Pinus tecunumanii

Scientific name: Pinus tecunumanii F.Schwerdtf. ex Eguiluz & J.P.Perry  1983

Synonyms:Pinus oocarpa var. ochoterenae Martínez, Pinus patula subsp. tecunumanii (F.Schwerdtf. ex Eguiluz & J.P.Perry) Styles   

Common names: Schwerdtfeger's pine, Tecun Umán pine

Description

Tree to 50(-55) m tall, with trunk to 1.2(-1.4) m in diameter. Bark bright reddish brown, smooth and flaky above, becoming scaly and ultimately breaking up into grayish brown interlaced ridges divided by deep, reddish brown furrows at the base of large trunks. Crown narrow, deep, and dense, with numerous thick, horizontal branches densely clothed with foliage at the tips. Twigs reddish brown, sometimes a little waxy, hairless, rough with the bases of scale leaves. Buds 12-20 mm long, not resinous. Needles in bundles of (three or) four or five, each needle (14-)17-21(-25) cm long, soft, flexible, and gently drooping, lasting 2(-3) years, bright light green to yellowish green. Individual needles with evenly spaced lines of stomates covering all three faces, and (two or) three or four (or five) resin canals at the corners and in between, usually midway between the outer needle surface and the two-stranded midvein. Sheath 20-25 mm long at first, weathering to 12-18 mm and persisting and falling with the bundle. Pollen cones 15-20 mm long, yellowish brown. Seed cones 4-7(-8) cm long, egg-shaped, with 75-100(-140) seed scales, light brown before maturity, ripening shiny reddish to grayish yellow, opening gradually from the middle when ripe and falling after 2-3 years along with the slender, (5-)10-20(-25) mm long stalks. Seed scales broadly wedge-shaped, the exposed face horizontally diamond-shaped, generally low, with a shallow horizontal ridge topped by a prominent, flat, diamond-shaped umbo bearing a tiny, fragile prickle. Seed body 4-6(-7) mm long, the clasping wing another 9-14 mm longer.

Mountains of Mesoamerica from Chiapas (Mexico) to Cayo (Belize) and Matagalpa (Nicaragua). Forming pure stands or more often mixed with other pines and hardwoods in moist pine forests and woodlands and in cloud forests; (300-)500-2,600(-2,900) m.

Conservation Status

Red List Category & Criteria: Vulnerable

(Past and recent exploitation has led to a decline of up to 40% within the last three generations. The area of occupancy has been reduced to less than 2,000 km2. While there are more than 10 locations, the subpopulations are thought to be severely fragmented due to logging and conversion of forest lands to other uses. Exploitation is ongoing: if it continues at the same rate as in the recent past the overall decline is likely to exceed 40% within the next generation)

References

Farjon, A. (2010). A Handbook of the World's Conifers. Koninklijke Brill, Leiden.

Eckenwalder, J.E. (2009) Conifers of the World: The Complete Reference. Timber Press, Portland.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Cambridge, UK /Gland, Switzerland

Copyright © Aljos Farjon, James E. Eckenwalder, IUCN, Conifers Garden. All rights reserved.