University of Gothenburg
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences
Ceiba
Photo: Claes Persson
  2. Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences
  3. Flora of Ecuador

Flora of Ecuador

The Flora of Ecuador project has published taxonomic treatments of vascular plants occurring in mainland Ecuador, based on original research since 1973.

The project

The Flora of Ecuador project publishes taxonomic treatments of vascular plants occurring in mainland Ecuador, based on original research. Ecuador is the floristically richest country in South America in proportion to its area. About 270 families of vascular plants are known and the number of species has been estimated to be perhaps as many as 20 000, of which 1/4 are endemic. The richness of the flora is largely due to the diverse ecological conditions at altitudes from sea level to nearly 6 300 m. The vegetation varies from xerophytic scrub to rain forest and high-Andean páramos.

The present Flora of Ecuador comprises all vascular plants, including commonly cultivated and escaped species, of the Ecuadorean mainland. It describes families, genera, and species, and provides keys to genera and species. Remarks on variation, nomenclature, distribution, and ecology are included, and synonyms and collection localities are listed. Many species are illustrated with drawings or photos, and some of them are described for the first time.

The Flora is published family by family, or in the largest families as parts of them. Small families are sometimes published together in a volume. The volumes are issued at irregular intervals, as manuscripts become ready for printing. The sequence and circumscription of the families basically follow Engler's Syllabus der Pflanzenfamilien, except in some cases where the latest taxonomic views are used. Up to now, 140 families have been published, some families (Compositae, Gramineae, Leguminosae, Orchidaceae, Polypodiaceae, Rubiaceae) only partially so. Treatments of many families are currently in preparation by specialists from different parts of the world. The Flora is based on material from many important herbaria of the world, including the herbarium at University of Gothenburg, and often also extensive field work.

Flora of Ecuador is published by Dept of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, in co-operation with Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, Quito.

For further information about the Flora or individual volumes, please contact any of the editors (addresses below).

Chuquiraga jussieui
Chuquiraga jussieui.
Photo: Claes Persson
Barnadesia arborea
Barnadesia arborea.
Photo: Claes Persson
Sphinctanthus aurantiacus
Sphinctanthus aurantiacus.
Photo: Claes Persson

Volumes published

PRICE LIST of volumes published

Prices exclude shipping and the 6% VAT paid by EU customers (last updated January 2026).

For prices of volume 1–51, please contact Ms. Ewa Batorowicz, ewa.batorowicz@bioenv.gu.se

Polylepis forest in Cajas National Park
Polylepis forest in Cajas National Park.
Photo: Claes Persson
Secondary lowland forest in Pichincha
Secondary lowland forest in Pichincha.
Photo: Claes Persson

Orders

Send orders via e-mail to ewa.batorowicz@bioenv.gu.se or via postal mail to

Flora of Ecuador
Attn: Ewa Batorowicz
Dept of Biological and Environmental Sciences
University of Gothenburg
Box 463
SE-405 30 Göteborg
Sweden

Please indicate which volume(s) you want to buy, your e-mail address, and your delivery address. You will get an order confirmation by e-mail, and an invoice with the delivery.

Editors

Claes Persson (claes.persson@bioenv.gu.se), Editor-in-Chief, Dept of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden

Roger Eriksson (roger.eriksson@bioenv.gu.se), Dept of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden

Bertil Ståhl (bertil.staahl@ebc.uu.se), Dept of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University - Campus Gotland, SE-621 67 Visby, Sweden

Katya Romoleroux (kromoleroux@puce.edu.ec), School of Biology, Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, Avenida 12 de Octobre 1076 y Roca, Quito 17012184, Ecuador

 

Editorial Board

Carmita Bonifaz, Guayaquil; Michael O. Dillon, Chicago; Lauritz Holm-Nielsen, Aarhus; James L. Luteyn, Beaver Island; Paul J. M. Maas, Leiden; Hugo Navarrete, Quito; Bertil Nordenstam, Stockholm; Ghillean T. Prance, Kew; Peter H. Raven, Saint Louis; Dieter C. Wasshausen, Washington

Bomarea multiflora
Bomarea multiflora.
Photo: Claes Persson

Guidelines for Authors

Guidelines for authors
Guidelines for authors (pdf)
Guidelines for authors in Flora of Ecuador
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