Myrcia chionantha
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Myrcia chionantha faces severe pressure from ongoing deforestation and habitat fragmentation within Brazil's Atlantic Forest, one of the world's most threatened biodiversity hotspots. Agricultural expansion, particularly cattle ranching and crop cultivation, continues to reduce the species' already limited range. Urban development and infrastructure projects further fragment remaining forest patches, isolating populations and reducing genetic diversity.
Habitat
This endemic Brazilian species inhabits remnant Atlantic Forest fragments, typically found in humid montane forests and forest edges at elevations between 500-1200 meters. It grows in well-drained soils within the understory and canopy gaps of these highly biodiverse but critically threatened forest ecosystems.