This relatively widespread variety occurs in temeprate conifer forest in Central Mexico and is declining due to logging and forest clearance.
Distribution
Mexico: in Guanajuato, Querétaro, Hidalgo, Veracruz, México, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Morelos, and Michoacán
Subpopulations are severely fragmented with only a few trees of this variety in each locality. Despite this cone production, seed viability and seedling survival are relatively high compared to other pines with fragmented subpopulations (Castilleja Sánchez et al. 2016)
Habitat and Ecology
It thrives in temperate coniferous forests with Abies religiosa, Pinus patula, P. pseudostrobus and Cupressus lusitanica. It occurs between 2,000 and 3,200 m a.s.l. Despite te fragmentation of the subpopulations
Human Uses
Valued for its soft timber. It is also cultivated for Christmas trees in Mexico State
Conservation Status
Global Status
Near Threatened
Global Rationale
Although undoubtedly exploited for timber, this variety is widespread, occurs among var. ayacahuite in many places, and is not in danger of extinction. However, depletion of subpopulations to few mature trees left has been observed, and if this trend continues this taxon may meet the criteria for listing as Vulnerable in future (close to meeting criterion B2ab(iii,v)
Conservation Actions
This variety is present in several protected areas. However some of these are being degraded from illegal logging and urban expansion (Aguirre‐Gutiérrez et al. 2015)
References and further reading
Aguirre‐Gutiérrez, J., Serna‐Chavez, H.M., Villalobos‐Arambula, A.R., Pérez de la Rosa, J.A. and Raes, N., 2015. Similar but not equivalent: ecological niche comparison across closely–related Mexican white pines. Diversity and distributions, 21(3), pp.245-257.
Farjon, A. and Styles, B. 1997. Pinus (Pinaceae). Flora Neotropica. Monograph 75. The New York Botanical Garden, New York
Sánchez, P.C., Delgado Valerio, P., Sáenz-Romero, C. and Herrerías Diego, Y., 2016. Reproductive Success and Inbreeding Differ in Fragmented Populations of Pinus rzedowskii and Pinus ayacahuite var. veitchii, Two Endemic Mexican Pines under Threat. Forests, 7(8), doi:10.3390/f7080178
