Acalypha andina
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Acalypha andina faces significant pressure from agricultural expansion and livestock grazing in its Andean habitat, which fragments and degrades the specialized montane ecosystems it requires. Mining activities and infrastructure development further reduce available habitat, while climate change threatens to shift suitable elevation zones beyond the species' adaptive capacity. The plant's restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances and extreme weather events.
Habitat
Acalypha andina inhabits montane cloud forests and humid Andean slopes at elevations between 2,000-3,500 meters. The species requires well-drained soils in partially shaded environments with consistent moisture from fog and precipitation typical of neotropical mountain ecosystems.