BIOGEOGRAPHY OF RUST FUNGI IN TIBETAN EAST HIMALAYA

The rust flora of Tibetan East Himalaya belongs to the holarctic rust flora and has a close affinity to the Sino-Japan rust flora. It consis ts of 14 geographical elements and the eastern Asian element has the h ighest percentage. The rust flora is mainly derived from the Laurasian rust flora but intermixed with Gondwana elements to a certain extent. The plentiful endemic species suggest that East Himalaya is an import ant center of speciation and differentiation of rust fungi. Yet, the l ack of endemic genera indicates that the rust flora might be regarded as a new one.