Los géneros de gesneriáceas de Colombia

The family Gesneriaceae is represented in Colombia by 32 genera and approximately 400 species of shrubs, subshrubs, lianas, or herbs, terrestrial or epiphytic. Most species of Gesneriaceae are found in montane rain or cloud forests, and low-elevation cloud forests are particularly rich. The most species-rich areas in Colombia are the Pacific coastal forests and in the central Andes of Antioquia and Risaralda. In contrast, relatively few species occur in the Amazon and Orinoco basins (except along the foothills of the Andes), and along the mostly dry Caribbean coast. Approximately 75% of the Colombian species belong to groups with no modern treatments. Additional new species as well as one new genus currently await description, and therefore the species numbers estimated for many of the larger genera are tentative. A key to the genera is presented, along with a brief discussion of each genus, as known in Colombia.