Citharexylum lojense
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Citharexylum lojense faces severe pressure from ongoing deforestation and agricultural expansion within its limited range in Ecuador's Loja Province. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, as remaining forest patches become increasingly isolated. Urban development and infrastructure projects continue to reduce available habitat, while the small population size increases extinction risk from stochastic events.
Habitat
This endemic tree species inhabits montane cloud forests and humid subtropical forests in the Andes of southern Ecuador, typically occurring at elevations between 1,500-2,500 meters. It grows in areas with high humidity and frequent fog, often along forest edges and in secondary growth areas within its native range in Loja Province.