Peltogyne paradoxa
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Peltogyne paradoxa faces severe pressure from selective logging operations targeting its valuable purpleheart timber, which commands premium prices in international markets. Deforestation for cattle ranching and agricultural expansion has fragmented its remaining forest habitat across the Guiana Shield region. The species' slow growth rate and limited regeneration capacity make populations particularly vulnerable to overexploitation, with recovery taking decades even when harvesting pressure is reduced.
Habitat
Peltogyne paradoxa occurs in primary lowland rainforests of the Guiana Shield, typically growing in well-drained soils on terra firme sites. The species is found in mature forest canopies where it can reach heights of 30-40 meters, often associated with other valuable timber species in undisturbed tropical forest ecosystems.