CR

Linum cratericola

Unknown

Overview

Linum cratericola, the Floreana Flax, is a species of plant in the Linaceae family. It was first discovered in 1966 by Uno Eliasson. Between 1981 and 1997 it was relatively unseen, but a population of 13 individuals was rediscovered at one of the original locations. It is endemic to the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador, and is critically endangered. Since, the population has recovered to 400, after protection against goats and feral donkeys was created using fences.

Linum cratericola faces severe threats from its extremely restricted range on volcanic crater rims, making it vulnerable to habitat degradation from volcanic activity and human disturbance. The species' specialized habitat requirements and small population size leave it with minimal resilience to environmental changes. Agricultural expansion and grazing pressure in surrounding areas further threaten the limited suitable habitat remaining for this endemic flax species.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic flax species occupies highly specialized volcanic crater rim habitats, typically growing in rocky crevices and exposed volcanic soils at high elevations. The species is adapted to the unique microclimate conditions found on crater edges, including temperature fluctuations and mineral-rich volcanic substrates.

Other threatened species in LINACEAE

VU

Hugonia batesii

Unknown
EN

Hugonia gabunensis

Unknown
EN

Linum phitosianum

Unknown
VU

Linum hellenicum

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Linum cratericola classified as Critically Endangered?
Linum cratericola 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. Linum cratericola faces severe threats from its extremely restricted range on volcanic crater rims, making it vulnerable to habitat degradation from volcanic activity and human disturbance. The species' specialized habitat requirements and small population size leave it with minimal resilience to environmental changes. Agricultural expansion and grazing pressure in surrounding areas further threaten the limited suitable habitat remaining for this endemic flax species.
Where does Linum cratericola live?
Linum cratericola occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Linum cratericola?
The main threats to Linum cratericola 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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