Lychnophora gardneri
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Lychnophora gardneri faces severe pressure from habitat conversion as Brazil's cerrado grasslands are transformed into agricultural land and cattle pastures. Mining activities in the Espinhaço Mountain Range directly destroy the rocky outcrops and campo rupestre vegetation where this endemic shrub grows. Fire regime alterations, particularly increased frequency of human-caused fires, disrupt the natural regeneration cycles that this species depends upon for reproduction.
Habitat
This endemic Brazilian shrub inhabits the campo rupestre vegetation of the Espinhaço Mountain Range, growing specifically on rocky outcrops and quartzite soils at elevations between 900-1,400 meters. It thrives in the unique montane grassland ecosystem characterized by nutrient-poor soils, seasonal rainfall patterns, and natural fire cycles.