Schlumbergera orssichiana
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Schlumbergera orssichiana faces severe threats from habitat destruction as its restricted Atlantic Forest habitat continues to be cleared for agriculture and urban development. The species' extremely limited range in southeastern Brazil makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while collection pressure for the horticultural trade has further reduced wild populations. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the specific microclimate conditions this epiphytic cactus requires in its cloud forest environment.
Habitat
This epiphytic cactus is endemic to the Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) of southeastern Brazil, where it grows on trees and rocks in humid montane forests. It typically occurs in cloud forest environments at elevations between 800-1,200 meters, requiring the specific microclimate conditions provided by these mist-shrouded ecosystems.
