After several, unverified references in the literature to the possible occurrence of Pinus caribaea Morelet in Mexico, a natural stand of this species in the State of Quintana Roo is described by Javier Chavelas Pólito in INIF Technical Note no. 10 (may 1981)1.
The site of the 4 ha occurrence, where some 150 trees of sizes up to 18 m have been recorded, is located in the municipality of Othón P. Blanco. The coordinates of the site, known as Sabana del Jaguactal, are 89°W, 18°15'N, altitude 120 m a.s.l. Mean annual rainfall at the nearest meteorological station, situated about 400 km east of the stand, is 1280 mm; mean annual temperature is +26°C. The soils are deep, light brown clays; the soil profile is characterized by increasing amounts of weathered quartzitic gravel, present from 1.4 m downwards.
In the note, the author recommends that the stand be legally protected. A number of studies and activities are also proposed, such as: seed collection; evaluation; biosystematic, ecological and phytogeographic studies etc.
Through this description of Pinus caribaea Morelet, the number of indigenous pine species in Mexico is increased to 43.
