Species Harvested, Wood Volume Removed, and a Rare Endemic Tree (Haptanthus) from a Honduran Lowland Forest

For at least a century, the area of tropical American lowland forests has been in decline. One reason for this decline is logging. Logging operations in Honduras are rarely associated with botanical expeditions that identify the timber and non-timber species. This article documents the common and scientific names of trees harvested from a north-coast Honduran lowland forests from 1972-1979. During these nine years more than 50 tree species were harvested and more than 68,900 m3 of wood was extracted. The origins of the common names for many of the utilized timber trees are discussed. The most exploited trees were two species of Virola (V. koschnyi and V. guatemalensis), which comprised more than 54% of the total extracted wood volume. In second place was Ceiba pentandra with more than 23% of the extracted wood. Huertea cf. cubensis and Sterculia mexicana trees were cut and utilized before they were known to occur in Honduras. A previously unknown endemic tree was collected from this logged area in 1980. This species has primitive angiosperm traits and was described as Haptanthus hazlettii (Buxaceae) in 1989. It was presumed to be extinct several decades, but was rediscovered in 2010. The original discovery, subsequent interest, and the current status of 44 known individuals of this endemic and endangered species are discussed. Primitive traits and the first complete taxonomic description (with fruits) for this taxon are included. Other little known native and endemic plants that occur in this region, especially species with ethnobotanical uses are discussed. The forest area removed in the 1970s is now very fragmented, which threatens the survival of endemic tree species.Ceiba, 2012. Vol. 53(2):81-94