Tillandsia hirtzii
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Tillandsia hirtzii faces significant pressure from habitat destruction as Ecuador's cloud forests are cleared for agriculture and urban development. The species' restricted range in the Andes makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while climate change threatens to shift the moisture-dependent cloud forest conditions essential for its survival. Collection for the ornamental plant trade poses an additional threat to remaining wild populations.
Habitat
This epiphytic bromeliad inhabits cloud forests and humid montane forests of the Ecuadorian Andes, typically growing on tree branches and trunks in areas with persistent fog and high humidity. It occurs at elevations between 1,500-2,500 meters where moisture levels remain consistently high throughout the year.
