The species are arranged in alphabetical order by families. For each species there is its scientific name (Latin binomial and author), the family, a description and distribution, and a photograph taken in CNP. The scientific name has a link to the TROPICOS database where addition information on the species and specimens can be found. The descriptions are short and present a summary description of the plant with the most important information for its identification and differentiation. The description is generally divided into five parts: the life form and its maximum height; the leaves with their arrangement on the stem, the shape, maximum length, the margins, etc.; the inflorescences that are the arrangement of flowers; the flowers with their size, shape and color, occasionally are mentioned the stamens and pistils if they are showy; and finally, for some species, there are notes about the fruits. Although an effort has been made to use a very simple vocabulary, without losing the scientific rigor, sometimes, technical words were used and can be consulted in the glossary. Although the descriptions present the maximum measurements of the various parts of the plant, the user does not have to take them strictly since natural variation exists. The descriptions were based on plant material collected in CNP. Below the formal plant description is a paragraph on the general distribution of the species by countries. It is also here noted if the plant is endemic to Ecuador or if it is a narrow endemic restricted to CNP. The next sentence describes briefly the distribution within the Park's páramo environment.

©C. Ulloa Ulloa & P.M. Jørgensen, photographs.