Plinia espinhacensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Plinia espinhacensis faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as the Espinhaço Mountains undergo conversion for agriculture and mining activities. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, with small population fragments unable to withstand continued habitat fragmentation. Mining operations for iron ore and quartzite extraction pose direct threats to the rocky outcrops and cerrado vegetation where this endemic species occurs.
Habitat
This endemic species occurs in the cerrado and campo rupestre vegetation of the Espinhaço Mountains in Minas Gerais, Brazil. It typically grows on rocky outcrops and well-drained soils at elevations between 900-1,400 meters, often associated with quartzite and iron-rich substrates characteristic of this ancient mountain range.