Gastrodia gunatillekeorum
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Gastrodia gunatillekeorum faces severe threats from habitat destruction as Sri Lanka's montane forests continue to be cleared for agriculture and development. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while its mycoheterotrophic lifestyle creates additional vulnerability through dependence on specific fungal partners that may themselves be threatened by environmental changes.
Habitat
This orchid species inhabits the understory of montane rainforests in Sri Lanka's central highlands, typically growing in deep leaf litter and humus-rich soils. As a mycoheterotrophic plant, it depends entirely on fungal partners for nutrition and occurs in shaded forest environments with stable moisture conditions.
