Background:

The flora of the Sierra de Quila was documented more than 25 years ago. The findings from recent explorations, particularly on the Fabaceae, merit updating the list of this family and thus contribute to the general inventory of the area.

Questions:

What is the richness of legumes, their biological forms and their conservation status in Sierra de Quila? In which types of vegetation is the greatest richness of this family concentrated?

Study species:

Fabaceae.

Study site:

Sierra de Quila Jalisco, Flora and Fauna Protection area.

Methods:

The collection work consisted of 25 field trips that represent about 70 days of exploration. The traditional process was followed for collecting and preparing specimens. A bibliographic review was carried out and specimens deposited in the Instituto de Botanica herbarium at the Universidad de Guadalajara were reviewed. To compare the magnitude of species richness with other areas, the taxonomic diversity index was estimated.

Results:

Two subfamilies were recorded in 46 genera and 140 taxa (including infraspecific categories). The most diverse genera were Desmodium (22), Dalea (11) and Phaseolus (10). The tropical deciduous forest hosts the highest richness of legumes, followed by pine-oak and oak forests. The taxonomic diversity index resulted in 28 legume species per km².

Conclusions:

The Sierra de Quila preserves a high diversity and endemism of legumes. The tropical deciduous forest contains the greatest richness of this group despite its reduced extension in the protected area, therefore actions for its conservation should be prioritized.

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