Eugenia symphoricarpos McVaugh, Fieldiana, Bot.

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 : 125

70. * Eugenia symphoricarpos McVaugh, Fieldiana, Bot. 29: 458 (1963)

EOO: 49,552.051 km ². AOO: 28 km ². Evaluation of IUCN: Near Threatened (NT).

Eugenia symphoricarpos occurs only in the coastal region of the Gulf of Mexico, in the states of Veracruz and Tamaulipas, from 460 to 1,350 m elev. The estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) exceeds the thresholds for a threatened category under the criterion B, whilst the area of occupancy (AOO) probably exceeds the thresholds of the Endangered category. There are up to six known locations based on eight records, with Veracruz having the highest number of records (6) and Tamaulipas has only two collection records. The biomes of occurrence of the species are the Humid Montane Forest and the Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest. The habitat of Eugenia symphoricarpos is in a good state of conservation, with some of the collections for the state of Veracruz made within the “Parque Nacional Cañón Rio Blanco”, and for the state of Tamaulipas with collections within the protected area “Reserve de la Biosfera El Cielo”, or around influence area of “Sierra de Tamaulipas “ ( CONABIO 2018, DOF 1938, Gobierno de Tamaulipas & TNC 2011). Considering that this species presents a low habitat specificity, and the low number of locations could be related to lack of field surveys, but it seems to be very dependent of protected areas, Eugenia symphoricarpos is pre-classified here as Near Threatened (NT). The assessment as a threatened species based on AOO will be pending of further field surveys to confirm its current distribution, population size, local threats, and habitat trend.

Specimens examined:— MEXICO. Tamaulipas: Medrano & Valiente 122255 ( MEXU!); Veracruz: Ventura 14546 ( MEXU!).