Symplocos glaberrima
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Symplocos glaberrima faces severe pressure from deforestation and habitat conversion throughout its limited range in Southeast Asian montane forests. Agricultural expansion, particularly for palm oil plantations and subsistence farming, has fragmented the remaining forest patches where this endemic species occurs. Climate change poses an additional threat as rising temperatures force montane species to migrate to higher elevations, potentially reducing available habitat for this already restricted tree species.
Habitat
Symplocos glaberrima inhabits montane tropical forests at elevations typically between 800-2000 meters, preferring moist, well-drained soils in primary and secondary forest environments. The species is associated with cloud forest ecosystems where it grows as an understory to mid-canopy tree in areas with high humidity and consistent moisture levels.