Euphorbia quitensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Euphorbia quitensis faces severe threats from urban expansion and agricultural conversion in its extremely limited range around Quito, Ecuador. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, while collection pressure for horticultural trade poses an additional risk to remaining populations. Climate change may further stress this high-altitude endemic through altered precipitation patterns and temperature shifts.
Habitat
This species is endemic to the high-altitude valleys and slopes around Quito, Ecuador, typically occurring in dry montane scrubland and rocky outcrops between 2,800-3,200 meters elevation. It grows in well-drained volcanic soils characteristic of the inter-Andean valleys, often on steep slopes with sparse vegetation cover.