A few samples of the flora of theIztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl

volcanoes area

Pictures taken by: Aurora Chimal

edited by: Nuri Trigo

Amaryllidaceae.Agave salmiana Otto ex Salm.

This agave is usedto produce pulque,

a strong alcoholic beverage

very popular for festivities.

Apiaceae. Eryngium proteiflorum Delarfound in open areas of conifer forests and alpine grasslands.

Mostly found in oak forests but also in mixed oak-pine vegetation. Asclepiadaceae. Matelea chrysantha (Greenm.) Woods.

The yellow flower is an Asteraceae;

Bidens aff. autherioides.The white flower belongs to a

species of the family of theOrchidaceae.

Asteraceae Cirsium ehrenbergii Sch. Bip.A typical plant of high areas,

commonly called cardo.

AsteraceaeConyza sophiifolia Kunth.

A species fromsecondary vegetation found along

roads and streams.

Asteraceae. Dahlia rudis Sorensen. This genera, originated in Mexico, is now cultivated in many

varieties for ornamental purposes all over the world.

Asteraceae. Erigeron galeottii (A. Gray ex Hemsley) Greene.

Asteraceace:Montanoa frutescens Mairet

AsteraceaePackera sanguisorbae (DC.) C. Jeffrey.

BegoniaceaeBegonia gracilis Kunth

commonly called ala de angel

(angel's wing).

Begoniaceae. Begonia gracilis Kunth. Another view of this graceful flower

This is a very small Caryophyllaceae very widely distributed; it's full name is Cerastium nutans Raf.

Leaves and flowers of the tree Clethra mexicana A. DC.from the family of Clethraceae, commonly called mamojuaxtle.

Flower of the Commelinaceae, Commelina coelestis Willd. The common names to this plant are hierba de

pollo (chicken herb), cañita (little cane) and cielo azul (blue sky).

Leaves and flowers of a shrub from the Coriariaceae family;

Coriaria ruscifolia L. Commonly called tlalocopetate.

The commonly called madroño is

Arbutus xalapensis Kunth,a tree from the family of Ericaceae

commonly foundin oak and pine forests

as well as in some transitional areasof the fir forests.

Euphorbiaceae Acalypha mollis Kunth

Found in oak and cipress forests, usually in disturbed areas.

Fabaceae:Lupinus campestris Cham & Schl.

A most common species, this Fabaceae: Lupinus montanus Kunth

A closer look to the flower of the Fabaceae; Lupinus montanus Kunth

Geraniaceae. Geranium seemannii Peyr.

Grossulariaceae. Ribes ciliatum H. &. B

Grossulariaceae. Ribes ciliatum on the edge of an open Pinus hartwegii forest.

LamiaceaeSalvia elegans Vahl.

A very common species found in fir and pine forests.

LamiaceaeSalvia polystachya Ort.Common to be foundin open pine forests.

A very peculiar insectivorous plant:

Lentibulariaceae Pinguicola moranensis

Kunth.Widely distributed in the more humid parts

of the mountains surrounding the Valley

of Mexico.

Another perspective of this peculiar insectivorous plant.

Lentibulariaceae.Pinguicola moranensis Kunth.

Onagraceae. Fushia microphylla Kunth, mostly found in fir forests but also with

broadleaved vegetation like oak and mountaine cloud forests.

Poaceae. Festuca amplissima Rupr.

This grass is characteristic of P. hartwegii forests.

PoaceaeMuhlenbergia nigra Hitchc.This grass prefers the open slopes of pine forests and

alpine grasslands.

Poaceae.Poa pratensis L. Aa generalist species,this grass is found

in pine, fir and oak forests.

Poaceae.Stipa ichu (Ruiz & Pavón)

Kunth.Found in disturbed places of

pine and broadleaved forests.

Poaceae. Trisetum virletii Fourn. Characteristic of conifer forests.

Poaceae.Vulpia myurus (L) Gmel.

Commonly found in disturbed places

with shrubsand along roads.

Polemoniaceae. Loeselia mexicana (Lam) Brand. The common names of this plant is espinosilla and chuparrosa. It is widely distributed in open and disturbed areas as well as in Juniperus and oak forests.

Polygalaceae. Monnina ciliolata DC. This is a small shrub common in disturbed areas of fir, pine and oak forests.

Pyrolaceae.Monotropa uniflora L.

Commonly calledindian pipe this peculiar

plant is found in fir forests.

Rhamnaceae.Ceanothus coeruleus Lag.

Commonly known as chaquira (little bead).

Rosaceae. Alchemilla procumbens Rose.The early morning frost gives a very peculiar appearance to this plant.

Rosaceae. Potentilla candicans H.&. B. Common in open areas of conifer forests

Located in fir forests this Rosaceae: Rubus pumilus Focke

Scrophulariaceae. Laumourouxia xalapensis Kunth.This shrub is found in humid areas in the fir and mountaine cloud forests.

Scrophulariaceae.Penstemon gentianoides (Kunth) Poiret.

This species inhabitsthe highest parts of the mountains

within the 3000 to 4200 masl range.

Solanaceae. Cestrum thyrsoideum Kunth. This flower is common in conifer and broadleafed forests at the low parts of the mountains. It's common name is hierba del zopilote.

Evernia sp.

The lichen in this picture is a Cladonia sp., the moss is Polytrichum sp.

The fungi is Auricularia fuscosuccinea and the moss,

commonly called "clover" is a species of the genera Oxalis.

This is an edible fungi form the family of the Euascomycete commonly called "silla

de montar"; it's scientific name is: Helvella lacunosa.

Another edible fungi form the Euascomycete family commonly called "pancita"; it's scientific name is: Morchella esculenta.

With a rather bad reputation for it's toxicity: Amanita muscaria flavivolvata