CR

Phalaenopsis hainanensis

Unknown

Overview

Phalaenopsis stobartiana, also known as 滇西蝴蝶兰 in Chinese, is a species of epiphytic plant in the family Orchidaceae. It is endemic to Hainan, China. The specific epithet stobartiana refers to William Culley Stobart. The Stobart family were the principal landowners and colliery owners in the 19th century in England.

Phalaenopsis hainanensis faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion across Hainan Island. The species is further threatened by overcollection for the ornamental plant trade, as wild orchids are highly prized by collectors. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns and temperature increases that disrupt the delicate epiphytic ecosystem this orchid depends upon.

Threat summary

Habitat

This epiphytic orchid inhabits the humid tropical forests of Hainan Island, growing on tree trunks and branches in the forest canopy where it receives filtered sunlight and consistent moisture. The species requires the specific microclimate conditions found in undisturbed primary and secondary forests with high humidity and stable temperatures.

Other threatened species in ORCHIDACEAE

EN

Porpax angustifolia

Unknown
EN

Polystachya longiscapa

Unknown
CR

The Lost Spathoglottis

Spathoglottis arunachalensis

Declining
VU

Disperis galerita

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Phalaenopsis hainanensis classified as Critically Endangered?
Phalaenopsis hainanensis is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Phalaenopsis hainanensis faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion across Hainan Island. The species is further threatened by overcollection for the ornamental plant trade, as wild orchids are highly prized by collectors. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns and temperature increases that disrupt the delicate epiphytic ecosystem this orchid depends upon.
Where does Phalaenopsis hainanensis live?
Phalaenopsis hainanensis 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 Phalaenopsis hainanensis?
The main threats to Phalaenopsis hainanensis 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.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.