Taxodium mucronatum, also known as Montezuma Cypress, Sabino, Ahuehuete (name derived from the Nahuatl language), is a species of Taxodium native to much of Mexico (south to the highlands of southern Mexico), and also southernmost Texas, USA (just entering the state in the lower Rio Grande valley). It occurs from 300 to 2500 m, in Mexico mainly in highlands at 1600 and 2300 m altitude. It is a large evergreen or semi-evergreen tree growing to 40 m tall and with a trunk of 1-3 m diameter (occasionally much more; see below). The leaves are spirally arranged but twisted at the base to lie in two horizontal ranks, 1-2 cm long and 1-2 mm broad. The cones are ovoid, 1.5-2.5 cm long and 1-2 cm broad.
Montezuma Cypress is primarily a riparian tree, growing along upland riversides, not in swamps or lakes. Unlike Bald Cypress and Pond Cypress, Montezuma Cypress does not produce cypress knees from the roots. Trees from the Mexican highlands achieve a notable stoutness. They are very drought-tolerant and fast-growing which has led to them being frequently cultivated there in parks and gardens. They favor climates that are rainy throughout the year or at least with high summer rainfall.
One specimen, the Árbol del Tule in Santa María del Tule, Oaxaca, Mexico, is the stoutest tree in the world with a diameter of 11.42 m. Several other specimens from 3-6 m diameter are known.
References
Eguiluz T. 1982. Clima y Distribución del género pinus en México. Distrito Federal. Mexico.
Rzedowski J. 1983. Vegetación de México. Distrito Federal, Mexico.
Martínez, Maximinio. 1978. Catálogo de nombres vulgares y científicos de plantas mexicanas.
Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
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