A peer-reviewed open-access journal PhytoKeys 16: 1–52 A(2012) nomenclator for the frailejones (Espeletiinae Cuatrec., Asteraceae) 1 doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.16.3186 RESEARCH ARTICLE www.phytokeys.com Launched to accelerate biodiversity research A nomenclator for the frailejones (Espeletiinae Cuatrec., Asteraceae) Mauricio Diazgranados1,2 1 Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, 3507 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, MO 63103 2 Missouri Bota- nical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, Saint Louis, MO 63110 Corresponding author: Mauricio Diazgranados (
[email protected]) Academic editor: Vicki Funk | Received 3 April 2011 | Accepted 10 August 2012 | Published 21 August 2012 Citation: Diazgranados M (2012) A nomenclator for the frailejones (Espeletiinae Cuatrec., Asteraceae). PhytoKeys 16: 1–52. doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.16.3186 Abstract The páramos and high Andean forests of the tropical Andes are largely dominated by frailejones (Espeletii- nae Cuatrec., Asteraceae). These plants are ecologically and culturally essential for both ecosystems and local inhabitants. The frailejones have been studied for over two centuries, but the taxonomic knowledge is still sparse and incomplete. The inedited monograph by Cuatrecasas contains only ca. 70% of the spe- cies known today, and publications in the last decade disagree regarding the number of taxa within the group, with estimates ranging from 3 genera and 90 species to 8 genera and 154 species. Moreover the literature contains inexact information about their distribution. As part of a study of the phylogenetic and biogeographic relationships of the group, a thorough revision of the nomenclature was needed as a first step. Currently the subtribe has 8 recognized genera, 141 species, 17 subspecies, 22 varieties, 8 forms, 33 recognized hybrids, 142 synonyms and 5 invalid names, for a total of 368 names (autonyms not counted).