Melicope margaretae
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Melicope margaretae faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in the Hawaiian Islands. The species is particularly vulnerable to invasive plant species that alter native forest composition and compete for resources. Small population size makes the species susceptible to stochastic events and genetic bottlenecks that could drive local extinctions.
Habitat
This endemic Hawaiian shrub inhabits native mesic and wet forests at mid to high elevations, typically growing in understory environments with rich volcanic soils. The species requires intact native forest ecosystems with appropriate canopy cover and moisture levels characteristic of Hawaii's montane forest zones.