Purplestem Shoestring Fern
Radiovittaria remota
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Polypodiopsida
Order
Polypodiales
Family
Pteridaceae
Genus
Radiovittaria
Purplestem Shoestring Fern belongs to the family Pteridaceae, order Polypodiales, within the Polypodiopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Purplestem Shoestring Fern faces severe threats from habitat destruction and degradation of its specialized epiphytic environments. Its extremely limited distribution and small population size make it highly vulnerable to environmental changes and human disturbances. The species' dependence on specific microclimate conditions in old-growth forests leaves it particularly susceptible to logging and forest fragmentation.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This epiphytic fern grows exclusively on tree trunks and branches in humid, old-growth tropical forests, typically in areas with consistent moisture and filtered light conditions. It requires specific microclimate conditions found in undisturbed forest canopies and understory environments.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Purplestem Shoestring Fern faces severe threats from habitat destruction and degradation of its specialized epiphytic environments. Its extremely limited distribution and small population size make it highly vulnerable to environmental changes and human disturbances. The species' dependence on specific microclimate conditions in old-growth forests leaves it particularly susceptible to logging and forest fragmentation.
Climate change altering humidity and temperature regimes
Forest fragmentation disrupting microclimate conditions
Habitat loss from deforestation and logging
Small population size increasing extinction risk
Limited dispersal ability restricting colonization of new areas
Community Sightings
Report a sightingNo community sightings yet. Be the first to report!
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). Purplestem Shoestring Fern (Radiovittaria remota). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/purplestem-shoestring-fern