Pitcairnia aequatorialis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Pitcairnia aequatorialis faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as Ecuador's montane forests are cleared for agriculture and urban development. The species' restricted range in the Andean foothills makes it particularly vulnerable to localized deforestation and fragmentation. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the moisture regimes essential for this epiphytic bromeliad's survival in cloud forest environments.
Habitat
This epiphytic bromeliad inhabits humid montane forests and cloud forests in the Andean foothills of Ecuador, typically growing on tree branches and trunks in areas with consistent moisture and filtered sunlight. It occurs at elevations between 1,200-2,400 meters where persistent cloud cover maintains the high humidity levels essential for its survival.
