Updated Checklist of Vascular Plants Endemic to Mongolia

Shukherdorj Baasanmunkh,Li Qing Zhao,Khurelpurev Oyundelger,Batlai Oyuntsetseg,Andrey I Pyak,Magsar Urgamal,Zagarjav Tsegmed,Vanjil Gundegmaa,Hyeok Jae Choi,Alisa Grabovskaya-Borodina,Alexey A Kechaykin

doi:10.3390/d13120619

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to update the checklist of vascular plants endemic to Mongolia using previous checklists, publications, herbarium collections, and field observations. The revised checklist includes 102 endemic taxa (95 species, five subspecies, and two nothospecies) from 43 genera and 19 families. The majority of endemic taxa were distributed in western and central Mongolia, and high endemic species richness was identified in four phytogeographical regions, namely Mongolian Altai, Khangai, Dzungarian Gobi, and Gobi Altai, which harbor 49, 27, 20, and 16 endemic taxa, respectively. For each endemic taxon, we compiled information about growth form, conservation status (if already assessed), phytogeographical distribution, and voucher specimens. Data on each taxon’s type specimen were also collected, and the majority of the type specimens were accessioned at the LE (58 taxa), MW (20 taxa), and UBA (7 taxa) herbaria.

Highlights

Introduction iationsThe term “endemism” is used in biogeography to refer to taxa that have restricted geographical distribution
Endemic taxa were defined as vascular plant taxa that only occur within the borders of Mongolia, and sub-endemic species, which occur in neighboring areas [11,12,19], were excluded from the analysis
The present study recognized a total of 102 taxa that are currently endemic to Mongolia (Appendix A)

Summary

Introduction

Introduction iationsThe term “endemism” is used in biogeography to refer to taxa that have restricted geographical distribution. 41◦ 350 N–52◦ 090 N and 87◦ 440 E–119◦ 560 E), covering approximately 1.6 million km and roughly equaling western and central Europe. As of 2021, approximately 3200 vascular plant species belonging to 684 genera and 112 families have been reported in Mongolia [2,3,4,5,6,7]. The area is not speciose but, due to its geographical location at the junction of two subcontinents (northern and central Asia), harbors feature of multiple floras [8,9]: boreal (central Siberian–Daurian) in the northern part, Altai Mountain (Mid-Asian) in the western part, central Asian in the Gobi, deserts, and desert-steppes of the southern part, and Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

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