Tillandsia cernua
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Tillandsia cernua faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in Ecuador and Peru. The species is particularly vulnerable to collection pressure for the ornamental plant trade, as its distinctive drooping flower spikes make it highly sought after by bromeliad enthusiasts. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the humid montane conditions essential for this epiphytic species' survival.
Habitat
This epiphytic bromeliad inhabits humid montane cloud forests between 1,500-2,800 meters elevation, growing on tree branches and trunks in the Andean slopes of Ecuador and northern Peru. The species requires consistent moisture from fog and mist, thriving in the cool, humid microclimate of these specialized high-altitude ecosystems.
