Eugenia ovandensis Lundell, Wrightia

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 : 119

51. * Eugenia ovandensis Lundell, Wrightia 3: 17 (1961b)

EOO: 22.986 km ². AOO: 8 km ². Evaluation of IUCN: Vulnerable.

Eugenia ovandensis occurs only in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. The estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO) fall within the thresholds of the Critically Endangered category under the criterion B. There are only two known locations, and both have different ongoing threats, based on two records placed at “Morro Ovando” which is in the territory of influence of “Reserva de la Biosfera El Triunfo”, and one collection at “Morro Baúl”, which is in a region known as “Las Chimalapas”. The species biome is the Humid Montane Forest, occurring from 1,540 to 1,960 m elev. The habitat of the species is in a good state of conservation, on the mountainous areas in the municipality of Escuintla (Morro Ovando, a hill about 2,076 m), there is no record of the impact of human activities, as well as on the locality within the municipality of Cintalapa (Morro Baúl, a hill that has an elevation of up to 787 meters) due to the location near the “Reserva de la Biosfera La Sepultura” and “Reserva de la Biosfera El Triunfo”. There is an intervention of public agencies for the protection of the habitat where the species occurs ( CONABIO 2018, INE-SEMARNAP 1999b, INE-SEMARNAP 1999c), but there are no conservations actions in place yet. The low number of records the species is probably due to the few collection efforts, however the species could be under threat by stochastic events which in a very short time could drive the taxon to CR or EX, before any conservation measure are in course. Therefore, Eugenia ovandensis is classified here as Vulnerable (VU), under the criterion D2.

Specimen examined:— MEXICO. Chiapas: Matuda 1834 ( MEXU!).