''Magnolia tamaulipana'' is a species of

plant Plants are the eukaryotes that form the Kingdom (biology), kingdom Plantae; they are predominantly Photosynthesis, photosynthetic. This means that they obtain their energy from sunlight, using chloroplasts derived from endosymbiosis with c ...

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), ...

. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to northeastern

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

Range and habitat

''Magnolia tamaulipana'' is native to the

Sierra Madre Oriental The Sierra Madre Oriental () is a mountain range in northeastern Mexico. The Sierra Madre Oriental is part of the American Cordillera, a chain of mountain ranges (cordillera) that consists of an almost continuous sequence of mountain ranges that ...

Nuevo León Nuevo León, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Nuevo León, is a Administrative divisions of Mexico, state in northeastern Mexico. The state borders the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosí, San Luis ...

and

Tamaulipas Tamaulipas, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas, is a state in Mexico; one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It is divided into 43 municipalities. It is located in nor ...

states. It is known from only five locations, all within

El Cielo Biosphere Reserve The El Cielo Biosphere Reserve (''Reserva de la Biosfera El Cielo'' in Spanish) is located in the Sierra Madre Oriental in the southern part of the Mexico, Mexican state of Tamaulipas near the town of Gómez Farías, Tamaulipas, Gómez Farias. The ...

. The potential forest distribution for the species is estimated at 2,458 km². It inhabits montane

cloud forest A cloud forest, also called a water forest, primas forest, or tropical montane cloud forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical, evergreen, Montane forest, montane, Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, moist forest characteri ...

s between 1,180 and 1,500 meters elevation.

Ecology

''Magnolia tamaulipana'' is pollinated by beetles, including two species of the scarab beetles ''

Cyclocephala ''Cyclocephala'' is a genus of scarab beetles from the subfamily Dynastinae (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). Beetles of this genus occur from southeastern Canada to Argentina, India and the West Indies. Adults of this genus are nocturnal or crepuscu ...

'' and other beetles in family

Staphylinidae The rove beetles are a family (biology), family (Staphylinidae) of beetles, primarily distinguished by their short elytra (wing covers) that typically leave more than half of their abdominal segments exposed. With over 66,000 species in thousand ...

. The plants produce large protogynous flowers which are viable for up to 24 hours. The flowers are thermogenic, and the heat produced dissipates the flower scent to attract pollinating beetles.

Conservation

Most of the species' range is within the El Cielo Biosphere Reserve. The species' population is in decline across its native range, despite living within a protected area. The causes of its population decline aren't well understood, but a study of the effects of hurricanes in the region indicated that hurricanes uproot and damage many mature trees, and the species may have lower regeneration capacity than other cloud forest trees. Other factors causing the population decline may include loss of habitat from deforestation and urbanization. The species conservation status is assessed as

endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching, inv ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15494576 tamaulipana Endemic flora of Mexico Cloud forest flora of Mexico Flora of the Sierra Madre Oriental Trees of Northern America Plants described in 1994