Masdevallia leontoglossa
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masdevallia_civilis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Masdevallia leontoglossa faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as cloud forests in its native range are cleared for agriculture and urban development. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized threats, while illegal collection for the international orchid trade has further reduced wild populations. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the cool, humid conditions essential for this high-altitude orchid's survival.
Habitat
This orchid inhabits cool, humid cloud forests at elevations between 1,800-2,400 meters in the Andean mountains. It grows as an epiphyte on moss-covered tree branches and trunks in areas with consistent moisture and filtered sunlight.
