How many known vascular plant species are there in the world? An integration of multiple global plant databases

doi:10.17520/biods.2022254

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims: Despite that vascular plants constitute an important component of overall global biodiversity and have been studied well over two centuries, the questions of “How many species of vascular plants are there in the world and how many of them have been discovered and described?” remain open. Here, we address the second of the two questions.
Method: We synthesized four global plant databases.
Results & Conclusions: Our study shows that for the entire global flora of vascular plants (including natural hybrids), 376,366 species have been discovered and validly described. When natural hybrids are excluded, the global flora includes 369,054 species of vascular plant species, of which pteridophytes (ferns and lycophytes), gymnosperms and angiosperms have 13,810, 1,172 and 354,072 species, respectively. The number of vascular plant species derived from our study is larger than any of the other four databases by at least 17,700 species.

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/fileup/PDF/2022254-1.pdf

Key words: angiosperm, flowering plant, gymnosperm, lycophyte, pteridophyte, species diversity

Hong Qian, Jian Zhang, Jingchao Zhao. How many known vascular plant species are there in the world? An integration of multiple global plant databases[J]. Biodiv Sci, 2022, 30(7): 22254.

Add to citation manager EndNote|Ris|BibTeX

URL: https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/10.17520/biods.2022254

https://www.biodiversity-science.net/EN/Y2022/V30/I7/22254

Figures/Tables 1

References 13

[1]	Borsch T, Berendsohn W, Dalcin E, Delmas M, Demissew S, Elliott A, Fritsch P, Fuchs A, Geltman D, Güner A, Haevermans T, Knapp S, Roux MM, Loizeau PA, Miller C, Miller J, Miller JT, Palese R, Paton A, Parnell J, Pendry C, Qin HN, Sosa V, Sosef M, Raab-Straube E, Ranwashe F, Raz L, Salimov R, Smets E, Thiers B, Thomas W, Tulig M, Ulate W, Ung V, Watson M, Jackson PW, Zamora N (2020) World Flora Online: Placing taxonomists at the heart of a definitive and comprehensive global resource on the world's plants. Taxon, 69, 1311-1341. DOI URL
[2]	Angiosperm Phylogeny Group(2016) An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG IV. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 181, 1-20. DOI URL
[3]	Cayuela L, Granzow-de la Cerda Í, Albuquerque FS, Golicher DJ (2012) Taxonstand: An R package for species names standardisation in vegetation databases. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 3, 1078-1083. DOI URL
[4]	Cheek M, Nic Lughadha E, Kirk P, Lindon H, Carretero J, Looney B, Douglas B, Haelewaters D, Gaya E, Llewellyn T, Ainsworth AM, Gafforov Y, Hyde K, Crous P, Hughes M, Walker BE, Campostrini Forzza R, Wong KM, Niskanen T (2020) New scientific discoveries: Plants and fungi. Plants, People, Planet, 2, 371-388. DOI URL
[5]	Christenhusz MJM, Byng JW (2016) The number of known plants species in the world and its annual increase. Phytotaxa, 261, 201. DOI URL
[6]	Freiberg M, Winter M, Gentile A, Zizka A, Muellner-Riehl AN, Weigelt A, Wirth C (2020) LCVP, The Leipzig catalogue of vascular plants, a new taxonomic reference list for all known vascular plants. Scientific Data, 7, 416. DOI PMID
[7]	Hassler M (2019) World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World (version Nov. 2018). In: Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. 2019 Annual Checklist (eds Roskov Y, Ower G, Orrell T, Nicolson D, Bailly N, Kirk PM, Bourgoin T, DeWalt RE, Decock W, Nieukerken E van, Zarucchi J, Penev L), http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2019/details/species/id/327754a53d1d6be643f32eedfc8a2958.
[8]	Gardens R Kew (2016) The State of the World’s Plants Report 2016. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
[9]	Kindt R (2020) WorldFlora: An R package for exact and fuzzy matching of plant names against the World Flora Online taxonomic backbone data. Applications in Plant Sciences, 8, e11388.
[10]	Lughadha EN, Govaerts R, Belyaeva I, Black N, Lindon H, Allkin R, Magill RE, Nicolson N (2016) Counting counts: Revised estimates of numbers of accepted species of flowering plants, seed plants, vascular plants and land plants with a review of other recent estimates. Phytotaxa, 272, 82. DOI URL
[11]	Paton A, Brummitt N, Govaerts R, Harman K, Hinchcliffe S, Allkin R, Nic Lughadha E, Puentes F (2008) Towards Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation: A working list of all known plant species-Progress and prospects. Taxon, 57, 602-611.
[12]	Pimm SL, Joppa LN (2015) How many plant species are there, where are they, and at what rate are they going extinct? Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 100, 170-176. DOI URL
[13]	Schuettpelz E, Schneider H, Smith AR, Hovenkamp P, Prado J, Rouhan G, Salino A, Sundue M, Almeida TE, Parris B, Sessa EB, Field AR, de Gasper AL, Rothfels CJ, Windham MD, Lehnert M, Dauphin B, Ebihara A, Lehtonen S, Schwartsburd PB, Metzgar J, Zhang LB, Kuo LY, Brownsey PJ, Kato M, Arana MD, Assis FC, Barker MS, Barrington DS, Chang HM, Chang YH, Chao YS, Chen CW, Chen DK, Chiou WL, Dittrich VAD, Duan YF, Dubuisson JY, Farrar DR, Fawcett S, Galan JMGY, Goes-Neto LAD, Grant JR, Grusz AL, Haufler C, Hauk W, He H, Hennequin S, Hirai RY, Huiet L, Kessler M, Korall P, Labiak PH, Larsson A, Leon B, Li CX, Li FW, Link-Perez M, Liu HM, Lu NT, Meza-Torres EI, Miao XY, Moran R, Mynssen CM, Nagalingum N, Ollgaard B, Paul AM, Pereira JBD, Perrie LR, Ponce M, Ranker TA, Schulz C, Shinohara W, Shmakov A, Sigel EM, de Souza FS, Sylvestre LD, Testo W, Triana-Moreno LA, Tsutsumi C, Tuomisto H, Valdespino IA, Vasco A, Viveros RS, Weakley A, Wei R, Weststrand S, Wolf PG, Yatskievych G, Xu XG, Yan YH, Zhang L, Zhang XC, Zhou XM (2016) A community- derived classification for extant lycophytes and ferns. Journal of Systematics and Evolution, 54, 563-603. DOI URL

目 Order	物种数量 Number of species		目 Order	物种数量 Number of species
目 Order	包括杂交种 Incl. hybrid	排除杂交种 Excl. hybrid	目 Order	包括杂交种 Incl. hybrid	排除杂交种 Excl. hybrid
蕨类植物 Pteridophyte			缨子木目 Crossosomatales	77	77
桫椤目 Cyatheales	793	782	葫芦目 Cucurbitales	3,232	3,215
木贼目 Equisetales	45	35	五桠果目 Dilleniales	567	567
里白目 Gleicheniales	177	173	薯蓣目 Dioscoreales	909	907
膜蕨目 Hymenophyllales	637	634	川续断目 Dipsacales	1,471	1,432
水韭目 Isoetales	208	203	杜鹃花目 Ericales	14,638	14,445
石松目 Lycopodiales	522	513	南鼠刺目 Escalloniales	154	147
合囊蕨目 Marattiales	151	151	豆目 Fabales	26,412	26,301
瓶尔小草目 Ophioglossales	132	128	壳斗目 Fagales	1,670	1,435
紫萁目 Osmundales	26	24	丝缨花目 Garryales	27	27
水龙骨目 Polypodiales	10,560	10,123	龙胆目 Gentianales	23,687	23,600
松叶蕨目 Psilotales	19	19	牻牛儿苗目 Geraniales	953	934
槐叶蘋目 Salviniales	82	81	大叶草目 Gunnerales	67	66
莎草蕨目 Schizaeales	224	213	腺椒树目 Huerteales	30	30
卷柏目 Selaginellales	731	731	茶茱萸目 Icacinales	187	187
裸子植物 Gymnosperm			唇形目 Lamiales	29,365	28,447
柏目 Cupressales	458	441	樟目 Laurales	3,955	3,954
苏铁目 Cycadales	376	375	百合目 Liliales	1,897	1,876
银杏目 Ginkgoales	1	1	木兰目 Magnoliales	3,565	3,542
买麻藤目 Gnetales	120	117	金虎尾目 Malpighiales	20,197	19,749
松目 Pinales	262	238	锦葵目 Malvales	7,770	7,605
被子植物 Angiosperm			水螅花目 Metteniusales	66	66
菖蒲目 Acorales	2	2	桃金娘目 Myrtales	15,400	15,203
泽泻目 Alismatales	4,832	4,729	睡莲目 Nymphaeales	109	101
无油樟目 Amborellales	1	1	酢浆草目 Oxalidales	2,164	2,160
伞形目 Apiales	6,400	6,377	露兜树目 Pandanales	1,699	1,698
冬青目 Aquifoliales	770	766	盔被花目 Paracryphiales	42	42
棕榈目 Arecales	2,814	2,784	无叶莲目 Petrosaviales	4	4
天门冬目 Asparagales	42,236	40,736	苦榄木目 Picramniales	57	57
菊目 Asterales	41,868	41,459	胡椒目 Piperales	4,512	4,512
木兰藤目 Austrobaileyales	91	91	禾本目 Poales	25,379	24,667
红珊藤目 Berberidopsidales	4	4	山龙眼目 Proteales	2,085	2,080
紫草目 Boraginales	3,711	3,674	毛茛目 Ranunculales	6,328	6,207
十字花目 Brassicales	5,502	5,393	蔷薇目 Rosales	11,985	11,428
绒球花目 Bruniales	90	90	檀香目 Santalales	2,636	2,632
黄杨目 Buxales	135	135	无患子目 Sapindales	7,071	7,036
白樟目 Canellales	129	129	虎耳草目 Saxifragales	3,359	3,134
石竹目 Caryophyllales	15,362	15,020	茄目 Solanales	5,493	5,469
卫矛目 Celastrales	1,437	1,437	昆栏树目 Trochodendrales	2	2
金鱼藻目 Ceratophyllales	7	7	黄漆姑目 Vahliales	5	5
金粟兰目 Chloranthales	75	75	葡萄目 Vitales	1,105	1,101
鸭跖草目 Commelinales	959	956	姜目 Zingiberales	2,999	2,986
山茱萸目 Cornales	744	731	蒺藜目 Zygophyllales	343	343

目 Order	物种数量 Number of species		目 Order	物种数量 Number of species
目 Order	包括杂交种 Incl. hybrid	排除杂交种 Excl. hybrid	目 Order	包括杂交种 Incl. hybrid	排除杂交种 Excl. hybrid
蕨类植物 Pteridophyte			缨子木目 Crossosomatales	77	77
桫椤目 Cyatheales	793	782	葫芦目 Cucurbitales	3,232	3,215
木贼目 Equisetales	45	35	五桠果目 Dilleniales	567	567
里白目 Gleicheniales	177	173	薯蓣目 Dioscoreales	909	907
膜蕨目 Hymenophyllales	637	634	川续断目 Dipsacales	1,471	1,432
水韭目 Isoetales	208	203	杜鹃花目 Ericales	14,638	14,445
石松目 Lycopodiales	522	513	南鼠刺目 Escalloniales	154	147
合囊蕨目 Marattiales	151	151	豆目 Fabales	26,412	26,301
瓶尔小草目 Ophioglossales	132	128	壳斗目 Fagales	1,670	1,435
紫萁目 Osmundales	26	24	丝缨花目 Garryales	27	27
水龙骨目 Polypodiales	10,560	10,123	龙胆目 Gentianales	23,687	23,600
松叶蕨目 Psilotales	19	19	牻牛儿苗目 Geraniales	953	934
槐叶蘋目 Salviniales	82	81	大叶草目 Gunnerales	67	66
莎草蕨目 Schizaeales	224	213	腺椒树目 Huerteales	30	30
卷柏目 Selaginellales	731	731	茶茱萸目 Icacinales	187	187
裸子植物 Gymnosperm			唇形目 Lamiales	29,365	28,447
柏目 Cupressales	458	441	樟目 Laurales	3,955	3,954
苏铁目 Cycadales	376	375	百合目 Liliales	1,897	1,876
银杏目 Ginkgoales	1	1	木兰目 Magnoliales	3,565	3,542
买麻藤目 Gnetales	120	117	金虎尾目 Malpighiales	20,197	19,749
松目 Pinales	262	238	锦葵目 Malvales	7,770	7,605
被子植物 Angiosperm			水螅花目 Metteniusales	66	66
菖蒲目 Acorales	2	2	桃金娘目 Myrtales	15,400	15,203
泽泻目 Alismatales	4,832	4,729	睡莲目 Nymphaeales	109	101
无油樟目 Amborellales	1	1	酢浆草目 Oxalidales	2,164	2,160
伞形目 Apiales	6,400	6,377	露兜树目 Pandanales	1,699	1,698
冬青目 Aquifoliales	770	766	盔被花目 Paracryphiales	42	42
棕榈目 Arecales	2,814	2,784	无叶莲目 Petrosaviales	4	4
天门冬目 Asparagales	42,236	40,736	苦榄木目 Picramniales	57	57
菊目 Asterales	41,868	41,459	胡椒目 Piperales	4,512	4,512
木兰藤目 Austrobaileyales	91	91	禾本目 Poales	25,379	24,667
红珊藤目 Berberidopsidales	4	4	山龙眼目 Proteales	2,085	2,080
紫草目 Boraginales	3,711	3,674	毛茛目 Ranunculales	6,328	6,207
十字花目 Brassicales	5,502	5,393	蔷薇目 Rosales	11,985	11,428
绒球花目 Bruniales	90	90	檀香目 Santalales	2,636	2,632
黄杨目 Buxales	135	135	无患子目 Sapindales	7,071	7,036
白樟目 Canellales	129	129	虎耳草目 Saxifragales	3,359	3,134
石竹目 Caryophyllales	15,362	15,020	茄目 Solanales	5,493	5,469
卫矛目 Celastrales	1,437	1,437	昆栏树目 Trochodendrales	2	2
金鱼藻目 Ceratophyllales	7	7	黄漆姑目 Vahliales	5	5
金粟兰目 Chloranthales	75	75	葡萄目 Vitales	1,105	1,101
鸭跖草目 Commelinales	959	956	姜目 Zingiberales	2,999	2,986
山茱萸目 Cornales	744	731	蒺藜目 Zygophyllales	343	343

[1]	Xiao-Qing Wu Meihui Zhang Suting Ge Manshu Li Kun Song Guochun Shen Jian Zhang. Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Woody Plant Species Diversity and Aboveground Biomass during Near-Natural Forest Reconstruction in Shanghai: A Case Study from the Eco-Island in Minhang District [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(5): 24444-.
[2]	Tai Wang, Fujun Song, Yongsheng Zhang, Zhongyu Lou, Yanping Zhang, Yanyan Du. Fish diversity and resource status in interior drainage systems of Hexi Corridor [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(4): 24387-.
[3]	Jingjing Zhang, Wenbin Huang, Yiting Chen, Zepeng Yang, Weiye Ke, Zhaojie Peng, Shichao Wei, Zhiwei Zhang, Yisi Hu, Wenhua Yu, Wenliang Zhou. Reef-building coral diversity and distribution characteristics in the National Nature Reserve for Marine Ecology of Guangdong Nanpeng Islands [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(4): 24424-.
[4]	Shang Huadan, Zhang Chuqing, Wang Mei, Pei Wenya, Li Guohong, Wang Hongbin. Species diversity and geographic distribution of poplar pests in China [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(2): 24370-.
[5]	Wu Yuxuan, Wang Ping, Hu Xiaosheng, Ding Yi, Peng Tiantian, Zhi Qiuying, Bademu Qiqige, Li Wenjie, Guan Xiao, Li Junsheng. Evaluation of grassland degradation status and vegetation characteristics changes in Hulunbuir [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(2): 24118-.
[6]	Zihong Chen, Yifei Zhang, Kai Chen, Jianying Chen, Ling Xu. Species diversity of entomopathogenic fungi and the influencing factors in the Southern Gaoligong Mountains [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(1): 24228-.
[7]	Ke Tan, Yao Ning, Renfen Wang, Qing Wang, Danping Liang, Zibing Xin, Fang Wen. A dataset on the checklist and geographical distribution of Gesneriaceae in China [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2025, 33(1): 23275-.
[8]	Jianan Han, Yang Su, Fei Li, Junyan Liu, Yilin Zhao, Lin Li, Jiancheng Zhao, Hongzhu Liang, Min Li. Bryophytes diversity of Hebei Province, China [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2024, 32(9): 24096-.
[9]	Hongyu Niu, Lu Chen, Hengyue Zhao, Gulzar Abdukirim, Hongmao Zhang. Effects of urbanization on animals: From community to individual level [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2024, 32(8): 23489-.
[10]	Xue Bai, Zhengfei Li, Yang Liu, Junqian Zhang, Duopeng Zhang, Xin Luo, Jiali Yang, Lina Du, Xuankong Jiang, Ruiwen Wu, Zhicai Xie. Species diversity and maintenance mechanisms of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Xijiang River [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2024, 32(7): 23499-.
[11]	Jia Xu, Xiaojuan Cui, Yifei Zhang, Chang Wu, Yuandong Sun. Fish diversity and distribution in the Nanling region [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2024, 32(7): 23482-.
[12]	Hua He, Dunyan Tan, Xiaochen Yang. Cryptic dioecy in angiosperms: Diversity, phylogeny and evolutionary significance [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2024, 32(6): 24149-.
[13]	Qiyu Kuang, Liang Hu. Species diversity and geographical distribution of marine benthic shell-bearing mollusks around Donghai Island and Naozhou Island, Guangdong Province [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2024, 32(5): 24065-.
[14]	Yongqiang Zhao, Xiyu Yan, Jiaqi Xie, Mengting Hou, Danmei Chen, Lipeng Zang, Qingfu Liu, Mingzhen Sui, Guangqi Zhang. Species diversity and community assembly of woody plants at different life history stages during the natural restoration of degraded karst forests [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2024, 32(5): 23462-.
[15]	Weiqiang Xu, Qiang Su. Exploring the interplay of fractal model and species abundance distribution: A case study of shellfish and insect [J]. Biodiv Sci, 2024, 32(4): 23410-.