Prior to European settlement, the Caribbean was dominated by forested ecosystems. The insular Caribbean has been considered a biodiversity hotspot.[1] Although species diversity is lower than on mainland systems, endemism is high.
Species diversity is highest and endemism is lowest in Trinidad, which has a predominantly continental flora. Endemism is highest in Cuba and Hispaniola, the largest members of the Greater Antilles.
List of species
Native species
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)
^Myers, N., R. A. Mittermeier, C. G. Mittermeier, G. A. B. da Fonseca, and J. Kent. 2000. Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature 403:853-858.
^ abcdefghiVan den Eynden, V. 2006. Review of endemic plants of Trinidad and Tobago.
^"Aralia excelsa". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Aralia rex". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Dendropanax arboreus". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Dendropanax blakeanus". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Dendropanax cordifolius". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Dendropanax cuneifolius". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Dendropanax elongatus". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Dendropanax filipes". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Dendropanax grandiflorus". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Dendropanax grandis". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Dendropanax laurifolius". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Dendropanax nervosus". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Dendropanax nutans". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Dendropanax oblanceatus". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Dendropanax pendulus". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Dendropanax portlandianus". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Dendropanax selleanus". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Dendropanax swartzii". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Didymopanax morototoni(Aubl.) Decne. & Planch". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
^"Frodinia gleasonii (Britton & P.Wilson) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
^"Frodinia tremula (Krug & Urb.) Lowry & G.M.Plunkett". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
^"Oreopanax capitatus". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Oreopanax dussii". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Oreopanax ramosissimus". WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
^"Sciodaphyllum attenuatum (Sw.) Lowry, G.M.Plunkett & M.M.Mora". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
^"Sciodaphyllum glabratum (Kunth) Lowry, G.M.Plunkett & M.M.Mora". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
^"Sciodaphyllum brownei Spreng". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
^"Sciodaphyllum troyanum Urb". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
^"Sciodaphyllum urbanianum (Marchal ex Urb.) Lowry, G.M.Plunkett & M.M.Mora". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
^Magnolia cristalensis WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
^Magnolia cubensisMagnolia cubensis subsp. cacuminicolaMagnolia cubensis subsp. cubensis WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
^Magnolia dealbata WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
^Magnolia domingensis WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
^Magnolia ekmanii WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
^Magnolia emarginata WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
^Magnolia hamorii WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
^Magnolia minor WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
^Magnolia pallescens WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
^Magnolia portoricensis WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
^Magnolia splendens WCSP: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
^ abBerg, C.C. (2007). "Proposals for treating four species complexes in Ficus subgenus Urostigma section Americanae (Moraceae)". Blumea. 52 (2): 295–312. doi:10.3767/000651907x609034. S2CID 84505051.