Lanyu Banana
CR

Lanyu Banana

Musa insularimontana

Unknown

Photo: (c) 羅元甫, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by 羅元甫

Overview

Musa insularimontana is a species of plant in the banana family native to Taiwan, where it is known by the name lan yu ba jiao. It is placed in section Callimusa, having a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 20.

Musa insularimontana faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and infrastructure development in its limited montane range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while invasive plant species compete for resources in its native forest habitats. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the specific temperature and moisture conditions required for this montane banana species.

Threat summary

Habitat

Musa insularimontana is endemic to montane forest environments, typically found at higher elevations where it grows in the understory of tropical mountain forests. The species requires specific microclimatic conditions including consistent moisture levels and filtered sunlight characteristic of montane ecosystems.

Marine neritic· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recoveryLinked enterprises & livelihood alternatives

Other threatened species in MUSACEAE

EN

Musa cylindrica

Unknown
CR

Musa arfakiana

Unknown
VU

Musa juwiniana

Increasing
CR

Musa exotica

Declining

Threatened in Taiwan

Acropora hemprichiiEN

Acropora hemprichii

Declining
VU

Copper Shark

Carcharhinus brachyurus

Declining
VU

Chinese Douglas-fir

Pseudotsuga sinensis

Unknown
EN

Montipora taiwanensis

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Lanyu Banana classified as Critically Endangered?
Lanyu Banana is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Musa insularimontana faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and infrastructure development in its limited montane range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while invasive plant species compete for resources in its native forest habitats. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the specific temperature and moisture conditions required for this montane banana species.
Where does Lanyu Banana live?
Lanyu Banana occurs in Taiwan. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Lanyu Banana?
The main threats to Lanyu Banana are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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