Lychnophora villosissima
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Lychnophora villosissima faces severe pressure from habitat conversion as Brazil's cerrado grasslands are transformed into agricultural land and cattle pastures. Mining activities in the Minas Gerais region pose additional threats through direct habitat destruction and soil contamination. The species' restricted range and specialized habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to these anthropogenic pressures, with fragmented populations showing reduced genetic diversity.
Habitat
This endemic Brazilian shrub inhabits rocky outcrops and sandy soils in cerrado grasslands and campo rupestre vegetation of Minas Gerais state. It typically grows at elevations between 900-1,400 meters in areas with well-drained, nutrient-poor soils and seasonal rainfall patterns.