**1. Introduction**

*Endemics* are species with a geographic distribution limited to a single area (local, regional, national, or continental), regardless of the size of the area. Species that live in a narrow geographical area are commonly called *rare* species. If a species lives in a single and narrow geographic area, it is a

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rare endemic species and could be especially vulnerable. Rare endemic species that live in insular territories are especially prone to extinction. In this chapter, we consider endemics as those grass species restricted to Chile, comprising both continental and insular territories [1]. In Chile, a high percentage of the fauna and flora is endemic; on average, nearly 25% of the species are endemic. Some groups harbor a high percentage of endemic taxa: amphibians (65%), reptiles (63%), fishes (55%), and vascular plants (nearly 50%) [2]. Endemic species are of great biological importance because they provide unique genetic diversity [3]. In this chapter, we provide an updated list of the species of the family Poaceae endemic to Chile, based on the study of herbarium specimens and all available taxonomic literature.

Biobío (36°S). It is interesting to note that most of the species occur along the Chilean hotspot of biodiversity, mainly in the Mediterranean region of the hotspot (23–38°S). Moreover, this inter‐ esting area is the most populated zone of the country with a high degree of urbanization, agricul‐ ture, industrial activities, and forestry [7]. The number of endemic species in the northernmost regions (Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá, Atacama) is fairly low as well as in the southernmost regions (Aysen, Magallanes). The same occurs in insular Chile. The Juan Fernández Archipelago contains seven species endemic to Chile, Easter Island two species, and Desventuradas Island only one species (**Figure 1**). The species more widely distributed are *Phalaris amethystina* (nine regions including Juan Fernández Island), *Melica violacea* (eight regions), and *Danthonia malacan‐ tha* (eight regions including Juan Fernández Island). Local endemic species are *Agrostis insu‐ laris* (Chiloé Island, Los Lagos), *A. masafuerana* (Masafuera, Juan Fernández Island), *Alopecurus lechleri* (Los Ríos Region), *Bromus burkartii* (Araucanía Region), *Chusquea fernandeziana* (Juan Fernández Island), *Eragrostis kuschelii* (Desventuradas Islands), *E. pycnantha* (Atacama Region), *Imperata parodii* (Araucanía Region), *Megalachne berteroana* and *M. masafuerana* (Juan Fernández Island), *Melica poecilantha* (Coquimbo Region), *Nassella coquimbensis* (Coquimbo Region),

Endemic Species of the Family Poaceae in Chile: Taxonomy, Distribution, and Conservation

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.68973

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**Figure 1.** Number of endemic species in the 15 political regions of Chile.
