Oyamel Fir
Abies religiosa (Kunth) Schltdl. & Cham.
Abies religiosa, known as Oyamel Fir, is a fir species native to the mountains of central and southern Mexico and western Guatemala. It is found at high elevations between 2,100 and 4,100 meters in cloud forests, typically experiencing cool, humid summers and dry winters. In Veracruz, it grows in areas with year-round precipitation. The species is adapted to withstand regular winter snowfalls near the upper limit of its altitude range.
Description
Abies religiosa belongs to the genus Abies in the family Pinaceae. It was first described in 1830 and is distributed across several regions in Mexico and Guatemala. The tree thrives in high-altitude cloud forests and is notable for its resilience to cold and snowy conditions at the upper edge of its range.
Other common names
Oyamel FirSacred Fir
Distribution
Global · Guatemala · Mexico Central · Mexico Gulf · Mexico Northeast · Mexico Northwest · Mexico Southeast · Mexico Southwest
Synonyms
Pinus hirtellaPinus religiosaPicea hirtellaPicea glaucescensPicea religiosaPinus religiosa var. minorAbies religiosa subsp. colimensisAbies religiosa subsp. glaucescensAbies religiosa subsp. perotensisAbies colimensisAbies glaucaAbies glaucescensAbies hirtellaAbies religiosa var. colimensisAbies religiosa var. perotensisAbies tlapalcatudaAbies religiosa var. hirtellaAbies religiosa var. glaucescensAbies religiosa var. lindleyanaAbies hirtella