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Useful Tropical Plants

Abies guatemalensis

Rehder

Pinaceae

+ Synonyms

Abies flinckii Rushforth

Abies religiosa emarginata Loock & Martínez

Abies tacanensis Lundell

Abies zapotekensis Debreczy

Common Name:

Abies guatemalensis
Young trees
Photograph by: Luisfi
Creative Commons License

General Information

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.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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/

Range

C. America - El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico.

Habitat

Tropical, montane, moist or wet coniferous forests at elevations from 1,800 to 4,000 metres[
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.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusVulnerable
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height30.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Grows best in deep, fertile soils[
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 average growth rate ranges from 36 - 46cm per year when the plant is between 49 - 71 years old. Annual diameter increment varies from 6 - 7mm[
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.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The best forests formed of this species are so dense that little other vegetation can be found on the ground beneath the trees - only a few low shrubs of rather weak growth, mosses, and a number of herbs[
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.
].

Other Uses

The wood has been used as lumber since Mayan times and was used extensively for construction work by the
Spanish[
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.
]. Today it is the preferred wood for roof shingles, building material, charcoal and firewood. Locally it is used to make hand looms, the branches are used to make temporary shelters, to decorate churches and houses, and young plants are used as Christmas trees. Its branches are used as Christmas decorations[
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.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-11-07. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Abies+guatemalensis>

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