Dracula verticulosa
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Dracula verticulosa faces severe threats from deforestation and habitat conversion in Ecuador's cloud forests, where its extremely restricted range makes it vulnerable to even small-scale disturbances. Climate change poses an additional critical threat, as rising temperatures force cloud forest zones to higher elevations, potentially eliminating suitable habitat for this elevation-specific orchid. The species' dependence on precise humidity and temperature conditions within its narrow altitudinal range makes it particularly susceptible to environmental changes.
Habitat
Dracula verticulosa inhabits the humid cloud forests of Ecuador's Andean slopes, typically found as an epiphyte growing on moss-covered tree branches and trunks in areas with persistent fog and high humidity. The species occurs within a narrow elevational range in montane forests where cool temperatures and constant moisture create the specialized microclimate conditions essential for its survival.