Generally speaking, the eastern Pan- Himalaya is much richer than the western Pan-himalaya in species diversity. There are only 617 species of flowering plants recorded from the Wakha corridor in NE Afghanistan, with 103 species of the Asteraceae. 87 species of the Poaceae, 67 species of the Fabaceae, and only two species of the Orchidaceae(Podlech, 2012). On the other side, the eastem Pan-himalaya is a biodiversity hotspot, with new species being continussussy described even in recent years. For example, more than 50 new species of Saussurea DC. have been described from the eastern Pan-himalaya within the last ten years
This catalogue includes 282 families, 2535 genera and 19. 462 species of vascular plants in Pan-himalaya. The Pan-himalayan region is renowned and characterized by its distinct mountain flora, with plants ranging from tropical, subtropical. temperate, to arctic on the same mountain at different altitudes. This region holds the richest temperate and alpine flora in the world, with tremendously differentiated genera, such as Pedicularis(414/600),Rhododendron(342/1000). Corydalis (301/465), Primula (285/500), Saxifraga(256/450), Carex(240/2000),Saussurea (236/460), Gentiana(218/360), Impatiens(191/900), Berberis(75/500), Dephinim(144/350). Aconiamn(127/400),Salix(118/520),Aremsia (111/380),Rabus(106/700),renaria(99/300) Ligularia (94/140), Polystichum (94/500), Dryopteris(91/400), Athyrium (89/220),androsace (86/100), Strobilanthes(85/400), Oxytropis(80/310) Clematis(77/300) remanthod(74 /76 )Meconopsis (73/74), Anaphalis(59/110), Rhodiola (54/90)
I try to list only accepted scientific names in this catalogue. However, some uncertaicies or unresolved names are listed because they have not been revised by any expert. For those species without the type variety or subspecies within our region, one of the infraspecific taxa is regarded as representative of the species in statistics. The list of the subspecies and varieties in this catalogue is not necessarily complete, It is difficult to edit a catalogue accepted by all people, especially for pteridophytes, where things become more complicated. For example, a specific name has many synonyms from different genera, or even from different families, or an expert accepted a species that is distributed in India, but another expert treated such material as a different species. In this case, I usually adopt the treatment of Flora of China, or new taxonomic revisions. or the Catalogue of Life website
Introduction - General Guideline of the Flora of Pan-himalaya
The Himalaya and adjacent regions (pan-himalaya)form a natural phytogeographical unit, from the Wakhan Corridor eastwards to the Hengduan Mountains via the Karakorum and the Himalaya. This region covers the northeastern corner of Afghanistan, northern Pakistan northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, northern Myanmar, and southwestern China(S Tibet, SE Qinghai SE Gansu, W Sichuan and NW Yunnan). This region is divided into 17 subregions: Wakhan, N Pakistan, Jammu Kashmir, U Ganga Indus, U Yarlung Zangbo, W Nepal, C Nepal, ENepal, Sikkim Darjiling, Bhutan, M Yarlung Zangbo, L Yarlung Zangbo, Yarlung Zangbo. Brahmaputra, Tangut, N Hengduan, S Hengduan, and U Irrawaddy(see the maps)
The Flora of Pam-himalaya(FLPH)will be published in English in two editions: printed and online, It treats all the native and naturalized vascular plants of this region.
The Flora will be published in 50 volumes with ca. 80 books, with the larger families divided into two to seven parts. The classification systems used in this Flora will reflect our current understanding of phylogenetic or phylogenomic relationships of the relevant groups The third edition of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system(APG II1)will be adopted for the angiosperms, and up-to-date phylogenetic or phylogenomic systems for the gymnosperms, fers. and lycophytes will be followed for the treatments of those groups
The natural and rational delimitation of species is the critical task of taxonomy, and is the most important criterion for judging the scientific value and standard of a Flora. Population oncepts should be employed in determining the taxonomy; character analysis should be considered as the basis for a rational taxonomic treatment. Therefore, field observations at the population level, and statistic analysis based on broad population sampling and collections are greatly encouraged to investigate the variation of characters and evaluate their taxonomic significance for the delimitation of taxa. Herbarium specimens kept at the following herbaria must be examined and identified: PE. KUN. K, BM, E, CDBI, and SZ. The authors are also encouraged to visit the herbaria of A. B CAL, CAS, G. KATH, LE, P, TI, W, and HNWP
Delimitation of closely related species should be based on correlated discontinuous (including statistically discontinuous)variation of at least two characters, As to apomicts (such as Taraxacum spp., Sorbus spp.) and vegetatively reproducing plants, " macrospecies"should be adopted instead of "microspecies".
The use of subspecies is encouraged in infraspecific classifications, but varieties only in special cases. Subspecies are geographical races and horizontally or vertically vicarious, whilst varieties are prominent ecotypes. Genotype variants within populations should not be recognized as different taxa. The description of a species should cover all its elements. Variants which do no merit formal taxonomic recognition may be noted below the description of the species.
Larger families and genera may be concisely subdivided. These systems should reflect the current understanding of phylogenetic or phylogenomic relationships, especially those generated from solid molecular and genomic data
The concept of the genus should reflect the current understanding of phylogenies, Generic concepts strongly supported by both molecular genomic and morphological evidence should be adopted, but those with weak support in molecular/genomic analysis and have no sound morphological evidence should not be accepted. The treatment of more poorly known groups should be conservative and any perceived problems indicated
Identification keys are one of the most important products of classification, and the best reflection of its usefulness. Authors should construct a key based on the examination of all relevant specimens, Where possible, keys should not be based on a single character, and must avoid vague words, such as"relatively large"vs."relatively small", "longer"vs. "shorter". It is important to use easily visible characters in keys, Dichotomous indented keys such as those in the Flora of China are to be used in this Flora
Description of species should be concise with emphasis on diagnostic characters, and should include habitat information and the geographical distribution, plus chromosome numbers phenology, and other biological features, as well as reliable economic uses and conservation information where available.
Literature citation for accepted names and their basionym must be provided Important references, such as monographs and Floras, should be cited, but not more than three titles(at most five if absolutely necessary). All synonyms based on types from within the Flora area should be listed along with other synonyms that have been widely used in relevant publications
Detailed type information should be indicated after the nomenclatural citation of taxa Designation of types is highly encouraged in this Flora.
A distribution map is given for each species. This will be a dot map based on the specimens seen for the Flora. The vouchers are to be cited to record geographical distribution for each species, subspecies (or variety). At least one representative specimen is needed for each distribution unit(county in China, district in the other countries). For the more widely distributed taxa (across nine or more subdivisions), a larger distribution unit can be used, no citation of vouchers is needed, and the distribution outlines are also acceptable.
The nomenclatural novelties (new taxa, new combinations, and nomina nova) may be published in the Flora or elsewhere
Sterile hybrids, and those hybrids not forming populations, are to be briefly discussed after the descriptions of their parents, Plants only known from cultivation may be indicated at the end of the treatment of the genus, but should not be included in the identification keys
All genera, and at least one third of the species, should be illustrated with good quality line drawings with scale bars to indicate magnifications. The illustrations can be drawn from herbarium materials, living materials or images available, selected by the authors, or taken from publications with permission. Wherever possible the material used should be indicated Diagnostic characters of the species should be clearly illustrated. One plate may hold illustrations of one, two, or three species. For larger genera composite plates of diagnostic characters are encourage
The web edition of the Flora will follow the corresponding printed edition. Color photographs. detailed citation of vouchers, and other sources of information are to be included only in the web edition
The physical geography, history of studies of vascular plants from this region, biogeography biodiversity conservation, general references, and key to families are to be included in the first (introductory) volume. A comprehensive index to taxa and other subjects are to be published in the last volume.