Plocama thymoides
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Plocama thymoides faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from urban development and agricultural expansion across its limited range in the Canary Islands. Overgrazing by introduced livestock has degraded the native shrubland communities where this endemic species occurs, while invasive plant species compete for resources and alter ecosystem dynamics. Climate change poses an additional threat through increased drought stress and shifting precipitation patterns that affect the delicate balance of its arid habitat requirements.
Habitat
This endemic Canary Islands species inhabits dry, rocky slopes and volcanic terrain in the lower montane zone, typically growing in sparse shrubland communities between 200-800 meters elevation. It thrives in well-drained soils among native succulent vegetation and demonstrates adaptation to the archipelago's arid Mediterranean climate with irregular rainfall patterns.