs.
Distribution: Southern North America to N‐Chile and Argentina.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAY, UNI.
Myriopteris myriophylla J.Sm.
Description: Short creeping with moderately stout stems. Fronds 15‐40 cm long, 4‐pinnate.
Ecology: Andean I‐II: 1500‐3500 m. Rocky soils, shrubland, cliffs.
Distribution: Mexico to Argentina.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAR, CAS, CAY, UNI.
Notholaena sulphurea (Cav.) J.Sm.
Description: Stem short‐creeping to nearly erect, scales lanceolate, attenuate, dark sclerotic with narrow brownish and deciduously glandular‐ciliate margins. Fronds 20 cm, stalk much longer than the blade. Blade pentagonal or ± elongate, 2‐pinnate the base, 1-pinnate above basal pinnae, terminal segments adnate, underside densely white or yellow‐farinose. Sporangia on the vein end.
Ecology: Andean II: 1500‐2000 m. Open rocky places.
Distribution: S‐Mexico to Chile.
Arequipa: native. ARE, UNI.
Pellaea sagittata (Cav.) Link.
Description: Stem stout, compact, decumbent, scales straight or nearly so, concolorous, tan to rust‐colored, lanceolate‐triangular, usually cordate. Fronds 15‐80 cm long, 1‐2‐pinnate, pinna ascending at acute angles to the stalk, pinna entire or of 3‐numerous sagittate segments, long‐petiolate.
Ecology: Andean I‐II: 1000‐3000 m. On dry banks, among rocks, and on stone walls.
Distribution: Mexico to Bolivia.
Arequipa: native. CAR, UNI.
Pellaea ternifolia (Cav.) Link
Description: Stem flexuous, elongate, decumbent, scales straight or falcate, bicolorous with a slender sclerotic stripe narrower than the borders. Fronds 4‐50 cm long, stiff, erect, stalk and rachis plane on the adaxial surface or sulcate, purple to black. Blade linear to narrowly lanceolate, 1 ‐pinnate, the pinnae ternate or entire, sessile, or subsessile.
Ecology: Andean II‐III: 1800‐4600 m. Crevices of igneous rock or on Inca walls, in sun and semi‐shade.
Distribution: SW‐United States to Argentina.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAR, CAY, UNI.
Pityrogramma trifoliata (L.) R.M.Tryon
Description: Distinguished by the entire to 1‐pinnate pinnae, when pinnate usually with only three pinnules (trifoliate). Underside of pinnule with yellow or whitish farina.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II: 0‐2300 m. Open rocky ground, riverbanks, irrigation ditches.
Distribution: Tropical America, from S‐USA to Argentina.
Arequipa: native. CAR.
Salviniaceae
Azolla filiculoides Lam.
Description: Plants pinnately branched, often 2‐6 cm long. Leaves densely packed, imbricate, oblong to ovate, ca. 1 mm long. Emerging from the water surface (not floating planar).
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐III: 0‐4000 m. Calm waters.
Distribution: Native to South America and introduced all over the world.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAR, CAY, ISL.
Use: It is grown for its nitrogen‐fixing ability, which can be used to increase the growth rate of rice, or as green manure. In recent years, Azolla sp. has become important in wastewater treatment to remove metals and nitrogen.
Note: Evrard & Van Hove (2004) suggest that A. caroliniana and A. microphylla are synonyms of A. filiculoides. Metzgar et al. (2007) note a significant genetic difference between the two tribes. Here A. filiculoides is used in a broad sense.
Thelypteridaceae
Amauropelta glandulosolanosa (C.Chr.) Salino & T.E.Almeida
Description: Creeping stem. Fronds 2‐pinnate, 20-120(‐250) cm long. Pinnae and pinnule falcate, pinnula with 4‐12 pairs of often forked, sunken veins.
Ecology: Andean II: 2500‐4000 m. Rock crevices, moist and shaded places, along streams and irrigation ditches.
Distribution: S‐Ecuador to Bolivia.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAR, CAY.
Amauropelta rufa (Poir.) Salino & T.E.Al-meida
Description: Closely related to A. glandulosolanosa but differs in the simple veins that are often raised beneath, the absence of deep red globose or pyriform glands along the midveins on the underside of pinna and pinnules, and the generally smaller indusia.
Ecology: Andean I‐II: 1000‐3200 m. Irrigation ditches, small streams, and disturbed sites.
Distribution: Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
Arequipa: native, doubtful. ARE. No specimen and no observation. Mentioned by Montesinos & Zegarra (2019).
Note: A. glandulosolanosa and A. rufa grow together, and it would not be surprising if they hybridize (Tryon & Stolze, 1989).
Woodsiaceae
Woodsia montevidensis Hieron.
Description: Stem light brown to dark brown, usually broadly scaled. Fronds 8‐40 cm long, the stalk glabrous or often slightly scaly, especially at the base. Blade 1-pinnate‐pinnatifid to pinnatisect, gradually reduced at apex, glandular-pubescent, pinnae sessile, the basal ones reduced. Veins free. Sori roundish, borne on a vein.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐III: 200‐4500 m. Lomas, cliffs, rocky places, on Inca walls, grassy slopes, stream banks, forests.
Distribution: South America, from Colombia and Venezuela to Argentina and N‐Chile.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAY.
Flowering Plants (Gymnospermae and Angiospermae)
Acanthaceae
Dicliptera congesta Kunth
Description: Much‐branched herb, up to 40 cm tall. Stems slender, pubescent, but not whitish. Leaves elliptic, 2‐3x as long as wide, base and apex acute, margins entire, both sides slightly hairy. Inflorescence axillary and terminal often branched. Flowers pink, some pedicellate, others sessile.
Ecology: Andean II: 2000‐3000 m. Shrublands.
Distribution: Peru.
Arequipa: native. CON.
Note: Humboldt's type specimen was first thought to be from Mexico, later revised to S‐Peru.
Dicliptera tomentosa (Vahl) Nees
Description: Small annual herb. Stem robust, whitish- tomentose, scarcely branched. Leaves elliptic, almost as wide as long. Flowers sessile, axillary and terminal, corolla pink.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II: 0‐3000 m. Lomas, rocky slopes.
Distribution: Peru.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAR, CAY, CON, ISL.
Dyschoriste repens (Nees) Kuntze
Description: Stem spreading, geniculate from a perennial base, densely pubescent, branched. Branches short, densely foliate. Leaves obovate 3 x 1 cm, apex obtuse to acute, base tapering, ciliate, entire, upper surface hirsute. Flowers axillary subtended by leafy bracts. Calyx 5‐lobed, corolla 11‐12 mm long, pubescent on the external surface, whitish‐blue to violet.
Ecology: Coastal: 0‐500 m. Lomas, rocky slopes. Distribution: Peru, also mentioned for Venezuela. Arequipa: native. CAR, ISL.
Aizoaceae
Mesembryanthemum cordifolium L.f.
Description: Succulent herb, prostrate. Leaves fleshy, cordate at base. Flowers bright pink to red.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II: 0‐2500 m. Cultivated and naturalized in disturbed areas.
Distribution: Native to South Africa.
Arequipa: introduced. ARE, CAM, CAR.
Use: Ornamental plant.
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.
Description: Prostrate, succulent herb, covered with large, glistening blister cells. Ground leaves triangular.
Flowers white.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II: 0‐3000 m. It can tolerate nutritionally poor or saline soils.
Distribution: Native to Africa and S‐Europe.
Arequipa: introduced. ARE, CAM, CAS.
Use: Edible leaves and seeds.
Sesuvium portulacastrum (L.) L.
Description: Prostrate, succulent, hairless herb, rooting at the nodes. Leaves opposite, oblong or oblanceolate, fleshy, rounded at apex, decurrent into the petiole below, the petiole base connate with that of the opposite leaf. Flowers solitary, green outside, pink, red, or purplish inside.
Ecology: Coastal: 0‐1000 m. Beaches, lomas, tidal flats. Salt tolerant.
Distribution: Native to Africa, Asia, Australia and the Americas.
Arequipa: native. CAM, CAR, ISL.
Tetragonia crystallina L'Hér.
Description: Annual, up to 25 cm tall, glabrous. Leaves elliptic to ovate, sessile, apex acute. Flowers 1 per axil, petals yellow. Fruit obovoid, smooth sides and sharp angles, broadest above middle, 6‐9 mm long, peduncles 3‐8 mm long. The fruits may be somewhat flattened, appearing 3‐angled.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II: 0‐2000 m. Lomas, rocky slopes.
Distribution: S‐Peru.
Arequipa: native. CAR, ISL.
Tetragonia macrocarpa Phil.
Description: Annual, 5‐10 cm tall, prostrate, glabrous. Leaves elliptic to oblong, sessile, apex obtuse, 6‐25 x 2-8 mm, oldest 1 to >3 x as long as youngest. Flowers axillary, petals yellow. Fruit 3‐7 mm long, glabrous to pilose, moderately tuberculate to usually longitudinally ridged.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I: 0‐500 m. On gravel and sand near coasts and inland.
Distribution: S‐Peru, N‐Chile.
Arequipa: native, doubtful. Not specified by province. Taylor (1994) restricts T. macrocarpa to N‐Chile. Dillon et al. (2011) mention the species for the lomas of Peru.
Tetragonia microcarpa Phil.
Description: Annual, up to 30 cm tall, glabrous. Leaves narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, sessile, apex obtuse, 3‐25 x 0.5‐9 mm, oldest 1 to 2 x as long as youngest. Flowers 1‐3 per axil, petals yellow‐green. Fruit 3‐8 mm long, glabrous rhomboidal to ellipsoid, widest at middle, 3‐4‐angled.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II: 50‐3100 m. On sand, growing in dense clumps in runoff channels.
Distribution: S‐Peru and N‐Chile.
Arequipa: native. CAR, ISL.
Tetragonia ovata Phil.
Description: Annual, up to 20 cm tall, glabrous. Leaves elliptic to oblong, sessile, apex obtuse, 15‐65 x 3‐40 mm, oldest 1 to >3 x as long as youngest. Flowers axillary, petals yellow‐green. Fruit ovoid, widest below middle, 4‐5 mm long, peduncles 5‐20 mm long.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II: 500‐2000 m. Grasslands, lomas.
Distribution: N‐Chile.
Arequipa: native, doubtful. Not specified by province. The specimens from Arequipa were re‐identified as T. crystallina by Taylor (1994). The same author restricts T. ovata to N‐Chile. Dillon et al. (2011) mention it for the lomas of Peru.
Tetragonia pedunculata Phil.
Description: Annual, up to 12 cm tall, prostrate, densely villose. Leaves elliptic to oblong, sessile, apex obtuse, 6‐30 x 3‐8 mm. Flowers axillary, petals yellow. Fruit 9‐10 mm long, tuberculate.
Ecology: Coastal: 0‐500 m. Lomas, rocky slopes.
Distribution: S‐Peru, N‐Chile.
Arequipa: native, doubtful. Not specified by province. Several specimens. Taylor (1994) restricts T. ovata to N‐Chile. Dillon et al. (2011) mention it for the lomas of Peru.
Tetragonia tetragonoides (Pall.) Kuntze
Description: Prostrate, sprawling annual, up to 2 m long. Leaves lanceolate to ovate or triangular‐hastate, 2‐8 cm wide. Flowers greenish‐yellow. Fruit with distal horns.
Ecology: Coastal: 0‐100 m. Cultivated, occasionally naturalized on coastal dunes and stony beaches.
Distribution: Native to New Zealand, introduced all over the world.
Arequipa: introduced, adventive. ARE. Observation in iNaturalist (2024) and mentioned by Brako & Zarucchi (1993).
Use: Grown for its edible leaves and as an ornamental plant for ground cover.
Tetragonia vestita I.M.Johnst.
Description: Annual, up to 20 cm tall, with straight trichomes, at least on young stems and fruit. Leaves elliptic or rhombic, 10‐60 x 5‐30 mm, 3‐5 palmate veins, apex obtuse to acute. crystalline‐papillose and ± villous. Flowers 1 per axil, yellowish. Fruit obovoid, 6‐8 mm long.
Ecology: Coastal: 0‐1000 m. Lomas, rocky slopes.
Distribution: S‐Peru.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAM, CAR, CAS, ISL.
Alstroemeriaceae
Alstroemeria chorillensis Herb.
Description: Tuberous perennial herb, erect, 15‐60 cm tall. Main stem leafy. Leaves twisted, green, oblanceolate, 5-7 x 0.6‐1.2 cm, with wavy margins. Flowers broadly funnel‐shaped, tepals 5 cm long, strongly zygomorphic, lilac or pinkish, purple‐streaked. The pattern on the upper pair of tepals varies considerably.
Ecology: Coastal: 0‐500 m. Lomas, rocky slopes.
Distribution: Peru, N‐Chile.
Arequipa: native. CAM, CAR, ISL.
Note: Hofreiter & Rodriguez (2006) propose to synonymize A. lineatiflora Ruiz & Pav. and the Peruvian population of A. violaceae Phil. with A. chorillensis.
Bomarea dulcis (Hook.) Beauverd
Description: Perennial vine, 0.1‐2 m high. The stems straight, often spiral. Leaves alternate, narrowly lanceolate, 3.5‐7 x 0.2‐1.5 cm, acute, green to bluish‐green. Inflorescence pendulous, outer tepals pinkish‐red, rarely yellow, with green tip, inner tepals pink, with green tip. Fruit an ovoid capsule.
Ecology: Andean II‐III: 1500‐>4500 m. Rocky slopes, elfin forests, shrublands, disturbed areas, grasslands. Distribution: Bolivia, N‐Chile and Peru. Arequipa: native. ARE, CAY.
Bomarea involucrosa (Herb.) Baker
Description: Erect herb, stem erect, 1‐3 m tall, densely leafy throughout, recurved at top. Leaves linear, 5‐20 x 0.5‐3 cm (usually much narrower), slightly to strongly revolute, sharply pointed, coriaceous. Flowers compact, yellow-green, not spotted, 6‐8 cm long.
Ecology: Andean II‐III: 2500‐4500 m. Rocky slopes.
Distribution: Peru and Bolivia.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAY.
Bomarea latifolia (Ruiz & Pav.) Herb.
Description: Stem stout, glabrous. Leaves broadly oblong‐ovate, 10‐16 x 4‐8 cm, strongly veined, glabrous on upper surface, pubescent on underside. Inflorescence a thyrse. Flowers 4 cm long, outer tepals pink with green tip, inner tepals slightly longer than outer, greenish‐yellow with a green tip and a pink stripe.
Ecology: Coastal: 500‐1000 m. Lomas.
Distribution: Peru.
Arequipa: native, endemic?. CAM, CAR, ISL.
Bomarea ovata (Cav.) Mirb.
Description: Suberect, twining, tuberous herb. Stem slender, glabrous. Leaves ovate to lanceolate‐ovate, 3-8 x 0.5‐4 cm, acuminate, membranous, upper surface glabrous, underside pubescent. Bracts like the leaves, usually much reduced, deciduous. Inflorescence an umbel in weak plant, a thyrse in strong plants. Outer tepals pink, inner tepals subequal to outer, usually narrower, yellow, green at the tip, with round dark spots.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II: 100‐3700 m. Disturbed areas, lomas, shrublands.
Distribution: N‐Peru to W‐Argentina, Bolivia.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAR, CAY, UNI.
Amaranthaceae
Alternanthera albosquarrosa Suess.
Description: Like A. pubiflora but with larger flowers.
Ecology: Andean II: 1500‐2500 m. Rocky slopes.
Distribution: Ecuador, Peru.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAR.
Note: Probably a synonym of A. pubiflora. Flora of Peru (1936ff.) notes that A. albosquarrosa may differ from A. pubiflora in having larger flowers, but there appear to be intergrading forms.
Alternanthera albotomentosa Suess.
Description: Prostrate herb, perennial. Leaves opposite, shortly petiolate, furry tomentose. Flowers white, heads sessile.
Ecology: Andean II: 1500‐2500 m. Rocky slopes.
Distribution: Peru.
Arequipa: native. CAR.
Note: Svenson (1946) synonymizes this species with A. halimifolia.
Alternanthera arequipensis Suess.
Description: Perennial herb, base woody. Leaves and stems adpressed pubescent. Leaves opposite. Heads at the apices of the lateral branches, partly solitary on peduncles of <12 mm, partly subsessile, flowers white.
Ecology: Andean II: 2000‐2500 m. Open rocky slopes.
Distribution: S‐Peru.
Arequipa: native. ARE, UNI.
Note: May be a synonym of A. pubiflora.
Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze
Description: Spreading perennial herb, muchbranched, geniculate, up to 4 m tall. Stem hairy. Leaves opposite, ovate, purple, at least the veins. Inflorescence pedunculate, flowers white.
Ecology: Coastal, Amazonian: 0‐500 m. Riversides, disturbed areas. Cultivated and naturalized near villages.
Distribution: Native to Tropical America, introduced worldwide.
Arequipa: introduced, adventive. ISL.
Use: Ornamental plant.
Alternanthera caracasana Kunth
Description: Perennial herb with long, prostrate stems, rooting from the lower nodes. Stems densely villous. Leaves opposite, longer than broad. Heads sessile, with tiny stiff white flowers.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II: 500‐3000 m. Lomas, grasslands, disturbed areas.
Distribution: Central and South America, naturalized in North America, Europe, Africa and Australia.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAY, ISL, UNI.
Alternanthera halimifolia (Lam.) Standl. ex Pittier
Description: Prostrate herb, perennial, stem hairy, sometimes reddish. Leaves opposite, elliptic, shortly petiolate, furry gray‐green. Heads globose, sessile, flowers brownish‐white.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II, Amazonian: 0‐2500 m. Disturbed areas, lomas, riversides, rocky slopes.
Distribution: The Andes, from Panama to N‐Chile.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAR, CAY, ISL.
Alternanthera porrigens (Jacq.) Kuntze
Description: Suffrutescent, erect, much‐branched. Stems densely pilose with adpressed with white hairs. Leaves opposite, shortly petiolate, ovate to elliptic, acute or acuminate, densely adpressed‐pilose on both surfaces. Inflorescence a large panicle, heads purple or pink, rarely almost white.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II, Amazonian: 0‐3500 m. Disturbed areas, grasslands, lomas, rocky slopes, shrublands.
Distribution: Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, introduced in Java.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAR, ISL, UNI.
Use: Used medicinally as a cardiovascular agent.
Alternanthera pubiflora (Benth.) Kuntze
Description: Herb or subshrub. Leaves opposite, ovate and entire, short petiolate, sparsely to densely pilose. Heads in clusters of 3, lateral ones pedunculate, terminal ones sessile, flowers white.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II, Amazonian: 0‐3500 m. Dry disturbed areas, lomas, riversides, shrublands.
Distribution: Central America and W‐South America.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAM, CAR, ISL.
Note: Alternanthera mollendoana Suess. is synonymized here with A. pubiflora, as some authors do, but not POWO (2024). A. arequipensis could also be a synonym of A. pubiflora.
Alternanthera pungens Kunth
Description: Prostrate perennial herb, branched and rooted at the nodes, branches densely pilose, forming dense mats. Leaves opposite, orbicular or rhombic, 1.5‐5 cm long, usually as broad as long (difference to A. caracasana), rounded and apiculate at the apex, adpressed‐pilose when young, soon glabrate. Solitary flower heads, sepals 5‐7 mm, sparsely villous, prickly.
Ecology: Andean I‐II, Amazonian: 0‐2500 m. Disturbed areas, roadsides, in settlements on trampled areas.
Distribution: Native of tropical America, now widespread in the tropics and subtropics worldwide.
Arequipa: native, doubtful. ARE, CAY. No specimen, 2 doubtful observations from Caylloma and prov. Arequipa (iNaturalist, 2024). It is likely to occur.
Use: The plant is a diuretic. A decoction is used internally to treat gonorrhea.
Amaranthus cruentus L.
Description: Annual herb, erect, up to 2 m tall, often reddish tinted throughout, stems stout, branched, angular, ± glabrous. Leaves spirally, simple, without stipules, long‐petiolate, lamina broadly lanceolate to rhombic‐ovate, 2‐18 cm × 2‐15 cm, attenuate or shortly cuneate at base, obtuse to subacute at apex, mucronate, entire, glabrous to sparsely pilose. Inflorescence consists of numerous cymes in axillary and terminal racemes, up to 45 cm long.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II, Amazonian: 0‐2500 m. Cultivated herb, disturbed areas.
Distribution: Native to South America, cultivated worldwide.
Arequipa: introduced. ARE, CAY, ISL. Several observations in iNaturalist (2024).
Use: Valued as a leafy vegetable.
Amaranthus dubius Mart. ex Thell.
Description: Slender, erect herb, up to 1 m tall, muchbranched, glabrous. Inflorescence not showy, dull green. Bracteoles shorter than 2 mm, not exceeding the stigma branches in intact infructescence. Carpellate flowers with 5 sepals. Seeds dark brown to black.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I, Amazonian: 0‐1000 m. Riversides, grasslands, disturbed areas.
Distribution: Native to South America.
Arequipa: native. ISL.
Use: Valued as a leafy vegetable.
Amaranthus hybridus L.
Description: Erect or slightly spreading annual, up to 1.5 m tall, usually glabrous, stem often reddish. Inflorescence terminal, ± drooping. Bracts 3‐4 mm long, spinescent, at least one of them clearly elongated. Perianth segments 5. Stamens 5. Ovary as long as perianth.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II, Amazonian: 0‐3200 m. Cultivated, disturbed areas.
Distribution: Native to N- and C-America, introduced worldwide.
Arequipa: introduced. ARE, CAR, ISL, UNI.
Use: Cultivated on a small scale for its edible leaves and
seeds.
Amaranthus spinosus L.
Description: Stem erect, green or ± tinged purple, 0.3-1 m tall. Plants bearing 2 rigid, sharp‐pointed spines 5-20 mm long at most nodes. Terminal spike with staminate flowers in apical portion and carpellate flowers near the base.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II, Amazonian: 0‐2500 m. Disturbed areas, grasslands, riversides.
Distribution: Native to tropical America, introduced worldwide.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAM, ISL.
Use: Valued as a vegetable.
Amaranthus viridis L.
Description: Stems erect, 0.2‐1 m tall. Inflorescence composed of a terminal panicle, 10‐20 cm long, often with axillary spikes or glomeruli. Carpellate flowers with 3 sepals. Fruit indehiscent, rugose when dry, 1‐1.6 mm long.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I, Amazonian: 0‐1300 m. Disturbed areas, grasslands.
Distribution: Origin possibly South America. Naturalized weed all over the world.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAR, ISL.
Use: The leaves and stems are eaten like spinach and the seeds are used as a grain.
Atriplex espostoi Speg.
Description: Plants herbaceous or suffrutescent, coarse and stout, 50 cm tall, finely farinose or green and glabrous, sparsely branched. Leaves ± sessile, rounded‐deltoid to broadly rhombic, base auriculate, margins ± coarsely dentate. Fruiting bracteoles fused only at base. Flowers yellowish.
Ecology: Coastal: 0‐500 m. Lomas, rocky slopes.
Distribution: Peru.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAM, CAR, ISL.
Atriplex imbricata (Moq.) D.Dietr.
Description: Densely tomentose shrubs, monoecious, 30‐50 cm high. Leaves alternate, imbricate at apex, amplexicaul, triangular or ovate, with cordate base and rounded apex, 5‐10 x 5‐6 mm, covered with vesicular hairs. Male inflorescences in multiflorous glomeruli, 2 x 0.5 cm, terminal. Female inflorescences in few‐flowered glomeruli, in the basal part of the branches.
Ecology: Coastal, Andean I‐II, Amazonian: 0‐3500 m. Lomas, rocky slopes.
Distribution: S‐Peru, Bolivia, NW‐Argentina and NChile.
Arequipa: native. ARE, CAR, CAY, ISL.
Atriplex myriophylla Phil.
Description: Small creeping, monoecious shrub, tufts up to 30 cm in Ø. Leaves alternate, orbicular, oblong or
