Habenaria cauda-porcelli
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Habenaria cauda-porcelli faces severe threats from agricultural expansion and urban development across its extremely limited range in the Atlantic Forest region. The species' specialized pollination requirements and narrow habitat preferences make it particularly vulnerable to forest fragmentation, while cattle grazing and agricultural conversion continue to degrade remaining suitable sites. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the delicate moisture balance required for this terrestrial orchid's survival.
Habitat
This terrestrial orchid inhabits humid Atlantic Forest remnants, typically growing in shaded understory areas with rich, well-drained soils. The species requires specific microclimate conditions including consistent moisture levels and protection from direct sunlight, making it highly dependent on intact forest canopy cover.