Selbyana 27(1): 65-71. 2006. EXCEPTIONAL EPIPHYTE DIVERSITY ON A SINGLE TREE IN COSTA RICA ERIC SCHUETTPELZ* Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA. Email: [email protected] DORSET W. TRAPNELL Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT. An exhaustive survey of vascular epiphytes on a single mature canopy tree in a Costa Rican tropical premontane wet forest revealed an extraordinary level of epiphyte diversity. A total of 126 mor phospecies representing at least 52 genera and 21 plant families were found growing epiphytically on the phorophyte (host tree), accounting for more than 1 % of the entire vascular flora of Costa Rica. This is considerably higher than most other epiphyte surveys of single trees. Angiosperms accounted for 64% of the species while leptosporangiate ferns accounted for 36%. Consistent with earlier studies, orchids con tributed less than would be expected from their global representation, while ferns contributed more signif icantly to species diversity. Fewer species were found on the tree trunk (58 species) than in the crown (85 species), and little species overlap occurred between these two regions (17 species), suggestive of niche partitioning. Three species and 11 individuals per m2 were recorded on the trunk of the phorophyte. Our results underscore the important contributions of epiphytes to overall biodiversity, and highlight the neces sity of including epiphytes in future biodiversity assessments. Key words: biodiversity, neotropical premontane wet forest, vascnlar epiphytes INTRODUCTION The relatively few investigations to date that included both terrestrial and epiphytic taxa have Epiphytism, which has been documented in provided invaluable insights. They have dem 84 vascular plant families, apparently evolved onstrated that, in some tropical forest commu independently many times (Kress 1986). Epi nities, epiphytes may compose more than 50% phytes contribute substantially to global plant di of the vascular plant species (Kelly et al. 1994), versity (Schimper 1888, Madison 1977, Dressler and they have revealed that the relative propor 1981, Kress 1986, Gentry & Dodson 1987a, tion of epiphytes, commonly called the epiphyte Nieder et al. 2001), accounting for ca. 10% of quotient (Hosokawa 1950), is scale dependent all vascular plant species (Kress 1986). In trop (Ibisch et al. 1996; Nieder et al. 1999, 2001). ical and subtropical regions, where the potential Considerably higher epiphyte quotients are for environmental stress is greatly alleviated by found at smaller scales than at larger scales, and consistently high moisture levels, epiphytes are while sampling at any scale, the number of epi a particularly important component of floral di phytic species will approach saturation much versity. The contributions of epiphytic species in sooner than the number of terrestrial species. the neotropics can be especially high (Richards 1957, Madison 1977, Gentry & Dodson 1987b). High epiphyte diversity within an especially In Ecuador, for example, epiphytes account for small area thus would be expected; and, indeed, more than 25% of the total vascular flora as many as 195 epiphytic species have been doc (M¢ller I¢rgensen & Leon-Yanez 1999). De umented from a single tree (Catchpole 2004). spite representing a significant component of The objective of our study was to further ex plant diversity, epiphytes often are overlooked plore epiphytic species richness by conducting a in community diversity assessments. Such in complete survey of vascular epiphytes on a sin ventories traditionally focused on terrestrial gle canopy tree in a Costa Rican tropical pre woody taxa, and this bias has resulted in an in montane wet forest. This additional data on epi complete and inaccurate understanding of bio phyte diversity may underscore the role of epi diversity in many regions. With the steady rise phytes in biodiversity and further emphasize the of habitat destruction, the need for a more com necessity of including epiphytes in future as prehensive approach to biodiversity assessment sessments. With increased habitat disturbance, has become increasingly apparent. epiphyte diversity and abundance decline sub stantially (Barthlott et al. 2001), and species * Corresponding author. composition is altered. Considering the ubiqui- 65 66 SELBYANA Volume 27(1) 2006 TABLE 1. Taxonomic and spatial distribution of vascular epiphytes collected from a single canopy tree in a Costa Rican tropical premontane wet forest. Angiosperm Fern Total Location Species Families Species Families Species Families Trunk only 24 3 17 1 41 4 Crown only 47 4 21 1 68 5 Trunk and crown 10 6 7 6 17 12 Total 81 13 45 8 126 21 Note: Taxonomy follows that of the Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INBio), Costa Rica (http:// www.inbio.ac.crl). tous nature of human-induced habitat distur RESULTS AND DISCUSSION bance, the need for information concerning the contributions of epiphytic taxa and the distri At first glance, the study tree appeared some bution of epiphytic diversity is ever more urgent. what depauperate of vascular epiphytes. Its bark was relatively smooth and unfurrowed and, compared to many of the canopy trees standing MATERIALS AND METHODS in the forest, its epiphyte load initially appeared somewhat disappointing. Upon completion of The single-tree survey was conducted at the the survey, however, 126 morpho species repre Reserva Biologica Alberto Brenes, situated in senting at least 52 genera and 21 families were tropical premontane wet forest (at ca. 1000 m found growing epiphytically on the tree (TABLE with ca. 4000 mm annual precipitation) on the 1, ApPENDIX). All but three morphospecies were Atlantic slope of Costa Rica in June 2002. A identified to family, and 117 were identified to recently fallen «5 days prior to the survey) ma genus. Time constraints prevented cultivation of ture canopy tree was selected to allow unrestrict ed and comprehensive epiphyte sampling. The unassigned individuals, and only 57 taxa could phorophyte (host tree), identified as Pseudol be assigned to named species. Nonetheless, in media mollis Standl. (Moraceae), was ca. 30 m dications are that most, if not all, of the 126 taxa tall with a diameter at breast height (dbh) of 0.64 represent true species. This result reveals an ex m, comparable to other mature trees in the sur ceptional diversity of epiphytes at a reduced spa rounding forest. The trunk (measured from the tial scale (i.e., a single phorophyte). The number ground to the first major ramification) accounted of epiphytic taxa supported by this single tree for ca. 11 m of total height, and the crown (from represents more than 1 % of the entire vascular the first major branch upward) accounted for ca. flora of Costa Rica (Obando 2002). Although 19 m. All vascular epiphytes were collected Costa Rica is an admittedly small country, its from the trunk to facilitate a description of epi unique geographic features have given rise to a phyte diversity, abundance, and density on this variety of habitats that lie in close proximity to portion of the tree. From the crown, represen one another. Flanked by two oceans, the coun tatives of each morphologically distinct taxon try's climate is strongly influenced by oceanic were collected, without consideration of abun winds and currents from the Caribbean and the dance or density because the crown partially Pacific Ocean. Furthermore, the country is bi shattered when the tree fell, precluding accurate sected by three cordilleras (elevations from sea assessment. All collections were sorted and level to 3820 m) with adjacent slopes in differ identified to the lowest possible taxonomic rank. ent orientations. These physical features have Many collections were sterile; therefore, not ev given rise to an unusually large number of dis ery individual could be assigned a species name. tinct habitats, from very dry to very wet, which Such individuals were evaluated relative to other in tum have contributed to extraordinary levels named and un-named individuals to assess of biodiversity. whether or riot they represented unique taxa. Ju The number of species documented by this venile plants, not assignable to a mature collec single-tree study in Costa Rica is considerably tion or not distinct from the other collections, higher than numbers reported in most other sin were excluded from the study. Voucher speci gle-tree epiphyte surveys. Previous investiga mens corresponding to each taxon were depos tions have uncovered up to 41 epiphytic species ited at the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica (CR), on a single tree in Southeast Asia (Went 1940) see ApPENDIX. and up to 45 species on a single tree in Africa SCHUETTPELZ & TRAPNELL: SINGLE-TREE EPIPHYTE DIVERSITY 67 (Biedinger & Fisher 1996). In the neotropics, the species) of the species found growing in both documented numbers are generally higher, but (TABLE 1). At the family level, however, sub only up to 72 species from a single tree in stantial overlap did occur, with 12 of 21 families French Guiana (Freiberg 1999), 107 from a sin found in both the trunk and crown partitions. gle tree in Mexico (Valdivia 1977), and 109 Even so, four families occurred exclusively on from a single tree in Ecuador (Nowicki 1998). the trunk (Begoniaceae, Dryopteridaceae, Marc To date, just one available study has reported a graviaceae, and Urticaceae), and five families higher number of epiphyte species from a single were restricted to the crown (Araliaceae, Clusi tree; Catchpole (2004) found 195 vascular epi aceae, Ericaceae, Oleandraceae, and Rubiaceae). phyte species on an emergent canopy tree in a Other plant families showed biases toward one Peruvian cloud forest. partition or the other of the study tree (e.g., Bro Of the 126 taxa occupying the Costa Rican meliaceae and Orchidaceae tended to be more study tree, angiosperms accounted for 64% (81 prevalent in the crown; APPENDIX). Although species), and leptosporangiate ferns accounted these data from a single tree are based on a qual for 36% (45 species, see TABLE 1). Other vas itative rather than quantitative assessment, they cular plant lineages were not found. The Orchi do support the notion of some degree of within daceae, Araceae, and Lomariopsidaceae were tree niche partitioning. This is consistent with the most species-rich families on the phorophyte the results of earlier studies that have evaluated (with 25, 20, and 15 species, respectively). The the vertical distribution of epiphytes (Johansson remaining families were each represented by ::;8 1974, Gentry & Dodson 1987b, ter Steege & species (ApPENDIX). Orchids and ferns are the Cornelissen 1989, Hietz & Hietz-Seifert 1995b, predominant vascular epiphytes nearly every Freiberg 1996). Because of the general tendency where (Gentry & Dodson 1987b), and this was for epiphytic species to occupy various positions certainly true on the Costa Rican study tree; to within a tree (Hietz & Hietz-Seifert 1995b); gether, orchids and ferns accounted for more however, comprehensive sampling of multiple than half the species observed. On the scale of trees is necessary to identify the true extent and this one phorophyte, however, we found sub precise nature of any niche partitioning. stantial departures from the contributions of Species and plant density were assessed only these taxa on a global scale. Worldwide, orchids for the trunk, since the crown shattered partially compose the most strikingly diverse group of when the tree fell, precluding accurate assess epiphytes (Gentry & Dodson 1987b). More than ment. On the tree trunk, 239 epiphytes belong 70% of orchid species are epiphytic, and these ing to 58 species were collected. This represents account for ca. 60% of all vascular epiphytes a density of ca. three species and 11 individuals ten times as many as any other vascular plant per m2 (based on an estimated surface area of family (Kress 1986). The mere 20% contribution 22 m2 calculated from height and dbh; see Ap of orchids on the study tree represents a signif PENDIX). Ferns occurred at higher individual den icant departure from the global figure, but this sities on the tree trunk than did angiosperms, is consistent with the observation that orchids accounting for 59% of the individuals but only generally occur in low densities in undisturbed 41 % of the species, further supporting the notion tropical forests (Nieder et al. 1999, Koopowitz that ferns occur at higher densities in forests 2001). Orchids are generally rare, and sampling than do other epiphytes. Only six taxa were rep on the scale of a single tree is unlikely to ac resented by 2::10 individuals on the trunk: five curately reflect their forest-wide species rich ferns (Asplenium auriculatum, Asplenium pter ness; therefore, larger scale surveys are needed. opus, Campyloneurum sphenodes, Elaphoglos Worldwide, ferns account for more than 10% of sum erinaceum, and Pecluma sp. 1) and one an the epiphyte species (Kress 1986); however, on giosperm (Pilea diversissima; ApPENDIX). our study tree, they comprised 36% (45 species) of the epiphytic species. Although skewed, these CONCLUSION numbers are in agreement with reports that epi phytic ferns are more evenly distributed and thus The results presented here reveal an extraor contribute more dramatically to species diversity dinary level of epiphyte diversity on a single at smaller spatial scales (Nadkarni 1985, Hietz phorophyte and further underscore the signifi & Hietz-Seifert 1995a, Nieder et al. 1999). cant contributions of epiphytes to overall bio A comparison of epiphytes sampled from the diversity levels. Although the study observations two partitions of the phorophyte revealed that were limited to one tree, the small-scale patterns the trunk harbored considerably fewer species observed in many ways echoed the small- and (58 species) than did the crown (85 species; TA even large-scale patterns documented in earlier BLE 1). Little species overlap occurred between studies. The geographic distribution of epiphytic these two regions of the tree, with only 13% (17 diversity, however, is still not fully understood. 68 SELBYANA Volume 27(1) 2006 Clearly environmental moisture and altitude Hietz, P. and U. Hietz-Seifert. 1995a. Intra- and inter both play key roles (Gentry & Dodson 1987a, specific relations within an epiphyte community in a Mexican humid montane forest. Selbyana 16: 1987b; Ibisch et al. 1996; Nieder et al. 1999), 135-140. but just how closely the distribution of epiphytic --~. 1995b. Structure and ecology of epiphyte diversity mirrors that of more commonly sam communities of a cloud forest in central Veracruz. pled woody terrestrial taxa remains to be seen. Mexico. J. Veg. Sci. 6: 719-728. For now, accurate appraisals of biodiversity and Hosokawa, T. 1950. Epiphyte-quotient. Bot. Mag. (To effective conservation policy decisions in these kyo) 63: 18-19. times of increasing habitat disturbance and de Ibisch P., A. Boegner, J. Nieder, and W. Barthlott. struction mandate the inclusion of epiphytes in 1996. How diverse are neotropical epiphytes? An analysis based on the Catalogue of the Flowering biodiversity surveys. Plants and Gymnosperms of Peru. Ecotropica 2: 13-28. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Johansson, D.R. 1974. Ecology of the vascular epi phytes of West African rainforest. Acta Phyto This survey was conducted as part of an Or geogr. Suec. 59: 1-129. Kelly, D.L., E.Y.J. Tanner, E.M. Nic Lughadha, and Y. ganization for Tropical Studies course in Tropi Kapos. 1994. Floristics and biogeography of a rain cal Plant Systematics COTS 2002-9). We thank forest in the Venezuelan Andes. J. Biogeogr. 21: Mario Blanco, Brad Boyle, Bill Haber, Robbin 421-440. Moran, Orlando Vargas, and Willow Zuchowski Koopowitz, H. 200t. Orchids and Their Conservation. for their assistance in the identification of largely Timber Press, Portland, Ore. sterile plant material. We also thank Jim Ham Kress, W.J. 1986. The systematic distribution of vas rick, Peter Hietz, Frans;ois Lutzoni, Kathleen cular epiphytes: an update. Selbyana 9: 2-22. Pryer, Rachel Spigler, and Donald Stone for Madison, M. 1977. Vascular epiphytes: their system atic occurrence and salient features. Selbyana 2: helpful advice and comments on earlier versions 1-13. of this manuscript. Financial assistance was pro M011er J0rgensen, P. and S. Le6n-Yanez, eds. 1999. vided by the Organization for Tropical Studies, Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Ecuador. Mis Duke University, and the University of Georgia. souri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis. Nadkarni, N.M. 1985. An ecological overview and checklist of vascular epiphytes in the Monteverde LITERATURE CITED Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica. Brenesia 24: 55-62. Barthlott, W., V. Schmit-Neuerburg, J. Nieder, and S. Nieder, J., S. Engwald, and W. Barthlott. 1999. Pat Engwald. 2001. Diversity and abundance of vas terns of neotropical epiphyte diversity. Selbyana cular epiphytes: a comparison of secondary veg 20: 66-75. etation and primary montane rain forest in the Ve Nieder, J., J. Prosperi, and G. Michaloud. 2001. Epi nezuelan Andes. PI. Eco!. 152: 145-156. phytes and their contribution to canopy diversity. Biedinger, N. and E. Fischer. 1996. Epiphytic vegeta PI. Ecol. 153: 51-63. tion and ecology in Central African forests Nowicki, C. 1998. "Diversitat epiphytischer und ter (Rwanda, Zaire). Ecotropica 2: 121-142. restrischer Pflanzen eines ecuadorianischen Berg Catchpole, D.J. 2004. "The ecology of vascular epi nebelwaldes im Vergleich." Diploma thesis, Bo phytes on a Ficus L. host (Moraceae) in a Peru tanisches Institut, Universitat Bonn, Germany. vian cloud forest." Honors thesis, School of Ge Obando, Y. 2002. Biodiversidad en Costa Rica: Estado ography & Environmental Studies, University of del Conocimiento y Gesti6n. Instituto Nacional de Tasmania, Australia. Biodiversidad, Santo Domingo de Heredia. Dressler, R.L. 1981. The Orchids: Natural History and Richards, P.W. 1957. The Tropical Rain Forest. Cam Classification. Harvard University Press, Cam bridge University Press. Cambridge, UK. bridge, Mass. Schimper, A.F.W. 1888. Die epiphytische Vegetation Freiberg, M. 1996. Spatial distribution of vascular epi Amerikas. Botanische Mitteilungen aus den Tro phytes on three emergent canopy trees in French pen, Heft 2. G. Fischer, Jena. Guiana. Biotropica 28: 345-355. ter Steege, H. and J.H.C. Cornelissen. 1989. Distri --~. 1999. The vascular epiphytes on a Virola bution and ecology of vascular epiphytes in low michelii tree (Myristicaceae) in French Guiana. land rain forest of Guyana. Biotropica 21: 331- Ecotropica 5: 75-81. 339. Gentry, A.H. and C.H. Dodson. 1987a. Contribution Valdivia, P.E. 1977. Estudio botanico y eco16gico de of nontrees to species richness of a tropical rain la regi6n del Rio Uxpanapa, Veracruz. No.4: Las forest. Biotropica 19: 149-156. Epffitas. Biotica 2: 55-81. --~. 1987b. Diversity and biogeography of neo Went, F.W. 1940. Soziologie der epiphyten eines tro tropical vascular epiphytes. Ann. Missouri Bot. pis chen Urwaldes. Ann. Jard. Bot. Buitenzorg 50: Gard. 74: 205-233. 1-98. SCHUETTPELZ & TRAPNELL: SINGLE-TREE EPIPHYTE DIVERSITY 69 ApPENDIX. Spatial distributions of vascular epiphyte species collected from a single canopy tree in a Costa Rican tropical premontane wet forest. Taxon Trunk Crown Voucher Angiosperms Araceae Anthurium sp. 1 + 106 Anthurium sp. 2 + 107 Anthurium sp. 3 + 108 Anthurium sp. 4 + 109 Anthurium sp. 5 + 110 Anthurium sp. 6 1 111 Anthurium sp. 7 2 112 Anthurium sp. 8 3 113 Monstera sp. 1 1 105 Philodendron sp. 1 5 114 Philodendron sp. 2 1 115 Philodendron sp. 3 1 116 Philodendron sp. 4 1 + 117 Philodendron sp. 5 2 118 Philodendron sp. 6 7 119 Philodendron sp. 7 + 120 Philodendron sp. 8 + 121 Philodendron sp. 9 + 122 Stenospermation sp. + 103 Stenospermation sp. 2 + 104 Araliaceae Schejjlera sp. 1 + 81 Begoniaceae Begonia sp. 1 1 74 Begonia sp. 2 4 75 Bromeliaceae Guzmania sp. 1 4 + 95 Guzmania sp. 2 + 96 Pitcairnia sp. 1 + 100 Tillandsia sp. 1 + 98 Vriesia sp. 1 + 97 Vriesia sp. 2 + 99 Indetermined sp. 1 + Clusiaceae Indet. sp. 1 + 76 Ericaceae Cavendishia complectens Hemsl. + 77 Indet. sp. 1 + 78 Indet. sp. 2 + 79 Indet. sp. 3 + 80 Gesneriaceae Columnea cf. microphylla Klotzsch & Hanst. ex Oer + 92 Drymonia sp. 1 93 Indet. sp. 1 + 94 Marcgraviaceae Marcgravia sp. 1 73 Melastomataceae Blakea litoralis L.O.Williams 7 + 69 Blakea sp. 1 1 71 Blakea sp. 2 1 + 72 Centradenia inaequilateralis (Schltdl. & Cham.) G.Don 2 70 Orchidaceae Chondrorhyncha reichenbachiana Schltr. 2 58 Dichaea sp. 1 1 60 Elleanthus cf. caricoides Nash + 44 Elleanthus cf. lentii Barringer + 45 Elleanthus sp. 1 + 50 70 SELBYANA Volume 27(1) 2006 APPENDIX. Continued. Taxon Trunk Crown Voucher Epidendrum sp. 1 + 56 Epidendrum sp. 2 + Malaxis sp. 1 62 Masdevallia nidifica Rchb. f. + 101 Maxillaria brunnea Linden & Rchb. f. + 49 Maxillaria cf bradeorum (Schltr.) L.O.WilIiams + 46 Maxillaria confusa Ames & C.Schweinf. + 48 Maxillaria fulgens (Rchb. f.) L.O.WilIiams + 43 Maxillaria reichenheimiana Rchb. f. + 47 Pleurothallis sp. 1 + 55 Prosthechea cf. pygmaea (Hook.) W.E.Higgins + 40 Prosthechea vespa (Vell.) W.E.Higgins + 39 Scaphyglottis sp. 1 + 61 Sobralia sp. 1 + . Stelis sp. 1 + 52 Stelis sp. 2 + 53 Stelis sp. 3 + 51 Stelis sp. 4 + 42 Stelis sp. 5 + 41 Stelis sp. 6 + 102 Piperaceae Peperomia sp. 1 3 86 Peperomia sp. 2 8 87 Peperomia sp. 3 1 88 Peperomia sp. 4 5 + 89 Peperomia sp. 5 + 90 Peperomia sp. 6 2 91 Sarcorachis naranjoana (C. DC.) Trel. + 85 Rubiaceae Cosmibuena sp. 1 + 82 Urticaceae Pilea diversissima Killip 20 83 Pilea ptericlada Donn.Sm. 4 84 Indet. Indet. sp. 1 + 123 lndet. sp. 2 + 124 lndet. sp. 3 + 125 Ferns Aspleniaceae Asplenium auriculatum Sw. 22 126 Asplenium cuspidatum Lam. 1 + 17 Asplenium maxonii Lellinger + 37 Asplenium pteropus Kaulf. 14 127 Asplenium serra Langsd. & Fisch. + 38 Dryopteridaceae Dryopteris patula (Sw.) Underw. 1 131 Polybotrya alfredii Brade 2 132 Grammitidaceae Enterosora trifurcata (L.) L.E.Bishop + 19 Melpomene anfractuosa (Kunze ex Klotzsch) A.R.Sm. & 3 133 R.C.Moran Micropolypodium cf. taenifolium (Jenman) A.R.Sm. + 35 Terpsichore alsopteris (C.Y.Morton) A.R.Sm. + 36 Hymenophyllaceae Hymenophyllumfucoides (Sw.) Sw. + 143 Hymenophyllum polyanthos (Sw.) Sw. + 145 Hymenophyllum saenzianum L.D.Gomez + 144 Trichomanes cf. reptans Sw. 4 140 Trichomanes collariatum Bosch 1 141 Trichomanes diaphanum Kunth 1 + 142 Trichomanes sp. 1 3 146 SCHUETTPELZ & TRAPNELL: SINGLE-1REE EPIPHYTE DIVERSITY 71 APPENDIX. Continued. Taxon Trunk Crown Voucher Lomariopsidaceae Elaphoglossum auripilum H.Christ + 31 Elaphoglossum cf. latifolium (Sw.) J.Sm. 2 129 Elaphoglossum cf. smithii (Baker) H.Christ + 27 Elaphoglossum ciliatum T.Moore + 26 Elaphoglossum doanense Gomez 4 + 33 Elaphoglossum erinaceum (Fee) T.Moore 11 + 29 Elaphoglossum grayumii Mickel 3 128 Elaphoglossum lanceiforme Mickel + 28 Elaphoglossum lingua (C.Presl) Brack. + 24 Elaphoglossum palmense H.Christ + 25 Elaphoglossum peltatum (Sw.) Urb. + 32 Elaphoglossum phoras Mickel 1 130 Elaphoglossum setosum (Libem.) T.Moore 2 + 30 Elaphoglossum sp. 1 + 23 Elaphoglossum sp. 2 + 22 Oleandraceae Nephrolepis pectinata (Willd.) Schott + 34 Polypodiaceae Campyloneurum angustifolium (Sw.) Fee 1 134 Campyloneurum sphenodes (Kunze ex Klotzsch) Fee 16 + 20 Niphidium sp. 1 + Pecluma sp. 1 41 + 147 Pleopeltis sp. 1 1 138 Polypodium dissimile L. 1 137 Polypodium dulce Poir. 1 136 Polypodium fraxinifolium Jacq. + 15 Vittariaceae Polytaenium cajenense (Desv.) Benedict 1 139 Scoliosorus ensiforme (Hook.) T.Moore 4 135 Vittaria remota Fee + 18 Note: Taxonomy follows that of the Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INBio), Costa Rica (http:// www.inbio.ac.cr/). Integers indicate presence of epiphytes on the trunk and refer to the number of individuals collected; + = presence in the crown; - = absence. Voucher nUIllbers are E. Schuettpelz collection numbers (- = no voucher); voucher specimens are deposited at the Museo Nacional de Costa Rica (CR).