Abies guatemalensis

Guatemala fir ( Abies guatemalensis )

The Guatemala - fir ( Abies guatemalensis ) is a coniferous tree species of the genus fir (Abies ). It occurs in Central America and has the most southerly distribution area of all pines.

  • 6.1 Notes and references

Description

The Guatemala - fir grows as a evergreen tree that can reach the stature heights of up to 45 meters and diameter at breast height of up to 1 meter. The branches go horizontally from the trunk. The black -brown bark is cut into plates. Branches have reddish-brown to reddish-black, hairy bark.

The resinous buds are globose - ovoid and about 5 millimeters long. The more or less resinous, straight needles are 1.5 to 5.5 inches long and 1.2 to 2 mm wide. They are notched at the tip. While the needle upper side is dark green, the needle base on a blue-green color. At the bottom you can find the needle eight to ten Stomatareihen. The needles are spirally arranged on the branches.

The heyday of Guatemala fir extends from May to June. The ovoid - cylindrical cones are 8-12 cm long and 4 to 4.5 inches thick. The tip of the pin is tapered or flattened. At maturity, they are yellowish brown in color and have a purple hue to. The light brown seeds are about 9 mm long and have a 15 -millimeter-long wings.

Distribution and location

The natural range of the Guatemala - fir extends from Mexico in the north to West Guatemala to El Salvador and the mountains of Santa Bárbaras in Honduras in the south. In Mexico they are found in the states of Chiapas, Colima, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, Oaxaca and Tamaulipas. Deposits probably exist in Sinaloa. In Guatemala, one finds the kind in the prefectures of Huehuetenango, Jalapa, Quetzaltenango, Quiché, San Marcos, Solola and Totonicapán.

One finds the way, especially in the mountains, at altitudes 1800-4083 meters. The annual rainfall is more than 1000 mm. The pH of the soil is populated from 5.4 to 5.7.

There are mainly mixed stands with the Mexican cypress ( Cupressus lusitanica ), the Mexican White Pine (Pinus ayacahuite ) and formed hartwegii with Pinus.

System

The Guatemala - fir is allocated within the genus of fir (Abies ) of section Grandis. The first description was in 1939 by Alfred Rehder in the Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 20 (3): 285-287. A synonym for the species is Abies tacanensis Lundell.

Subspecies

The species is divided into seven sub- species which are partially out as varieties:

  • Abies guatemalensis subsp. guatemalensis, the specific type.
  • Abies guatemalensis subsp. ixtepejiensis ( Silba ) Silba occurs in the Mexican state of Oaxaca.
  • Abies guatemalensis subsp. jaliscana ( Martínez ) Silba occurs in the Mexican state of Jalisco. A synonym is Abies flinckii Rushforth.
  • Abies guatemalensis subsp. longibracteata ( Debreczy & I. Rácz ) Silba comes in the Sierra Madre del Sur in front of the Mexican state of Guerrero.
  • Abies guatemalensis subsp. rushforthii ( Silba ) Silba occurs on the summit of Cerro Santa Bárbara in the Honduran department of Santa Bárbara.
  • Abies guatemalensis subsp. tamaulipasensis ( Silba ) Silba occurs in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.
  • Abies guatemalensis subsp. zapotekensis ( Debreczy, I. Rácz & G. Ramírez ) Silba comes in the Sierra de Juárez in the Mexican state of Oaxaca before. A synonym is Abies zapotekensis Debreczy, I. Rácz & G. Ramírez.

Use

Although the Guatemala - fir stands in the greater part of its range under protection, it is often used illegally. The wood is used as a construction and firewood and for making charcoal. Especially at Christmas tree branches are cut from the trees to use as Christmas decorations.

Threats and conservation

The Guatemala - fir is in the IUCN Red List as "vulnerable" out. Furthermore, the subspecies jaliscana in the Red List is also 'at risk' out. It should be noted that, for all entries of the hazard is the re-examination required. The main hazard due to the overexploitation is called by locals, together with a small growth rate of the species. Furthermore, populated by the type soils provide good farmland dar.

The species is also out in Appendix 1 of the CITES Convention. Their use is forbidden among others in Guatemala.

Swell

  • Christopher J. Earle: Abies guatemalensis. In: The Gymnosperm Database. Accessed on 21 February 2011 ( English).
Huehuetenango Department Jalapa Department Quetzaltenango Department San Marcos Department Pinus hartwegii
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