CR

Prunus ernestii

Unknown

Overview

Prunus guanaiensis is a species of tree in the family Rosaceae. It is native to western South America. Its phenotype suggests close affinity with three other South American species of Prunus; P. debilis, P. littlei and P. wurdackii.

Prunus ernestii faces severe population decline due to extensive deforestation and agricultural conversion throughout its native range in southwestern China. The species is particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation as it requires specific montane forest conditions that are increasingly rare. Mining activities and infrastructure development have further reduced available habitat, while the small remaining populations face genetic bottlenecks that threaten long-term viability.

Threat summary

Habitat

This rare cherry species inhabits montane forests and woodland edges at elevations between 1,500-2,800 meters in the mountainous regions of Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, China. It typically grows in mixed deciduous and coniferous forests with well-drained soils and requires specific microclimatic conditions found in these high-altitude ecosystems.

Other threatened species in ROSACEAE

EN

Bristol Whitebeam

Sorbus bristoliensis

Increasing
EN

Arran Whitebeam

Sorbus arranensis

Declining
EN

Prunus detrita

Declining
VU

Sorbus degenii

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Prunus ernestii classified as Critically Endangered?
Prunus ernestii 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. Prunus ernestii faces severe population decline due to extensive deforestation and agricultural conversion throughout its native range in southwestern China. The species is particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation as it requires specific montane forest conditions that are increasingly rare. Mining activities and infrastructure development have further reduced available habitat, while the small remaining populations face genetic bottlenecks that threaten long-term viability.
Where does Prunus ernestii live?
Prunus ernestii occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Prunus ernestii?
The main threats to Prunus ernestii 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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