CRCritically Endangered

Puerto Rico jumby pepper

Microtea portoricensis

Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

01Classification

Taxonomy & Classification

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Caryophyllales

Family

Microteaceae

Genus

Microtea

Puerto Rico jumby pepper belongs to the family Microteaceae, order Caryophyllales, within the Magnoliopsida class.

02Description

Species Profile

Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

The Puerto Rico jumby pepper faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban development and agricultural expansion across its limited range in Puerto Rico. As a small herbaceous plant with restricted distribution, it is particularly vulnerable to land use changes and invasive species competition that degrade its native habitat.

Key Facts

IUCN StatusCritically Endangered (CR)
GroupPlants
03Habitat

Habitat & Distribution

This species occurs in disturbed areas, roadsides, and open habitats in Puerto Rico's lowland and coastal regions. It typically grows in sandy or rocky soils in areas with partial shade to full sun exposure.

04Threats

Threats

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IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered

The Puerto Rico jumby pepper faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban development and agricultural expansion across its limited range in Puerto Rico. As a small herbaceous plant with restricted distribution, it is particularly vulnerable to land use changes and invasive species competition that degrade its native habitat.

Agricultural land conversion

HighOngoing

Habitat loss from urban development

HighOngoing

Small population size and limited range

HighOngoing

Climate change impacts on suitable habitat

MediumOngoing

Invasive plant species competition

MediumOngoing
Community

Community Sightings

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07Sources

Sources & Attribution

How to Cite

IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS

GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org

This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Puerto Rico jumby pepper (Microtea portoricensis). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/puerto-rico-jumby-pepper

Full citation guide & data usage terms