Cyrtandra mucronata
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Cyrtandra mucronata faces severe habitat degradation from agricultural expansion and invasive plant species that alter native forest understory composition. The species' restricted range on volcanic slopes makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, while introduced ungulates damage the forest floor where this understory shrub establishes. Climate change poses an additional threat by shifting optimal elevation zones faster than the species can naturally migrate.
Habitat
This endemic Hawaiian shrub inhabits mesic to wet native forests on volcanic slopes, typically growing in the understory of ohia-dominated forests at elevations between 300-1,200 meters. It requires well-drained volcanic soils and partial shade conditions provided by the native forest canopy.