Dioscorea chimborazensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Dioscorea chimborazensis faces severe pressure from agricultural expansion and cattle ranching in Ecuador's Andean foothills, which directly destroys its native forest habitat. The species is further threatened by collection for traditional medicinal uses, as wild yams are harvested for their tubers. Climate change poses an additional risk by altering the specific temperature and moisture conditions required for this endemic species' survival in its restricted montane range.
Habitat
This endemic Ecuadorian yam inhabits cloud forests and humid montane forests on the slopes of the Andes, typically at elevations between 1,500-3,000 meters. It grows as a climbing vine in the understory of these biodiverse ecosystems, requiring the specific moisture and temperature conditions found in these threatened Andean forest habitats.
