Meriania amplexicaulis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Meriania amplexicaulis faces severe pressure from ongoing deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its limited Andean range. The species' restricted distribution in cloud forest ecosystems makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, as these specialized environments are increasingly converted for cattle ranching and crop cultivation. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the moisture regimes essential for cloud forest persistence, potentially forcing this endemic shrub into ever-shrinking suitable habitat zones.
Habitat
This endemic shrub inhabits montane cloud forests of the northern Andes, typically occurring at elevations between 1,800-3,000 meters where persistent fog and high humidity create ideal growing conditions. The species is adapted to the cool, moist microclimate of these specialized ecosystems, often growing in forest understory and edge habitats.