Ilex peiradena
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Ilex peiradena faces severe pressure from ongoing deforestation and habitat conversion throughout its limited range in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil. Agricultural expansion, particularly cattle ranching and crop cultivation, continues to fragment the remaining forest patches where this holly species persists. Urban development and infrastructure projects pose additional threats to the few protected areas where viable populations remain.
Habitat
This endemic holly species inhabits the remaining fragments of Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) in southeastern Brazil, typically found in montane and submontane forest environments at elevations between 800-1,500 meters. It grows in the understory and canopy gaps of humid tropical forests, often associated with cloud forest conditions that provide consistent moisture levels.