Lychnophora hatschbachii
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Lychnophora hatschbachii faces severe pressure from habitat conversion as Brazil's Cerrado savanna is rapidly transformed for agricultural expansion, particularly soy cultivation and cattle ranching. The species' extremely restricted range in the campos rupestres (rocky grasslands) of Minas Gerais makes it exceptionally vulnerable to localized disturbances. Mining activities targeting iron ore and other minerals pose additional threats to the specialized rocky outcrops where this endemic shrub occurs.
Habitat
This endemic shrub is restricted to the campos rupestres (rocky grasslands) of the Cerrado biome in Minas Gerais, Brazil, where it grows on quartzite and sandstone outcrops at elevations typically above 900 meters. The species requires the specialized microhabitat conditions found in these ancient, nutrient-poor soils with their distinctive rocky terrain and seasonal rainfall patterns.