Table Of Content© Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at
ISSN O252-192X
AN INTRODUCTdl
JRCOVADO
'ÄTIONAL PARK ^
'EDRAS BLANCAS
L^lfcTlONAL PARK
"iRECENWALD DER ÖlrÖtlpCICHER*)
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Parque v Villa Brizeno
£ Nacional r LaSamba
M Biancas ) c Rio Claro
Map 1. Geographical location of Costa Rica and the Golfo Dulce region with the Corcovado National Park
(Parque Nacional Corcovado) and the Piedras Biancas National Park (Parque Nacional Piedras Biancas), the
latter encompassing the "Austrian Rainforest" ("Regenwald der Österreicher"). Preparation: Bettina Berger.
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AN INTRODUCTORY
FIELD GUIDE
TO THE FLOWERING PLANTS OF THE
GOLFO DULCE RAIN FORESTS
COSTA RICA
CORCOVADO NATIONAL PARK
AND
PIEDRAS BLANC AS NATIONAL PARK
("REGENWALD DER ÖSTERREICHER")
Managing editor: Anton Weber
Co-editors (alphabet.): Werner Huber, Anton Weissenhofer, Nelson Zamora, Georg Zimmermann
Authors (alphabet.): Thomas Baumgartner, Jose Gonzalez, Michael Grayum, Armando Estrada, Barry
Hammel, Werner Huber, Quirico Jimenez, Christoph Kastinger, Otto Mälzer, Francisco Morales,
Susanne Pamperl, Alexander Rodriguez, Joaquin Sanchez, Eva Schembera, Walter Till, Anton
Weber, Anton Weissenhofer, Sabine Will, Nelson Zamora, Georg Zimmermann
Editing Institution: Biologiezentrum des Oberösterreichischen Landesmuseums
A cooperation project between
Institute of Botany Institute Nacional de Biodiversidad Museo Nacional de
University of Vienna Santo Domingo, Heredia (INBio) Costa Rica, San Jose
INBio
o
Institute Nacional
de Biodiversidad
Biologiezentrum des
Oberösterreichischen Landesmuseums Linz
Obcröstcircichischcs
MLandes
useum
Stapfia 78
Linz, Nov. 8,2001
© Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at
Stapfia 78
Catalogue of Oberösterreichisches Landesmuseum
New series nr 172
ISSN0252-192X
ISBN 3-85474-072-7
Date of publication: Linz, Nov. 8, 2001
Catalogue
Owner Land Oberösterreich, OÖ Landesmuseum
Museumstraße 14, A-1040 Linz
Managing Editor Anton Weber, Institute of Botany, Univ. of Vienna
Co-editors (alphab.) Werner Huber, Institute of Botany, Univ. of Vienna
Anton Weissenhofer, Institute of Botany, Univ. of Vienna
Nelson Zamora (INBio - Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad,
Santo Domingo, Heredia, Costa Rica)
Georg Zimmermann, Institute of Botany, Univ. of Vienna
Authors (alphab.) Thomas Baumgartner, Jose Gonzales, Michael Grayum, Armando Estrada,
Barry Hammel, Werner Huber, Quirico Jimenez, Christoph Kastinger, Otto
Malzer, J. Francisco Morales, Susanne Pamperl, Alexander Rodriguez,
Joaquin Sanchez, Eva Schembera, Walter Till, Anton Weber, Anton
Weissenhofer, Sabine Will, Nelson Zamora, Georg Zimmermann
Publisher Biologiezentrum des OÖ Landesmuseums
Head: Franz Speta
Cover Christoph Luckeneder
Graphics Alexander Frackiewicz
Printer kb-offset Kroiss & Bichler GmbH
Exhibition
Biologiezentrum des OÖ Landesmuseums, J.W.-Klein-Straße 73, A-4040 Linz
Nov. 8th 2001 to March 10th 2002
Concept and organization W. Huber, S. Weigl, A. Weissenhofer
Collaborators (alphab.) Martina Fahrnberger, Harald Fischer, Renate Fischer, Reinhold Gayl,
Armin Hinterwirt, Walter Hödl, Christoph Kastinger, Georg Krieger,
Brigitte Krückl, Veronika Mayer, Silvester Ölzant, Johannes Rauch,
Roland Rupp, Wolfgang Wanek, Rita Wania, Stefan Wegleitner,
Peter Weish, Georg Zimmermann.
© Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at
Sponsors
The production of the "Field Guide" would not have been pos-
sible without the sponsorship, financial support and/or assis-
tance of the following institutions, firms and persons. Their
direct or indirect help is gratefully acknowledged.
Verein "Regenwald der Österreicher"
(Univ.-Prof. Michael Schnitzler)
Österreichische Nationalbank
(Project no. 6603)
Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft
und Kultur, Abteilung Umweltwissenschaften
(Dr. Christian Smoliner)
Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften,
Kommission für interdisziplinäre ökologische
Studien (Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. F. Ehrendorfer)
MINAE (Ministerio del Ambiente y Energia),
Costa Rica
Museo Nacional de Costa Rica
BRG Purkersdorf
(Mag. Günther Biberle)
BRG Krems
(Mag. Maria Schwingenschlögl)
Lion's Club Wels
(Mag. Reinhard Rebernigg)
Alcatel Austria, Wien
(Dipl. Ing. Franz Hofbauer)
Matula-Gartengestaltung, Wilhering, O.Ö.
(Dipl. Ing. Günther Matula)
Wassergärten R. Weixler, Wels, O.Ö.
(Richard Weixler)
Kleiderfabrik Nitsch, Wien
(Gustav Nitsch)
Anna Garns, Edith Müllner, Heinz & Marion
Gottfried, Alfred Rogenhofer, Willi & Maria
Pintar, Franz Berger, Mario Boggi, Dr. Peter
Stütz, and many other persons who have helped by
generous donations
© Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at
© Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at
Contents
Preface 7
The Golfo Dulce and its Rain Forests: Introduction 9
Basic geographical and climatic features of the Golfo Dulce Region 11
Abrief outline of the flora and vegetation of the Golfo Dulce Region 15
Utilization and conservation of the Golfo Dulce Rain Forests 25
Soils in the Golfo Dulce Region 28
Geological history of Costa Rica and the Golfo Dulce Region 34
Tourist and research facilities of Corcovado and Piedras Biancas National Parks 47
Technical remarks on the "Introductory Field Guide" 50
Identification of the plant families 53
Special habits and "spot characters" of conspicuous Golfo Dulce plants 81
The plant families
Gymnosperms - Cycads (Zamiaceae) 86
Gymnosperms - Conifers (Podocarpaceae) 87
Angiosperms - Monocotyledons (Alismataceae to Zingiberaceae) 88
Angiosperms - Dicotyledons (Acanthaceae to Zygophyllaceae) 158
Appendix I. Authors of family treatments 433
Appendix II. List of photo authors 434
Appendix III. Authors of line drawings 435
Appendix IV. List of vascular plants collected in the Golfo Dulce Region (until 2001) 437
Index to families and genera (botanical names) 455
Photo plates 465
© Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at
© Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at
Preface
The rainforests of the Golfo Dulce region in southeast Costa Rica belong to the most interesting and
species-rich forests in Central America. About fifty years ago, the American botanist Paul H. Allen (1956)
carried out pioneering work in the region, and described the vegetation and plant diversity in the book The
Rain Forests of Golfo Dulce. A proper flora covering the estimated 3000 species or more is still lacking.
A first step towards such a flora was the booklet "Ärboles de la Peninsula de Osa" by QUESADA & al.
(1997) which presents a brief survey on the most common trees of the Osa peninsula (with line drawings).
The present "Introductory Field Guide" is an effort to make a further step. It is not restricted to trees,
but covers all the commoner flowering plants, including shrubs, lianas, epiphytes, ground herbs and
aquatic plants, and it is not restricted to the Osa Peninsula, but covers the whole Golfo Dulce region.
This area is now home to two National Parks: the "Corcovado National Park" (on the Osa Peninsula)
and the "Piedras Biancas National Park" (formerly "Corcovado National Park secciön Esquinas" or
"seccion Piedras Biancas", the "Esquinas Rainforest") northwest of Golfito (Map 1). For a proper flora
more collecting work (especially in the more remote areas of the parks) and intensive study of special
plant groups is needed.
The production of the Field Guide is intimately connected with the conservation efforts of the Esquinas
Rainforest and is the result of many fortunate events. About ten years ago I became involved in the fas-
cinating project aimed to protect a tropical rainforest. Michael Schnitzler, a distinguished musician and
professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, had started an initiative to save the
"Esquinas Rainforest" from destruction. Though the area of this forest was declared on paper as a
National Park (now Piedras Biancas National Park), there was still uncontrolled logging by land own-
ers. Prof. Schnitzler founded the association "Regenwald der Österreicher", collected over many years
money in Austria and conveyed it to the Costa Rican government. With that money the government
bought tracts of forest from the landowners thereby saving the forest from clearance.
Prof. Schnitzler showed remarkable far-sightedness in his vision for the "Regenwald der Österreicher".
Not only did he promote forest protection, but he also encouraged scientific work in the forest. He first
bought a small hut located at the edge of the Esquinas forest. This hut was the start of the Field Station
La Gamba ("Tropenstation La Gamba"), which is located today in another, larger and much more com-
fortable, building. In Austria, Prof. Schnitzler established an advisory board consisting of Austrian sci-
entists interested in tropical biology. I was invited to join the advisory board and so I started to search
for students interested in tropical botany. Eventually I found two students who were enthusiastic and
adventurous enough to tackle botanical work in the Esquinas forest: Werner Huber and Anton Weissen-
hofer. They used the hut as a base camp and from there they carried out studies on the floristic compo-
sition and structure of a selected plot as part of their diploma theses. In 1996 they finished their theses,
but continued to work scientifically until now.
Nearby the field station the Esquinas Rain Forest Lodge was constructed for eco-tourists. Thus also stu-
dent excursions into the Esquinas forest became possible. During that time, the plan to produce an iden-
tification guide for common plants of the Esquinas forest was born. Initial work for the project was
funded by the Austrian National Bank (Österreichische Nationalbank). Enthusiastic students joined the
project and worked out some of the major families as parts of their diploma theses: Thomas Baumgart-
ner (palms), Eva Schembera (legumes), and Sabine Will (Rubiaceae). Another diploma thesis, by
Dominik Lautsch was devoted to ferns and fern allies. The results will be published separately, as we
had to restrict the Field Guide to flowering plants. Apart from these floristic theses, scientific work on
many more aspects of the rainforest was performed during the years. A report on these activities, cov-
ering the years from the beginning (1993) until the end of 1999 can be obtained by the editors or con-
sulted in the Internet (http://www.regenwald.at).
© Biologiezentrum Linz/Austria; download unter www.biologiezentrum.at
The Field Guide project could not have been successfully finished without the participation of Georg
Zimmermann. He wrote the greatest portion of the family treatments. For the introductory part an essay
on the geology and geological history of the Osa Peninsula was written by the geologist Dr. Otto Mälzer,
and a special chapter on its soils was contributed by Susanne Pamperl. another student who conducted
a diploma thesis in the Esquinas Forest.
Initially, we restricted our efforts for the Field Guide to the plants in the Esquinas forest. However, Nelson
Zamora, leading botanist of the "Flora of Costa Rica" project centered at INBio (Instituto Nacional de
Biodiversidad, Heredia), recently joined the Field Guide project, and the decision was taken to expand
the coverage of the Field Guide also to the Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula. Nelson
Zamora proved most helpful and active. He revised the text of many families, helped with plant identi-
fications, made drawings, slides and maps located at INBio available, and agreed to act as a co-editor.
From INBio we also received support from Reinaldo Aguilar, whose excellent plant knowledge and
field experience proved indispensable, and from Maria Marta Chavarria Diaz, who helped with plant
identifications. Another important Costa Rican institution that deserves acknowledgement is the Museo
Nacional de Costa Rica, San Jose. The staff members of the herbarium, especially Joaquin Sanchez,
Armando Ruiz, Alfredo Cascante, Mariela Bermüdez, Silvia Lobo, and Armando Estrada, as well as
Guiselle Alvarado (Dept. of Ornithology) were most cooperative and helpful through the years. Some
even agreed to act as co-authors and revised certain plant families.
Botanists from other institutions provided support as well, especially Dr. Barry Hammel (Missouri
Botanical Garden, St. Louis), who helped from the beginnning with information and plant identifica-
tions and who improved of many of the family treatmens. In addition, we are grateful for the coopera-
tion of Dr. Michael Grayum (Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis), Dr. Robert Dressier (Micanopy,
Florida), and Dr. Günther Gerlach (Botanical Garden Munich).
Special thanks go to the following scientific journals and institutions for granting permission to repro-
duce illustrations (line drawings) and maps: Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden ("Flora of Pana-
ma", Missouri Botanical Garden), Nature, Tectonophysics (Elsevier Science), Geological Society of
America Special Papers (GSA), Instituto Geogräfico Nacional de Costa Rica (Map 2), EcoMapas-Pro-
ject (INBio-SINAC) (Map 3), INBio (line drawings by Claudia Aragon) and Missouri Botanical Gar-
den (line drawings by R.J. Bazan, J.H. Becker, H.J. Cuddy, J.E. Klein, L. Mourre, B. Velick, R.J. White,
Y.L. Wilson, R. Wise). Map 1 was prepared by Mrs. Bettina Berger.
Dr. Peter Stütz and Stefan Jirka were most helpful in reading and correcting large portions of the text.
For manifold technical assistance thanks go to (in alphabetical order) Dr. Ralf Büchner, Stefanie Csekits,
Manfred Dworak, Dr. Michael Kiehn, Mag. Brigitte Krückl, Dr. Veronika Mayer, Matischa Orator,
Monika Paschinger, Wolfgang Prader, Verena Schmelz, and Mag. Susanne Sontag.
Last but not least, I have to thank the many institutions and people who supported the project through
grants and generous donations. They are listed on a foregoing page.
I would be happy if the Field Guide would prove to be a valuable contribution to the appreciation of
rainforests and their plant diversity in a relatively poor and little known region of Costa Rica. May this
be another stepping stone to preserve these complex and vulnerable ecosystems for future generations.
Vienna, November 2001 Anton Weber
