Excerpts from Jim Conrad's
Naturalist Newsletter

from the November 5, 2007 Newsletter issued from Yerba Buena Clinic just outside Pueblo Nuevo Solistahuacan, Chiapas, MÉXICO
about 1740 meters in elevation, ± LAT. 17° 11' 27"N, LONG. -92° 53' 35"W
A LUSTY HOPHORNBEAM
Surely the most fascinating feature of our Pine-Oak-Sweetgum forest is its high percentage of relict species that are identical to, subspecies of, or sister species of, species typical of the forests of eastern North America, Sweetgum being the most conspicuous.

For example, take a look at the sodden tree branch below:

Guatemalan Hophornbeam, OSTRYA VIRGINIANA ssp. GUATEMALENSIS

You may recognize the clusters of flattened, leafy, hoplike bladders as fruits of the Hophornbeam, genus Ostrya. However, have you ever seen such long fruit clusters? And the leaves don't look quite right, either. Studies done here don't list any Ostryas so I don't know if this is considered a relict Eastern Hophornbeam, or a different species.

UPDATE: In 2024 I see that this is considered to be Ostrya virginiana ssp. guatemalensis, at one time named Ostrya guatemalensis.

How interesting yet how frustrating to be living amid all this but not have fieldguides or decent Internet access so I can figure it all out!