The Buxaceae family in Mexico
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18387/polibotanica.60.1Keywords:
Taxonomy, Systematics, Flora of Mexico, Conservation, Buxus, SealyaAbstract
The Buxaceae, a family mainly composed of shrubs and small trees with a wide global distribution, displays a distinctive diversity in Mexico. This study reviews its national representation through bibliographic research, field observations, and critical examination of approximately three hundred herbarium specimens. Six species grouped into two genera are recognized: Buxus—with B. bartlettii, B. lancifolia, B. mexicana, B. moctezumae, and B. pubescens—and Sealya, a monotypic genus represented by S. conzattii, endemic to Oaxaca and Chiapas. The formal validation of Sealya represents a significant contribution, confirming a Mesoamerican lineage clearly distinct from Asian Sarcococca. The revision clarified diagnostic morphological characters, updated nomenclature, and provided identification keys. From a biogeographic perspective, most species are associated with humid montane forests and sub-evergreen tropical forests, with notable exceptions such as B. mexicana, adapted to xerophytic environments, and B. pubescens, restricted to the Islas Marías. These findings highlight the need for conservation strategies, since several species have narrow distributions and vulnerable habitats. This work establishes a robust taxonomic and biogeographic framework for future studies in systematics, phylogeny, and conservation of Buxaceae in Mexico.
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