Solenandra cordata
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Solenandra cordata faces severe pressure from deforestation and agricultural expansion across its limited range in Madagascar's eastern rainforests. The species' specialized pollination requirements and narrow ecological niche make it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation. Mining activities and slash-and-burn agriculture have accelerated forest loss in recent decades, while climate change threatens to shift suitable habitat zones beyond the species' dispersal capabilities.
Habitat
This endemic Malagasy plant inhabits the understory of primary and secondary rainforests in eastern Madagascar, typically growing in humid, shaded conditions at elevations between 800-1,400 meters. It requires well-drained soils and depends on the forest canopy for protection from direct sunlight and temperature extremes.
