Balmea
Balmea
Species of plant
Balmea is a monospecific genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae containing the single species Balmea stormiae. It is native to El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico (Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Chiapas).[3] It is locally known as ayuque.[4] It is conical in shape and used as a Christmas tree in parts of Mexico.[4] Because populations are depleted by this overharvest, this species is threatened with extinction.[4]