Abies guatemalensis

Botanical Description

Abies guatemalensis is an evergreen tree with horizontal branches and a conical crown growing 20 - 45 metres tall. The bole can be 60 - 90cm in diameter[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ , 381 Title Timber Trees of Meso America. Publication Author Website http://www.unep-wcmc.org/forest/timber/workshops/reports/MA2005/Annex%202.pdf Publisher UNEP Year 2005 ISBN Description A PDF document, published on the internet. Detailed reports on about 30 species of timber trees from Central America. ]. The tree is harvested from the wild as a commercial source of lumber. This is the southernmost species of its genus. It was reported to be common until the 1940s and large populations may still remain in Honduras. There is disputable evidence that the remaining stands in Guatemala extend no more than 3 hectares. There has been heavy timber exploitation throughout the range. Isolated stands continue to be exploited heavily by local inhabitants and the deep fertile soils, on which the tree grows, are attractive to agricultural development. Cone crops are irregular and germination is poor. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].