VUVulnerable

Espeletia grandiflora

Local name: Giant Monk’s Robe

Unknown

Overview

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

Espeletia grandiflora faces severe pressure from agricultural expansion and cattle grazing in Colombia's páramo ecosystems, where livestock trampling damages the slow-growing rosettes and compacts soils. Climate change poses an additional threat as rising temperatures force these high-altitude specialists toward increasingly limited mountaintop refugia. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment the already restricted páramo habitats essential for this species' survival.
Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits high-altitude páramo ecosystems between 3,000-4,200 meters elevation in the Colombian Andes, particularly in boggy areas and wet grasslands. It thrives in the cool, humid conditions of these tropical alpine environments, often growing in waterlogged soils alongside other endemic páramo vegetation.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Asteraceae

Lamb's Succory

Arnoseris minima

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Giant Monk’s Robe classified as Vulnerable?

Giant Monk’s Robe 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. Espeletia grandiflora faces severe pressure from agricultural expansion and cattle grazing in Colombia's páramo ecosystems, where livestock trampling damages the slow-growing rosettes and compacts soils. Climate change poses an additional threat as rising temperatures force these high-altitude specialists toward increasingly limited mountaintop refugia. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment the already restricted páramo habitats essential for this species' survival.

Where does Giant Monk’s Robe live?

Giant Monk’s Robe 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 Giant Monk’s Robe?

The main threats to Giant Monk’s Robe 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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