Lecythidaceae (Brazil nut family) are lowland, tropical trees which have reached their greatest species diversity in the Neotropics. In the New World, the family is most diverse in terra firme habitats of Amazonia and the Guianas. Slightly over 50% of all Neotropical species of Lecythidaceae are found in Amazonia and central Amazonia is especially rich in species. A single 100hectare plot 90 kilometers north of Manaus has 38 different species of Lecythidaceae. In addition, a large number of species of Lecythidaceae have their distributions centered on the Guayana floristic province. Actinomorphic-flowered species of Lecythidaceae are more numerous in northwestern South America whereas zygomorphic-flowered species are more prevalent in central Amazonia into the Guianas. The forests of Pacific coastal Ecuador and Colombia into Panama harbor sevem endangered species of Lecythidaceae. Likewise, nine of the 15 species of Lecythidaceae occurring in the forests of eastern, extra-Amazonia Brazil are endemic. These Pacific coastal and eastern Brazilian forests should be given high priority for conservation of Lecythidaceae because it is in these forests where high endemism coincides with extreme forest destruction.
Lecythidaceae; neotropical; distribution patterns