Abstract

LEOPARDI, Carlos, VELIZ, José and CUMANA, Luis José. Preliminary orchidflorula of the Araya peninsula and adjacent areas, Sucre State, Venezuela. Acta Bot. Venez., June 2009, vol.32, no.1, p.159-177. ISSN 0084-5906.

A list for the Orchidaceae family at the Araya peninsula and surrounding area (Sucre state, Venezuela) was prepared. The orchid collections of VEN and IRBR herbaria were checked up, and three representative localities of the peninsula were explored through 2006. Eight species of Orchidaceae were found: Brassavola cucullata, Encyclia cordigera, Epi­dendrum ciliare var. squamatum and Cyrtopodium willmorei in the north and Cohniella ce­bolleta, Laelia undulata, Dimerandra emarginata and Caularthron bilamellatum in the south. Epidendrum ciliare var. squamatum and Cohniella cebolleta were the most frequent species in the north and south, respectively. Illustrations and a key to the reported species in this work are presented.

Keywords: Araya; arid zones; Orchidaceae; Araya peninsula; Sucre; Venezuela.