Ceroxylon ventricosum
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceroxylon_ventricosum
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Ceroxylon ventricosum faces severe pressure from deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its Andean range, with cloud forest habitats being cleared for cattle ranching and crop cultivation. The species' extremely slow growth rate and limited regeneration capacity make populations particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, as mature palms take decades to reach reproductive age. Climate change poses an additional threat by shifting optimal temperature and moisture conditions upslope, potentially reducing suitable habitat area in montane environments.
Habitat
This palm species inhabits cloud forests and humid montane forests along the Andes, typically occurring at elevations between 1,800 and 3,200 meters. It thrives in the consistently moist, cool conditions of these high-altitude ecosystems where fog and cloud cover provide essential humidity.
