Eleutherococcus cuspidatus
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Eleutherococcus cuspidatus faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in northeastern Asia. Overcollection for traditional medicine has significantly reduced wild populations, as the species is valued for its medicinal properties similar to other Eleutherococcus species. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the temperate forest conditions this species requires for survival.
Habitat
This deciduous shrub inhabits temperate mixed forests and forest edges in mountainous regions of northeastern Asia, typically growing in well-drained soils at elevations between 200-1,500 meters. It prefers partially shaded environments under the canopy of broadleaf and coniferous trees.