XVI International Botanical Congess

There are 28 genera and about 492 species of Ericaceae in the Cordillera de los Andes of South America. They prefer the moist, acidic habitats of cool, montane regions within tropical latitudes, but range from 0 to 4700 m elevation. They are opportunistic and nearly 50% of the species are epiphytes. Endemism is very high. In the context of New World Ericaceae as a whole and proceeding from temperate to tropical latitudes, patterns of speciation and endemism may be correlated with habitat preferences and pollination mechanisms, results of the evolutionary/historical processes that produced numerous ecological zones and dispersal barriers. Habitat protection and conservation must be practiced in each of the Andean countries if botanical diversity with its high levels of endemism is to be maintained.