Biogeography of the tropical alpine flora of South and Central America, the paramo flora, has been studied by dividing genera into tropical, temperate, and cosmopolitan chorological flora elements. Published molecular phylogenies of paramo genera are reviewed to summarize knowledge about evolutionary history of the paramo flora and to assess congruence between chorological and phylogenetic approaches. Molecular phylogenies suggest that both the tropical and temperate regions have been important source areas for evolution of the paramo flora. Conclusions derived from chorological patterns regarding origin of genera in paramo are mostly supported by phylogenetic data. Nevertheless, in Chuquiraga, Halenia, Huperzia, and Perezia the chorological scenario is rejected, and in Chusquea-Neurolepis, Elaphoglossum, Gunnera, Halenia, Jamesonia-Eriosorus, and Lasiocephalus independent colonization events from one or several source areas are suggested. Tropical and temperate genera contributed equally to modern species richness of the paramo flora. Among temperate genera, the northern hemisphere genera gave rise to more species in paramo than did genera from the southern hemisphere. So far, no unequivocal evidence has been provided for migration of paramo genera to the temperate zones. Keywords Andes * Austral-Antarctic * Biogeography * Diversity * Holarctic * Plant migration * Tropical alpine