Asplundia meraensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Asplundia meraensis faces significant pressure from deforestation and agricultural expansion within its limited range in the Andean cloud forests of Ecuador. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, as small populations become isolated and more susceptible to local extinctions. Mining activities and infrastructure development in the region pose additional threats to the remaining forest patches where this palm-like plant persists.
Habitat
Asplundia meraensis inhabits humid montane cloud forests in the Ecuadorian Andes, typically growing as an epiphyte or terrestrial plant in the understory of primary and secondary forests. The species occurs at elevations between 1,500-2,500 meters where persistent cloud cover maintains the high humidity levels essential for its survival.