Phaseolus nelsonii
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Phaseolus nelsonii faces severe pressure from agricultural expansion and cattle ranching throughout its native range in western Mexico. The species' limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat conversion, as entire populations can be eliminated by single development projects. Overgrazing by livestock degrades the oak-pine woodland understory where this wild bean naturally occurs, while climate change threatens to shift suitable habitat zones beyond the species' adaptive capacity.
Habitat
Phaseolus nelsonii inhabits oak-pine woodlands and mixed montane forests in the Sierra Madre Occidental of western Mexico, typically growing in forest clearings and edges at elevations between 1,500-2,500 meters. The species requires well-drained soils and partial shade conditions provided by the forest canopy.
