Abstract

Anthurium (Araceae), a distinct neotropical genus with more than 700 species, is a member of the subfamily Pothoideae. The genus ranges from northern Mexico and the Greater Antilles to southern Brazil and northern Argentina and Paraguay. Species diversity is greatest at lower to middle elevations of northern South America, Panama, and Costa Rica, while the upper and lower Amazonian forests are relatively poor in species. The first part of this paper (Mexico and Middle America) was published in the Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, Vol. 70: 211-420. 1983. In this second part 148 Panamanian species are treated. In the past six years a total of 102 taxa from Panama have been described as new to science. A total of 80 taxa are described as new to science in this paper, including 75 new species, two new subspecies, and three new varieties. The Anthurium flora of Panama exhibits considerable endemism with a total of 82 species (55%) being considered endemic. In addition, there is much local endemism within Panama with a number of areas exhibiting local endemism. The most well defined and localized of these include Cerro Jefe (Panama Province), Cerro Sapo, and the Serrania de Pirre (Darien Province) but only three of the endemic Panamanian species are widespread within Panama, and 26 and 30 species, respectively, are restricted to areas to the west and east of the former Canal Zone. Other areas of local endemism include Chiriquí and Code Provinces.

Although most introductory remarks regarding Anthurium have been covered in Part I of this revision (Croat, 1983), certain points that concern only Panama will be discussed here. There are 153 taxa in Panama, of which 85 are currently considered endemic. Those species previously described in detail in Part 1 are given only abbreviated descriptions in this treatment.