Abstract

MENDEZ, Eduardo. Saxicolous and talus vegetation on the eastern slope of Cordón del Plata (Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina). Bol. Soc. Argent. Bot. [online]. 2010, vol.45, n.1-2, pp.119-147. ISSN 1851-2372.

In order to supplement studies of the vegetation on the eastern slope of Cordón del Plata in the high Central Andes of Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina, saxicolous and talus plant communities are determined and analyzed along the altitudinal gradient from 1200 to 3200 m a. s. l. Phytosociological study reveals occurrence of 17 plant communities: 7 saxicolous and 12 talus communities, characterized by exclusive, differential and accompanying diagnostic species. Conglomerate and dispersal analyses, using altitude and temperature, allow differentiation of three groups of communities which correspond, corroborating the phytosociological analysis, to the Monte, Andean and High Andean phytogeographic environments. There is a strong floristic-ecological relationship of these saxicolous and talus plant communities with spectra of phytogeographic environments, life forms and origins of species developed along the altitudinal gradient of the study area. A total of 63 endemic species were recorded: 7 local, 28 regional and 26 national endemisms. The plant communities obtained are compared with those of other areas of Argentina.

Keywords : Plant communities; Foothill and mountain; Saxicolous and talus species; Altitudinal gradient; Central Andes; Mendoza; Argentina.

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