''Magnolia sororum'' is a species of flowering plant in the family

Magnoliaceae The Magnoliaceae () are a flowering plant family, the magnolia family, in the order Magnoliales. It consists of two genera: ''Magnolia'' and ''Liriodendron'' (tulip trees). Unlike most angiosperms, whose flower parts are in whorls (rings), the ...

. It is commonly known as vaco. It is native to the mountain forests of

Costa Rica Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...

and western

Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Cos ...

, and may range into Nicaragua.

Description

''Magnolia sororum'' is a large tree, growing up to 40 meters tall.

Range and habitat

''Magnolia sororum'' is native to the mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama, including the Cordillera Central and

Cordillera de Talamanca The Cordillera de Talamanca is a mountain range that lies in the southeast half of Costa Rica and the far west of Panama. Much of the range and the area around it is included in La Amistad International Park, which also is shared between the two ...

. The species' estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) is around 20,000 km². A population was reported in Bosawas Biosphere Reserve in northern Nicaragua. If confirmed, this population would extend the species' EOO to around 60,000 km². It is found in mature humid upper montane forests from 2,300 to 3,200 meters elevation. In Panama its range extends into lower montane forests.

Subspecies

There are two accepted subspecies:''Magnolia sororum'' Seibert
''Plants of the World Online'', Kew Science. Accessed 29 January 2023. * ''Magnolia sororum'' subsp. ''lutea'' Vazquez – Costa Rica * ''Magnolia sororum'' subsp. ''sororum'' – Honduras, Southeastern Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama''Magnolia sororum'' subsp. ''sororum''
''Plants of the World Online'', Kew Science. Accessed 29 January 2023.

Uses

Its wood is used for fuelwood, charcoal, timber, and handicrafts.

References

{{Taxonbar, from= Q15494692 sororum Flora of Costa Rica Flora of Panama Flora of the Talamancan montane forests Plants described in 1938