''Quercus martinezii'' is a species of

oak An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...

found in southwestern and central

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

. It has been found in

Nayarit Nayarit (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Nayarit ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Nayarit), is one of the 31 states that, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 20 municipalities and its ...

, Jalisco, Michoacán,

Guerrero Guerrero is one of the 32 states that comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo and its largest city is Acapulcocopied from article, GuerreroAs of 2020, Guerrero the pop ...

, and

Oaxaca Oaxaca ( , also , , from nci, Huāxyacac ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca), is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of Mexico. It is ...

states.McVaugh, R. 1974. Flora Novo-Galiciana: Fagaceae. Contributions from the University of Michigan Herbarium 12: 57-59
in English with line drawing on page 58''Quercus martinezii'' C.H.Mull.
''Plants of the World Online'', Kew Science. Accessed 22 August 2022. It is placed in ''Quercus'' section ''Quercus''.

Description

It is a tall forest tree up to tall with a trunk or more in diameter. The leaves are thick and stiff, gray-green on the upper surface, lighter on the underside, lance-shaped or egg-shaped with irregular teeth.

Range and habitat

''Quercus martinezii'' is native to montane forests in the mountains of west-central and southern Mexico. It is found in the Sierra de San Juan of western

, the western

Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt The Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt ( es, Eje Volcánico Transversal), also known as the Transvolcanic Belt and locally as the (''Snowy Mountain Range''), is an active volcanic belt that covers central-southern Mexico. Several of its highest peaks h ...

of Jalisco, Michoacán, and

states, and the Sierra Madre del Sur of Michoacán, Guerrero, and Oaxaca states. The tree is generally found in cloud forests, and occasionally in humid oak forest and pine–oak forests, between 1,800 and 2,600 meters elevation.

Conservation and threats

The population size and trends of ''Quercus martinezii'' have not been quantitatively studied. Its observed populations are generally low-density or scarce. It is threatened with

habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby ...

from deforestation across much of its range. There are populations in several protected areas, including the

Sierra de San Juan Biosphere Reserve The Sierra de San Juan Biosphere Reserve is a protected area in Nayarit state of western Mexico. It was established in 2003, and has an area of 198.01 km2.UNEP-WCMC (2021). "Protected Area Profile for Sierra de San Juan from the World Databas ...

in Nayarit, the

Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve The Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve ( es, Reserva de la Biósfera Sierra de Manantlán) (established 1988) is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the states of Colima and Jalisco, Mexico. The reserve is located in the transition of the Nearcti ...

in Jalisco.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5412141 martinezii Endemic oaks of Mexico Flora of the Sierra Madre del Sur Flora of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt Trees of Jalisco Trees of Michoacán Trees of Oaxaca Least concern flora of North America Plants described in 1954 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Cloud forest flora of Mexico