Diversity and distribution of genus Emphasis Type

Authors: J FresnedoRamírez Q OrozcoRamírez

Publish Date: 2012/09/15

Volume: 60, Issue: 3, Pages: 1087-1104

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Abstract

In Mexico and all over the world the number of studies on the species of the Jatropha genus has increased because of the use of its seed oil to produce biodiesel However the knowledge of the taxonomy distribution and ethnobotany of these and related species is incomplete This article presents the distribution of the genus in Mexico according to its internationally accepted taxonomic identity The distribution is linked to environmental variables such as elevation climate type soil and soil moisture patterns In addition to showing the current taxonomical knowledge in Mexico this article discusses its biogeography its traditional uses and the research lines to follow in further study of the genus The distribution results show that some species are broadly adapted as a consequence they are present in many different environments Species such as J dioica J curcas J cordata J cinerea and J gaumeri are distributed in areas with well defined environmental conditions However the distribution of species such as J riojae has not yet been ascertained Three areas with high species richness were identified and they are very important for the study and conservation of the genus Mexico is a global center of diversity for this genus Food and medicinal uses have been reported for some species This article concludes with recommendations for further study to improve the knowledge of this genus in MexicoFor this study both authors were supported by CONACYTUCMEXUS Mexican Council of Science and Technology and University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States doctoral fellowships at University of California Davis We thank Ing Jorge Ramírez Guerrero and MSc Cecilio Mota Cruz for their valuable comments Thanks to Dr Jesús Axayacatl Cuevas Sánchez curator of BANGEV for the valuable information regarding to ex situ conservation of the species boarded in this study and Daniel Barrera Jímenez graduate student at Universidad Autonóma Chapingo for the information about collection un public institutions in Mexico Special thanks to Palma Lower writing specialist at UC Davis for her valuable comments and corrections during the improvement of this paper And last but not least to the two anonymous reviewers and Dr Hammer Editor in Chief of GRACE as their comments and suggestions were very useful to improve this manuscript

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