Tropaeolum umbellatum
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropaeolum_umbellatum
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Tropaeolum umbellatum faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its restricted Andean range. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and temperature shifts that could affect its specialized high-altitude habitat requirements.
Habitat
This critically endangered nasturtium species inhabits high-altitude Andean environments, typically found in montane grasslands and rocky slopes between 3,000-4,000 meters elevation. It grows in well-drained soils with specific moisture and temperature requirements characteristic of the páramo and puna ecosystems.