Elaphoglossum nilgiricum
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Elaphoglossum nilgiricum faces severe threats from habitat destruction in the Western Ghats, where montane forests are being cleared for tea plantations, agriculture, and urban development. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while climate change threatens to alter the cool, humid conditions essential for this epiphytic fern's survival. Collection pressure for the horticultural trade has further reduced wild populations of this endemic species.
Habitat
This endemic fern inhabits the montane shola forests of the Nilgiri Hills in the Western Ghats, typically growing as an epiphyte on tree trunks and branches in cool, moist conditions at elevations between 1,500-2,500 meters. It requires the specific microclimate of these ancient forest fragments, thriving in areas with consistent humidity and filtered sunlight.