Background:

The Sierra de los Cardos is one of the main mountainous areas of Zacatecas. It is located in a transition enclave between physiographic provinces, with a wide environmental heterogeneity that makes it extremely important in biological terms. Despite this, the area has not been botanically explored.

Questions:

Which and how many families, genera, and species of vascular plants does the Sierra de los Cardos host in the municipality of Susticacán? Are there any threatened or endemic species? If so, how many and which ones?

Studied species:

Vascular flora

Study site and dates:

Sierra de los Cardos, Susticacán, Zacatecas. 2019-2020

Methods:

A floristic inventory was carried out by the quadrant method. The specimens were determined with the support of specialized literature and corroboration with specimens from herbaria.

Results:

74 families, 212 genera, and 341 species were identified. The families Asteraceae (75 species), Poaceae (38), and Fabaceae (27), and the genera Muhlenbergia (12 species), Quercus (10), Ipomoea, and Stevia (8) were the richest in species. 116 endemic species of Mexico were identified, two at risk, six introduced, and 16 new state records. According to the habit, herbs (264 species) dominate, followed by shrubs (55) and trees (22).

Conclusions:

The Sierra de los Cardos in the municipality of Susticacán presents an important floristic richness that, including the new records, endemic and endangered species, highlights the need of including the area in conservation strategies and continuing botanical explorations both at local as well as at the state level.

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