Eugenia siltepecana Lundell, Amer. Midl. Naturalist

Uc Gala, Victor C., Valdemarin, Karinne Sampaio, Lucas, Eve, Negrão, Raquel & Mazine, Fiorella F., 2023, Eugenia (Myrtaceae) from Mexico: checklist, distribution, and conservation assessments, Phytotaxa 583 (2), pp. 99-140 : 123-124

66. * Eugenia siltepecana Lundell, Amer. Midl. Naturalist 19: 430 (1938)

EOO: 3,855.100 km². AOO: 24 km ². Evaluation of IUCN: Vulnerable.

Eugenia siltepecana has a restricted distribution, occurring only in the state of Chiapas, from 600 to 2,000 m elev. The estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) falls within the thresholds of Endangered category under the criterion B, whilst the area of occupancy (AOO) falls between the thresholds of Critically Endangered and Endangered categories. There are up to six known locations based on seven records from five municipalities that are divided into three important regions, such as “La Sierra Mariscal” and “La Frailesca,” which comprise part of the “Reserva de la Biosfera El Triunfo”, and Metropolitan region”. The occurrence biome is mainly the Humid Montane Forest. Most of the species’ habitat is in a good state of conservation due to its proximity to the “Reserva de la Biosfera El Triunfo” ( CONABIO 2018, INE-SEMARNAP 1999b). However, the species also occurs near the Metropolitan region, where the threats are the expansion of cities and economic growth, from which is inferred a continuing decline of habitat quality. Therefore, Eugenia siltepecana is classified here as Vulnerable (VU), under criteria B1ab(iii)+B2ab(iii), regarding its restricted distribution in only six known locations and an inferred continuing decline of habitat quality, especially in the areas outside the protected area. Further field survey is needed to confirm if this taxon occurs within the protected area, as well as, on population size, habitat trend and potential future threats such as stochastic effects related to climate change on Humid Montane Forests.

Specimen examined:— MEXICO. Chiapas: Matuda 5548 ( MEXU!).