Strictly aquatic vascular plants and their conservation in Mexico

Abstract

Based on the analysis of richness and distribution of strictly aquatic vascular plants, the states most relevant to wetlands conservation of Mexico and its associated flora were identified. A number of 240 species were identified, distributed in 106 genera and 62 families, including 227 native and 13 introduced. Such richness accounts 24\% of the total estimated of aquatic plants in Mexico and 8.3\% of endemism. The states that have the highest species number are Veracruz (145 species), Jalisco (123), Michoacan (115) and Tamaulipas (113). Iterative analysis points out the need to involve 13 states for the conservation of 100\% of the native aquatic flora.