Blakea macbrydei
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Blakea macbrydei faces severe threats from ongoing deforestation and habitat fragmentation within its extremely limited range in Costa Rica's montane cloud forests. Agricultural expansion, particularly coffee cultivation and cattle ranching, continues to encroach upon the remaining forest fragments where this endemic shrub persists. The species' restricted distribution makes it exceptionally vulnerable to localized habitat destruction, with climate change potentially altering the specific moisture and temperature conditions required by cloud forest ecosystems.
Habitat
Blakea macbrydei is endemic to the montane cloud forests of Costa Rica, typically occurring at elevations between 1,200-2,000 meters. These humid, mist-shrouded forests provide the specific microclimate conditions this species requires, characterized by persistent cloud cover, high humidity, and relatively stable temperatures year-round.
