CRCritically Endangered

Dendroseris macrophylla

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA) — Species of flowering plant

Overview

Sonchus splendens, synonym Dendroseris macrophylla, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is endemic to the Juan Fernández Islands of Chile. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Dendroseris macrophylla faces severe threats from invasive plant species that outcompete native vegetation and alter ecosystem dynamics on Juan Fernández Islands. Habitat degradation from introduced herbivores, particularly goats and rabbits, has severely impacted the endemic flora communities where this species occurs. The extremely limited population size and restricted range make the species highly vulnerable to stochastic events and genetic bottlenecks.
Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic species inhabits the native forest remnants and shrubland areas of the Juan Fernández Islands, typically growing in moist, sheltered locations within the archipelago's unique temperate oceanic ecosystem. It occurs in areas with well-drained volcanic soils and benefits from the islands' characteristic fog and moisture patterns.

Marine neritic· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protection

Other threatened species in ASTERACEAE

Threatened in Chile

Juan Fernandez Petrel

Pterodroma externa

Stable

Black Petrel

Procellaria parkinsoni

Stable

Chimney Swift

Chaetura pelagica

Declining

Pink-footed Shearwater

Ardenna creatopus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Dendroseris macrophylla classified as Critically Endangered?

Dendroseris macrophylla is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Dendroseris macrophylla faces severe threats from invasive plant species that outcompete native vegetation and alter ecosystem dynamics on Juan Fernández Islands. Habitat degradation from introduced herbivores, particularly goats and rabbits, has severely impacted the endemic flora communities where this species occurs. The extremely limited population size and restricted range make the species highly vulnerable to stochastic events and genetic bottlenecks.

Where does Dendroseris macrophylla live?

Dendroseris macrophylla occurs in Chile. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.

What are the main threats to Dendroseris macrophylla?

The main threats to Dendroseris macrophylla are 2.3, 5.3, 8.1, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.