Rufous False Cocaine
Erythroxylum rufum
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Rufous False Cocaine faces significant pressure from deforestation and agricultural expansion across its limited range in the Caribbean and northern South America. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, while its slow growth rate as a woody shrub limits natural recovery. Urban development and infrastructure projects continue to reduce available habitat, with remaining populations increasingly isolated in small forest patches.
Habitat
Rufous False Cocaine inhabits tropical dry forests, woodland edges, and scrubland areas in the Caribbean islands and coastal regions of northern South America. The species typically grows in well-drained soils at low to moderate elevations, often found in secondary growth areas and forest margins.
Other threatened species in Erythroxylaceae
Frequently asked questions
Why is Rufous False Cocaine classified as Vulnerable?
Where does Rufous False Cocaine live?
What are the main threats to Rufous False Cocaine?
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