VU

Masdevallia marthae

Unknown

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Masdevallia marthae faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as cloud forests in its native Colombian range are cleared for agriculture and cattle ranching. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes, while illegal collection for the international orchid trade continues to reduce wild populations. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the specific temperature and humidity conditions required by this high-altitude epiphyte.

Threat summary

Habitat

This epiphytic orchid inhabits cool, humid cloud forests at elevations between 2,000-3,000 meters in the Colombian Andes. It grows on moss-covered tree branches and trunks in areas with consistent moisture and filtered sunlight typical of montane cloud forest ecosystems.

Other threatened species in Orchidaceae

CR

Benthamia nigrovaginata

Unknown
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Dark-red Helleborine

Epipactis atrorubens

Unknown
CR

Broughtonia cubensis

Unknown
CR

Huntleya apiculata

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Masdevallia marthae classified as Vulnerable?
Masdevallia marthae is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Masdevallia marthae faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as cloud forests in its native Colombian range are cleared for agriculture and cattle ranching. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes, while illegal collection for the international orchid trade continues to reduce wild populations. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the specific temperature and humidity conditions required by this high-altitude epiphyte.
Where does Masdevallia marthae live?
Masdevallia marthae occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Masdevallia marthae?
The main threats to Masdevallia marthae are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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