Endemic to a small part of eastern Mexico where its habitat is being encroached by agricultural activities
Distribution
Eastern Mexico in the Sates of: Puebla, Tlaxcala, Veracruz.
The population is thought to be in decline due to clearance for agriculture.
Habitat and Ecology
The region is semiarid, with scattered, small extinct volcanos. The altitudinal range is 2100–2800m.; the soils are mainly of volcanic origin. It forms open woodland or sometimes dense, small forests with pure stands or, more commonly, it is mixed with Juniperus deppeana and/or J. flaccida. Occasionally Pinus pseudostrobus is present, or the Pinyon pines are mixed with Quercus sp. Contrary to claims by Bailey (1983), Bailey & Hawksworth (1988) and Perry (1991), P. cembroides subsp. cembroides does occur in the same area and may be locally sympatric with it, e.g. near Ajalpán in Puebla. The climate of the region is characterized by a long dry season from November to May, but relatively abundant precipitation (800-900 mm) occurs during the summer. Due to high altitude frost may occur in December–January. Phenology: not recorded, but presumably pollen is dispersed during May-June
Human Uses
The edible seeds are the main use, sold in local markets. The wood is probably only in use as firewood, but larger trees may yield some timber of limited application for building or furniture
Conservation Status
Global status
Endangered B1ab(ii,iii,v)+2ab(ii,iii,v)
Global rationale
Both the extent of occurrence and area of occuoancy (AOO) based on near comprehensive sampling of 25 collections from 12 localities fall below the threshold for Endangered. There is a continuing decline due to land clearance at least in parts of the AOO as has been observed by several visitors, including the assessor.
Global threats
This subspecies occurs in areas where agriculture is expanding and woods are cleared. There is for this reason a continuous decline of area of occupancy (AOO) and likely of mature trees.
References and further reading
Bailey, D.K. (1983). A new allopatric segregate from a new combination in Pinus cembroides Zucc. at its southern limits. Phytologia 54(2): 89-101.
Farjon, A. (2010). A Handbook of the World's Conifers. Koninklijke Brill, Leiden.
Farjon, A. & Styles, B. (1997). Pinus (Pinaceae). Flora Neotropica. Monograph 75. The New York Botanical Garden, New York.
Farjon, A. (2013). Pinus cembroides ssp. orizabensis. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 13 July 2013.
