Abundance and cover of ground herbs in an Amazonian rain forest

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Abstract
In a 1‐ha plot in an unflooded moist tropical forest in Reserva de Producción Faunística Cuy abeno in Amazonian Ecuador, 96 species of vascular herbaceous plants were found rooted in the ground; they were all perennials; 25 species were pteridophytes, representing 11 families, 71 species (14 families) were angiosperms. Araceae, Marantaceae, and Poaceae were the most important angiosperm families. The total abundance of the ground herbs was 10 960 individuals, the total cover was 250 m2, or 2.5% of the 1‐ha plot.Species of ground herbs exhibit two major life‐form strategies: the obligate terrestrial species (59%) are restricted to the ground; the facultative terrestrial species (41 %) have climbing and epiphytic individuals as well. Difference in life‐form strategy as well as difference in edaphic specialization along a topographic gradient are two factors that may enhance the number of coexisting species within the 1‐ha sample plot.