ABSTRACT:

A preliminary survey of Anthurium (Araceae) Carchi Province, Ecuador is provided with a total of 146 named species, including seven taxa and 72 as yet unnamed species. More than 60% of all species are deemed to be new to science. The region is particularly rich in section Cardiolonchium (with 34 species and 2 taxa) and section Calomystrium with 29 species. Both are most abundant at middle to lower elevations. Section Belolonchium with 26 species is especially abundant at higher elevations. Even larger and found at middle to lower elevations is section Polyneurium (38 species), followed by section Porphyrochitonium (20 species) and section Xialophyllium (17 species), section Tetraspermium (6 species totaling 8 taxa); section Digitinervium (with 7 species), section Multinervium (with 12 species) and section Decurrentia (8 species).