Rediscovery of Pedilanthus coalcomanensis (Euphorbiaceae), a threatened endemic Mexican species

• Published in: American journal of botany 2002-09, Vol.89 (9), p.1485-1490
• Main Authors: Lomeli-Sencion, Jose Aquileo, Sahagun-Godinez, Eduardo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: biodiversity; Biodiversity conservation; Botany; Coalcomán; Conservation; Endangered & extinct species; Euphorbiaceae; extinction; Flora; Flowers & plants; George B. Hinton; Herbaria; Michoacán; Nature conservation; Pedilanthus coalcomanensis; Plants; Species extinction; Systematics and Phytogeography; Taxa; Threatened species; Tropical regions; Vegetation; western Mexico
• ISSN: 0002-9122; 1537-2197
• DOI: 10.3732/ajb.89.9.1485

Pedilanthus coalcomanensis was described from specimens collected by George B. Hinton in 1941 but was not collected again until 1999, when we found it in a tropical deciduous forest near Tehuantepec, in Chinicuila,$Michoac\acute{a}n$, Mexico. After analyzing Hinton's original collection notes, we concluded that this is the type locality. Based on the reduced geographic distribution presently known for this species ($11 km^2$), the level of disturbance of its habitat, and the use of the method for the assessment of extinction risk in Mexican wild species (MER), we propose that P. coalcomanensis be covered by the appropriate Mexican legislation as a threatened species and be included in the Red List of Threatened Plants of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Our results help justify and delimit a local biosphere reserve in northwestern$Michoac\acute{a}n$, an area that is considered a center of endemism and that has largely been deforested. Our findings have implications for research on other historical specimens collected by Hinton in this region.