Lysipomia acaulis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Lysipomia acaulis faces significant pressure from agricultural expansion and livestock grazing in its high-altitude Andean habitat. The species' restricted range and specialized ecological requirements make it particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation from cattle and sheep overgrazing. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures may force this alpine specialist to retreat to increasingly limited suitable habitat at higher elevations.
Habitat
This cushion-forming plant is endemic to high-altitude páramo and puna grasslands of the tropical Andes, typically occurring between 3,500-4,500 meters elevation. It grows in open, rocky alpine environments with well-drained soils and experiences extreme temperature fluctuations typical of equatorial high-mountain ecosystems.