CR

Podadenia thwaitesii

Unknown

Overview

Podadenia is a genus of plant of the family Euphorbiaceae first described as a genus in 1821. At present, only species is recognized in the genus, Podadenia sapida, endemic to Sri Lanka.formerly included

Podadenia thwaitesii faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat fragmentation across Sri Lanka's wet zone forests. Agricultural expansion, particularly tea plantations and subsistence farming, has eliminated much of its original forest habitat. Urban development and infrastructure projects continue to fragment remaining forest patches, isolating small populations and reducing genetic diversity.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic Sri Lankan species inhabits lowland and montane wet zone forests, typically found in primary and secondary rainforest environments. It occurs in forest understory and edge habitats at elevations ranging from sea level to approximately 1,500 meters.

Forest· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Podadenia thwaitesii classified as Critically Endangered?
Podadenia thwaitesii is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Podadenia thwaitesii faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat fragmentation across Sri Lanka's wet zone forests. Agricultural expansion, particularly tea plantations and subsistence farming, has eliminated much of its original forest habitat. Urban development and infrastructure projects continue to fragment remaining forest patches, isolating small populations and reducing genetic diversity.
Where does Podadenia thwaitesii live?
Podadenia thwaitesii occurs in Sri Lanka. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Podadenia thwaitesii?
The main threats to Podadenia thwaitesii are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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