B. Papp szerk.: Studia Botanica Hungarica 34. 2003 (Budapest, 2003)

Debreczy, Zsolt; Rácz, István: A re-assessment of the new taxa of firs (Abies Mill.) reported from Mexico in 1995

4. Abies guatemalensis Rend. var. longibracteata Debreczy et Rácz, Plate I: 4 in Phytologia (April 1995) 78(4): 217-243; "Abies D" in NewsB rief (IDRI) No. 6 (Sep. 1994); Figs 1, 29-32 in the present article. - TYPUS: Mexico. Guerrero: Sierra Madre del Sur, near Yextla, 2,400 m, January 10, 1994, Debreczy, Biró, Rácz et al. # 34763 (Holotypus: BP; Isotypi: A, CHAP, E, MEXU, NA). A specie typica strobilis maturis 10-12 cm longis, 4 cm latis et bracteis 2.0-2.2 cm longis, excertis differt. Name: longus (Lat. adj.) = long; longibracteata = long bracted; refers to the differentiating character of the variety in comparing the species. Description: tree, identical with the species except for the larger cone ( 10-12 cm), the wider and longer cone scales (3.0-3.2 x 2 cm) with longer (2.0-2.2 cm) and prominently (4 mm) exserted, acuminate, upcurving bracts, and the wider, more angular, flabellate seed scale, wing. Discussion: comparing the variety with the typical Abies guatemalensis, it differs from the type in the size of the cones (10-12 x 4 cm; not 8-11 ), in the wider, longer (3.0-3.2 x 2 cm) cone scales with 2.0-2.2 cm (not 1.5-1.7 cm) long, acuminate bracts with long (4 mm) exserted, upcurving tip (not short, enclosed, abruptly acute or rounded at apex or with lateral wings, exceeding the tip) and by the more angular and flabellate (not rounded) wings. Other characteristics of the variety are identical with those of the species. Abies guatemalensis var. tacanensis (Lund.) Mart., reported from Volcán Tacaná from the state of Chiapas from between 3,500-3,800 m is similar, but the branchiets of var. longibracteata are glabrous or faintly hairy (not densely hairy), its leaves are longer, 3.5-5.5 cm (not 1.2-3.6 cm) long, the cones larger (not 10x4 cm), the cone scales larger (3.0-3.2 x 2 cm, not 2.7 x 1.5 cm) with consistently long exserted (not subequal to slightly exserted bract). The tree is fairly common in the Yextla area associating with over 65 higher plant species. Its plant communities are dominated by Cupressus lusitanica Mill., Quercus spp. (4), Chiranthodendron pantadactylon Larreagui; among shrubs, Dahlia excelsa auct., Mahonia lanceolata Fedde, Oreopanax xalapense (H., B. et K.) Decne. et Planch., Philadelphus mexicanus Schltdl., Solanum Cervantes ii Lang, are frequent. Conservation: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) lists Abies guatemalensis among the most protected conifers. This will not save the species itself: for example, logging in most areas where this conifer grows is common. Taking further steps toward full protection is needed, including preservation of the beautiful conifer stands with var. longibracteata (Fig. 32). It is doubtful whether the new variety will be recognised