The Subnival Vegetation of Moquegua, South Peru: Chasmophytes, Grasslands and Cushion Communities

The present work is a phytosociological synthesis and syntaxonomic overview of the vegetation highest subnival parts (superpuna) open alpine high plateaus (puna) Andes Moquegua, South West Peru, as related to main environmental gradients. Using TWINSPAN DCA ordination analysis, 153 relevés were analyzed. For each association, subassociation community, syntaxonomy, floristic diversity relation with variables are described. syntaxonomy synecology superpuna was studied in 19 localities at an altitude 4450–4800 m. study area has pluviseasonal climate yearly rainfall (December-April). Four highland types distinguished: 1. slope scree chasmophyte composed shrubs, cushions, ground rosettes grasses, 2. grasslands (grazed ungrazed) characterized by great species richness rosettes, grasses herbs, 3. herbs 4. nitrophilous cover low richness. Within orotropical cryorotropical bioclimatic belts three classes can be Argyrochosmetea niveae (chasmophytic vegetation), Calamagrostietea vicunarum (grasslands cushions), Anthochloo lepidulae-Dielsiochloetea floribundae (highland slopes plateaus) nitrophylous community. One new association from rock described within Saxifragion magellanicae (Argyrochosmetea niveae). Calamagrostion minimae, which comprises cushions mat-forming plants, one two subassociations could distinguished. grassland cushion associations Azorello-Festucion (Calamagrostietea vicunarum), described, comprising nine subassociations. In Anthochloo-Dielsiochloetalia previously community addition, Tarasa nototrichoides Urtica flabellata been total comprised 172 vascular belonging 32 families. Our provides first revision chasmophytes, high-altitude North Moquegua. proposed scheme contains distributed under similar habitat conditions throughout Southern but also reflecting local patterns. Moquegua hosts some rare endangered and/or protected plant species.