A Rapid Assessment of Vascular Plants in Mt. Kiamo, Mindanao, Philippines

Abstract

A rapid assessment was conducted to determine the richness of vascular plants in Mt. Kiamo, Mindanao, Philippines. Repeated transect walks revealed 3 vegetation types, viz., Mossy-pygmy forest, Montane forest and Agro-ecosystem. A total of 251 species belonging to 82 families and 168 genera were documented. Of these, 95 species are ferns, 6 species are lycophytes, 6 gymnosperms and 144 angiosperms. Eight species are broadly distributed Philippine endemics and four are found only on Mindanao. New species and new records of plants were also documented in the area. Of the 17 threatened species recorded, 3 are critically endangered, 8 are endangered and 6 are vulnerable. Keywords : survey, threatened, endemic plants, Mindanao, Philippines