Hamamelis mexicana
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Hamamelis mexicana faces severe population decline due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development in its limited Mexican range. The species is particularly vulnerable because of its extremely restricted distribution and small population size, making it susceptible to local extinctions from even minor habitat disturbances. Illegal collection for horticultural trade has further reduced wild populations, as this rare witch hazel is sought after by collectors.
Habitat
Hamamelis mexicana inhabits montane cloud forests and humid pine-oak forests in the Sierra Madre Oriental of northeastern Mexico. The species requires cool, moist conditions at elevations between 1,200-2,000 meters, typically growing in shaded understory areas with rich, well-drained soils.
