Endemic to the State of Hidalgo in eastern Mexico where fire is a potential threat to the small population
Distribution
Mexico in the State of Hidalgo (canyon near village of Metepec).
This species was described and named as new in 1995 from a single location in Hidalgo, Mexico. Its distribution beyond the type locality remains unknown and no subsequent collections have been assigned to this new species.
Habitat and Ecology
Cloud forest with Alnus firmifolia, Buddleia cordata, Cupressus lusitanica, Pinus patula, P. teocote, Sambucus mexicana, etc.
Human Uses
No uses have been recorded for this species. It is not cultivtaed.
Conservation Status
Global status
Vulnerable D2
Global rationale
More research is needed to establish beyond doubt the taxonomic distinctiveness, the approximate size of the population, and the extent of occurrence and area of occupancy. On the basis of what is known, 15+ years after its discovery, an assessment of Vulnerable under D2 reflects the fact that it is only known from a single locality with a small population that could be vulnerable to stochastic events.
Global threats
No current threats have been identified but if this taxon does stand up to taxonomic scrutiny and if it remains only known from one location, as at present, stochastic events such as a major fire could put the species at extreme risk.
Conservation Actions
No conservation actions are known to have taken place.
References and further reading
Debreczy, Z. & Rácz, I. (1995). New species and varieties of conifers from Mexico. Phytologia 78(3): 1-24.
Farjon, A. (2010). A Handbook of the World's Conifers. Koninklijke Brill, Leiden.
Farjon, A. (2013). Abies hidalgensis. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 07 July 2013.
