Huperzia loxensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Huperzia loxensis faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as cloud forests in the Ecuadorian Andes are cleared for agriculture and urban development. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while climate change threatens to shift the narrow altitudinal zones where suitable moisture and temperature conditions exist. Mining activities and infrastructure development in montane regions pose additional risks to remaining populations.
Habitat
This clubmoss is endemic to cloud forests of the Ecuadorian Andes, typically growing as an epiphyte on moss-covered tree trunks and branches in humid montane environments between 2,000-3,500 meters elevation. It requires the persistent moisture and stable temperatures characteristic of these fog-shrouded ecosystems.
