Pleione formosana
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Pleione formosana faces severe pressure from overcollection for the horticultural trade, where its striking purple and white flowers make it highly sought after by orchid enthusiasts. Habitat degradation in Taiwan's montane forests through logging, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development has fragmented remaining populations. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures may push suitable habitat to higher elevations beyond the species' current range.
Habitat
This terrestrial orchid inhabits cool, humid montane forests and woodland margins at elevations between 1,000-2,500 meters in Taiwan's mountainous regions. It typically grows as an epiphyte or lithophyte on moss-covered rocks and tree trunks in areas with consistent moisture and filtered sunlight.